I hardly need to ask at this point, but what RCA cable are you using between your CD player and amplifier? An interconnect cable — the cable that links components together — is rather like the blood vessels of the human body. Using something basic such as the supplied cable will not cause the kind of blockage that leaves a person unable to move, but drawing out the true performance that a component is capable of becomes extremely difficult.
With that in mind, I would like to introduce, first of all — for anyone who may still be using the cable that came supplied with their equipment — a cable I would urge you to try, even if you do so sceptically (I am quite confident the result will not disappoint). And for those of you who think: “I know all that perfectly well, but I have no idea which cable to actually use!!” — I will also be recommending cables suited to the genre of music you listen to.
Start Here
ortofon 6.5N · AC-1000Q
For a product in this price range, the sound carries a great deal of information and has a pleasing sense of density. The energetic, high-resolution, and clear sound is sure to satisfy. Please do try this cable and hear for yourself what your supplied cable was unable to express — the details it simply could not convey.
For Listening Across All Genres
※ SAEC SL-1803MK2
Crispness on one hand, and lustre and suppleness on the other. At this price point, pursuing one of these qualities tends to come at the expense of the other — but this cable achieves both. It is energetic, yet it does not simply push that quality in one direction without relent; it has a richness that allows it to shift its expression as the music demands. This is a cable that is particularly undemanding when it comes to genre.
For a More Transparent Sound
GOERTZ TQ2C-R
The range is not especially wide, but this is a cable of high transparency and fast response, centred on the mid-to-low frequencies with a slightly low centre of gravity. If you feel the bass is lacking, you can expect improvements in both dynamism and weight. Its high resolving power extends across the full frequency range, enabling finer and more detailed expression.
For Relaxed, Unhurried Listening
MONITOR PC PC-080
This cable reproduces female vocals and music that does not move at a particularly fast tempo with a fine, high-quality texture. Music of the kind often described as healing or soothing should be a particularly good match. Rather than sitting down to listen to music with great intent and focus, this cable is recommended for those who want to let music wash over them naturally and comfortably. Note that Monitor PC is the former name of Inakustik.
A Solid, Well-Defined, and Crisp Sound
AET HIN LINE TWIN
A highly transparent, brilliantly clear sound. Recommended for those who find their current sound somewhat vague and wish to hear things with greater clarity. That said, the expression of musical decay and reverberation tends to recede somewhat. Best suited to those seeking a sharp, crisp presentation. May work particularly well for pop music and also for the reproduction of jazz cymbal work. →
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Recommended for Those Who Listen Primarily to Classical Music
ACROLINK 6N-A2110II
If one were to sum it up in a word: honest. The sound is not one that emphasises contrast and impact, so on a first listen you may find it slightly underwhelming. But sit with it and listen carefully, and you begin to appreciate just how rich the information content is, and how faithfully even the finest details are reproduced. Lustrous and gentle, its natural quality of reproduction grows more and more appealing the longer you listen.
van den Hul VDH-JUBLIE-10W
A broad, full-bodied, and weighty sound. Resolution cannot be called especially high, but it is more than adequate — and rather than resolution, what stands out as the defining quality of this cable is what one might call its capacity for artistic reproduction. Detailed, smooth, and well-balanced in a composed way, it draws out with clarity the individual character of each instrument and the way they blend together.
WIREWORLD POLARIS Series5
A beautiful, unstained, and clear sound with fine resonance. There is body and a gentle softness to it, yet the sluggishness often associated with cables of this character is entirely absent — notes emerge smoothly, and the response is exceptionally fluid. Perhaps because each individual note is given its due care, the cable also has a fine command of spatial expression; even large-scale passages never become blurred or untidy.
YBA Diamond 1.2 RCA
Its defining qualities are an expressive quality that allows you to sense exactly how the performer intends the instrument to sing, and a rich, dynamically alive sound. The energy is high, yet the sound is not overly tight — there is a certain elasticity to it. A sound that never sacrifices lustre or smoothness, it captures with precision the contrast between stillness and movement in classical music.
Acoustic Zen Absolute Interconnect
Phrases such as “fine-grained” and “high resolving power” come up frequently in cable descriptions, but the resolution of this cable — as was celebrated in a certain audio magazine — is of a wholly different order, reaching down to a microscopic level that seems to demand a magnifying glass. And the sound itself is not analytical or dry; it has a vitality to it, an exceptionally real and tangible quality. Its soundstage reproduction is equally remarkable — large in scale, precise in imaging. The ability to distinguish between individual instruments in an orchestral performance is of course outstanding, but the way it conveys harmonic blend is exquisite as well. Could this be the final destination in the search for a cable?
Recommended for Those Who Listen Primarily to Jazz
SPACE&TIME Prism 3300-8N
A cable with superb crispness, fast transient attack, and an overall tightening of the sound. The high transparency and clean, unmuddied reproduction is a pleasure to listen to. The bass has ample power, but the tendency here is to prioritise speed and tightness over sheer quantity. The high frequencies are equally clear. A cable with a strong, readily apparent character.
audioquest Jaguar
If you are after low colouration, high resolution, and high-speed sound, this is the cable. There is little in the way of dramatic emphasis, but the contrast within the sound is firmly delineated, and perhaps as a result, the spatial expression is also impressive. Recommended for those who feel dissatisfied with the treble or bass of their current set-up, and also for those who have been using their components for some time and wish to reproduce finer nuances of difference.
ortofon SILVER Reference
Resolution is high and information content is plentiful, but this is not a cable that aims for refinement — it is the type that lets you enjoy music dynamically and with a sense of fun. The sound is rich and somewhat full-bodied, yet the transient attack is agile, giving an impression of sounds unfolding one after another in quick succession.
SILTECH SQ-28 Classic MK2
This is a cable recommended in the rock and pop section, but for reproducing the powerful blow of saxophone or trumpet, this cable might also be an interesting choice.
CARDAS Cross Link RCA / XLR
A reproduction sound of high density, centred on the midrange. The bass does not plunge deep instantaneously, but it is weighty and energetic. Rather than reaching for an extended range, the cable seems to place its emphasis on drawing out the musical substance — the flavour of the music, so to speak. The focus appears to be not on rendering a transparent, high-resolution Hi-Fi-style sound, but on delivering a sound that is dense, full, and characterful.
Synergistic Research Phase II Looking Glass
Clear and delicate in sound, yet with a firm, strong core — there is no weakness to it whatsoever. The presentation is sharp, but it never tips into dryness; rather, a vivid sense of live performance unfolds right before you. At this price point, TMD’s DARK RIDE is also recommended, but if it is sheer energy and crispness you are after, this is the one. Pair it with a component that already has a fast transient response and it will push that quality even further; pair it with one that does not, and improvement can still be expected.
TMD (Total Music Design) DARK RIDE
This cable has received high praise in Audio Accessory magazine as a jazz-oriented cable, and its speed, dynamic contrast, and power are every bit as advertised. The bass is impressively tight and crisp. The high frequencies are exceptionally clear, and sounds that are difficult to catch with other cables become distinctly audible. This is a cable that gives proper presence not only to powerful sounds but to the quietest ones as well. At the same price level, the Synergistic Research Phase II Looking Glass is also recommended, but for sheer physical impact — the kind of jazz sound you feel in your body — this one has the edge.
Continues in Recommended RCA Cables Part 2: Rock, Pop & Genre-Neutral…
Incidentally, if I am speaking purely of my own personal preference, it would be the YBA Diamond 1.2. That floating, drifting soundstage, its melting sensuality — French esprit at its finest. That said, I desperately want a YBA… ah, the longing…
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