Speaker Cable

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Joe Nino-Hernes, Nov 29, 2004.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Joe Nino-Hernes

    Joe Nino-Hernes Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
  2. boead

    boead New Member

    After trying literally dozens of speaker cables from (www.usedcables.com). Both a buddy and myself were auditioning dozens upon dozens of cables (IC’s Speaker, Power) and of all that I heard the Audiioquest models were my least favorite, actually I hated them!

    Some of the best cables I listed to were from Synergistic Research Alpha cables with the active shielding. Most of their cables are expensive but these were the most reasonable and can be had used for a couple of hundred dollars ($400+ new average length).

    The MIT ‘S-Series’ were the best in my opinion but not cheap ($500 - $1200)
     
  3. BradOlson

    BradOlson Country/Christian Music Maven

    I do like the quality of Audiopipe speaker wire, even for home use. The run of the mill speaker wire sold at discount stores is very poorly put together to the point that it can be eaten by a vacuum cleaner.
     
  4. Metralla

    Metralla Joined Jan 13, 2002

    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    I hate stranded cables, and I can guarantee you can do much better. I'd recommend my DIY silver foils, but they probably won't suit you as they are pretty tricky to make and the silver foil is very expensive.

    I have a very soft spot for the original Tara Labs Space and Time Phase II. These were one of the first cables Matthew Bond made when he was back in Australia, and the ones I bought were made with good Aussie copper back in 1990.

    After being discontinued for many years, they have been brought back into production at the urgings of the Cable Company. I'm sure that this is the only source - they have an exclusive. Although they are no longer made with the superior Australian copper, they are still pretty good. They have a fair discount price and I bought a 10 foot pair terminated with decent spades for $79 shipped to me.

    These are solid core, which I really like for cohesive sound and strong bass, and are insulated with Teflon. I have these in my second system and they have a very friendly sound, with nice imaging. These are good workhorse cables that won't screw up the sound, have no real nasties and are quite musical. Even if you upgrade later to something more sophisticated, these are good to have around for emergencies or to loan to friends.

    You will notice a big improvement over Monster Cable.

    See http://www.fatwyre.com/newspecials.html right at the bottom.
     
  5. Taurus

    Taurus Senior Member

    Location:
    Houston, Texas
    Nino: you might want to read this page in its entirety before spending big dollars on special speaker cable:

    "Speaker Wire: A History"

    FYI: Gordon Gow was a very influential figure at McIntosh Inc., so his tests should be considered carefully.
     
  6. boead

    boead New Member

    A lead technician at Bryston told me (swore to me!) that all cables sound the same and that if anyone thought cables sounded different they were imagining it! A tech from Conrad Johnson basically said the same thing.

    So take it for what’s it worth. Trust your ears, after all tube amps have very high distortion and should sound like crap but we all love them, don’t we?

    I hear these cables are VERY good.
    http://www.decware.com/newsite/speakercables.htm
     
  7. Joe Nino-Hernes

    Joe Nino-Hernes Active Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Chicago, IL
    Interesting...
     
  8. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Have you heard Grover & Wolff's Empress yet? I've heard awesome things about them.
     
  9. boead

    boead New Member

    No but I would like too! Grovers cables are unique to this site, understandably.

    I am likely going to buy a pair of his IC’s if they are right for my amp (need to speak to him), it’s at least one IC I would like to change. I’ve read SO many positive comments on them I feel compelled too try them.

    BTW: My speaker cable of choice is a DIY 12awg copper Litz (type-2 magnetic). I think the $700/pair MIT S-2’s were better but not $550 better (I paid about $150 to make my cables). I have made about half a dozen speaker cables, maybe more considering the variations on the same wire. Copper stranded, copper solid core, silver stranded, silver plated copper, magnetic copper in all kinds of servings, twists and braids. I just stumbled on this particular Litz wire and was very impressed. I lent them to a friend who was buying speaker cables at the time and put them up in the $500/pair category, easily. He actually placed them in his top few favorites and he’s fussy!

    I’m willing to except anything regardless of price or make, as long as it sounds to my liking.
     
  10. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Here, if you haven't seen this yet, take a look. :)
     
  11. I'd say Van Den Hul, but hey, I'm Dutch! :righton:
     
  12. Tony Plachy

    Tony Plachy Senior Member

    Location:
    Pleasantville, NY
    Joe, FWIW here are the couple of things I can tell you about cables.

    About 15 years ago when I still had a very mid-fi system I upgraded from the Monster Cable you are using to a higher grade Monster cable, the difference was immediate and very apparent, the imaging was much better.

    Some years back Stereophile had an article were they had oscilloscope photos of an impulse signal sent down various cables or interconnects (cannot remember which :sigh: ). It was amazing how much the leading edge of the signal varied from the original on some of the cables. IMHO this helps explain why different cables sound different with different equipment.

    I am a huge fan of Kimber Kable, I used them. I have met and talked with Ray Kimber, he does a lot of research and his cables are made here in Utah. For speaker cable I would go with their 4TC or 8TC if you can afford them or find the used.
     
  13. Gary

    Gary Nauga Gort! Staff

    Location:
    Toronto
    I've tried Van Den Hul "bulk cable" and it was pretty good!

    But I still like the Grover silver cables better.

    (Sorry.)

    Gary
     
  14. boead

    boead New Member

    Nice stuff, very expensive. Not sure if I’m willing to shell out $1100 for a set of speaker cables, not without hearing them first that’s for sure.

    I recently had a pair of speakers custom made for me. They consist of two full range driver run parallel with a ribbon tweeter.
    When choosing internal wiring, I settled on custom made ribbon from an alpha core inductor in a polly jacket. They are difficult to terminate but those that have tried it have raved about it. Should have them finally in about a week, can’t wait to hear them!
    2ohms, 95db 1w/1m, No crossover design which makes a great combination for my 1.6 watt amp.
     
  15. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    Hmm, IIRC they come with a certain time period money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied. You can't do any better than that IMO. :thumbsup:
     
  16. Dave

    Dave Esoteric Audio Research Specialist™

    Location:
    B.C.
    I used to be a huge fan of Kimbers too and thought they were very good as well ALP. That was until I received my Grover SR speaker cables. I was absolutely stunned to find how boosted and colored the 8-TC's were in both the top and bottom ends. :eek:
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine