XLR Cable Test - Grimm, Audioquest - Tubulus and... CAT6! With music samples
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- Опубликовано: 14 май 2020
- We have another sample test for you. This time four XLR cables. We take the Grimm TPM, Audioquest Earth, Tubulus Argentus and a homemade double shielded CAT6.
We draw no conclusions in the video. You can decide for yourself whether you hear a difference and which one performs best.
Audioquest Earth - 1099 / 1 meter
Grimm TPM - 499 / meter
Tubulus Argentus - 399 euro
CAT6 with Neutrik plugs - 22 euro
System used:
Pre-amp: Pass Labs XP12
Power Amp: Bryston 4B SST3
Streamer: Metrum Acoustics Ambre
DAC: Metrum Acoustics Pavane
Speakers: Focal Sopra No1
Speaker cable: Audioquest Oak
Filter for sources: Kemp PowerStrip 8plus
Filter for Bryston: Isotek Titan EVO3
NAS: Synology DS1618+ / 12GB Ram
ROON-server: custom build AMD Ryzen3 3000-series / 8GB RAM / SSD
Network: all optically decoupled 
Наука
![Rob49 - On Dat Money (with Cardi B) [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fTFS58mHJh8/mqdefault.jpg)
Mijn eerste indruk: 1) Tubulus Argentus, 2) Audioquest Earth 3) Grimm TPM, 4) CAT6 Morgen nog een keer luisteren.
Thanks for this post !
An easy win here for the Tubulus Argentus - more bass control (less bloat) and better mid-range clarity and instrument separation versus the second placed Audioquest. You can hear that multiple vocal tracks of the singer have been recorded, much more easily on the Tubulus.
I could *immediately* hear the phase inversion of one channel at the beginning of the CAT6 cable!
Hi thank you very much indeed for this extremely interesting comparison I wonder if the CAT6 cable could be used also to make some unbalanced cables. And more important ... do you think that solid core wires interconnects sound better than stranded wires interconnects ? i am asking because i had the opportunity to test some cables from Cardas brand. I understand they use litz wires. The midrange in particular ... i have never heard something better ... but they are very expensive. One cable is more expensive that my all rig. Thanks a lot again. Kind regards, gino
Nicely produced. A slight edge to the AudioQuest cables (maybe). I own a few low end AQ cables but I still question the value. The rest sounded the same. Listening w/ Focusrite DAC, JDS Labs amp, Sennheiser HD580 Precision (refurb vintage). Good quality upgraded cables.
Interesting comparison!
Tubulus Argentus sounds the best to me all round. While the Audioquest excelled in the second track for tone in the last 30 seconds, the bass was muddled and lose for the first 30 seconds of the first track. Nothing was lost listening to the second track with the Tubulus versus Audioquest, just the tone was more pleasing with one versus the other firbthe second track.
Question - Did you use a single strand, or a single twisted pair per conductor for the homemade CAT6 cable? My thought is to get 75% of the more expensive cables performance with homemade, use possibly 2 or 3 CAT6 cables in tandem, using at least 4 of the 8 wires per connector. Just like with speaker wire, upping the gague increases low end performabce to an extent. Also, spending maybe 30-40 per connector, or even find the same ones used for the higher end cables for an even playing field.
Your home brew was actually my 2nd favorite. I think the Audioquest Earth takes first place . And that is me being totally honest. Not influenced by price or looks just closing my eyes and going by what I hear. Another good video. Thank you from a new sub. 😁👍
Здравейте! Най-добре звучи лилавият кабел - Tubulus. Басите са най-отчеливи. Избягвайте да прегъвате кабелите. Търся звук, който да прегаря кабелите и системата като цяло, по-бързо, можете ли да ми посочите линк?
is the cat 6 solid core or stranded?. I use the solid core cat5 and the difference to my audioquest and silver is nearer than what I hear here.
I AM not sure anymore. I think it was solid core.
Agree with Kirk ... the CAT 6 cables is really one "Classy Cable"...reminds me of the experience of listening to an MU1 / LS1be system...the elasticity of the sound from soft to loud, and from slow to fast, is excellent... clarity and decay is good... first and foremost, it is honest ... no coloration or bloat, no overly exaggerated bass... but, OK, it does not extend to the lowest frequencies as well as the others. I would record with this one.
What was exactly the brand of the CAT6 cable used? It’s pretty good
I think it was double shielded Belkin CAT6A. Or maybe König. Not sure.
Can't tell the difference, listening on Focal Chorus 706 and on Focal listen. MSI GS75 ESS Sabre DAC (+ Denon PMA-520AE for the Chorus), extremely quiet room with no noise (computer in fan-less mode). I did the A/B thing and all, but really, I can't and I have a good hear (15Hz-19kHz) that's fairly trained.
I think you will hear the most difference from A RUclips video using headphones & dac.
For my taste:
1) Audioquest Earth: perfect frequency response balance. everything is in his place :)
I like low end definition and transient response.
2) Grimm TPM: a step down from audioquest but with similar character. Compared to audioquest lack the top end “air” and faster response on the low mid/low frequency. But for the price I would choose this one.
3) CAT6: incredible result!!! Super fast and great definition for the price! Everything sounds smaller and miss the low freq punch of the other two cables. But of course I would choose this one for installation where long cable length are required.
4) tubulus argentus: I really don’t like silver cables. I feel like the mid hi freq are too much in face. And this counds cold to me. I would never choose this cable to plug my system. But of course this is my personal impression based on my personal taste.
I agree - AQ Earth have a "rightness" that is difficult to ignore, also effortless deep bass. Everything else lets you know it is a cable with character. Argentus was 'cold'. I don't like silver cables either but didn't realize this was silver. Grimm TPM did a good job but couldn't reach AQ. CAT6 was surprisingly good but with the drawbacks you mention.
I have AQ Earth on test at home now and am very impressed. Now re-listening to many disks because of the new instrument detail and placement, low-level cues and fast transparent top-end and bottomless bass.
@Maroboshi - you said it all so well ✌
I think i like the Audioquest cable more. It sounds more heavy than the others. I think i prefer it because it sounds more coherent, it sounds as a whole and it makes me forget the test.
Glad we could give some insight.
Next time do a real test, blind noname with the same music and no gaps. Thanks
yes, the mind can do splendid tricks with us when we have context information (brand and price).
Is it Grimm TPM or tpr ?
TPM
$22 1:20
$399 3:32
$499 10:09
$1099 7:01
CAT6 is the best