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Audio cables are probably the most misunderstood and misrepresented segment of the audio industry. You can pay $1 or $1000 for a 3 ft RCA cable, there is a supplier willing to provide you with a cable no matter what you want to pay.
So how much do you NEED to pay? At what point do the diminishing returns kick in, and you only get small to no improvement in sound for the incremental dollars you spend? What is the sweet spot?
Only you can answer that question…. Everyone’s needs are different, as are everyone’s ears. Plus, everyone’s gear is different, as everyone has a different budget and different level of audio gear.
::::UPDATE: 4/25/2018
Recently, I moved my Turntable to a new spot further from my receiver and was in need of a longer RCA cable to hook it up. I needed a 15ft cable, and with the longer run, I wanted to choose something with the lowest capacitance possible. I have been doing a lot of reading on the topic - and the Blue Jeans Cables kept coming up as the best choice for low capacitance. But they are expensive, I do own a few, but always looking for alternatives that won't break the bank of similar quality.
Out of curiosity, I purchased a Capacitance meter - namely the Elenco cm-1555 which I reviewed here on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Elenco-CM1555-Digital-Capacitance-Meter/dp/B0002HDTDQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524668515&sr=8-1&keywords=cm-1555. The Blue Jeans Cables can get capacitance as low as 12pf (pf = picofarads) per foot, which is outstanding. Their more common line is 18pf per foot. This is why people buy them - in the audio world, audiophiles try to minimize capacitance of a cable when using analog RCA connections.
Next, I measure the Kabeldirekt cables I owned (I own a bunch), and guess what? They were measuring in the 19pf range --- a range that cables going for MUCH more were measuring. To contrast that further - the UGreen cables sold here on Amazon, which I own a few sets - they measured 53pf per ft!!! Wow, that is high. Then, the Amazon Basics Cables measured a respectable 29pf per ft. -- not as good as the Kabeldirekt but not bad. Then I measured some of the older Monster Cables I still own - you know, those cables you were overcharged for years ago --- well, no matter which one I measure, the capacitance was NOT good and extremely high - higher than any of the cables just mentioned.
Anyway, what does this mean? It's just another reason to love these Kabeldirekt Cables for the price.
END UPDATE::::
I personally own and try cables of different levels – I own these Kabeldirekt, also own Monoprice, Blue Jeans, Monster, and other brands. There is a level of cost I won’t cross for my own personal budget, in fact the Blue Jeans cables I own are the upper end for me, and sometimes still feel I paid too much. Again, everyone's needs are different, some spend a lot more on cables than Blue Jeans, some think it is more than you need. After buying and trying Blue Jeans, I started looking for another brand to try that was well made, but cheaper. I was setting up an HT for my sons’ and for my woodshop, and needed something that struck the price to value ratio nicely. I did not want to pay a fortune, but wanted something a little better than the lower end Monoprice cables.
For my money, these Kabeldirekt have hit the spot nicely. I have purchased varying lengths of these cables, and different types. I have the RCA in 3, 6 and 10 feet, plus different configurations of the 3.5mm cables. I like a lot of things about these cables – they have an oxygen free copper core, they are shielded, and they are flexible. They also have reinforced, well-constructed ends and connectors, and don’t fit so tight that you have to pull them off with excessive force. They just look and feel like a good cable.
But the real test – how do they perform? Well, this is the subjective part of cable shopping, and where everyone has a different opinion. My opinion is these perform well for the money. My main theater room has a Denon 7200wa and a Parasound 2125 amp, with Klipsch RP center, mains and surrounds. My shop has a Denon 4806 with Definitive CLR 2002 center, and SM 450 mains and 350 surrounds. My sons’ HT has a Denon 3300W with Def Tech BP 8B, CLR 2002 center. In all cases, and all configurations, I am happy with the performance of these cables. In my main room, these cables are the connection from my Turntable to my Radial J33 phono stage, and on to my Denon 7200 / Parasound Amp. I am completely satisfied with the sound these deliver. I really can’t tell much if any difference compared to my Blue Jean cables….
Bottom line is my system(s) / HT setups are of the “mid-fi” category, and these cables perform well in my opinion for this level. You could spend less, and you could spend more the choice is yours. For me, the $10 range for RCA cables is good enough, and these are a well made cable for that price.
Recommended. Thanks for reading.
| Manufacturer | KabelDirekt |
|---|---|
| Part Number | 521 |
| Item Weight | 10.4 ounces |
| Product Dimensions | 6 x 5.9 x 2.2 inches |
| Item model number | 521 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 20 feet |
| Color | Black |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 18 months |
