Goldpoint SA4M-47 passive 'preamp' winging its way to Marco Towers...

[r100]

Anyway, enough of this daftness, let's get back on topic



That stuff, for me, is too thin for what we want. Conductor size matters, too! It's not all just about low-capacitance...

In that respect, if we're examining 'professional' cables, I think that guitar cable is more suitable than microphone cable, for producing high-quality audio interconnects. Belden 1800F is ideal, and I suspect once fitted with MS Audio plugs, will be a worthy challenger to the Klotz MC5000.

Marco.

Ya, the 1800F seems to fit the bill perfectly...

[Marco]

What lead you to that conclusion?

Which conclusion are you referring to? If it's that the Belden cable, shown in the above video, is too thin to be optimal for use as a high quality interconnect, then it's gut feeling mixed with experience of using cables like that before. I don't use balanced connections in my system. If it works for you, cool!

I think that for RCA interconnects, a Coax based cable (such as the Belden 1694A) will be hard to beat.

Tried it before, and whilst it was good, it wasn't brilliant - certainly not in the league of the MC5000. However, I'm expecting the Belden 1800F to be better, but we'll see. For less than a tenner delivered, it's not a hill of beans.

In terms of a coax-based cable, I appreciate where you're coming from, which is why (as mentioned earlier) I intend to try this from Sommer: http://www.tube-town.net/ttstore/Cab...muv6greiqhqp21

It's all just a bit of fun. I'm more than happy with the MC5000s, but if I can eke out just a little bit more from the Goldpoint, with the use of a lower capacitance cable, and for peanuts, as the Belden costs next to nothing (and I already have some spare MS Audio plugs), then why not?

Marco.

[CageyH]

How about the Blue Jeans LC-1?
Not expensive, so it must be worth a shot?

[Marco]

Been there, done that, lol...

It's a very good cable though, unfortunately let down by the Canare plugs, which although intrinsically of good quality, have too much metal in their construction. You know the score, for the best sound, the only metal you want on plugs are in the conductors themselves!

Marco.

[DSJR]

Belden was rubbish a couple of years ago, all tinny and one note....... Must be true, you told me so

I've been looking on the NWA website. I have no idea how much Dominic charges for his cables (they can't be bargain-cheap), but his gold plated silver interconnect, with air-gap dielectric or somesuch may just do the job - capacitance is also one of the lowest figures I've seen...

Did Mark Grant ever say what the capacitance of his cable is? It won't be high I wouldn't have thought, being as it's an rf type...

[Marco]

Belden was rubbish a couple of years ago, all tinny and one note....... Must be true, you told me so

Lol - I remember it well! Different Belden cable, though.

I've been looking on the NWA website. I have no idea how much Dominic charges for his cables (they can't be bargain-cheap), but his gold plated silver interconnect, with air-gap dielectric or somesuch may just do the job - capacitance is also one of the lowest figures I've seen...

Knowing Dom, it'll be fab, but I don't want to go there, as a) I'm really perfectly happy with the MC5000s, and have stopped spending big money on cables years ago, and b) I want this little project (with the passive) to be cost effective - i.e. I don't want to spend much!

I actually like the 'no nonsense' sonic presentation of professional cables, used in studios and broadcast stations, as IME it tends to be less 'contrived' than that offered by audiophile types.

Mark's cables are also excellent, and offer superb SPPV, but I've moved onto other things now, so will try the Belden and Sommer cables mentioned. If either are a little better than the MC5000s, when used in conjunction with the Goldpoint, then happy days. If not, then I'll be delighted to stick with what I've got

Msrco.

[Marco]

The Belden cables have now been fitted with MS Audio plugs, thanks to Brian (top man ) and are winging their way back here as we speak...

They should arrive tomorrow, so once I get a proper listen to them, and a good handle on what they're doing sonically and musically, I'll compare them to the MC5000s and (on loan) NVA SSCs, in reference to which work best, in my system, with the Goldpoint.

Also, the LDR (from Chris) has arrived, so I've arranged a bake-off tonight at Ian Walker's place, where Duncan will also be in attendance, and where we'll be comparing the Goldpoint and LDR against Ian's own shunted dual-mono passive (designed by Duncan), so full report later on that one!

Marco.

[Marco]

Well well, last night's sesh certainly was one!

More on that after din-dins....

Marco.

[The Black Adder]

[Jimbo]