Solid core speaker wire recommendation

Tbadder1 · « **on:** 16 Mar 2005, 03:45 pm »

I just scored one of my fav speakers of all times (a pair of Tannoy D700). It's provides me with the extension I enjoy without trying to overdo it on either end, it's very musical as opposed to analytical, and it gets very close to the single driver style of presentation I believe is more realistic. In the manual it states clearly to go with solid-core speaker wire as opposed to multi-strand variants, so what's your recommendation fellow circlers. I need bi-wires and my budget is anywhere between 100 and 1000 smackers. Thanks in advance all.

Carlman · « **Reply #1 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 04:05 pm »

I highly recommend Tara Labs Phase 2 w/ TFA return. This has been especially nice on the 3 solid state amps I've tried. It's held its own (and to me bettered in some ways) Analysis Plus ($400 pair) and Audience Maestro. I thought it held its own against Audience Au24 and did almost as well 1/100th the price...

It's $80 for a 10' pair from fatwyre.com.

gary · « **Reply #2 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 04:05 pm »

I've heard some really good things about these cables... they sound like just what you're looking for:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablspkr&1114545394

Gary

Fife12 · « **Reply #3 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 06:04 pm »

As Carlman says,

Tara Labs.....a little more expensive are the RSC's (rectangular solid core) suchs as the RSC Prime, RSC Master Gen, RSC Ref Gen..much cheaper than the RSC Air.

ss397 · « **Reply #4 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 06:11 pm »

anticables will work well for a reasonable price. they are just solid core 12 ga copper. they are very stiff.

Brad · « **Reply #5 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 06:35 pm »

Any other good places to find the Tara Labs?
Fatwyre's website is clunky at best.....

I have the Mapleshade cables, which are a thin solid core as well. I like them a lot. Just ordered a set of the anti-cables to compare against the Mapleshades.

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 07:00 pm »

Hey Brad, I've probably got a month before I need to buy. If you make your comparison before that could you post your findings? Thanks!

arthurs · « **Reply #7 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 07:02 pm »

I have 2 sets each of 4' and 12' anti-cables if you want to borrow them to audition. Too stiff and unsightly for me to bi-amp with, but is a good sounding cable. Let me know.

ctviggen · « **Reply #8 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 07:31 pm »

Couldn't you just go to Home Depot, get some 10 or 12 gauge romex, cut off the casing, and use the wires in there?

Adam_Reiter · « **Reply #9 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 08:47 pm »

I would love to compare the anti-cables to my Onix Statement cables. Something I have been wanting to do.

Gordy · « **Reply #10 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 08:55 pm »

Hi Brad,

Fatwyre (The Cable Company) is the only place still able to get the Tara Phase 2 / TFA. I agree that the site is next to useless, but they are a good Co., just give them a call....

Red Dragon Audio · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 08:55 pm »

the easist thing to do is get out your Yellow Pages and start looking for companies that repair electric motors.

They will have the exact same wire Speltz uses in his "anit-cables".

It's just 12awg magnet wire and you should be able to get it for pretty cheap. I wouldn't pay more than $0.30-$0.40 per foot.

Jon L · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 10:53 pm »

DNM reson solid core just got reviewed well.

http://www.stereotimes.com/

For 12 AWG magnet wire, or any magnet wire, check out

http://www.mwswire.com/

They even have teflon-coated magnet wire. For sensitive speakers like Tannoys, I would personally go with smaller gauge than 12 AWG.

Sonoran makes nice solid core copper speaker wires if you see one on the used market.

Brad · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 11:10 pm »

thanks for all the info, gentlemen

Tweaker · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Mar 2005, 11:59 pm »

JPS Labs Ultraconductor or Superconductor cable. I have the Ultraconducter which is the budget model and it sounds fantastic.

http://www.jpslabs.com/

ryno · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Mar 2005, 12:48 am »

Just today I received 250ft of 12g magnet wire from www.parawire for $45 delivered. Haven't hooked it up yet though. I should of got a smaller guage too, easy to play around at this price.
Ryan

Tbadder1 · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Mar 2005, 02:39 am »

Jon L brings up an interesting point. It's true that the Tannoys are 93db sensitive, but they also dip down to 3.2 ohms and are only 6 ohms nominal. So is a thinner gauge really called for?

P.S. Thanks for the PM Heavystarch. I appreciate the heads up and suggestion.

Horizons · « **Reply #17 on:** 18 Mar 2005, 12:22 am »

Quote from: ctviggen

Couldn't you just go to Home Depot, get some 10 or 12 gauge romex, cut off the casing, and use the wires in there?

No, you need SOME insulation. The reason that magnet wire is so good is that it is solid core and has a thin layer of enamel over the wire for insulation. Just scrape off the enamel on each end of the wire and you have a state of the art speaker wire for dirt cheap.

Got this link from AA:

http://www.wondermagnets.com/cgi-bin/edatcat/WMSstore.pl?user_action=list&category=Magnets_and_Magnetism;Magnet_Wire

tianguis · « **Reply #18 on:** 18 Mar 2005, 01:24 am »

Tbadder1,all:
For what it's worth, this thread reminded me of stuff I did a few years back, building Greg Weaver's Radio Shack magnet wire IC's (which were shockingly good). On a whim, I dug out the largest of the RS wire spools (22 AWG, which I'd never used) and made a set of speaker cables terminated with bare (burnt-off, cleaned with steel wool) ends. Yanked out my Alpha-Core Goertz MI II's, stuck 'em in and I'm not going back.
I'm using Lowther ML TL's which I recently built and the difference with the magnet wire is startling: more clarity, lower and much tighter bass, details I've never heard, speed in spades, greater dynamics, much sweeter mids, blacker background, superior imaging.
Thanks for the thread, all. I intend to try a variety of different gauges.

Regards,
Larry Welsh

Panelhead · « **Reply #19 on:** 18 Mar 2005, 03:35 am »

Quote from: tianguis

Tbadder1,all:
For what it's worth, this thread reminded me of stuff I did a few years back, building Greg Weaver's Radio Shack magnet wire IC's (which were shockingly good). On a whim, I dug out the largest of the RS wire spools (22 AWG, which I'd never used) and made a set of speaker cables terminated with bare (burnt-off, cleaned with steel wool) ends. Yanked out my Alpha-Core Goertz MI II's, stuck 'em in and I'm not going back.
I'm using Lowther ML TL's which I recently built and the diff ...

\

Larry,
I picked up a one pound roll today of 17 ga to try with my 15 ohm PM7A in a folded TQWT. This has a brown color, kind of dark. They had 19 ga with the red insulation, looked like the anti-cables. They sell all the chassis wire for 9.95 in a one pound roll.
Currently running a Straightwire chassis wire, 18 ga twisted pair with thin fep covering. Meniscus used to sell it. It has no plating and does not oxidize.

George
George