Balanced cables
When I started getting serious about this hobby in the 1980s, one didn't hear too much about cables. (At least I didn't; but then I wasn't looking.) When I returned to the hobby in 2015 I ordered a NAD dedicated CD player. The dealer sold me a pair of AudioQuest Alpha Snake ICs for $24 to go with it. While I was waiting for the NAD to be delivered I put the Alpha Snakes on an old ADC CDP that it was replacing. I immediately had to turn the volume down on the amp. So I was convinced that the cheap ICs that came with the players were garbage. I was not convinced, however, that spending more than $25 was prudent. A few years later and my system became much more capable of revealing detail. I bought a pair of WireWorld Oasis 7s for about $100. They made an improvement in soundstage and carity from my Oppo BDP-95 through a Rotel Rx-1052 and Canton Ergos that I thought was not just my imagination. Later I replaced the Oasis 7s with inexpensive Gotham PUR XLRs. (now through a Primare I32) This was an improvement that I absolutely and immediately knew was not my imagination. Next I got some Zu Mission XLRs that I believe listed for about $215. I'm not sure I hear any improvement over the $35 Gothams, but this does not surprise me. I had thought that the nature of balanced circuits and cables is much more immune to cable differences than RCAs. Since I got the Zus for only $45, it was not an expensive experiment. It seems that some of the followers of this thread who are far more knowledgeable than I have confirmed my theory. I am insecure enough to take comfort in that. |
handymann Balanced cables are a huge asset ... You have two separate signal wires, both shielded by the woven mesh. This eliminates possible 60hz hum, or IR interference, that can and sometimes will present itself, when using SE cables.Again, this is mistaken. The ability of a balanced cable to reject interference isn't because of shielding, which many balanced cables completely lack. Rather, it is the nature of the balanced connection itself and the common-mode rejection ratio that results. Shielding can very much be a benefit with single-ended cables, however. |
