In the box interconnect vs audiophile interconnect

[sthomas048]

I recently bought the Rega Apollo cd player along with some Chord Chompany Crimson interconnect cable. After a two weeks of listening it seems the interconnects that came in the box with the Apollo sound better in my system that the Chord cables ! I would have thought the Chord would offer some improvement, but alas. When listening with the Chord cables the mid sounds too bloomy and forward, the treble to bright. The rega cables offer a more balanced sound in my ears. Nevertheless im pleased on discovering this as i usually disregard the free cable in the box.

So is it purely down to each individuals ears/room/combination of hifi seperates ?

My Apollo cd player is partnered with an old Rotel RA931 amp with a pair of B&W 601 speakers.

Stephen.

 

[idc]

sthomas048:

So is it purely down to each individuals ears/room/combination of hifi seperates ?

Hi Stephen. The above is absolutely correct. There are many audiophiles who swear by their or others home made cables and cables bought from not usually recognised as hifi sources such as Maplins.

 

[chebby]

The free Naim 5 Pin DIN cable (lockable collars) is doing just fine connecting my CD and amp. I have no interest in experimenting. I would probably just mess up whatever synergy is going on.

I wish all companies would research a decent cable that they know suits/enhances connection between their equipment. (Captive leads on CD players anyone?)

End of daft cable debates. Hoorah!

(The trouble is that every company is not Rega or Naim or some other company that cares enough to include a free cable of sufficient quality.)

 

[Gerrardasnails]

sthomas048:
I recently bought the Rega Apollo cd player along with some Chord Chompany Crimson interconnect cable. After a two weeks of listening it seems the interconnects that came in the box with the Apollo sound better in my system that the Chord cables ! I would have thought the Chord would offer some improvement, but alas. When listening with the Chord cables the mid sounds too bloomy and forward, the treble to bright. The rega cables offer a more balanced sound in my ears. Nevertheless im pleased on discovering this as i usually disregard the free cable in the box.

So is it purely down to each individuals ears/room/combination of hifi seperates ?

My Apollo cd player is partnered with an old Rotel RA931 amp with a pair of B&W 601 speakers.

Stephen.

I would have to argue that the Crimson is hardly an audiophile interconnect. It's Chord's lowest level interconnect in a range of about 8 cables from the Crimson at circa £30 to the Indigo at £900.

 

[Andrew Everard]

...And they're off!

 

[Lost Angeles]

I connected a Chord Crimson and the cheapest cable I could find in our house between my Arcam CD192 and my Caspian amp. Put a few CDs on and switched between the two whilst the CD was playing and could not tell the difference.

My conclusion was either my ears have shot it or you need to spend more than £30 to tell the difference on my system.
When I get the chance I intend trying this on my 18 year old son and see if he can hear any difference.

 

[lazar1980]

 

[chebby]

"Hey Virgil, another cable debate has started in the What Hifi forums."

 

[idc]

Stephen, as a new poster you may be wondering what the heck is going on. It is just that cable debates often get unnecessarily vitriolic and they become slanging matches until a nice chap called the Moderator joins in. The bottom line is (and about the one issue all parties tend to agree on) if you have tried different cables, pick the one that sounds the best to you and who made it or how much it cost is not actually that big an issue.

 

[sthomas048]

Chebby
Indeed you are right. It would be nice if companies put some thought into placing good quality interconnect with their CD players. Often its an afterthough isnt it ? But i was very happy to realise (after paying for a another interconnect !

) that Rega include a very capable cable with the Apollo.

Lost Angeles
Mmm, i now reaslise that the Crimson is truly an
entry level cable. Good in its own right, but certainly not a good mix
for my system. On the other hand the QED Silver AnniversaryXT BiWire
speaker cable i invested in is just incredible, priced near the lower
end of speaker cables, but oh do my B&Ws love it !

 

[idc]

The power cable that was supplied with the Rega Mira amp I found was the equal of the entry level Russ Andrews Yello power cable. That should be the standard that all manufacturers should aspire to. The other option is not to supply any cable at all, but that is like getting a toy at christmas and no batteries included.

 

[Anonymous]

idc:The power cable that was supplied with the Rega Mira amp I found was the equal of the entry level Russ Andrews Yello power cable. That should be the standard that all manufacturers should aspire to. The other option is not to supply any cable at all, but that is like getting a toy at christmas and no batteries included.

Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Red Dwarf:
idc:The power cable that was supplied with the Rega Mira amp I found was the equal of the entry level Russ Andrews Yello power cable. That should be the standard that all manufacturers should aspire to. The other option is not to supply any cable at all, but that is like getting a toy at christmas and no batteries included.

Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

Check out Red Dwarf's 4 contributions to the forum so far. Smells like an old friend....

 

[the record spot]

Andrew Everard:...And they're off!

I don't suppose it's too late to bring them back under starter's orders? Like they do at Aintree every few years? Or just cancel the race altogether before they set off maybe?! That'd be my choice I think...

 

[aliEnRIK]

Red Dwarf:
Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

RESEARCH PAPERS

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:Red Dwarf:
idc:The power cable that was supplied with the Rega Mira amp I found was the equal of the entry level Russ Andrews Yello power cable. That should be the standard that all manufacturers should aspire to. The other option is not to supply any cable at all, but that is like getting a toy at christmas and no batteries included.

Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains, for Christ's sake. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

Check out Red Dwarf's 4 contributions to the forum so far. Smells like an old friend....

I don't think we've ever met, have we?

 

[chebby]

aliEnRIK:Red Dwarf:
Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains, for Christ's sake. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

RESEARCH PAPERS

Probably commissioned as a result of this.

 

[aliEnRIK]

chebby:aliEnRIK:Red Dwarf:
Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains, for Christ's sake. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

RESEARCH PAPERS

Probably commissioned as a result of this.

They are (And their reputation of course). But that doesnt alter the fact theyve 'measureably' proven their braided mains chords do have an impact on amps and even had a university professor analyse them in case anyone refutes their findings.

 

[chebby]

Is Ben Duncan acting independently for RA though?

Russ Andrews also employs Ben Duncan to help develop new products for them. (eg RA 'Zapperators').

If one is paid to help develop new products, and also paid to 'independently' and scientifically assess the efficacy of products by the same company, then how independent is one?

 

[Anonymous]

Precisely. And so what if the results have been checked by a 'university professor'? Scarcely a peer review is it?

 

[Anonymous]

These threads are such fun. Good point made on the first page. This has happened before and it will happen again.

Rather like in the Matrix, this is a the 6th time (I think) that we've destroyed Zion. Heeheehee. Cable and Power lead debates ARE the What Hi-Fi forums. What would it be like without them? As for our old friend, I hadn't given him any thought in months. Is he back????!!!

 

[chebby]

aliEnRIK:They are (And their reputation of course). But that doesnt alter the fact theyve 'measureably' proven their braided mains chords do have an impact on amps and even had a university professor analyse them in case anyone refutes their findings.

But more importantly, how did the sound of the cables improve the wine they were drinking?

(From research also conducted by a university professor.)

 

[aliEnRIK]

Due to how cable debates pan out on here im bowing out gracefully (Unless someone has a question I deem 'worthwhile' answering)

As a side note. If anyone feels Russ Andrews has lied about his findings then contact the ASA so we can at least find if theyre happy now or not ~ oooo. and let me know how that pans out

As for Ben ~ at least hes put his name on the research papers. Including his EMAIL address amongst other things. By all means someone should contact Ben if they feel his 'research' is BS.

Bye......

 

[JoelSim]

Red Dwarf:

idc:The power cable that was supplied with the Rega Mira amp I found was the equal of the entry level Russ Andrews Yello power cable. That should be the standard that all manufacturers should aspire to. The other option is not to supply any cable at all, but that is like getting a toy at christmas and no batteries included.

Only the terminally loopy buy aftermarket mains leads. All they do is connect the mains. They don't affect the performance of the stuff they're connected to, how could they?

Check out the WHF Reviews section to see what the reviewers think Red Dwarf. I too subscribe to the fact that all cables make a difference and not just to tonality.

 

[a91gti]

In the end it all comes down to peoples ears, if it sounds good to you then enjoy it.