[Audio Empire[_2_]]

On Tue, 18 May 2010 06:47:30 -0700, Peter wrote
(in article ):

Since I am considering switching to an all Quad HiFi system I was quite
disappointed to learn that the Quad Electroacoustics Company only offers its
special "balanced" Quadlink cables with a maximum length of one meter.

In my setup the preamp is about 20 to 30 feet away from the power amp (I
have to go around the room), since I am trying to follow the conventional
wisdom of keeping the power amplifier as close as possible to the speakers.

Therefore I contacted the Quad Company and was told that they recommend
using plain RCA cables for long runs between their 99 preamp and their 909
power amp. Frankly I cannot understand the reasoning behind this since
generally speaking balanced connections supposedly always provide better
results.

In light of the above I wonder if anyone might know a company that would be
willing to build a 30 foot Quadlink (AmpBus) cable which will indeed meet
Quad Company specs?

I also wonder if someone might be able to provide me with a schematic for
the 15 pin connectors used for the Quad Quadlink cables, and perhaps also
the identification of the connectors themselves?

Thank you in advance for your very kind help and consideration.

I wouldn't worry about it were I you. At line levels, the advantages of
balanced cables are probably more in your head than in the cables themselves.
There is often a delta between theory and practice and this is one of those
instances. Buy some ready-made *"quasi-balanced" cables with RCAs and enjoy
your new equipment.

* Quasi-balanced cables are RCA cables that have two conductors within the
shield. One is hot and one is the return. The shield is connected to the RCA
plug's barrel on only one end, and "floats" on the other. This means that it
carries no current and acts as a "static" shield. You can tell these cables
by the fact that they will have an arrow printed on them somewhere. The arrow
points AWAY from the end that has the shield connected. This arrow does not
denote "signal flow" but rather is there so that you can arrange your cables
so that all of the shields terminate at the same component (in your case, the
preamp, in the case of an integrated amp, the amp itself). In any case, the
arrows should all point AWAY from the preamp or integrated and point AT all
source components such as CD player, tuners, tape decks, DACs, etc as well as
to all destination components (recorder inputs, power amp inputs, etc.)
Theoretically, this arrangement COULD reduce airborne interference. Whether
or not it actually does, of course, would depend upon whether or not you HAVE
sufficient airborne interference in your listening environment to actually
reduce.