Which sub woofer cable to use?

[Jim Robson]

I have a pair of B&W 605 S2's a my main speakers. These have built-in sub woofers which each have an LFE input and line out. When I first bought them I didn't quite know what to buy to connect them and I bought some rather flexible/thin leads from Tandy of all places, in December 1999! I was thinking of upgrading these leads to either the realisically priced IXOS 1081 (3m=£10)or the very expensive IXOS 1141 (3m=£23) from Avland. Bearing in mind that I'd need at least two 3m cables has anyone any thoughts on what I might do? One lead goes from the Denon amp to the input on one speaker and the other lead goes from the line out of this speaker to the input of the other one (if you follow that <img src="confused.gif" border="0">). I've read loads about speaker cables, interconnects and Scart leads etc but never anything about sub leads. Perhaps I'd just be wasting money? Any suggestions and/or advice gratefully received.

Regards

Jim <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

i would be interested in the answer to this question as i am about to aquire a rel Q150 though the cable doesnt have to be ixos.

[Jim Robson]

I only mentioned IXOS cables as they were the only sub woofer cables I could find shown at Avland. I'd better check out QED, Audioquest, CableTalk et al to see what's on the market. Does anyone have any suggestions as to other manufacturers or have IXOS cornered the market here? I can't see any tests of sub woofer cables in the mags either so perhaps they aren't regarded as very important? What do other readers use and why?

Regards

Jim <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: Jim Robson ]</p>

[Nic Rhodes]

Buy yourself some good quality co-ax (RG 59 / RG 6). Stick some decent plugs on the end and try that. In fact if you email you address I will send you the relevant cable to try as long as you post your results here for all to see.

The cable is awesome but a little stiff so I generally use slightly longer lengths. Would 10m do you?

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: Nic Rhodes ]</p>

[General Skanky]

I had the same problem a while ago. In the end I made my own phono to phono from sat coax as then it was the exact length I wanted, and in a rather fetching red heatshrink to finish it. <img src="smile.gif" border="0"><br />It's fine and I'd bet nobody on Earth could tell the difference from it to any other, especially if I didn't say what it really is!

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: General Skanky ]</p>

[ReTrO]

General; When you say Sta co-ax, do you mean aeial fly lead?

If you change it for proper 110ohm co-ax you will certainly notice a difference.

[Nic Rhodes]

[quote]Originally posted by General Skanky:<br /><strong>Standard coax. But it has copper shielding, not the cheapy stuff, ie, tin.<br />Belden prob. does a better cable, but I doubt it'll be a quantum leap as said above, it's bass, not treble etc.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I offered Jim Belden 1505 or 1694 basically top flight stuff. Apparently he not to DIY orientated so he turned me down <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

The idea of quality co-ax still goes. Now can't a dealer make something up?

Looks like Frustin is interest though <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

Nic.<br />I will take you up on that offer? As a fellow Storm/Servo user i would be interested in your thoughts of your co-ax (obviously you like it) against your original cable. I am at this time using the Ixos 1141.

i have ordered a pair of connectors from lectropaks, £10 inc postage, they better be good.

[Jim Robson]

Justin, are these what you ordered? I spotted these on the Maplin site.<br />CC71N Phono Plug Blk + Red In Stock £9.99<br />"These high quality audio connectors with gold contacts feature the Neutrik chuck-principle cable protection, and also make ground before signal contact and break signal before ground. The outer shell element is spring loaded. The plugs are packaged as a pair (one black and one red banded) with a black housing, and each has two strain relief chucks, black and blue. The blue chuck accepts cables of 3 to 5.5mm diameter and the black chuck 5.5 to 7.3mm diameter."

[quote]Originally posted by SteveEX:<br /><strong>Nic.<br />I will take you up on that offer? As a fellow Storm/Servo user I would be interested in your thoughts of your co-ax (obviously you like it) against your original cable. I am at this time using the Ixos 1141.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Wow Nic! There's a vote of confidence from a gent using IXOX 1141 cable already! I'd love to hear what he thinks by way of a direct comparison.

Looks like you'll be posting kilometres of cable all over the country! <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

Regards

Jim <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: Jim Robson ]</p>

DAMN!!!! should i have got the 4mm or 6mm connectors? I got the PP4's. Which i presume are the 4mm entry point ones.

check the phonos out on <a href="http://www.lektropacks.co.uk/acatalog/Lektropacks_Online_Pro_Connectors_25.html" target="_blank">this</a> page, which is where i got them from.

[ 05-08-2001: Message edited by: Frustin ]</p>

[Jim Robson]

Thanks for the link Justin! I did spot those on the Lektropaks site but at £3.50 each they didn't add up to £10 so I thought you must have found them somewhere else on the site. I forgot you said inc postage! <img src="redface.gif" border="0"> We actually have a Maplins in Brighton & Hove so I'll maybe take a walk down there on Monday.

Regards

Jim <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Jim Robson]

Aha! There seems to be a few differences of opinion here! With an active sub would it actually matter all that much as only the rumbling bits (LFE) are sent to the sub which then amplifies it.

Regards

Jim <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0">

PS Ta Nic! I've sent you an e-mail. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[General Skanky]

Standard coax. But it has copper shielding, not the cheapy stuff, ie, tin.<br />Belden prob. does a better cable, but I doubt it'll be a quantum leap as said above, it's bass, not treble etc.

[Nic Rhodes]

Jim, Frustin and Steve Ex

Happy to supply all you guys some cable. Unfortuunately my HD went bag minutes after my last post. Lost everything. Can you guys re email yo addresses and how much cable you require. Sorry about this but I am in chaos here. Lashed something together on the wifes pc to write this. Not even sure whether email works yet! So bare with me if it doesn't.

The real annoying thing was I had just installed new anti virus software and was in the middle of backing everything up when it happened.<br /> <img src="frown.gif" border="0">

seriously need cheering up.