You think you can hear TT cable differences? Vote here! Mogami Shootout!

The Mogami Cable Thread has given me some interesting advice and learnings. Some strong beliefs in that thread, so I wanted to tease out the truth using a blind test.

I have purchased 3 different cables through World's Best Cables.

Now it's time to shoot them out using a blind test - you tell me which you think sounds best here! Comment on which sample you prefer and why.
I'll reveal the sample mappings in a few days!

The cables in this shootout (in random order):
2497
2549
2964

THE SAMPLES:
Sample A.flac
Sample B.flac
Sample C.flac

THE DETAILS AND METHODOLOGY:

• We are comparing the difference in cable between Turntable to Phono Preamp. (From my phono preamp to amp/ADC, I run 2497 and that hasn't changed)
• I used Audacity to capture each sample in succession. NO changes to any settings, volume, etc. No processing of the files.
• The cables all have the same exact Eminence locking connectors, so no difference there.
• I used the AT45 Dr John Right Place Wrong Time title track as the sample here - it has great dynamics, microdetail, depth, etc.
• Check my profile for current equipment. I captured using a Focusrite Scarlet 212 (not the BEST ADC, but sufficient)

 

I challenged myself to prove I can hear a difference, and used Foobar ABX with headphones to confirm. I can absolutely differentiate between the 3 cables.

 

Thanks for taking the time to record stuff with a decent ADC, too often these threads are just anecdotal observations.

One question though — are you using the moving magnet or moving coil cartridge listed in your profile? If imagine the former would demonstrate bigger differences among varying capacitance of cable stock.

 

Ah sorry! It was the ART 9XI, the MC cart I'm using!
58.4db gain
470 ohm loading

 

I like sample b. Seems cleaner.

Listening with iPod Pro2 with Samsung S23 Ultra.

 

A has more HF detail.

C has the most low frequency punch...and second best highs.

B is bad compared to either of the other two. It's like all mid. Lacking detail up top OR punch/fullness down low. Sounds like what I'd classify as "some old timey record player".

I would need more material to pick which one I prefer--like is A just boosting highs or cutting lows? Is C really the most full frequency and the "extra" lows are masking some of the high detail? But I can almost assure you I'd throw B into a box to return it STAT. Nothing to like.

I'll vote for C because I don't think there's a way for a cable to "boost" lows--it's more likely that the A is dropping some, revealing more HF detail.

Curious the results...because I just bought my first table with RCA jacks. All past tables in my life have been hardwired. It occurs to me that when the signal is at that hi impendence and low level, in a recording situation that's where cable makes the biggest scale of difference. From recording experience, I'd have gone with Gotham from WBC given the choice. Only because of the difference it makes on microphones--despite being higher output level.

 

Without tipping my hat too much, this is similar to my observations too… but I won’t reveal which is which just yet!

I find it interesting how others have voted for B. Sometimes I prefer B over the others too. Tough call.

there definitely IS a difference in sound though. Slight, but it’s there.

the price delta of these cables ranges from $40ish to $110ish!

 

Sample A, seemed like more DR, less muffled/blurred

 

Sorry, I wouldn't touch this with a 10 foot pole, this is one of the two or three brands cable deniers keep raving about, something they fail to notice is a contradiction in itself.

 

You won’t even listen and compare, and avoid all the conjecture with a true 1:1:1 comparison all things equal? Why not? It’s just for fun.

I mean look at the results and comments so far. All over the place! I’d be really surprised if the poll ends with equal votes lol.

 

No cable denier at all. I just think that this brand sounds better than most brands costing over $1k/m, that's all .

 

Cable 'deniers' do not deny you need cables: only that cables of similar parameters will sound similar. Therefore a $100 cable may give similar performance to a $500 one.

There is no contradiction, only that you do not need to spend $$$ whereas $ will give similar performance based on engineering/physics.
Subjected impressions can't be debated.

 

Listening with buds, I can't hear any difference.

 

I voted for the C. Better bass and clearer highs-also better coherence and more "air" around the doctors voice and the instruments. A was a bit muffled and B a mit en between.

 

C (b&o H6 headphones listening through phone)

 

I liked and voted for C.... I just liked what I heard.
Oh, and "A" came in second. I listened to each sample three times and my opinion sort of mirrors Jamie.

 

When I switched out my old MonoPrice rca cables to my monster Interlink Ref2 I heard a nice diff.
And then going from that to Audioquest DiamondBacks another nice diff !!!

Technics SL1200 Mk5 turntable then from Para Zphono to Yamaha Pre/Pro <<<——

 

C is taking the lead! I’m starting to see some trends in the observations here. Interesting trends!

 

Code:

foo_abx 2.2 report
foobar2000 v2.6.4
0124-05-05 17:35:17

File A: Sample A.flac
SHA1: 6bd9d02c39b1d5be808cb41cfa54fa1ed080b5df
File B: Sample B.flac
SHA1: e9ea0de2ee8a8094291d580966ec8511990d3048

Output:
Core Audio : Default, 16-bit
Crossfading: NO

17:35:17 : Test started.
17:36:47 : Test restarted.
17:36:47 : 01/01
17:36:55 : Test restarted.
17:36:55 : 02/02
17:37:10 : Test restarted.
17:37:10 : 03/03
17:37:17 : Test restarted.
17:37:17 : 04/04
17:37:24 : Test restarted.
17:37:24 : 05/05
17:37:34 : Test restarted.
17:37:34 : 06/06
17:37:49 : Test restarted.
17:37:49 : 07/07
17:37:58 : Test restarted.
17:37:58 : 08/08
17:38:06 : Test restarted.
17:38:06 : 09/09
17:38:13 : Test restarted.
17:38:13 : 10/10
17:38:17 : Test restarted.
17:38:17 : 11/11
17:38:22 : Test restarted.
17:38:22 : 12/12
17:38:26 : Test restarted.
17:38:26 : 13/13
17:38:34 : Test restarted.
17:38:34 : 14/14
17:38:39 : Test restarted.
17:38:39 : 15/15
17:38:44 : Test restarted.
17:38:44 : 16/16
17:38:48 : Test restarted.
17:38:48 : 17/17
17:38:52 : Test restarted.
17:38:52 : 18/18
17:38:57 : Test restarted.
17:38:57 : 19/19
17:39:01 : Test restarted.
17:39:01 : 20/20
17:39:01 : Test finished.

 ---------- 
Total: 20/20
p-value: 0 (0%)

 -- signature -- 
a442cc5eeac58dca6b07aae6d6a84cff55d30a0e

 

"C" through my Audio Engine wSub desk top. Better tone and boogie factor.
"A" would be second.

This is good because you cant flip wires fast to compare.

 

DAMN that’s accurate hearing!!! Which did you prefer???

 

Didn’t pay attention to the music - far too many tells in those files.

 

What length are they? Just curious.

I like sample B the best. Sample C sounds a bit flat to me. In a system with speakers in a room, I doubt I could hear a difference.

jeff

 

B is best by far. I would take a stab and say it's Neglex 2497. Which would make sense as 2497 is what they use at Abbey Road, Capitol and Platinum.

C is second best. I would say it is 2549. A lot of guys use it for phono two conduction RCA although it is actually an XLR cable product. Not bad. But still missing a lot of solid info that 2497 provides. If that is indeed 2497 I heard with B. Anyway C is just not as rich as B.

A just sounds awful. That guitar doesn't even sound real. All the guts are missing. I would say its the 2964 being used. A poor choice for phono---2964 is actually very thin specialized 75 ohm SPDIF cable. Ugh. I would doubt it worked well using an audio signal, would you?

Anyway perhaps all I just said is wrong and I am wrong and this stuff doesn't work like I THINK it does. I can be wrong on stuff I don't get paid to do. Those are my observations based on spec and reading stuff and stuff like that. Oh. And by listening to stuff on a reference setup. I heard those differences. Whether or not I got it right I still heard them.

And being wrong is fine with me anyway. I use Belden for my phono. Ha!

 

+1. I would cut the connectors off and make something better.

jeff