CABLES AND ADAPTERS

Despite the disbelief of many people I do think that cables make a difference. Yet I don't think that you have to spend hundreds or thousands of euros/dollars to get something decent. Beyond a certain price level differences between cables aren't very large and much smaller than the differences between amplifers, CD-players, loudspeakers, headphones ... Moreover, different not always implies that one of the cables is better. It just has a different "flavour".

There are many design philosophies to build an interconnect. Teflon insulation, air insulation, ellipsoidal conductors, single core conductors, coax cables, braided cables, silver conductors, long-cristaline copper conductors, liquid conductors (!), ....... Despite all these ideas none has come up as being superior to another. As said, they may sound different but not necessarily better or worse. Yet a few properties are important, independent of design philosophy.

Gold plated contacts: No, gold doesn't sound better than bare copper, but it does prevent cracks and drop-outs due to oxidized contacts.

Mechanical stability: A good cable should be sturdy yet flexible enough to be practical.

On this site you find a small selection of no-nonsense cables that I think are well worth their money.

Jan Meier

TECH+LINK RCA-to-RCA

No, these are not a true high-end cables, but they're certainly much better than can be expected for the price. Decent gold-plated metal connectors and oxygen-free copper conductors.

1 meter (3' 3").

TECH+LINK mini-to-RCA

1 meter (3' 3").

All Tech+Link cables:
€24,- / $35,-

€14,- / $20,-
in combination with an amplifier

TECH+LINK 75 Ohm digital

1.5 meter (4' 10").

QABLES
iPod-to-mini cable
These interconnect cables have been specially made to connect your iPod directly to your portable headphone amplifier. By using the bottom line output (dock connector) you establish the best possible signal transfer quality. Contacts are gold-plated.

€45,- / $60,-

€40,- / $55,-
in combination with an amplifier

!! All prices include world-wide shipping !!

QABLES
mini-to-mini cable

This cable is simply one of the best available if you like to connect your portable player to your portable amp.
The contacts are gold-plated.

€40,- / $55,-

€35,- / $50,-
in combination with an amplifier

MEIER-AUDIO
RCA-to-RCA interconnects
These fine interconnects are made from Belden 8412 microphone cable and high quality Neutrik plugs. The cables have a protective sleeve and silver solder is used to make the connections.
Separate shielding, connected to one side only, protect the two inner conductors from RF-interferences. Cotton wraps at the core minimize any mechanical resonances.
Construction of this cable is time consuming but the sonic results justify the work!
Standard length of the cables is 65 cm tip-tip (25"). Different lengths can be ordered.

€110,- / $150,-

€90,- / $120,-
in combination with an amplifier

RCA splitters

These splitters can be used to connect two cables to one single RCA-jack. Handy if e.g. you like to connect a headphone amp to your CD-player and simultaneously want to connect this player to your main rig.

€15,- / $22,- (one pair)

€6,- / $9,-
in combination with an amplifier