I'm Thinking of a couple of new interconnects

[CageyH]

I'm thinking of upgrading a couple of my interconnects.
What I am interested to know is just how much "better" the Graham Slee CuSat or REFFC Pluto will be than something like a VDH D102 mk III.

What will the new cables do for my system? It seems that they are based on a high quality coax, so what are the major benefits?

[hifinutt]

the only way to try is to buy
I love my van den hul first ultimate but the RFC Neptune [£]100 has done very good service between 20k`s worth of amps for some months !!! good vfm

[MartinT]

Kevin, it's very hard to make any sort of recommendation based on so little information. Between which components? What are you using at the moment? How do you find its sound, and what are you expecting from new interconnects that improves on it? Finally, what is your budget?

[DSJR]

My own take on this is that in the wide scheme of things, wanky wires, plugs and kettle leads make either naff-all difference unless you're 'tuned-in' to these tiny if not imagined differences (either that or the gear they're used with is sub-standard on some way...), due to the speaker/room interface usually being total cack in most cases domestically.

My advice is to start with a really good £20-ish interconnect from an online maker (MG, NVA, Flashback all do suitable candidates) and proceed from there, making sure you can return the cables if you don't like them. For fifty to one hundred notes, the choice opens further and there a at least a couple more people you could add to the list (RFC?) possibly. Much more than that and you're into foo territory IMO.

[MCRU]

My own take on this is that in the wide scheme of things, wanky wires, plugs and kettle leads make either naff-all difference unless you're 'tuned-in' to these tiny if not imagined differences (either that or the gear they're used with is sub-standard on some way...), due to the speaker/room interface usually being total cack in most cases domestically.

My advice is to start with a really good £20-ish interconnect from an online maker (MG, NVA, Flashback all do suitable candidates) and proceed from there, making sure you can return the cables if you don't like them. For fifty to one hundred notes, the choice opens further and there a at least a couple more people you could add to the list (RFC?) possibly. Much more than that and you're into foo territory IMO.

P.S. AVOID INTERCONNECTS BOUGHT FROM DEALERS, as they will almost certainly garner a 60% profit margin for said dealer (75% for Black Rhodium if stocked in quantity). The choice is yours...

Dave you are WRONG about margins, please do not post information that is plainly mis-leading and factually in-correct.

[DSJR]

Dave you are WRONG about margins, please do not post information that is plainly mis-leading and factually in-correct.

I am NOT AT ALL factually incorrect! Who the heck do you think I'm talking about? I was trying to defend the likes of you FFS! There are retail dealers selling gear (not fuggin add-on accessories) who rely on cables for the margin as either business is very slow or deals have to be done. You are not one of these are you?

I was in audio retail for over thirty years and I PROMISE you I know the margins dealers work at, especially on add-ons. I was even a southern sales rep for a cable and IC manufacturer for a couple of years (a period I wish to forget for various reasons) and know full well how the chains operate.

[MartinT]

All good advice, Dave, but it's still hard to advise Kevin without knowing some parameters. Mark Grant G1000HD would be my default excellent cable for not a lot of money, then take it from there.

[nat8808]

Certainly cables made by the seller, RFFC, MCRU, Mark Grant etc etc are going to far better value than those made by a brand and sold by a dealer...

[CageyH]

I want some interconnects to run between my Reflex M phono stage into my Solo Ultra Linear headphone amp, running HD650's. This is what I listen to my SL1200 (MNB, FX1200 + 2M Black etc.) on most, as it does not disturb the Mrs too much. The platter will also be upgraded, but I am not sure with which one yet!

The plan is to sort this out with two cables (as it passes through the amp).
After this is done, my next stage will be to start looking at what else needs doing to my system, but that will be the subject of another thread.

Budget? Happier closer to £100 a set, but if the difference is not subtle, I am prepared to go slightly higher, but not much. Obviously, the cheaper the better as I am on my continued search for best bang for my buck.

I was thinking of either the CuSat (trial cables incoming), Pluto MkII, Super Sound Cords or MG G1500HD. I also have some trial cables coming from MCRU, but I have no idea what they are yet.
I'm staying away from the main stealers if at all possible. I have learnt that lesson, which is why I stopped buying HiFi mags years ago.

[CageyH]

The plan is to sort this out with two cables (as it passes through the amp).

Budget? Happier closer to £100 a set, but if the difference is not subtle, I am prepared to go slightly higher, but not much. Obviously, the cheaper the better as I am on my continued search for best bang for buck.

Bev,

Which bit of two cables, £100 and best bang for buck would point me at the SLIC?



I am sure it's very good, but I have to rebuild the foundations of my system before I entertain £1k for a bit of wire.
One SLIC costs more than I paid for my current CD player, amp and power amp. For me, that puts in into perspective.

Thanks for the suggestion though. The original intent of this thread was to sort out a couple of interconnects on a budget. It's developed into a long winded way of saying that Pro Audio cables with reasonable plugs sound very good, and offer good value for money, even more so if you can solder or know somebody who can.

I still don't believe that a Pro Audio cable will benefit in a big way from really expensive plugs, compared a good quality mid priced plug. If you are going to spend that much on a plug, why not spend a bit more on the cable? Still, I will be interested to read Marco's findings, as to me this rapidly enters the law of diminishing returns area which I am not comfortable with.
I have read in various different places that the best plug you can have, is no plug at all.

To add a bit of perspective here, I am as likely to buy the proper Furutech Carbon bodied plugs as I am likely to buy a SLIC for my system. Maybe if I win the lottery tonight or at the weekend, I will change my opinion, but for me the best sound for the pound is the priority. I think that the cable will make more difference. MCRU comments about the SLIC imply that the cable is more important than the plug, so Marco, please prove me wrong. I like to learn. It's been good fun so far seeing what affect it has on the most important factor to me, the enjoyment of my music.

I am hoping that OldPinkMan will be visiting in August for a few beers and a BBQ as he passes by, with one of his cables. It will be interesting to note who changes their opinion the most.