What is your favourite Inter-connect?

[IslandPink]

Hi Richard,
Thanks for the considered reply and the invite .
In saying that Rock is good on CD , you have reminded me of a few recent occasions when it worked really well . James has 'Disraeli Gears' on CD at Eggborough the first time and it sounded superb from his little Sony discman , so it can be made to work . Also, some of the CD remixes and re-workings of the 60's , 70's albums are a distinct improvement in terms of mix .
I have quite a bit of CD material that I would like to hear better , so ideas are always welcome . What I need is something that bridges the gap between the Marantz 'Njoe Tjoeb ' 4000 and where I am on the vinyl . I haven't heard anything in the system that did it yet ( a Naim CDX2 and special PS was not much better than the NT ) so still hoping .

I may PM you , or post a 'CD ideas' thread to see what people come up with .

mark

[James D]

Just caught up with this thread, some interesting comments by Richard

I like the variability comments about decks - which is pretty accurate for most decks and certainly applies to suspended sub-chassis decks a lot. But it also applies to most CD players too... Most sound different when moved from room to room and system to system. Of course the basic character sounds the same but the performance varies - sometimes a lot. Funnily enough I found my little discman to be pretty consistent sounding between systems and something as solidly engineered as a Naim pretty variable... (The discman always sounds better so the Naim was sold...)

Agree with Mark that ultimately vinyl is higher resolution than CD - and a good system shows this quite clearly. After all even SACD or DVD-A shows that CD has limited resolution...

Agree with MArk on Litz wire too as I've been using that for a few years now for interconnects but I have also used sat cable and found that good too as long as you can make the cable ends off properly...

James

James

[leo:)]

Originally Posted by Richard

Hi Leo, yes, soundwise it doesn't really have one does it. It's like the most ordinary coax, say RG58, with no obvious stand-out areas, but better in literally every way.

Jonny and I also compared a lot to it and found ourselves saying "yes it's better" but then not being able to say why; it has sweeter top, more open mids and enormous bass, it made everything else we tried sound artificial, but not just one thing we could put a handle on.

On reflection I don't find this strange. It has very low LCR so it's probably not altering the frequency response much. I'm sure some cables would be better in other systems if, for example, they needed less bass/more top etc.

Hi Stuart, not like sat cable really and has, from memory, about 9 OFC signal strands. Have you tried sat cable btw?

Hi Mark, sorry, I don't understand your point, I was agreeing with your analysis (read "faces" as "confronts"), have I misunderstood? Do you think vinyl is not a variable system of reproduction?

Rich

I've tried various co-ax types and none is as good as your Archer Rich imho, I tried some sat cable from Maplins too but didn't like it at all to be honest although sat cable can work well as a digital lead between transport and dac if the length is kept over 3 meters and you use proper 75R BNC's.
Its hard finding a neautral sounding interconnect really, I've almost given up

[Richard]

Mark, I have Disraeli Gears and also Fresh Cream from the same year eek was it that long ago Not played them for several years/component changes so will give them a thrash tomorrow. As I recall they were particularly 'orrible recordings so will wind up the level and see if they come to life...

James, you're quite right about CD players also being sensitive to support and surroundings. First time I realised just how much was after making a "holy shelf" for mine supported on spikes. Leo was round when we lifted the player, swapped the shelves to and fro and really couldn't believe the difference. A while later he brought a heavily modded player round for a listen and we stuck it on the floor. It just died, sounded very poor. Then we swapped it onto the shelf and the transformation was remarkable.

The idea was from the Quadraspire(?) ones we heard at Bristol a few years ago and is to support firmly on a light shelf with only a little energy and that being at higher frequencies so not a lot is transferred to the heavier player which has a lower natural resonance.



Tried my player on the floor and it didn't make as much difference to it as his so there's clearly some difference between players themselves and their environment.

I'm really not sure about the extra resolution of vinyl. Certainly some modern recordings are so processed there IS information missing (ie Robbie Williams) but many, inc some older analogue transfers to CD really do have me believing I'm hearing the tape err, OK I am...it's hissing.. I do wonder if what we take to be extra detail is in truth noise (tape hiss, vinyl roar, and rumble) and it sounds soothing, filling in those deathly silent bits that you get with a digital recording on CD. Lately a couple of albums I've been listening to have had the studio noise left in and it really is very convincing of a gig atmosphere. Then again, I had all the early Joni Michel on vinyl and it was only when I got the CDs I realised some clicks and pops were mike knocks and her pedalling rather than a mark on the vinyl. Very reassuring too on rock when you're wondering if the cart is mistracking then you get to hear the guitar crunching beautifully on CD.....

Leo, we should get together and have another cable session sometime, there must be other decent-enough cables. Trouble is a quick listen usually says it all and the plugs get whipped off to use on the next bit of cable don't they. Heaven knows how many we've all tried so I just stick to these as being fairly neutral otherwise it just gets too complicated....

Rich

[NickG]

About CD players and supports, if anyone remembers the last eggfest, I don't just stand my tosh player on the old Linn springs I have for the fun of it, I find it make a HUGE difference to the sound.

If someone wants to try it, make sure the CDP is level after the springs have been added.

[Greg.]

Hi Nick,

I noticed and thought that this was 'quirky beyond' at the time but then thought that 'this guy doesn't do that for nothing'. Did look bizarre though, but if it works etc.............

Best wishes,

Greg

[Paul Welsby]

Originally Posted by david counter

solid silver in teflon

Anyone know a source for this ?

I know where to get solid silver ( www.wires.co.uk ) and i know where to get PTFE tubing but im looking for the two joined together in perfect harmony, if ya know what i mean.

Paul

[Global]

It really is very easy (and cheaper) to pull a silver wire through a PTFE tube (very low friction!).

I believe that Audiocom have pre-manufactured wire but they don't get a very good rep. as a supplier.

Mark

[david counter]

Nick Lucas at hifi collective has .5 and 1mm in teflon

[Paul Welsby]

Originally Posted by david counter

Nick Lucas at hifi collective has .5 and 1mm in teflon

0.5mm diameter, 99.9% pure silver wire, cleaned and sheathed in teflon from HIFI Collective is £7.05 a metre

Now that seems expensive to me!


Paul