XLR Cables - A Question of Balance

[aliEnRIK]

ESP2009:
I've had a quick look at further sources of opinion and the Gotham cables are being recommended as decent, inexpensive options, although Van Damme Black/Blue appear popular choices as you have already suggested. Silver High Breed have been mentioned as a further possibility to consider.

Im not sure about the Gothams. They were poorly rated on here but im not getting into that again

The silver breeds id definitely stay away from, theyre far too high pitched

I couldnt recommend either

 

[ESP2009]

Thanks for the info chaps - I'll see how things go and what turns up.

 

[ESP2009]

OK, let the "I told you so" posts commence!

Yesterday, the living room of ESP Towers once more looked like an explosion at a snake farm; cables were strewn everywhere. I had dismantled the stack of hi-fi for ease of access and it was 'playtime'.

Over the past few weeks I have acquired the following: Van Damme Classic Black Microphone balanced XLR (free with the Primare kit), a pair of Gotham GAC2V1 balanced XLR cables (just under £30 inc P&P) and finally some GA Coalesce balanced XLR cables (£70 inc P&P). The OH was out for most of the morning and afternoon, so it was time to compare and contrast.

Well, to cut a long story short: BOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRING!!!!

The Van Dammes look and feel both cheap and tatty, being dull black polywhatever, dull gunmetal and unimpressively thin; the Gothams look a bit more like it with a glossier sleeve and moulded plastic around the connectors, but no sturdier; and the GA Coalesce pair looks The Dog's Danglies with shiny metal and thicker black braided shielding (and they come in a posh box!)

However, the Van Dammes and Gotham are bendy and easier to use, while the GA cables are sturdy and nowhere near as flexible. And that's as exciting as it gets because, folks, with the best will in the world I couldn't really, hand on heart, state that there was any appreciable sonic difference between them. Maybe a slight change in emphasis, maybe a little more power, maybe a difference in top-end emphasis? Maybe. But switching between them takes time and you lose track. Any difference was too subtle to keep in mind or, indeed, induce one to spend extra cash.

I even tried swapping between my Chord Odyssey 2 speaker cables and the QED Revelation for each. Absolutely no apparent difference.

Could it be true that the Primare separates have totally levelled the playing field? Everything sounds good!

So, it's back onto Fleabay with the Gothams and a return of the GA Coalesce within the statutory 7 days. I will be keeping the freebie pair, thank you.

However, just as a final check, in due course I will take up the offer from Music Matters to try some Chord versions at £150+ (sale or return, naturally) - will these make a difference and/or will it be worth it? Based on recent experience, probably not, but we'll see/hear.

 

[Anonymous]

Would love to hear how the Chord one's work out. It's good that you're finding this for your situation because it saves money!

 

[Gerrardasnails]

ESP2009:
OK, let the "I told you so" posts commence!

Yesterday, the living room of ESP Towers once more looked like an explosion at a snake farm; cables were strewn everywhere. I had dismantled the stack of hi-fi for ease of access and it was 'playtime'.

Over the past few weeks I have acquired the following: Van Damme Classic Black Microphone balanced XLR (free with the Primare kit), a pair of Gotham GAC2V1 balanced XLR cables (just under £30 inc P&P) and finally some GA Coalesce balanced XLR cables (£70 inc P&P). The OH was out for most of the morning and afternoon, so it was time to compare and contrast.

Well, to cut a long story short: BOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRING!!!!

The Van Dammes look and feel both cheap and tatty, being dull black polywhatever, dull gunmetal and unimpressively thin; the Gothams look a bit more like it with a glossier sleeve and moulded plastic around the connectors, but no sturdier; and the GA Coalesce pair looks The Dog's Danglies with shiny metal and thicker black braided shielding (and they come in a posh box!)

However, the Van Dammes and Gotham are bendy and easier to use, while the GA cables are sturdy and nowhere near as flexible. And that's as exciting as it gets because, folks, with the best will in the world I couldn't really, hand on heart, state that there was any appreciable sonic difference between them. Maybe a slight change in emphasis, maybe a little more power, maybe a difference in top-end emphasis? Maybe. But switching between them takes time and you lose track. Any difference was too subtle to keep in mind or, indeed, induce one to spend extra cash.

I even tried swapping between my Chord Odyssey 2 speaker cables and the QED Revelation for each. Absolutely no apparent difference.

Could it be true that the Primare separates have totally levelled the playing field? Everything sounds good!

So, it's back onto Fleabay with the Gothams and a return of the GA Coalesce within the statutory 7 days. I will be keeping the freebie pair, thank you.

However, just as a final check, in due course I will take up the offer from Music Matters to try some Chord versions at £150+ (sale or return, naturally) - will these make a difference and/or will it be worth it? Based on recent experience, probably not, but we'll see/hear.

Very interesting. To be honest, the three cables you have used so far, seem fairly low level so I wouldn't expect to much difference - a bit surprised about the speaker cables sounding the same though. If you don't hear any difference with the Chord's, I would take it as a blessing in disguise.

 

[ESP2009]

Gerrardasnails: Very interesting. To be honest, the three cables you have used so far, seem fairly low level so I wouldn't expect too much difference - a bit surprised about the speaker cables sounding the same though. If you don't hear any difference with the Chord's, I would take it as a blessing in disguise.

I was a little surprised myself not to hear a difference between the Chord and the QED. I have previously detected variations between speaker cables when generally mucking around with earlier incarnations of the system, so are these two indistinguishable normally? I already have the QED XT SA biwires, which were replaced in favour of the Odysseys. It is tempting to hook up Marantz kit with RCA interconnects and see what results if I compare the speaker cables with that setup.

The QED cables were purchased as an experiment because of the good things said of them - I was happy (thus far) with the Odysseys, purchased for a comparable price off Fleabay. I must say that the QED cables look the business (professionally finished with Airlock plugs). But with no readily discernible difference between them and the Odysseys, and the hassle of wrestling with the carpet again, I may return them to Fleabay in the Autumn, along with various other bits I've been accumulating these last few months.

 

[aliEnRIK]

ESP2009:
However, just as a final check, in due course I will take up the offer from Music Matters to try some Chord versions at £150+ (sale or return, naturally) - will these make a difference and/or will it be worth it? Based on recent experience, probably not, but we'll see/hear.

But would a 'difference' be 'better'?

 

[ESP2009]

igglebert:Would love to hear how the Chord one's work out. It's good that you're finding this for your situation because it saves money!

Watch this space early in September.

By the way, love the new avatar - a photo of your good self without shades and leather jacket I assume?

 

[Anonymous]

ESP2009:
igglebert:Would love to hear how the Chord one's work out. It's good that you're finding this for your situation because it saves money!

Watch this space early in September.

By the way, love the new avatar - a photo of your good self without shades and leather jacket I assume?

Thank you. My job's taken it's toll on me this last year. The growth of fur has been terrifying, not to mention my appetite to eat small bunnies.

 

[ESP2009]

aliEnRIK:ESP2009:

However, just as a final check, in due course I will take up the offer from Music Matters to try some Chord versions at £150+ (sale or return, naturally) - will these make a difference and/or will it be worth it? Based on recent experience, probably not, but we'll see/hear.

But would a 'difference' be 'better'?

Good question. There's only one way to find out, and if it costs little or nothing to at least try, so much the better. On the other paw, if there is a difference, and I do think it is better, then it could get expensive!

That is a decision I will have to make in September.

 

[ESP2009]

igglebert:ESP2009:

igglebert:Would love to hear how the Chord one's work out. It's good that you're finding this for your situation because it saves money!

Watch this space early in September.

By the way, love the new avatar - a photo of your good self without shades and leather jacket I assume?

Thank you. My job's taken it's toll on me this last year. The growth of fur has been terrifying, not to mention my appetite to eat small bunnies.

Yeah, I have heard some pretty disturbing rumours about those top secret government research installations. Still, from what you describe, I doubt you are a human guinea-pig!