inexpensive xlr vs expensive rca

Dang it. Well, the results are in and my wallet is going to get lighter.

Here’s the chain: JC-3+ - XLR1 - JC-2 - XLR2 - active x-over
I also have an Ayre QB-9 DSD - XLR1.5 - JC-2 - XLR2 - active x-over

First, we replaced the XLR1 with the VdH Mountain. It’s a short run between the two, but we used a 2m cable since that was what he brought. There was a slight improvement in bass definition and there was more air around the instruments, but not dramatically so. We put it on the XLR1.5 and came to the same conclusion. Finally, we replaced XLR2. Wow! ok, things just got real. Bass definition became more round and more solid. Instruments like guitar and vocals became more lifelike. XLR2 is a solid 2M+ run, so replacing that long Belden 8423 cable did the trick. We didn't hear as much of a difference at XLR1 and XLR1.5 positions because the longer run was in the way sonically. 

So, I guess I’m now convinced. However, I’m going to replace ALL of the XLRs with the Rock. I can’t afford the Mountain, but he said I’d get pretty far down the road I need to go with the Rock. They are both part of the 3T family.

I was very impressed that he came out to my house and spent almost 2 hours letting me demo the cables in my own system. If you are in Atlanta, you should get to know Chris Amos at Kemela.

XLR is superior sound i just had my Purist rca cables reterminated to balanced 6 db louder and much quieter would never use single ended again.

Glad to hear you decided on XLR - balanced is almost always going to sound better than unbalanced in my experience. At least for signal integrity if nothing else. Power cables and other interference is a lot less with balanced.

I like the KLEI RCA connectors, have no experience with thier cables (way too expensive) but one thing to note - the ’silver’ connectors aren’t silver.. https://www.aurealisaudio.com.au/klei-harmony-rca-issues/ FYI. Also you can find the connectors cheaper pretty much any site OTHER than the KLEI site since he put the prices up a year ago. Silly.. I’m currently deciding whether or not to get more KLEI copper connectors for a couple of phono interconnects, or Neutrik profi, or two of each. I need four interconnects from two turntables going into two Rek-o-Kut low noise stereo switches. I figure getting two equal length cables (75cm) with the different connectors will be my first easy way to AB compare KLEI vs Neutrik profi connectors, as I will be using the same Mogami 2965 cable for all the interconnects. The only issue with KLEI I have at the moment other than the claims of silver alloy when it’s silver plated, is that you can’t easily get an 8 pack - There are 4, 6 and 12 packs available but not an 8. Doh! So either 2x 4 packs or a 12 pack and have 4 spare for another interconnect some day (maybe use in an interconnect upgrade for cassette deck or mixer RCA record output). The cheapest I can get the KLEI is a few dollars more per connector than the Neutrik (around $9-10 USD each compared to $13-15 for KLEI)

I personally use Neutrik (the proper ones, not Rean/Ningbo/Yongshen) XLR and TS/TRS, and am now also considering Amphenol for TS/TRS. I don’t believe in paying a fortune for cable - I buy some nice Mogami generally from Redco or designacable.com and get the connectors put on for me at a local cable company. Designacable will make cables up for you for reasonable prices too. In Australia I get Swamp to do my cables - $5 per RCA connector, $10 custom order job fee. Not bad! They don’t have as big a range of parts as designacable but I just send the components/cable I want worked with.

@lastninja - in response to your postng of the Aurealis Audio web content above.

Please checkout the KLE Innovations site and read the Brochure and Technical Paper
https://kleinnovations.com/kle-innovations-klei-products/klei-harmony-plug/

I think you will find that nowhere does it state that the Silver Harmony is fabricated from "solid silver".

It would appear that most people "ASSUMES" solid silver is used simply because of the name assigned to the plug.

Based on that "assumption" is it feasible to conclude that an American Express Gold Card is made of gold? I think not.

The "Silver Harmony" is just a name assigned to an RCA that achieves a higher level of performance that the Copper Harmony, but not as good as the Pure Harmony or Absolute Harmony.

To quote from their documents:

Proprietary mathematical modeling is utilized to produce the Silver Harmony’s ground to signal pin relationship, parameters, and determines the proprietary metallurgical processes that are used.

I think this fact has been overlooked by the people at Aurealis Audio on purpose. They may have stated in their advertising that Solid silver was used and a customer complained and are now covering their "assets"

In fact they seem to have gone one stage further and have actually mis-quoted snippets from KLE Innovations documents on purpose.

For what purpose I do not know, but it would appear they have an axe to grind with KLE Innovations and are willing mis-quote their documents in order to disparage the good name of KLE Innovations in favour of their own.

Personally - I have auditioned every plug from KLE Innovations at length and all I can is that it does not matter the Harmony plugs are not made from Solid Silver - each plug in the range, much like American Express cards, provide a level "service" that improves as you proceed up the product line.

The issues here should not be with KLE Innovations, a company that I trust and respect, but with that post on Aurealis Audio that appears to have no other goal but to disparage.

Regards - Steve