Author Topic: The stingy olive / no budget thread  (Read 30045 times)

watchdog

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The stingy olive / no budget thread
« on: August 28, 2016, 04:50:26 PM »
Here is a list of places to visit or parts to try for the financially challenged.

1. LHS Electronics Enterprise - #02-27 Sim Lim Tower
2. Del Audio - #02-32 Sim Lim Tower
3. Koba  Electronics - #03-06 People's Park Centre
4. Daiso - All over the island
5. Ikea - Alexandra and Tampines

LHS is probably your best stop to start for affordable speaker cables, or wires of any sort. They also stock decent but affordable connectors like Canare, Neutrik, Marinco, MK etc.

Power Cords - Belden 19364 or 83803
Power Distributors - UK Permaplug
Speaker cables - Canare Starquad or Belden 5000 series
Interconnects - Canare Starquad or Belden 89259
Digital interconnects - Canare LV-77S, Canare L-5CFB, Belden 1694A

Del Audio stocks Mogami Neglex.

Interconnects - Mogami Neglex 2534
 
Koba has a dizzying array of parts (if you can find them in the very tight maze of shelves - ask them for help).

Power Distributor - Various DIY casings from China (US outlets). You can go with the supplied outlets (not the last word in quality), or replace them with Hubbell outlets of your choice.

Daiso's most popular "audiophile" tweak is their gel damping pad. This is actually intended for absorption of vibrations during earthquakes. They work quite well in damping vibrations from your speakers or audio components. The effect on sound though is a matter of taste. They also sell thin cork sheets that are useful for damping components.

Ikea is not just for buying furniture. There are lots of ideas floating on the net, like the Lack rack project, or the various chopping blocks that can be used as equipment platforms. Projects are limited only by your imagination.

Feel free to add on to this list.

Darknight

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2016, 04:51:25 AM »
I've tried the below with decent results. Definitely worth considering for those on a tight budget.

Interconnects:
Belden 8402
Mogami neglex 2497

Speaker cable:
Western electric WE16GA

Coaxial:
Belden 1694A w Canare rca
Associated Equipment: MSB Platinum Transport > Schiit Yiggy > Pass XP10 > Acoustic Imagery Atsah 1200 monos > Wilson Sasha

watchdog

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #2 on: September 15, 2016, 08:18:31 AM »
Darknight, +1 on the Mogami Neglex 2497. This makes a very good RCA interconnect. Compared to the infamous Neglex 2803, the 2497 is a lot cheaper, easier to work with and more robust.

Bananajack

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #3 on: September 17, 2016, 01:45:27 AM »
After many years of being a no compromise high ender I learnt my lesson ;) most of these hyped super cables are just Marketing products.
Lately tested a relatively cheap eBay Interconnect (German brand) against the 2KS$ IC of a friend (same setup, A/B switching via remote control) ... And it was 99.9% the same. I paid less than 200 ...

Hot tip for the daring - make your own cable. In Tuas is Lapp Cable (the oldest cable brand in the world, German) and many high end brands buy their cables from them and just optically change them with cloth, an impressive power plug or whatever. Lapp sells also small quantities by the meter (you have to go there though and wait a bit) and already a simple Lapp Oelflex cable is a good Power Cord. They have Higher End Models for Robot Control in Manufacturing, that shall be fantastic ... and btw a good Power Cable is also a good Speaker Cable, not interconnect though.

On request is can find out more for you, as most info on Lapp is in German.

Darknight

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2016, 12:02:51 AM »
Yep. German cords and Japanese cords are bang for the buck. I have had very good results with Inakustik and SAEC.
Associated Equipment: MSB Platinum Transport > Schiit Yiggy > Pass XP10 > Acoustic Imagery Atsah 1200 monos > Wilson Sasha

WildRain

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2016, 12:24:02 PM »
Great sharing all!!.

Currently looking to upgrade spk cable from the current Furutech pcocc for dynaudio contours. Any suggestions? Most suggesting Nordost etc, which is beyond my budget...looking to spend within $200-300 max,
Sony Z1es | Densen DM20 | DM30 | Dynaudio S1.4

Nordost Heimdall | Baldur | QED Genesis

Maestro | 7N-4030 | Plixir Elementa BAC3000 | PC

jb

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2016, 04:23:44 PM »
with $300 budget, you can try out a used pair of Nordost blue heaven which is within this price range. But Nordost cable tends to raise the mid and high but weaker bass ,may not match to all system. which brand of pre and power amp that you use to drive the dynaudio contours?
« Last Edit: September 18, 2016, 04:41:09 PM by jb »

WildRain

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2016, 12:49:54 AM »
Densen DM30

You're spot on bro...Nordost is a common recommendation for Dynaudios. :)

Also wanted to know if there're any VFM brands that i should try.

For EG. SAEC seems quite good from Eric's review. X-audio sells them in 3 sizes. This was on my radar.

http://singaporehifi.blogspot.sg/2015/12/speaker-cables-from-japan-comparitive.html
Sony Z1es | Densen DM20 | DM30 | Dynaudio S1.4

Nordost Heimdall | Baldur | QED Genesis

Maestro | 7N-4030 | Plixir Elementa BAC3000 | PC

Francis Huang

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #8 on: September 19, 2016, 03:22:59 PM »
Mix blue heaven with red dawn
Blue heaven for high mid
Red dawn for low

with $300 budget, you can try out a used pair of Nordost blue heaven which is within this price range. But Nordost cable tends to raise the mid and high but weaker bass ,may not match to all system. which brand of pre and power amp that you use to drive the dynaudio contours?

WildRain

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #9 on: September 19, 2016, 05:58:08 PM »
 
Mix blue heaven with red dawn
Blue heaven for high mid
Red dawn for low

with $300 budget, you can try out a used pair of Nordost blue heaven which is within this price range. But Nordost cable tends to raise the mid and high but weaker bass ,may not match to all system. which brand of pre and power amp that you use to drive the dynaudio contours?
Interesting...thanks bro for sharing. won't work for dyns though...no biwiring.
Sony Z1es | Densen DM20 | DM30 | Dynaudio S1.4

Nordost Heimdall | Baldur | QED Genesis

Maestro | 7N-4030 | Plixir Elementa BAC3000 | PC

Francis Huang

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2016, 12:02:47 AM »
Power cords Interconnects can be mixed as well
 :)

WildRain

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2016, 08:06:05 PM »
wouldn't the law of weakest link in the chain apply, in that case? End up with worst characteristics of both rather than best of both?

Power cords Interconnects can be mixed as well
 :)
Sony Z1es | Densen DM20 | DM30 | Dynaudio S1.4

Nordost Heimdall | Baldur | QED Genesis

Maestro | 7N-4030 | Plixir Elementa BAC3000 | PC

Francis Huang

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2016, 08:59:33 PM »
Red dawn strength is blue heaven weakness
Blue heaven strength is red dawn weakness

You can see them as tools to balance ur sys sound
 :)
If you are looking for better bandwidth/extension at both end, you can go up the ladder

 

wouldn't the law of weakest link in the chain apply, in that case? End up with worst characteristics of both rather than best of both?

Power cords Interconnects can be mixed as well
 :)
« Last Edit: September 21, 2016, 09:05:45 PM by Francis Huang »

WildRain

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2016, 10:27:04 PM »
Red dawn strength is blue heaven weakness
Blue heaven strength is red dawn weakness

You can see them as tools to balance ur sys sound
 :)


On a lighter note, reminds me of a quote from GB Shaw.

Quote
Miss Duncan:
Sony Z1es | Densen DM20 | DM30 | Dynaudio S1.4

Nordost Heimdall | Baldur | QED Genesis

Maestro | 7N-4030 | Plixir Elementa BAC3000 | PC

Francis Huang

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Re: The stingy olive / no budget thread
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2016, 12:17:37 AM »
It may be, esp after u factor in the number of equipments, room acoustic and listener preference.
Its more abt the implementation than paper talk


Red dawn strength is blue heaven weakness
Blue heaven strength is red dawn weakness

You can see them as tools to balance ur sys sound
 :)


On a lighter note, reminds me of a quote from GB Shaw.

Quote
Miss Duncan: