Dirt Cheap cables

grub · « **on:** 5 Sep 2003, 02:40 am »

Hey everyone,
I'm looking for some pretty good speaker cable on the cheap. I've moved into a new place lately, and with my current cable for my bass drivers, the sound is pretty thin. I'm looking to get a 10' pair for around $100.

I'm bi-amping with 4 channels of my Aragon 8008x5 running to some RM1 neos. Even with all the putty back on my PR's, the bass is pretty sad compared to the low end performance at my old place. I'm open to all suggestions of easily attainable cable, maybe even a simple DIY.
Thanks guys,
-->grub

vpolineni · « **Reply #1 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 02:47 am »

dh labs may do the trick.. i think they're priced in your budget... would you consider buying used?

grub · « **Reply #2 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 05:18 am »

actually, my wallet (being empty) decided on my having to use a credit card...so perhaps, if they use paypal.
-->grub

satfrat · « **Reply #3 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 05:50 am »

There`s been good reviews on Signal Cable, I think a 10' pair of their 2 twisted wire per connecter (14 gage) would run about $95. The reviews say that this wire is very bass friendly but the highs tend to roll off ever so slightly. SC also has a double wire run, it actually 4 twisted wires per connecter (10 gage) for $40 more. The only hassle is 2 separate cables per speaker. Regards, Robin ----edit--- Whoops, I just reread your thread Grub, see your bi-wiring, that`s $30 more.

Sorry!

KKM · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 05:57 am »

The AQ GR8's are incredibly well constructed, similiar to those costing 100's more. I just broke them in, but they seem to perfom very nicely.

http://www.hcmaudio.com/comp.asp?compID=59

Carlman · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 12:18 pm »

Kimber 4TC or 8TC on ebay and agon is usually around $100... It's a tried and true design, good for bass.

I think you'll find the problem is the room more than the cable but, I'm not there so, I don't know. I just moved and everything sounded like crap.... same cables, same components, etc. Spend some time with a good speaker placement methodology and you'll probably get a lot of your sound back and then some.

I'm in the process of doing this now. Good luck.

LordCloud · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 12:27 pm »

Mapleshade cable is absolutely fabulous, especially for the money. I guarantee you that it will sound better than any cable at anywhere near the price. There is also a money back guarantee if you don't like them (won't need it), I have an 8' run and it was $85 plush shipping, not sure how much a longer run is. Try it you'll like it.

Tonto Yoder · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 12:40 pm »

I'm confused (OK, I'm always confused but especially now)
You're trying to replace ALL the cable or just the ten feet for your bass drivers??
The Mapleshade wire that was mentioned above
http://mapleshaderecords.com/tweaks/speakercable.html
would be in the $100 range for 10 feet, but I'm not sure from the pic if it would be dividable into a bi-wire configuration.

Andrew JC · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 02:05 pm »

You may want to look at Zu Julian cables. You can get a decent price on ebay. Also check out Cardas Crosslink at diycable.com. Good luck...

tswinter · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 02:22 pm »

If you are willing to do your own terminations here are some low cost options:

QED Original - 14 ga. copper, low density polyethylene insulation, $1.50/ft
QED Silver Anniversary - 14 ga. silver coated copper, low density polyethylene insulation, $2.90/ft
Ecosse C2.3 - 14 ga. copper, polypropylene insulation, twisted pair, $2.00/ft

These are not your state-of-the-art cables, but are a step above the standard 16 ga. PVC insulated zip cord. One source is Brooklyn Audio.

grub · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 07:05 pm »

Thanks for all the suggestions folks....please keep them coming.

Just to clarify, I'm bi-amping with my setup, so I'm hoping to get a pair that I can use for the upper-mid freq's and shift my current hi freq wire down to the bass. After that I plan on playing around with my placement and tuning to dial it in a little better. I had to take my old low freq cable and use it in my HT, so I'm using my failed stan warren DIY cables (I used the wrong wire). They're lean in the bass (very lean), hence my problem.

-->grub

Danny Richie · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 11:04 pm »

This wire is very good and sells for about 1/10th the actual value.

http://www.apexjr.com/wire.html

This is Teflon jacketed Silver coated Copper.

You can wind a 6 wire braid of 18 gauge (three for positive and three for negative) for your mids and highs.

That comes to .78 a foot for a 6 wire braid.

Then wind a 6 wire braid of 16 gauge for your lows.

That will be .96 a foot for the 6 wire braid.

Hand braiding it is not hard either. The 6 wire braid is just like doing a three wire braid with two runs of wire for each leg instead of one.

I used Gold coated solid Copper ends on mine.

This will fall well within your budget and out perform a lot of very expensive wire.

shokunin · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Sep 2003, 11:13 pm »

Michael Percy sells Vampire 12ga 99.9999 single crystal OFC copper for $1.50 per foot. Obviously you need 2 per speaker per foot, but for $6 a foot for a stereo pair, that's pretty good price. NOTE, I have NOT heard this cable, just recommending it based on price.