Ok, Cables do make a difference

[admin_exported]

I have had my sonos zp80 connected to my amp for a while now playing flac files though my amp. The convenience is great and I have all my music at a touch of a button.

The trouble was that it just wasn't as good quality as playing the cd. I thought ok so the dac in the sonos just isn't cutting it compared to the rotel so I will need an external dac to bring it up to scratch. This supprised me though as I thought that the sonos would have come close due to the bit perfect transport. Then I remembered that my cd and amp were connected with chord co. crimson cable and the sonos with the supplied rubbish.

I have now connected the sonos with the crimson cable and it has made a world of difference to the sound, it is now more or less on par with my rotel cdp. I just din't realise how much the cables could make a difference to the sound quality. I think this is because I have never used a lower grade supplied cable with the system until the sonos, so I had not experiensed the difference.

So my point is for anyone new to hifi, Do not forget to buy good quality cables. They really do make a difference.

Oh and 1 question: - Is there anywhere I can get another chord crimson rca cable for cheaper than the £25ish ones on ebay or an alternative cable that offers equal sound for cheaper.

Thanks everyone

 

[Messiah]

I think most will agree that analogue cables make a difference. It's the digital ones that lead to heated 'debates'....

 

[chebby]

m1rfy:Is there anywhere I can get another chord crimson rca cable for cheaper than the £25ish ones on ebay or an alternative cable that offers equal sound for cheaper.

Thanks everyone

£25 is 'cheapish' already.

I have only bought Chord Crimson from my local dealer or from 'Analogue Seduction' online. (0.5m for the DAC and 3.5m for the phono-stage -> amp).

Analogue Seduction are doing a 1m pair for £33.85 with free postage or £29.90 for 0.5m. (pair)

Have a word with your dealer about getting Chord Co. to make custom lengths to order. My dealer (Audio-T) can get custom lengths supplied in about 2 - 3 days from Chord and at reasonable prices.

 

[southdownswolf]

Messiah:I think most will agree that analogue cables make a difference. It's the digital ones that lead to heated 'debates'....

another thread sparking off the good and bad of cables. Tend to agree though, analogue cables do matter, digital not so much unless long distances. All those 1's and 0's get lost you see...

 

[Messiah]

m1rfy:

The trouble was that it just wasn't as good quality as playing the cd. I thought ok so the dac in the sonos just isn't cutting it compared to the rotel so I will need an external dac to bring it up to scratch. This supprised me though as I thought that the sonos would have come close due to the bit perfect transport.

I can agree with that but then you lead onto the italics.....

Even if the transport was bit perfect the quality of the DAC will determine the sound output to the amp.

 

[Anonymous]

Cue cooker wire, Cat5/6, £0.01 per metre bell wire, Van Damme, esoteric, expensive, cheap, mid price, physics/science debate, hearing loss, Chord, small core, multi-stranded, large solid core, silver, copper, carbon, teflon, connectors - bare wire, spade, banana, Eichmann, raised cables, burning in, directional, black, green etc, power of the mind, A/B testing, blind test, this manufacturer recommends X, biwire, biwire jumpers - Debate version 998.......

Oh, I've covered them all to save typing!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Graham_Thomas:Cue cooker wire, Cat5/6, £0.01 per metre bell wire, Van Damme, esoteric, expensive, cheap, mid price, physics/science debate, hearing loss, Chord, small core, multi-stranded, large solid core, silver, copper, carbon, teflon, connectors - bare wire, spade, banana, Eichmann, raised cables, burning in, directional, black, green etc, power of the mind, A/B testing, blind test, this manufacturer recommends X, biwire, biwire jumpers - Debate version 998.......

Oh, I've covered them all to save typing!

Graham, you missed XLR! And they make more of a difference than RCA!!

 

[Anonymous]

m1rfy:

or an alternative cable that offers equal sound for cheaper.

Have a look at: http://markgrantcables.co.uk/

I believe they offer a discount if you are a member of a forum that specialises in all things AV, if you get my drift!

 

[Anonymous]

Gerrardasnails:Graham_Thomas:Cue cooker wire, Cat5/6, £0.01 per metre bell wire, Van Damme, esoteric, expensive, cheap, mid price, physics/science debate, hearing loss, Chord, small core, multi-stranded, large solid core, silver, copper, carbon, teflon, connectors - bare wire, spade, banana, Eichmann, raised cables, burning in, directional, black, green etc, power of the mind, A/B testing, blind test, this manufacturer recommends X, biwire, biwire jumpers - Debate version 998.......

Oh, I've covered them all to save typing!

Graham, you missed XLR! And they make more of a difference than RCA!!

Sh*t.