After lots of fooling around with cables -- including fooling around with very expensive cables -- I just gave up.
I more or less understood (understand) the science behind, but, being a nervous audiophile, I couldn't help myself. Now, here's the thing: at best, cable will offer some wee bit equalization. A little more in this frequency range, a bit less in that, etc. In short, it is a very inexact way to balance one's system. So, what's best? Something neutral. Chuck Hinton, McIntoh's technical rep, presumably understands something about audio. He told me that he uses 14 gauge low-voltage outdoor lighting cable from home depot...and, what's more, that's the cable that has been used in many McIntosh demonstrations and reviews. Personally, my audiophile bug still nagged me, so I ditched the expensive cables (AP Oval 9's and AZ Satoris, for just two) and ordered up a pair of 10 gauge cables from Blue Jeans Cables. Overkill, yes, but...placebo. Sometimes I need it. Anyway, these cables are every bit as good and "neutral" as any of the others. Now, you need to balance your system? That's where equalization comes in. Doesn't matter whether it is the pricey TacT RCS/EQ system or just a straight-up graphic EQ combined with a reasonable mic and room measurement software. It works. A 3db somewhere meaningful makes far more of a difference -- and is cheaper -- than playing guessing games with horrendously overpriced cables. -- highdudgeon ------------------------------------------------------------------------ highdudgeon's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2195 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=21750 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
