i’ll be happy to update here after I have both evaluated the Echole and reterminated them (they only arrived 2 days ago and I have a Sablon backorder list to work through first).
Best XLR connectors money can buy?
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i’ll be happy to update here after I have both evaluated the Echole and reterminated them (they only arrived 2 days ago and I have a Sablon backorder list to work through first).
I just received a pair of ETI Kryo XLR connectors. They look to be extremely well made and well thought out. I will be using them to connect my tape head wiring to a tape preamp.
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This is interesting but the base metal is still not pure copper but an alloy. I'm only interested in pure copper (or silver) connectors.
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The best IC`s that money can buy are the ones that I do. This IC has shown to be totally lossless exept for whatever minor loss that will allways be in the connections. No fancy stuff involved here, just what works best. Like the heavy duty XLR`s from Deltron, notice the female plug, silver or gold-plated:
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Sorry to be so blunt, but that is not a very enlightened question. If there was an easy definition of "best", then everyone would have the same answer. I also thought the answer "the best ones are the ones I make" further down the thread to be equally irrelevant in the extreme. Best for whom? According to whom? Why are they "the best"? Such proclamations further make the term "best' almost meaningless. Might they indeed be the best, for you in your system? Of course. But please try to express your thoughts with less self-aggrandizing terminology so we can learn from your experience.
Any audiophile with considerable experience will tell you several truths that make the answer to your question is a contextural answer, not an absolute one. When it comes to sonics, everything matters. The cable materials including the metals (Copper wire? Silver wire? Silver plated copper? Gold plated silver? Copper connectors? Silver connectors? Rhodium connectors (which I eshew but YMMV as many audiophiles love them); the dielectric insulation used, and the termination metals and/or plating all have unique sonic attributes. Equally important is the system in which your cables are used i.e., the type of metals used on the receptacles receiving the cables (IMHO this is the most overlooked aspect), and last but certainly not least, your sonic preferences. The list of options is endless. In short, there is no "best". The better way to phrase your question is to ask what you might consider in order to evaluate what are the best cables FOR YOU IN YOUR SYSTEM? Unfortunately, there are no short cuts to this answer. You really need to do the work to arrive at what's best in your system.
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marty, you are partly right. But only partly. There things in our hobby that are beyond doubt in any system. For example, copper foil caps are better than any other kinds, except silver foil caps - which are better still. Pure copper connectors are better than any alloys. I love Fururtech receptacles, inlets, XLR input&output jacks and spades on my speaker cables because they are all pure copper with rhodium plating. I just wish they made XLR connectors out of pure copper - that would put my search to an end. Alas they don't.
My "unenlightened" question is there for a reason. The intent was to make it as provocative as possible so people pay attention and respond to the thread. I was hoping I had missed something and someone would post info about a manufacturer I was not aware of. Alas, that does not seem to be the case. No one posted anything new. I already use Bocchino on my interconnects and no one enlightened me to anything new or better so, I guess, I'll just continue to enjoy what I already have.
My "unenlightened" question is there for a reason. The intent was to make it as provocative as possible so people pay attention and respond to the thread. I was hoping I had missed something and someone would post info about a manufacturer I was not aware of. Alas, that does not seem to be the case. No one posted anything new. I already use Bocchino on my interconnects and no one enlightened me to anything new or better so, I guess, I'll just continue to enjoy what I already have.
Fair enough. The good news is that you think I may be partly right. Even I don't think that most of the time. Rather, I find myself stumbling in the audiophile land of darkness most of the time trying to find the light! Glad we agree on Bocchinos. Carmine does nice work.
With an unlimited budget, why don't you ask someone to custom design them for you?
Or even better, a custom cable loom?
I would look at Argento Audio, they make everything themselves, the connectors are made with the same silver as the conductors, and attached by compression, no solder used. "Organic Audio" are the same cables but made with copper instead of silver, built to the same standards.
https://www.argento.dk/
https://organicaudio.eu/
Bocchino also makes complete cables, not only connectors, you could ask for a full custom cable looom, made from your materials of choice for both connector and cable, again attached without solder, so asking for a full cable loom may not be a bad idea if money is not a concern.
http://www.bocchtech.com/bocchinoaudio/morning_glory.html
This one is also worth mentioning, presumably the next level of cable building, no solder or compression to attach the cable and connector are needed, because the entire cable is one piece of silver (!!!), this is, in my opinion, extremely interesting:
PSC Audio AG Monolith:
https://6moons.com/audioreviews/psc/1.html
If I had enough money to burn it, I would also ask for sockets made to the same standards to fit all my equipment (Schuko, IEC, RCA, XLR, etc) to avoid any bottleneck and enjoy the full potential of such a magnificent cable loom, go big or go home!
Or even better, a custom cable loom?
I would look at Argento Audio, they make everything themselves, the connectors are made with the same silver as the conductors, and attached by compression, no solder used. "Organic Audio" are the same cables but made with copper instead of silver, built to the same standards.
https://www.argento.dk/
https://organicaudio.eu/
Bocchino also makes complete cables, not only connectors, you could ask for a full custom cable looom, made from your materials of choice for both connector and cable, again attached without solder, so asking for a full cable loom may not be a bad idea if money is not a concern.
http://www.bocchtech.com/bocchinoaudio/morning_glory.html
This one is also worth mentioning, presumably the next level of cable building, no solder or compression to attach the cable and connector are needed, because the entire cable is one piece of silver (!!!), this is, in my opinion, extremely interesting:
PSC Audio AG Monolith:
https://6moons.com/audioreviews/psc/1.html
If I had enough money to burn it, I would also ask for sockets made to the same standards to fit all my equipment (Schuko, IEC, RCA, XLR, etc) to avoid any bottleneck and enjoy the full potential of such a magnificent cable loom, go big or go home!
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Absolutist statements like this are why many professional audio industry people do not like to wade into on-line audio forums. With enough actual experience in this hobby, as an industry professional or as a consumer, most people eventually realize that virtually no question or issue in this hobby has an objective, singularly correct, “one size fits all” answer, and that implementation is far more important than theory to the ultimate sonic results.
Hello Squasher,
I am looking for 2 pairs of xle connectors for a pair of xlr ic.
I personally want to avoid rhodium plating.
Neutrik XX series with silver plating is a safe choice.
But I also come across your ETI Research Kryo Series xlr connectors.
Plating with silver, no nickel.
Cryogenically treated.
Please share with us your audition experience of it.
And if possible, please pm me where I can buy them and how much.
Many thanks in advance!
BTW pure copper is too soft to make xlr pins. Tellurium copper is harder.
3 months later is there any feedback you can share on the ECHOLE cables refitted with Bocchino XLR connectors?
We did a lot of research when we were looking for XLR connectors for our Cimbura interconnects.
We ended up designing our own with Plantinum plated pins and screw terminations. The housing is large enough to provide space for eg. Bybee purifiers.
We ended up designing our own with Plantinum plated pins and screw terminations. The housing is large enough to provide space for eg. Bybee purifiers.
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Any of the things you refer is not an universal truth and can be easily questioned on base of user preference and system. It is very nice to know about your preferences, but my Metronome DAC sounds great with tin/teflon capacitors - the designer choice.
Even considering there is no best in this hobby, it would be great to know why you prefer these materials - experience, technical reasons, etc ?
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