Audio Accessories

I'm trying to run the sound from my set top box to my home theater receiver. I'd like to use the receiver's digital optical input so I get 5.1 (it's the only input my receiver has that will allow this. My set top box has an optical output, so it should be easy. I ordered a digital optical cable from Monoprice. Today I tried to connect them. The connectors go into the socket, but won't stay in place. I see no locking mechanism, which seems pretty strange to me. I must be doing something wrong as everybody would have thrown out optical digital a long time ago if the physical connections were this fragile. Can anybody tell me what the trick is to use connect this cab…

...assuming that cables are important, (I don't want to get arguments started) Is the quality of digital cables as important as the quality of analog cables? EDITed for clarification hahaa

(I am ashamed to admit this but) I have an old pair of Monster 1/8" -> RCA cables and they are directional. I was confused by this and looked up this on their website. It says: Why do the cables have directional arrows? This is done for shielding purposes only, a design where we do not solder the shield on the signal's destination. This ensures that any noise picked up by the shield will not be transmitted into your signal path. Can I assume that any other cable that I buy will not be directional? For example, I want to get the Blue Jeans Cable RCA-1/8" cable or similar and want to use it from my DAC or GS-1 line out to the Pico Slim. Also, I don't…

Ok I have read a bunch from Barry Diament about ball bearing and air bladder isolation and I want to take the plunge. Here is what I am trying to find but without the high audio price tag any ideas where I can find stainless steel cups like that and very hard ball bearings? These are like $180 for a set of three and I am hoping to source something like it for a lot less. Any ideas?

I'm sitting here looking at my lavry and my zana deux (just put it together after a long vacation). and now i realize i need XLR to RCA connectors. question, does it matter (should i go for 6 dollar ones) or should i spend the $ on the fancy cardas?

Great prices, and they look nice! Emotiva Audio X-Series Interconnects

http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/xsp1 Balanced preamp with phono stage

Should I be worried about gain on TVCs? I don't think I listen that loudly, but certainly not at whisper-level either. I like to turn it up once in a while just to rock out and try to get some big dynamics going. More specifically, would a TVC have trouble with the output level of cartridges? The specific model that I might be interested in is the Bent Audio TVC, which uses a the S&B TX-102 transformer, and has up to 6db of gain.

http://6moons.com/audioreviews/nanotech3/79.html Shark oil!

What do you people use? I use the blue suspension bridge over Hell's fiery lava sea.

After months of having what seemed like every conceivable roadblock, I officially am rocking vinyl again. Fuck yeah! A Pro-Ject RM-5 with hopelessly cool carbon fiber tonearm, Denon DL-103, and Monolithic PS-1 w/ HC-1 PSU. It's dead sexy, so getting to finally listen to all the records I've bought in the last few months is that much better! Here are some more pics: You can't really see it at all but the anti-skating weight just hangs on a little string, it's really cool. I'll try to get a better pic sometime. Obligatory action shot: Fuck yeah!!! So I'm pretty happy that something I've bought actually works for once! I'm relaxing to a 2…

Hey everyone, haven't posted here in quite some time. I have an aftermarket Senn HD650 cable that is a bit messed up. The left headphone connection is shoddy, and keeps cutting out whenever I move my head. I've done tests to confirm that its the cable connection, because my stock cable works perfectly. I have next to no idea what I'm doing, so I contacted Zach Collier from Enigma Audio to fix it, but he hasn't gotten back to me. Any other ideas where I could reliably get this fixed?

ok so i got a pair of xhadow female xlr plugs in the house and man they do sound better than the furutech rhodiums for half the price. anyone fancy a pair of used furutechs for like 25 bucks? anyway, xhadow cardas vs zu mobius should be interesting.

Comes in Cherry, Maple, Walnut and Zebrawood. 99 Euro. Sieveking Sound

Is anyone aware of an app that will turn my Galaxy Note 10.1 into a stereo remote control ala Logitech Harmony? It sure would be handy.

Okay, consider this a recommendation coming from very low expectations, and I know they've been around awhile, but picked up one of those GE LED+ BR30 bulbs (battery backup, multi-color, or Bluetooth speaker extra "addition") with the speaker option and it isn't half bad. The surrounding can rattles a little with bass, and should be considered, but not the bulb's fault. I mean again have proper expectations (think of the same mono driver in a similar sized, cheap desktop speaker), but it's kinda cool if you have a use case. Anyone else using?

This looks promising for those that are into LPs. This is a new somewhat diyish style cleaner for lps that uses a system like a power washer but for lps. You spread on a cleaner that loosens up the dirt and muck on an lp then with a hose that attaches to your sink you spray off the cleaner. The advantage to this system is no residue from the cleaner gets stuck in the groove and should provide for a cleaner quieter lps. The drawback is it is messy and I would probably do this outside or in a garage. The other thing that immediately struck me was the use of tap water that has several contaminates that distilled does not. George Merrill is the maker and seller of this unit a…

Spearit Sound in Boston/Northampton bought out the inventory of Siltech America and are selling them cheap(er). I'm not associated with neither Spearit Sound nor Siltech. http://www.spearitsound.com/siltechsale/siltech_home.htm

http://www.virtualdynamics.ca/content.php?id=159 I'm not associated with Virtual Dynamics...just thought people like to see the sale.

So I'm in the middle of building a stereo system. Does anybody have experience with super el-cheapo budget interconnect and speaker cables – maybe including stuff like Audioquest and Monster products (budget < $200 total, 4 sets of interconnects and speaker cable for two speakers). I was looking at the Audioquest website and I was considering the new Big Sur – no reviews so far. I was also looking (laughing) at the Monster website as well as the no-name products from The Source (Radio Shack) and Best Buy. I remember somebody like Stereophile recommending Radio Shack speaker wire back in the day. Grover Huffman's products occurred to me, but they're priced a littl…

I bought a Squeezebox today and plan to run the coax out the my Opus 21 and the optical out to my Marantz receiver. I found a few glass optical cables at Parts Express but the longest the have is 12 ft and I really need something thats 15 ft. Any recommendations?

What are your preferred RCA connectors? I'm thinking about buying some good bang for the buck connectors and looking for opinions. No strict budget. Will need a total of 8.

finally scrounged up enough money to replace the running springs haley PLC i sold 18 months ago. i was pleasantly surprised by the improvement in sound quality. the music has become much more full-bodied, and the bass has become really punchy. atmosphere's new album finally sounds right to my ears . pics: link to manufacturer

I like free stuff, so was sad to learn about the Virtual Dynamics power cord give-away after it was over. I emailed them today, just to see, and got a rather friendly response from some guy named Rick who said he was feeling generous. Nice. Too bad they're probably sending it to someone who won't be able to hear a difference, but I'll give it a go at least. Right now I've got two different Cardas on my amps, and a PS Audio on my source. They've been on "indifinite loan" from agile_one since I got the amps and CDP, since they didn't come with power cords. I don't know what others sound like, so this should be interesting...I hope. Anyway, I like free stuff. Good free stuff…