Balanced audio (analog) cabling for a multichannel/stereo room

[ted_b]

I am embarking on a road that I've not been on before; that is, soon I'll be setting up my new audio room (60% stereo, 40% multichannel use) using 100% balanced (XLR analog audio) cabling.  Long story, but that's what I'm doing.

 

So....although I'm not a newbie with balanced cabling, I sure don't know the latest sweetspots out there.  I do know that Mogami cabling has been a generic-like cable that seems to stand the test of time, but is nowhere near the audiophile's lips when describing most good systems  🙂, and now, to confuse things, Mogami has several tiers (Silver, Gold, etc).  Others on my limited inexperienced radar are Black Cat, Seismic, BlueJeans, Gotham and Furutech, but no idea who does XLR/TRS (see below).

 

I would like to list my needs and ask those experienced balanced audio users to feel free to interject with both recommendations or feedback on setup.  All  listed below are XLR except when noted.  Here is what I think I need, listed in somewhat order of most to least important (but like all things audio, all details matter all the time 😎 )

 

From                     To                                        Length                  Quantity

Holo dac              preamp                               1M                         2

preamp                main amps                          10-15ft                  2

pre/pro                4 channel Atmos amp         1M                        4            

mch dac               Coleman*                            1M                        6

pre/pro                Coleman*                            1M                        6

Coleman*            surround amps                    40ft                       2

Coleman*            center amp                          10-15ft                  1

Coleman*            stereo preamp                     1M                        2

Coleman*            sub (may be multiple)         40ft                        1+

                * need to be 1/4" TRS at Coleman end

[The Computer Audiophile]

Hey Ted, I’ve only used balanced cables since I sold my Spectral gear years ago. I use Transparent. There are many lines of Transparent to suit many budgets. All good stuff. 
 

I also use a long run of Gotham UltraPro balanced interconnects. 
 

 

https://www.ghentaudio.com/part/x01.html

[ted_b]

Thanks Chris.  I'm anxious to hear about Black Cat and more Gotham feedback.  It seems long runs of Gotham makes sense, and I have at least thee that will be 40+ feet (through smurf tubes to rear surrounds and sub).  Did you find a value sweetspot in the Transparent lines?

[cjf]

Despite what some might say about Mogami being mixed with Audiophile rigs I use them for everything Interconnect related. My goto is the Mogami 2549 for Analog connections. I only use balanced XLR in my system.

 

Most time I just go with the Mogmi Gold line when they have a pre-made length I need otherwise I put in a custom order at Redco.com for longer lengths or when different colors are desired besides bog standard black cable.

 

I use a length of TRS to XLR Mogami Gold 2549 from my Lynx Hilo to my amps when doing room measurements and XLR to XLR to other components from the same Hilo.

 

The longest current run of Mogami I have today is 50' from my Primary DAC to some of the Subs in my system. No issues at all and sounds just the same as the short 3ft runs I use elsewhere.

 

For my Merging Hapi DAC I use Mogami Gold 8channel Analog Snake with DB25 on one end and XLR on the other end. I also use a Mogami Gold Digital Snake with DB25 to AES XLR Male/Female connections on it.

 

Long story short, I use it everywhere and would never go back to the usual Audiophile brands for interconnects. I've got nothing against the high price audiophile stuff and still use disgustingly priced speaker cables and power cables but for Interconnects I find the Mogami to be as good, at minimum, to some of the higher end brands I've owned like MIT's, Ridge Street Audio Poiema and Cardas Clear.

[ted_b]

CJF, great feedback.  I have a dear friend who is a reviewer and swears by Mogami for all his balanced needs.  I was told if Mogami go Silver, but not sure where I heard this.  I think it was they preferred twisted pair cables to Mogami Gold's heavily shielded quad (but each install is different).  Not sure this means Silver is twisted pair, though.  Anyway, great feedback, thank you.

[ted_b]

Edit to above:  I see Mogami 2549 is indeed twisted pair, so that makes both you who favor it. One of the Gold versions can be star quad so I’ll stay away from that. 

[Kimo]

On 4/22/2021 at 7:06 PM, ted_b said:

Thanks Chris.  I'm anxious to hear about Black Cat and more Gotham feedback.  It seems long runs of Gotham makes sense, and I have at least thee that will be 40+ feet (through smurf tubes to rear surrounds and sub).  Did you find a value sweetspot in the Transparent lines?

 

Ted, I have both in my system.

 

For long runs where noise is an issue, I would go with Gotham GAC 3.  Better shielding than star quad without the issues.  

 

I have done shoot outs with my Black Cat XLR cables and Gotham GAC 2 AES cable.  The Black Cat is a little brighter through the midrange, if not quite as energetic on the very top end.  I recommend you try a short run of the GAC 2 AES, as well  Due to its low capacitance, it would also be a great cable for longer runs, but would not offer as much rejection of noise as the GAC 3.  

[Mike48]

I'm another fan of Mogami 2549 and Neutrik XLRs. I have mine made up by ProAudioLA, whose service and pricing have always been great. Right now, I use 25 ft runs from my Anthem preamp to a pair of monoblocks with PuriFi modules, driving Janszen Valentina P8s. (Also have shorter runs to subs.)

 

At that length, very few cable mfgrs or dealers will let you try at home before buying. A dealer with whom I've done business did get me a pair of audiophile ICs to try, made by a vendor who takes full-page ads in the magazines and gets great reviews. The cables were $2200 MSRP. (My Mogamis were ~$100.) I did single-blind tests with four friends (separately): one a composer, one an audio designer, one a musician, and one a very experienced audiophile and music lover with speakers costing more than my car. All of us felt the Mogami cables had far less coloration that the fancy ICs, which were doing something weird in the treble.

 

So, maybe it's not a bad idea to use what the pros use.  (P.S. I have tried Gotham cable, and it's great too, especially in high RFI environments. I found GAC-4/1 slightly rolled off compared to W2549, but I really had to listen for it.)

[Speedskater]

Stick with Shielded Twisted Pair (STP) cables from the major bulk cable manufactures like Mogami. Belden and Canare. Chose connectors from Neutrik or Switchcraft.