AudioEngine 5 Vs Aktimate mini

cysmail · Jul 1st, 10, 08:33 PM

Hey all,

Just whacked a pair of aktimate mini yesterday. It sounds great despite the stock cables but the quality of the banana plugs leave much to be desired.

Any bros here upgraded the cables for the aktimates and recommend any in particular?

Thanks!

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weib · Jul 1st, 10, 10:10 PM

banana plugs quite standard unless you wanna redo into self locking ones or leaf ones.

shungoh · Jul 1st, 10, 10:20 PM

you wanna get cheap "silver" banana plug, just take normal gold plated banana plug, then buy this product called MAPLETREE SILCLEAR.

$69 for one bottle that can use probably 1000 times. Coats the thing with silver stuff. Can use on earphone, headphone and all sort of jack.

Sceptical at first but really improves. Not trolling

As bro weib said, banana plug quite standard. self locking doesnt improve sound quality, only make it more convenient to put the cable.

Upgrade the cable first. Then put silclear on the banana plugs and coat tip of wire connecting to the banana plug with silclear also

cysmail · Jul 2nd, 10, 02:01 AM

ah i see, thanks for all the replies.

Will changing the stock minijack cable be of any help? Or should i go for rca cables since my x-meridian have an rca output.

weib · Jul 2nd, 10, 02:04 AM

well if you believe that cables can change the sound like me, then yes.

cysmail · 02:50 AM

Thanks for the tip, I guess I will recycle my old belden 1309a for connecting the speakers then get a minijack to rca for soundcard to speaker. Thanks for all the help.

Questor · Jul 2nd, 10, 08:47 AM

On the same topic, for active speakers, do you think it will cause a potential imbalance in the sound by changing cables?

Simple reason - usually the 1st speaker includes the amp and is fed by a direct connection which you are unable to alter easily (except by modding). If you just change the speaker cable to the 2nd speaker, then you are just making a difference to the 2nd and not the 1st speaker?

Even if we assume performance of 1st speaker is much better and we are just optimising, if we believe cables can make a difference to the tone and character, there is a potential mismatch?

Theoretically the simplest way is to use the same cable within the 1st speaker for the 2nd, but just upgrade the connection.

cysmail · Jul 2nd, 10, 10:30 AM

Yea that did come across my mind before. I have no idea how to google that heh.

weib · Jul 2nd, 10, 11:57 AM

Have to slowly match. IC and speaker cable don't really have to be the same. Cause one is a signal and the other is the power.

Questor · Jul 2nd, 10, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weib

Have to slowly match. IC and speaker cable don't really have to be the same. Cause one is a signal and the other is the power.

weib, we are talking about (i) internal speaker cable in 1st speaker/amp, versus (ii) external speaker cable leading to 2nd speaker.

wwenze · Jul 2nd, 10, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Questor

On the same topic, for active speakers, do you think it will cause a potential imbalance in the sound by changing cables?

Simple reason - usually the 1st speaker includes the amp and is fed by a direct connection which you are unable to alter easily (except by modding). If you just change the speaker cable to the 2nd speaker, then you are just making a difference to the 2nd and not the 1st speaker?

Even if we assume performance of 1st speaker is much better and we are just optimising, if we believe cables can make a difference to the tone and character, there is a potential mismatch?

Theoretically the simplest way is to use the same cable within the 1st speaker for the 2nd, but just upgrade the connection.

I'd be more worried about the extra amplifier in the main speaker causing the internal volume to be different, hence affecting the sound, and there's nothing you can do to fix that other than using an external amp or having one amp inside each.

Questor · Jul 2nd, 10, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwenze

I'd be more worried about the extra amplifier in the main speaker causing the internal volume to be different, hence affecting the sound, and there's nothing you can do to fix that other than using an external amp or having one amp inside each.

sure, but that is another topic altogether. i am more curious about the cable one since so many people seem to upgrade their speaker cable for active speakers.

cysmail · Jul 2nd, 10, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wwenze

I'd be more worried about the extra amplifier in the main speaker causing the internal volume to be different, hence affecting the sound, and there's nothing you can do to fix that other than using an external amp or having one amp inside each.

Ahh. That kinda defeats the purpose of buying active speakers I guess. I will just stick to original plan and recycle my beldens, no point spend too much money if I cant hear the difference without a direct comparison heh.

cysmail · Jul 2nd, 10, 01:18 PM

I wonder if I can convert use the beldan for minijack to rca hmm. Time to ask the LHS uncle later.

deathskull · Jul 2nd, 10, 01:23 PM

How much and where did u get the speakers from?

Might get one myself

Thanks