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Post by boscobear on Sept 6, 2014 10:09:23 GMT -5
OK I have purchased a pair of Emotiva 1 meter XLR interconnects. I need another pair , and the cost is like $70.00, minus my E-Club discount. So I looked at Monoprice, and the price for a pair of 1 Meter, XLR interconnects is $11.00. I see part of the price difference in the cheap cables, are the wires are connected with screws, while the super expensive ones are soldered and set inside the chassis. I also assume there is a difference in materials, I can't tell.
I'm now conflicted, are these cables valued at 600% more, worth the cat's meow. I believe this is a legitimate question, that I can't decide. Tomorrow, will be different , and I will probably just buy them. So I ponder, will I experience any difference, or is it all in the mind.
I have not ever used any XLR cables yet. I have purchased quite a few new cables from Emotiva for the XMC-1, to use whenever I'm emailed. The one XLR pair I have is to connect the XPR-5, to the XMC-1. I would like to use the balanced connection also to the ERC-1, instead of the RCA connection I use today.
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Post by monkumonku on Sept 6, 2014 10:14:30 GMT -5
OK I have purchased a pair of Emotiva 1 meter XLR interconnects. I need another pair , and the cost is like $70.00, minus my E-Club discount. So I looked at Monoprice, and the price for a pair of 1 Meter, XLR interconnects is $11.00. I see part of the price difference in the cheap cables, are the wires are connected with screws, while the super expensive ones are soldered and set inside the chassis. I also assume there is a difference in materials, I can't tell. I'm now conflicted, are these cables valued at 600% more, worth the cat's meow. I believe this is a legitimate question, that I can't decide. Tomorrow, will be different , and I will probably just buy them. So I ponder, will I experience any difference, or is it all in the mind. I have not ever used any XLR cables yet. I have purchased quite a few new cables from Emotiva for the XMC-1, to use whenever I'm emailed. The one XLR pair I have is to connect the XPR-5, to the XMC-1. I would like to use the balanced connection also to the ERC-1, instead of the RCA connection I use today. I use Monoprice XLR cables and have never had a problem with any of them. That said, while I've never used any of Emo's XLR's, I would bet their construction quality is superior to the Monoprice cables. But, I've been using Monoprice ones and have found them sturdy, flexible, and they do the job. The price is amazingly low, too. |
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kse
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Post by kse on Sept 6, 2014 10:18:13 GMT -5
I can't answer your question specifically, but I will tell you that I use Monoprice interconnects exclusively, and the quality is very good, much nicer in fact than their price suggests.
That being said, I am sure the Emotiva cables are very nice. I'm sure they are just being private labeled, but nice nonetheless.
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Post by repeetavx on Sept 6, 2014 10:43:18 GMT -5
Wow, another cable discussion. While I'm one of the guys that can hear a difference between cables, specifically power and speaker cables, I have found that there isn't much difference in sound between balanced cables. Except for my 2.1 channels, I use Monoprice balanced cables. For my 2.1 channels I prefer Blue Jean balanced cables. I found that the Blue Jean balanced cables sounded just as good as my Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval balanced cables. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 11:04:43 GMT -5
I have several different brands and price points of XLR cables. I bought Monoprice on the last XLR purchase. I used a 5 second repeat test loop on a test tone CD at 30hz, and then at 15khz. Switching between 3 brands of XLR cables there was no difference....at least to my ears. Go with Monoprice.
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Post by yeeeha17 on Sept 6, 2014 11:06:13 GMT -5
I have both monoprice and Emotiva xlr cables and can't hear a difference. I just like how well Emotiva cables look
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Post by AudioHTIT on Sept 6, 2014 11:06:55 GMT -5
I don't think you'll hear any difference, the question is rather will you appreciate the difference. Emotiva's connectors are higher quality and make a smother, more positive connection, the Techflex exterior looks better and routes more easily, they have the cool little colored rings to identify the channel, their overall build quality is higher. The same is true for BlueJeans, and they offer more options and custom lengths. Cables aren't all about sound, but if that's your criteria and budget, Monoprice works quite well.
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Post by Nodscene on Sept 6, 2014 11:33:29 GMT -5
I don't think much more needs to be added but I will anyways haha. I don't have experience with the XLR cables but I do own both the Monoprice and Emotiva interconnects. I don't hear any difference and almost always buy from Monoprice as their cables are well made and look decent. That being said, when I had the extra money to blow and the Emotiva cables were on sale I bought a bunch as I really love the look of them.
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Post by boscobear on Sept 6, 2014 11:35:43 GMT -5
Wow another cable discussion
Too bad you could not answer, just tell us what you bought, and how you believe you can heard a difference. Yes, and I believe I have heard a difference between low end, and high end cables. If we could finally give composition to the ingredients of identifiable cables, maybe we could not rely on what someone said they can hear, and others can not hear, but that does not exist. The cables are just that, interconnects to the total system. It is the system, the components that need to be exploited. So each system, with numeral variations of different components, will react completely different with different connections. Not as much because the connection is different, but because the Audio devise/s themselves will benefit from each other differently.
I too have spent so many dollars on higher priced interconnects. 20 years ago I went through a change into high end cables. At first, I changed one set of RCA cables, and there was a remarkable difference from the commercially available better cabling at your local Best Buy. Now today, so many cables are similar in, heavy structure , flexible, extra thick copper, insulated from interference, Gold plated. They all have some variation of these selling points. My question, when they all show so similar on their selling features, how do we know there is a difference ? If this was proven, and became principle, there would be no more discussion.
I was unable to find a resolution to previous discussion relating to closely designed XLR cables, on the forum.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 11:42:39 GMT -5
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Post by MaisterK on Sept 6, 2014 17:35:49 GMT -5
You can find XLR cables at BestBuy, for a very competitive price.
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novisnick
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Post by novisnick on Sept 6, 2014 19:35:09 GMT -5
You can find XLR cables at BestBuy, for a very competitive price. Yep! That's where mine came from, they work just fine. |
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Post by jackpine on Sept 6, 2014 20:15:58 GMT -5
Wow, another cable discussion. While I'm one of the guys that can hear a difference between cables, specifically power and speaker cables, I have found that there isn't much difference in sound between balanced cables. Except for my 2.1 channels, I use Monoprice balanced cables. For my 2.1 channels I prefer Blue Jean balanced cables. I found that the Blue Jean balanced cables sounded just as good as my Analysis Plus Solo Crystal Oval balanced cables. That's interesting, my brother heard a big difference in his Analysis Plus XLRs over Emotiva. Impressed him so much he has ordered some Analysis Plus RCAs. When he tried Analysis Plus speaker wires he felt any difference was insignificant and he didn't keep them. Myself if I'm spending more than a few dollars on cable look for OFC (oxygen free copper). At least I know I'm getting purer copper for my money. I've never spent more than $50 for a pair of interconnects. My brother wants me to give Analysis Plus a try, we'll see. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2014 23:57:29 GMT -5
Paul McGowan of PS Audio asserts that the termination inside the plugs is of more importance than the cable wire itself. He says that no matter the quality of the wire, if the solder joint of the wire to the plug is not perfect then that is where there will be a compromise in signal flow. To me this makes a lot sense, and is something I really didn't think about. I think this is a thumbs up for Blue Jeans Cables as they weld the wire to the metal in the plugs, and do not use any solder at all. I think they are the only cable company that does this.
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Post by boscobear on Sept 7, 2014 1:49:49 GMT -5
Emotiva also has their wires soldered , this statement comes from the Emotiva XLR cable features "Wires are soldered directly to machined pin terminals, then housed in a one-piece injection-molded subchassis to provide a durable, corrosion-resistant, lifetime connection."
This makes perfect sense, if the wire connection is not 100% secured, the signal is diminished. This makes the case for Emotiva cables, and Bluejean. The monoprice cables wires are held in place with small screws. With electronic wiring thats just not long term reliable.
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Post by nathanzachary on Sept 9, 2014 15:36:02 GMT -5
+1 for Blue Jeans Cables. I use them for just about everything, and they're awesome. They don't solder the connections for their speaker cable, but actually ultrasonically weld them. Does that make a difference in sound quality? Maybe or maybe not. It does, however, help with reliability of the connection. I personally don't believe the claims of the vastly expensive cable companies like Transparent, Kimber, et cetera, but to each his or her own. I would like to try some of Emotiva's cables at some point though. They certainly do *look* nice, but aesthetics are not all that important in my case.
Hope that helps, and doesn't just obfuscate the issue. Ultimately, try Blue Jeans Cable if you're thinking about Monoprice. They are a little bit more expensive, but I think that they're worth it.
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Post by pedrocols on Sept 9, 2014 17:03:51 GMT -5
I am currently using Monoprice ones going from the dac to the preamp and never have had a problem with noise or sound quality. If you splice one you can see they use good mic wire.
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Post by leonski on Oct 21, 2014 20:24:59 GMT -5
Head over to the local Guitar Center and buy a pair of the Mogami Studio Gold. These are REFERENCE quality cables and priced quite modestly for all they do so well. You'll have 'em forever.
I use a pair from my DAC to my preamp.
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Post by pedrocols on Oct 21, 2014 21:24:45 GMT -5
The Monoprice seems well built and the solder job looks pretty darn good...  |
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Post by leonski on Oct 21, 2014 22:36:31 GMT -5
With the Mogami cable AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE you get the highly regarded Neglex Cable. Very flexible and basically the industry 'standard' used in hundreds of recording studios worldwide.
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