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February 11, 2008 - 3:11am
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cd player and cable advice please
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Check out the CDPs from Cambridge Audio as there should be one that fits your budget.
Cambridge Audio Azur 740C
NAD C542
Rega Apollo
Creek Evolution
Music Hall 25.2
Rotel RCD-1072
thanks for the cdp advice! I went with Musical Fidelity A5 and am thrilled.
now I need some entry level speaker / interconnect cables.
Has anybody had any experience with cables to match Arcam a75, Audio Physic Spark speakers(2000) and Musical Fidelity A5?
I like jazz, classical and vocals. warm sound without being muddy.
Thnaks!
Ditto on the Rega Apollo
Although it's the least expensive component in my setup, it's a solid player that is to be honest, the first I've had that doesn't constantly make me want to turn it off and switch back to my turntable.
Try Audioquest for cable- even their cheaper stuff is excellent and has made believers out of more than one cable skeptic friends of mine. The stuff works, be it IC, digital link, speaker cable or power cable. The Copperhead series is very good value, although I like King Cobra best.
For the interconnects, the Acoustic Research Master Series should work just fine. I am satisfied with the AR Performance Series. Even $5 Pythons are probably good enough.
http://sound.westhost.com/cables-p3.htm#interconnects
http://www.audioholics.com/education/frequently-asked-questions/audioquest-cable-theories-exposed
Good quality 14 or 16 gauge speaker wire should also work fine.
http://sound.westhost.com/cables-p2.htm#spkr-leads
Try Blue Jean Cables. They are well made and moderately priced.
Keep in mind that there has never been a "properly" administered blind cable test wherein the testees were able to reliably detect a difference.
That doesn't mean differences don't exist. That hasn't been proven either.
But one could logically infer that if differences do exist between wires those differences are likely to be subtle.
Therefore one could argue it is wise to audition carefully and budget the least amount of money into cables especially in a budget system.
I have a 50,000.00+ system but my speaker cable cost less than 100.00. I have auditioned and owned very expensive speaker cable.
I "think" my 100.00 dollar cable sounds better but I cannot rule out placebo since I didn't blind test it.
Both the Acoustic Research Master Series (readily available at Best Buy, etc.) and Blue Jeans Cables are excellent suggestions.
I, too, recommend not getting too excited over obtaining "proper" cables, especially for a modestly priced system. Your money is much better spent on components and more music.
After you are well accustomed to the sound you may want to try some more expensive cables to see if they improve the sound. If not, return them.
My personal rule is that if I cannot perceive a significant improvement with any change of a component or cable I send the product back. If the change is so subtle that I cannot rely upon my own senses without a blind test - the change is too subtle to bother spending money on.
Well said - and in a way that should attract little hatemail!
I have "moderate" MIT cables that sound good to me. So I have them for the duration (lifetime, probably). But in setting up someone else's stereo recently, I used 12ga lamp cord for speaker wire - and the system sounds wonderful.
Tom, what speaker cable/interconnects do you use? Very curious
Kimber 4TC Speaker Cables and Kimber PBJ Interconnects.