Mogami vs Belden - Critical Listening Test, Clean Out Your Ears!

[norman_nomad]

Is there a sonic difference between cable brands/types?

What about with line cables and snakes?

This simple A/B test intends to compare the sonic differences between two different standard cable brands.

The two contenders:

1. Belden/CBI 2BF 20ft Dsub Snake
2. Mogami 3162 110ohm 20ft Digital/Audio Cable

The Mogami cable is a dual purpose digital/audio cable and is supposed to perform better than standard cable due to the tighter impedance tolerances.

Like most of my test you'll get multiple files labeled "A" and "B". The cable type will be consistent between files meaning...

If the Mogami is "A" it will be "A" for ALL files. Likewise, if the Mogami is "B" it will be "B" for ALL files.

Test was done using a Lynx Aurora 16, 44.1khz on Internal Clock.

This is a critical listening test. The differences, if any, will likely not be drastic. I recommend focusing on just one part of the performance... a guitar, or bell, or piano, or cymbal splash .. to extract the subtleties.

So do you hear a difference? Which do you prefer, A or B? Why?

[norman_nomad]

[norman_nomad]

[space2012]

WOW,
here, the:
A sounds brighter, "complete"
B sounds like old radio. "incomplete/missing harmonics/hold back"

what software are you usign ?
this cable test is for AES/EBU test?
or audio test?

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by space2012

WOW,

what software are you usign ?
this cable test is for AES/EBU test?
or audio test?

I use Nuendo.

This is an AUDIO test.

The mogami are AES/EBU cables that I'm using for audio.... they're supposed to be better because of less impedance...

The Belden's are just standard audio cable.

Thanks for sharing your opinion!

[space2012]

Originally Posted by norman_nomad

I use Nuendo.

This is an AUDIO test.

The mogami are AES/EBU cables that I'm using for audio.... they're supposed to be better because of less impedance...

The Belden's are just standard audio cable.

Thanks for sharing your opinion!

Hi.

how do you connect the aurora to your pc?
what sound card did you used ?
what brand model of cables are used for AES/EBU ?
are you usign ADAT? and you have the lt-adat card inside aurora.

Thanks

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by space2012

Hi.

how do you connect the aurora to your pc?
what sound card did you used ?
what brand model of cables are used for AES/EBU ?
are you usign ADAT? and you have the lt-adat card inside aurora.

Thanks

Via RME AES-32, using Mogami AES/EBU cables.

[drosophila]

I liked B the most, based mostly on the Coldplay track. The sound was maybe a touch less detailed, but a bit warmer and more relaxing to listen to. I'm guessing this is the standard Belden cable?

[zak7]

Do not get it! are you comparing Digital audio cables and analog cables???????????????????

Please, can you explain this??

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by zak7

Do not get it! are you comparing Digital audio cables and analog cables???????????????????

Please, can you explain this??

No.

BOTH cables are being used for AUDIO.

The mogami is a digital cable that I'm using for AUDIO.

Many people claim that digital cable is better for audio because of the tighter impedance tolerance which is supposed to be better for high frequencies.

[space2012]

can you use the original wave file ?
Rosetta 200 Vs Aurora 16 Shout Out The "test"

Rosetta 200 Vs Aurora 16 Shout Out The "test"

to know how different are two diferent auroras ?

it seems thers big diferences from unit to unit in other brands with same models.

Thanks

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by space2012

can you use the original wave file ?
Rosetta 200 Vs Aurora 16 Shout Out The "test"

Rosetta 200 Vs Aurora 16 Shout Out The "test"

to know how different are two diferent auroras ?

it seems thers big diferences from unit to unit in other brands with same models.

Thanks

OK... I ran the file. I'll PM you the link. I don't want to mix things up with this thread. You're welcome to post the wav file, or part of the wave file in the other thread if you want.

One thing I'll say is that his wav files all did something weird... they were drifting out of phase from the original and I suspect he either had some strange clock settings going on or sample capture settings or something...

My file is sample for sample locked to the original.

[World Studios]

A sounds more open and hi fi, and B comes off a bit warmer. I would go for A with most sources.

[pw8888]

"A" better for me.much open ,larger.....

[Brad McGowan]

Wait, I thought all cables sounded the same... Just kidding.

Brad

[Audiop]

And you all listen blind and score 10/10?




/Peter

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

Wait, I thought all cables sounded the same... Just kidding.

Brad

I think that's what we're trying to figure out!

[Brad McGowan]

I was totally joking. For the record I'm a big proponent of Evidence Audio cables, which eats Mogami for breakfast and lunch.

Can you please post the raw files so that we have a reference? To me the ideal cable is invisible to the audio. A lesser cable will act as a filter and add distortion.

There is definitely an audible difference between the files, and I'm only listening on crappy $5 headphones. I hear a more neutral frequency response on B. There seems to be better separation between instruments and a more detailed sound. The midrange on A seems to more of a hyped feeling which at first seems very attractive, but may not be true to the source. I'd really like to hear the original files.

Brad

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

I was totally joking. For the record I'm a big proponent of Evidence Audio cables, which eats Mogami for breakfast and lunch.

Can you please post the raw files so that we have a reference? To me the ideal cable is invisible to the audio. A lesser cable will act as a filter and add distortion.

There is definitely an audible difference between the files, and I'm only listening on crappy $5 headphones. I hear a more neutral frequency response on B. There seems to be better separation between instruments and a more detailed sound. The midrange on A seems to more of a hyped feeling which at first seems very attractive, but may not be true to the source. I'd really like to hear the original files.

Brad

For sure. I'll post the originals.

I really wish I had an Evidence Audio snake to test! Do you have a Dsub snake?

[norman_nomad]

[Brad McGowan]

Originally Posted by norman_nomad

For sure. I'll post the originals.

I really wish I had an Evidence Audio snake to test! Do you have a Dsub snake?

No there's no such thing...yet.

You know, I just listened to the original to compare with the processed clips. I have no clue what's what or which cable is truer to the source. But what I can tell you is that I don't like the sound of either of those cables (coupled with your converters/clock) compared to the original file. Both A and B sound veiled and dynamically restricted to my ears. It could be lousy power causing those effects for all we know. There's so many variables that can affect the performance of a simple thing like playing audio through some cables.

If I can find the time before you reveal the results I should process a couple files at my place, where I'm using Mytek conversion and Mogami cables as well as balanced power and a Richard Gray's Power Company 400 on the AC circuit.

Brad

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

If I can find the time before you reveal the results I should process a couple files at my place, where I'm using Mytek conversion and Mogami cables as well as balanced power and a Richard Gray's Power Company 400 on the AC circuit.

Brad

That'd be sweet! Post them here if you can.

[shangoe]

A - closer to the source

[Brad McGowan]

I'm a big ******. I processed the files tonight at the studio but forgot to copy them back onto the flash drive to bring them home. Doh! Thursday. I think they are going to sound different than the versions you posted...in a more transparent way.

Brad

[norman_nomad]

Originally Posted by Brad McGowan

I'm a big ******. I processed the files tonight at the studio but forgot to copy them back onto the flash drive to bring them home. Doh! Thursday. I think they are going to sound different than the versions you posted...in a more transparent way.

Brad

Cool. Technically we should really randomize the file names so that people aren't thrown by the power of suggestion... but maybe that's a bit too much for just this one thread.

Were the converters setup for perfect unity gain? Very curious to hear them.

[Brad McGowan]

I didn't do a formal check of the gains but when I flipped back and forth between the original and processed I couldn't hear a difference in volume. Technically the the Mytek is set internally with the fixed gain setting on both input and output (0VU = -15dBFS).

Brad

[DONNX]

B sounded louder.

[norman_nomad]

The poll results are interesting... most people posting seem to prefer A... but the poll shows a preference for B. Anyone who prefers B care to elaborate why?

[norman_nomad]

Whoops! Forgot to update this with an answer:

A = Belden
B = Mogami




As of this moment the polls are split totally evenly, which I think is telling.

[Fusion]

Its all about Kanari cables. Thats what id use all they way!!!! even if u have to build them urself!!! Just my 2cents