|   Are these RCA cables any good? | caldera
Jun 21, 2002 10:14 AM | | These are the features:
oxygen-free, stranded wire
twisted pair construction
PVC jacket
directional balanced line construction
overlapped mylar foil shielding
gold-plated connectors
They cost less than $30 for three feet.
Thanks.
<b>__/C\__</b>
The REAL thing: http://soonersports.ocsn.com/sports/m-wrestl/okla-m-wrestl-body.html |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | Spiky
Jun 21, 2002 10:45 AM | | Sure doesn't sound bad, but that really doesn't tell us enough to make a stand one way or the other. |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | Warren Warren
Jun 21, 2002 12:23 PM | | Scoring 1- poor, 2- fair, 3- good, 4- best
OFC Copper- good (3)
Stranded- good. Solid could be better, but this is normal (3)
Twisted Pair- best (4)
PVC- fair, not the best jacket material, but ok (2)
Directional balanced line- Marketing term. Probably (hopefully) what this means is the sheild is only tied to ground at one end. If that is what it means, that is good (3)
Mylar foil sheilding- fair, there are much better shields than mylar, but at least it's sheilded. (2)
Gold plated connectors- best (4)
Under $30- good. (3)
8 categories, total score of 24, average score of 3 - good. So, yes, IMHO, these cables are good.
WW |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | Haoleb
Jun 21, 2002 2:09 PM | | you realize hes probbaly talking about the ones sold at ace hardware and walmart. If you think theyre good, more power to ya. |
| What if I had said they were $100 a pair? | caldera
Jun 21, 2002 4:25 PM | | Don't the audiophile kinds of cables use just about the same features?
I can't find any real tests on the expensive kind that say they are better than the $10-$50 kind. Monster Cable and other companies just say they sound a lot better, that's it. But no waveform graphs, computer analyzer screen shots, nothing.
My system "sounds better" for some reason when I clean my living room, but all I am doing is vacuuming, dusting the coffee table and picking up dirty plates. I do this especially when I am listening to a new CD--I don't like messes when doing my hobbies. I know this cannot be affecting the stereo, but I think I just feel better, so that might be mentally doing something.
__/C\__ |
| What if I had said they were $100 a pair? | Warren Warren
Jun 21, 2002 5:36 PM | | Actually, I would have scored them slightly lower at $100 a pair, as I believe that is too much for a cable, especially one that would have just earned my "good" rating, rather than a "best" rating. I think I would have scored the price category at a 1-poor, or 2-fair at best. This would not have brought down the overall score too much, but you can also put more weight on certain categories, depending on your particular requirements.
Do audiophile cables use similar features? Well, as I mentioned, your cables would be considered good, but not best. There is room for improvement in virtually every category you mentioned. Could this have an effect on the audio? Possibly, but that is another debate.
I just set up a quick evaluation based on the criteria you listed in your original post. Also, there are some companies that do provide comparitive spectrum analyzer/network analyzer waveforms of their cables and interconnects, and some even include it with their advertising. However, these companies are few and far between. BTW, picking up plates off a coffee table can affect the sound, as plates on the coffee table could vibrate/resonate depending on source material and volume, and the material construction and level surfaces of both the plates and the table. A less than perfect bottomed china plate, for example, on a glass topped table, could create an annoying buzz. Also, you are correct in that your state of mind (i.e. feeling more at ease in a clean room) does affect how you hear the music. The physical characteristics of the soundwaves have not changed, but your perception of them has. In any case, enjoy the music. That's what it's really all about! |
| Thanks Warren (nt) | caldera
Jun 22, 2002 8:53 PM | | |
| My car goes faster after I wash it... | one50
Jun 21, 2002 5:45 PM | | Maybe theres something to say about cleaning stuff????
One50 |
| actually, race car owners ------- | hifitommy
Jun 21, 2002 8:31 PM | | wax their cars fo gain a few mph in speed. it acutally works!
CMON mtry, dispute that one.
......regards.....tr |
| actually, race car owners ------- | TomN
Jun 23, 2002 6:28 AM | | Hmm, you are aware they do not use "Wax" as you described. So I guess you can consider this as a disputed contention.
They also do not use the process for gaining a few extra MPH, though it certainly could be used for that purpose. it is used to decrease the air resistence by preventing the air from breaking up as it flows over the car. This results in more efficient performance allowing for longer run times between needed refueling.
Racing is not about how fast you go, but where you are when the race is over.
Tom N. |
| i should have been more specific | hifitommy
Jun 23, 2002 9:16 AM | | drag racers are the ones who wax their cars for additional mph. and theres only one position to be in, in front!
....regards....tr |
| i should have been more specific | TomN
Jun 23, 2002 2:35 PM | | Ahhh...
Not a fan of drag racing anymore, its also bad for the ears!!! Though I can remember going out to the drags at Fremont Raceway oh so many years ago. I wonder if that place still exists?
Anyway, enjoy the races.
Tom N. |
| i should have been more specific | hifitommy
Jun 24, 2002 6:01 PM | | wheres fremont? i stopped when they closed lyons in wilmington, ca. if i wanted to go theres drags in palmdale, ca.
yes. earplugs are a benefit, buts so damned excinting. sub 5 second quarter miles! awesome.
......regards.....tr |
| i should have been more specific | TomN
Jun 25, 2002 6:04 AM | | California, Bay area, just a bit north of San Jose. Back then Fremont was a semi-rural area, with plenty of farm land surrounding it. Of course, by now I'm sure it is all just part of the urban sprawl of San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland Metroplex.
Haven't been to any races in over a millennium, or so it seems.
Tom N. |
| actually, race car owners ------- | mtrycrafts
Jun 23, 2002 11:00 PM | | Dispute what? They have yet to prove it or shown data as the the amount of friction that this waxing reduces it and what that translates to in MPH at their speeds. And, after a few laps it is dirty and full of oil & grease.Do they get a new wax job in th epit stop?
BUt it sure looks gleaming. |
| What if I had said they were $100 a pair? | Haoleb
Jun 22, 2002 8:20 AM | | no, actually i wouldnt touch those cables. They sound like the same stuf sold at ace, one of my IC's is a silver hybrid with the pos wire pure sterling silver, with low mass gold plated rca's and a triple braid,. |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | Warren Warren
Jun 21, 2002 5:47 PM | | Actually, I think it would be a rare find to see cables with sheilded twisted pairs at Wal-mart. BB or CC maybe, but probably not Target, RS, or Home Depot. Also, I did not say these cables were the "best", merely that they were "good". If you feel you have a "good" system, you use "good" cables. If you feel you have the "best" system, you use the "best" cables. If you have an Emerson clock radio, a vintage 8-track, and a 1987 Discman, you use coathangers for interconnects. : ) |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | mtrycrafts
Jun 22, 2002 10:24 PM | | b the ones sold at ace hardware
Your local ace has audio cables? |
| It would help... | MonstrousMike
Jun 21, 2002 2:10 PM | | ...to have a few more facts.
I would need to know what signal is being passed over this cable, what environment the cable is located in and what distance the signal needs to travel.
These are the fundamental specifications that are needed to determine the suitability of a cable. |
| It would help... | caldera
Jun 21, 2002 4:02 PM | | Signal: All audio (CD player, VCR, etc.). No digital signals.
Environment: No microwaves or computers in that room.
Travel: Just three feet.
__/C\__ |
| It would help... | MonstrousMike
Jun 22, 2002 6:03 AM | | <<<< oxygen-free, stranded wire >>>>
Yeah, that's fine.
<<<< twisted pair construction >>>>
That's fine too, although coaxial will probably do the same job.
<<<< PVC jacket >>>>
<<<< directional balanced line construction >>>>
This depends on what type of outputs and inputs your equipment has.
<<<< overlapped mylar foil shielding >>>>
For analog audio signals, most any shielding would be fine.
<<<< gold-plated connectors >>>>
Yes, this will resist oxidation.
<<<< They cost less than $30 for three feet. >>>>
Since audio signals are the easiest signals to pass, you are probably just fine with what you have. $30 for 3 feet might be a bit expensive but unless you are buying several hundred cables, I guess it's not that big a deal. |
| Thanks MonstrousMike | caldera
Jun 22, 2002 1:28 PM | | The cables are Acoustic Research and they cost $12.
I bought them at Best buy (I have two pairs. I am going to buy another set for my DVD player's stereo RCA jacks since some concert dvd's have normal PCM tracks on them).
__/C\__ |
| Thanks MonstrousMike | mtrycrafts
Jun 22, 2002 10:27 PM | | b I bought them at Best buy (I have two pairs. I am going to buy another set for my DVD player's stereo RCA jacks since some concert dvd's have normal PCM tracks on them).
The DVD player will still pass it through on the digital outs. No need to get analog audio cables just for that. |
| Here's another opinion | Norm Strong
Jun 21, 2002 3:20 PM | | The best 3' interconnects I've ever come across were $15. These had all the features you mentioned above, plus a few more.
Standard brand name interconnects, gold-plated, are $2-3. Generic interconnects are about $1.25. The cheapest ones I've ever seen were $0.29.
With this input before you, you should have no trouble deciding what to do. |
| Here's another opinion | mtrycrafts
Jun 21, 2002 5:05 PM | | You forgot the freebees:) |
| Do freebees... | Warren Warren
Jun 21, 2002 5:55 PM | | ...make freehoney? |
| Do freebees... | mtrycrafts
Jun 22, 2002 10:28 PM | | Only if you own them. |
| Do freebees... | FLZapped
Jun 24, 2002 9:32 AM | | I guess that also means killer bees make kiler honey...
-Bruce |
| killer honey | GTF
Jun 24, 2002 2:35 PM | | If you try and take their honey, they will kill you
for their honey!
So yes, killer bee's make killer honey.
GTF |
| killer honey | FLZapped
Jun 24, 2002 8:20 PM | | Well, that was a joke, but the Africans who grew up with those things have no problem getting their honey.
-Bruce |
| True, | GTF
Jun 25, 2002 6:27 AM | | but I have seen a National Geographic show where some
Africian's picked up some large black beetles with hugh
biting claws and eat them "ALIVE"
And that was no joke. I almost fell out of my chair gagging.
yuch
GTF |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | sam9
Jun 22, 2002 1:56 PM | | Plug 'em in and turn on you equipment. If sound rather than smoke or static comes out they are good. Especially if they are already paid for anyway. |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | JoeW
Jun 22, 2002 8:51 PM | | >oxygen-free, stranded wire
Good for an IC
>twisted pair construction
Very good
>PVC jacket
Not optimal, and no mention of actual dielectric/conductor insulator.
>directional balanced line construction
Hokus pokus
>overlapped mylar foil shielding
Effective aid to shielding, but not an optimal solution by itself
>gold-plated connectors
Anything less is silly
>They cost less than $30 for three feet
They probably should
Missing info:
Conductor gauge and dielectric. |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | mtrycrafts
Jun 22, 2002 10:30 PM | | b Hokus pokus
That is new from you, what happened?
b dielectric.
PVC jacket |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | JoeW
Jun 23, 2002 10:01 PM | | >That is new from you, what happened?
Nothing at all happened to me. Your problem is that you are accustomed to arguing against what you think I think, as opposed to learning what I actually think. |
| re: Are these RCA cables any good? | mtrycrafts
Jun 23, 2002 11:04 PM | | Not at all. This time you wrote something, first time. |
| Thanks everybody (nt) | caldera
Jun 23, 2002 8:08 PM | | |
| Don't you dare ask about cables on this forum again...LOL | StevenSurprenant
Jun 23, 2002 9:26 PM | | See what you caused.... |
| Shoots! | caldera
Jun 24, 2002 7:48 PM | | I just wanted to see if I am hearing my CDs and VHS movie tapes properly. wow! |
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