elf compared to anti-cables

marvda1 · « **on:** 28 Oct 2005, 05:36 pm »

has anyone compared these two speaker cables? if so what are your thoughts?

thayerg · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Oct 2005, 07:14 pm »

Anti-cables are merely magnet wire with lugs. You can buy magnet wire very cheaply and see whether it works for you.

It works for me. There is a distinct airiness to music which wasn't there with the Kimber Kable I was using previously.

Magnet wire is stiff and its lacquer coating is a pain to strip. I'm using it without lugs and periodically I have to tighten the terminals.

Otherwise it's just great.

Doublej · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 02:52 am »

thayerg,

Did you just buy generic magnet wire (like from Radio Shack), strip the end and connect them up, with no dielectric or jacket around the wire?

thayerg · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 09:16 pm »

That is what I done. I tried melting the (lacquer?) red stuff but it basically didn't melt. It seems hard to believe that such a thin coating does anything. But it does.

If you go to a real electronics shop you can get the wire in various gages, by weight. A pound of #16 gage was about 80 feet and twenty bucks if I remember correctly.

brj · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Oct 2005, 09:35 pm »

I believe that the magnet wire used in the Anti-Cables is continuous cast copper wire (CCC) or ultra-pure Ohno continuous cast wire (UP-OCC). I've never been able to confirm that there was a difference between the two, but either way, it isn't your garden variety copper magnet wire.

arthurs · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Oct 2005, 01:15 am »

Marvin, I know I know, we're supposed to have gotten together by now, my schedule has been pretty bad lately, sorry. I have some of the top of the line ELF speaker cables if you'd like to borrow them for a listen. I had the Speltz but sold them, too thin sounding for my tastes, but I know many people are very happy with them, so YMMV.

Anyhow, thought I'd offer the ELF's up if you want to borrow them.

Art