Phono to preamp interconnects

[magiccarpetride]

Being a big time skeptic about the importance of interconnects, I've been using some el cheapo no name interconnects between my phone and my preamp. A few days ago I visited my local hi fi store to buy some inner sleeves for my LPs. Started chatting with the sales guy, and after explaining what turntable, tonearm, cartridge and phono I'm using, he asked me which interconnects am I using to hook the front end to the preamp. I told him that I don't believe that could ever make any difference, and that I'm using just some cheap no name wire. To which he insisted that I'm making a huge mistake and that I should reconsider.

I didn't feel like spending any money on what I consider to be snake oil, but he told me: "Tell you what -- I have these interconnects here (and points at the AudioQuest Red River) on sale; why don't you buy them, take them home, and if you can't hear any difference, bring them back for a full refund. How's that -- you can't lose."

OK, I was in a good mood, so I decided to give it a shot. Went home and first listened to the "Chinese Cafe/Unchained Melody" off Joni Mitchell's "Wild Things Run Fast" LP. I know that track quite well, so I thought if there are any possible differences in the before-and-after comparison, I should be able to hear them.

Switched to the Red River interconnects, and sat down to listen to the same track again. And then found my jaw dropped to the floor! Incredible difference. Red River just opened up the sound, and made everything so much more clear. Plus, the sound gained ton of weight and slam.

I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. How's this possible? How can a tiny piece of wire make such a difference?

So my question is: since Red River is an entry level interconnect, would it make sense to upgrade and go for some high end cable (such as Yukon)? Would I hear similar degree of improvement, or would I be hitting the field of diminishing returns?

[struth]

Being a big time skeptic about the importance of interconnects, I've been using some el cheapo no name interconnects between my phone and my preamp. A few days ago I visited my local hi fi store to buy some inner sleeves for my LPs. Started chatting with the sales guy, and after explaining what turntable, tonearm, cartridge and phono I'm using, he asked me which interconnects am I using to hook the front end to the preamp. I told him that I don't believe that could ever make any difference, and that I'm using just some cheap no name wire. To which he insisted that I'm making a huge mistake and that I should reconsider.

I didn't feel like spending any money on what I consider to be snake oil, but he told me: "Tell you what -- I have these interconnects here (and points at the AudioQuest Red River) on sale; why don't you buy them, take them home, and if you can't hear any difference, bring them back for a full refund. How's that -- you can't lose."

OK, I was in a good mood, so I decided to give it a shot. Went home and first listened to the "Chinese Cafe/Unchained Melody" off Joni Mitchell's "Wild Things Run Fast" LP. I know that track quite well, so I thought if there are any possible differences in the before-and-after comparison, I should be able to hear them.

Switched to the Red River interconnects, and sat down to listen to the same track again. And then found my jaw dropped to the floor! Incredible difference. Red River just opened up the sound, and made everything so much more clear. Plus, the sound gained ton of weight and slam.

I found myself shaking my head in disbelief. How's this possible? How can a tiny piece of wire make such a difference?

So my question is: since Red River is an entry level interconnect, would it make sense to upgrade and go for some high end cable (such as Yukon)? Would I hear similar degree of improvement, or would I be hitting the field of diminishing returns?

some will say it cant, like yourself a short while ago. No guarantee another more expensive one will be better, and even if it is it might only be 5% better for a lot of wonga. I like Brian of this parish's homemade ones but its horses for courses. Ive a few of geoffs make and they are great too, just currently too long

[magiccarpetride]

some will say it cant, like yourself a short while ago. No guarantee another more expensive one will be better, and even if it is it might only be 5% better for a lot of wonga. I like Brian of this parish's homemade ones but its horses for courses. Ive a few of geoffs make and they are great too, just currently too long

So the leap from no-name wires to entry level AudioQuest is the most dramatic one? Any upgrade from the entry level to the top shelf wouldn't be that staggering?

[struth]

So the leap from no-name wires to entry level AudioQuest is the most dramatic one? Any upgrade from the entry level to the top shelf wouldn't be that staggering?

it might, but but unlikely. may note be as good. you can rarely tell til you try.

some do a return if not happy I think

[walpurgis]

The same also applies to speaker cable and believe it or not digital coax cables. Changes are very audible on my system and of course I always opt for what sounds best to me, which is not necessarily the most expensive.

(I'm expecting a slap on the wrist from Jez at any moment for having the audacity to suggest speaker cables can sound different! :lol:)

[magiccarpetride]

The same also applies to speaker cable and believe it or not digital coax cables. Changes are very audible on my system and of course I always opt for what sounds best to me, which is not necessarily the most expensive.

(I'm expecting a slap on the wrist from Jez at any moment for having the audacity to suggest speaker cables can sound different! :lol:)

I have no qualms understanding and accepting that speaker cables can make a difference. But a tiny piece of wire from the phono to the preamp? Come on! That's like science fiction.

And yet, not only are my ears not deceiving me, my wife also noticed the difference although she had no idea that I swapped anything in my stereo. (I know, the proverbial wife who is always used as the 'proof' that the shill sales pitch is real ;)

[Arkless Electronics]

The same also applies to speaker cable and believe it or not digital coax cables. Changes are very audible on my system and of course I always opt for what sounds best to me, which is not necessarily the most expensive.

(I'm expecting a slap on the wrist from Jez at any moment for having the audacity to suggest speaker cables can sound different! :lol:)

Have another one for suggesting any sort of cable makes a difference ever:D

[Barry]

Listen to them for a few days, then revert back to the original cables. If the sound changes for the worse, then you know the difference you originally heard was a genuine improvement and so keep the Red Rivers.

[farflungstar]

I've been saying cables make a difference for 30 years much to some people's amusement and derision - welcome to the club [emoji3]

[Bigman80]

Cables do make a difference. Get Brian to make you some of his Klotz or his Hybrids. See if they float your boat. They seem to float a lot of people's, including me.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[magiccarpetride]

Cables do make a difference. Get Brian to make you some of his Klotz or his Hybrids. See if they float your boat. They seem to float a lot of people's, including me.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

How do I get in touch with that Brian?

[Edward]

How do I get in touch with that Brian?

He goes by the user name of brian2957 (http://theartofsound.net/forum/member.php?4537-brian2957).

Posting cables to Canada may make it not worthwhile.

[Bigman80]

He goes by the user name of brian2957 (http://theartofsound.net/forum/member.php?4537-brian2957).

Posting cables to Canada may make it not worthwhile.He's a good egg, he'll do his best.

Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Haselsh1]

My partner Sue and I have been listening to variations in the sound of interconnects for around five years now and have settled on Atlas Hyper cables for all interconnects. The way they open up the stereo depth and width is quite amazing when compared to lesser cables and we now use these as our reference.

[magiccarpetride]

My partner Sue and I have been listening to variations in the sound of interconnects for around five years now and have settled on Atlas Hyper cables for all interconnects. The way they open up the stereo depth and width is quite amazing when compared to lesser cables and we now use these as our reference.

Which model are you using?

[Anthony K]

welcome to the enlightened , different cable manufactures will give different results going up the chain price wise

If you know a good dealer its easy to do taste tests.

On the affordable front , check WireWorld , Ecosse and Townshend.

I recently had the pleasure of hearing a $21,000 RCA in my humble system , and yes that is f**king expensive. But when you talk of jawdropping , jaw , knees and balls will hit the floor. worth $21,000 ? hell no , worth hearing ? hell yes.

Start fooling with various power cables and scrape your jaw up time and time again.

[hifinutt]

I've been saying cables make a difference for 30 years much to some people's amusement and derision - welcome to the club [emoji3]

yes I am using some of adrians rfc cables [mercury ] and they are a step up from pluto I was using

[Haselsh1]

Which model are you using?

Oh hell Alex, so sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

http://www.analogueseduction.net/category-663/atlas-hyper-symmetrical-analogue-interconnects.html

These are the ones we currently use. Three stereo pairs. Pre to power, CD to pre and phono to pre.

[Haselsh1]

As lots of folk insist, unless you need your ears syringing, the differences can be amazing.

[Marco]

My partner Sue and I have been listening to variations in the sound of interconnects for around five years now and have settled on Atlas Hyper cables for all interconnects. The way they open up the stereo depth and width is quite amazing when compared to lesser cables and we now use these as our reference.

Love how your good lady is involved in the process - just how it should be! :respect:

Incidentally, I also rate Atlas cables. If I were spending reasonably serious money on cables, Atlas would be one of the companies I'd look at. Enjoy your choons :)

Marco.

[southall-1998]

Oh hell Alex, so sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

http://www.analogueseduction.net/category-663/atlas-hyper-symmetrical-analogue-interconnects.html

These are the ones we currently use. Three stereo pairs. Pre to power, CD to pre and phono to pre.


Looks interesting. Must give them a go someday.

S.

[magiccarpetride]

Oh hell Alex, so sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

http://www.analogueseduction.net/category-663/atlas-hyper-symmetrical-analogue-interconnects.html

These are the ones we currently use. Three stereo pairs. Pre to power, CD to pre and phono to pre.

Thanks, those look pretty scrumptious.

A friend of mine offered a theory that the difference I've heard when switching cables might boil down to the fact that I've cleaned up the contact surfaces when I jiggled the cables. Could such thing contribute to the difference?

Intrigued, I went back last night and unplugged Red River and plugged back the old no name cables. The difference between the playback was not as pronounced as when I originally switched them. I can still hear that the no name cables sound a bit muffled and 'wooly', but not to the extent that I experienced initially.

[walpurgis]

Thanks, those look pretty scrumptious

I avoid judging cables by their appearance. Listening is the only way. Some sellers do 'sale or return'.

[magiccarpetride]

I avoid judging cables by their appearance. Listening is the only way. Some sellers do 'sale or return'.

I couldn't listen to them by looking at the photo, so I was only left with the option to comment on the looks.

[Barry]

I avoid judging cables by their appearance. Listening is the only way. Some sellers do 'sale or return'.

Looks are everything! If the cable isn't covered with black mesh sleeving or doesn't have signal direction markers fitted, it can't be any good!

Likewise the best mains cables are those that use the old, pre-EU, colour coding. It makes all the difference. :D

[Haselsh1]

Ah, but if these are linear crystal copper cables then the crystal is drawn out in one direction only by extrusion so that would surely make the cables directional...?

[walpurgis]

Ah, but if these are linear crystal copper cables then the crystal is drawn out in one direction only by extrusion so that would surely make the cables directional...?

Wire can't be directional. It has to work in both directions with audio signals and mains power.