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Author Topic: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects  (Read 964 times)

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abernardi

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Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« on: April 05, 2015, 10:30:51 PM »

Hey guys, I have a question.  I'm trying to integrate my speaker system and my headphone system and am looking for some advice.  I just ordered an Auralic Aries  :)p1 :)p1 :)p1 for my main system.  That's going to feed my Audio-gd Ref 7.1 which will go into a NuForce MCP-18 preamp.  This has single ended AND balanced outputs.  The single ended will go into the speaker system, so I'm thinking I can run the balanced outputs to a headphone amp.  Here's the problem though, I have my headphone system at my desk and it would have to be about a 30 ft. run.  I guess it would depend on the amp, but any one have experience with such a long run for a line out?  I don't have the amp yet, but I'm probably going to end up with the new Cavalli Liquid Carbon, if it has XLR inputs.
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LFF

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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2015, 11:10:29 PM »

Hey abernardi!


XLR would be the preferred method. The long runs are exactly the reason why studios use XLR connections. They produce no noise/extremely little for runs up to 300ft.


I think you'll be good for a 30ft run.  :)
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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2015, 11:14:01 PM »

Well you're definitely better off with a long run of balanced XLR vs. single-ended RCA. I'd just go to Guitar Center and grab some Mogami microphone cables. Although I think the Monoprice ones are cheaper.
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abernardi

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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2015, 01:02:53 AM »

WHAT? :-DD  I spend big $$$ on 3' interconnects and you're advising Monoprice???? I'm incensed! (Note to self: pick up more incense.)  Shame, shame!  Actually I do love Monoprice, that's probably the way to go.   I could try to build my own, I still have some PCOCC wire left over from making my speaker wire, but that would make for a very very thick interconnect.  Probably wouldn't be ideal... has anyone tried DIY interconnects using speaker wire?  I don't know  poo about that technically, would that even work?  Too much resistance?  Or does wire size not matter?
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DaveBSC

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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2015, 01:30:14 AM »

WHAT? :-DD  I spend big $$$ on 3' interconnects and you're advising Monoprice???? I'm incensed! (Note to self: pick up more incense.)  Shame, shame!  Actually I do love Monoprice, that's probably the way to go.   I could try to build my own, I still have some PCOCC wire left over from making my speaker wire, but that would make for a very very thick interconnect.  Probably wouldn't be ideal... has anyone tried DIY interconnects using speaker wire?  I don't know  poo about that technically, would that even work?  Too much resistance?  Or does wire size not matter?

Interconnects tend to range from around 28-18AWG. Going smaller than 28 is typically left for tonearm wire. You can certainly use speaker wire if you want, resistance increases as wire size decreases, so large gauge speaker wire is actually much less resistive than the typical stuff used for interconnects.

Speaker wire normally isn't used though because you'll likely run into termination issues. Most RCA and XLR connectors are not designed to deal with 12 or 14AWG wire. Also, if you're going to do a 30 foot run, you're going to want to have a metal shield, and most speaker wire is not shielded. You could do a four wire star-quad run which has some inherent shielding properties, but that would mean an even larger combined gauge at either end, and there's no way an XLR connector is going to accept 10+AWG wire.

Your best bet is what's already been suggested, shielded Mogami or similar.
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ohhgourami

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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2015, 02:19:39 AM »

You better ditch that Nuforce preamp for an audio-gd Master-1 so you can use ACSS interconnects!
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abernardi

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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2015, 03:51:04 AM »

The Master 1 looks sweet, but I got this NuForce because it's got 7 inputs and 7 outputs to theoretically in the future use with an Oppo DVD player and add surround without having to put an AVR in the loop.  So far I'm not sure I'm happy with the NuForce though, it seems to be putting a little bit of a hard edge on things, but I'm gonna give it some more time to burn in.
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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2015, 02:14:55 PM »

Better to keep an eye on the capacitance, as low as possible is preferred.

Ferrum
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Chris F

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Re: Long, LOOONNNNG interconnects
« Reply #8 on: April 06, 2015, 03:38:39 PM »

Look here:
http://www.proaudiola.com/XLR-microphone-cables-s/169.htm

They will build you a nice cable to any length (and color) you want with Neutrik ends.

You want the Mogami 2549 or 2534.  The 2534 is quad conductor and better at noise rejection so that might be your better choice here however I can't comment with certainty as I don't know what the RF environment in your place is like have not tried at 30ft run myself.
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Azteca X

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