[samT]

I am looking for good speaker cables without burning a hole in my wallet. I was looking at a used Shunyata Gemini, currently I am using Discovery signature cable being driven by Leben CS600, Audio note 2.1XCD and speaker a Totem Forest. Analogy is Linn LP12.

Any suggestions

[Zero]

Harmonic Technology cables should bode well with your components and speakers.

For what its worth - the Forest also responds very well when paired up with Totem's cables.. the Sinew interconnect and the Tres speaker wire.

[samT]

Hi Zero, I am new to the forum and I noted that you are very active! Are you residing in Asia?

[Double Ugly]

I am looking for good speaker cables without burning a hole in my wallet.

Gregg Straley's Reality Cables are only $275.00 for an 8' pair, but don't let the low price fool you.  They've replaced *MUCH* more expensive cables for a lot of folks here and elsewhere.

They ain't pretty, but if you're more interested in sound than aesthetics, your wallet and your ears will likely thank you.

[Zero]

SamT,

Yes, I have become active on these boards lately! Unfortunately, I do not reside anywhere in Asia. I say unfortunately, because many girls that I've met and liked do!

[dekkersj]

My suggestion is to keep your money in your pocket and go for ordinary copper cables. Low capacitance interconnect for a turntable is also very cheap. Make sure that the diameter is large enough and you are ready to go with your speakers.

Regards,
Jacco

[bacobits1]

I have been using Kimber 8TC for a long time now.
I have changed to only go back to them. New version has clear and white jackets.
The Signal cables are supposed to be good too.
There is a lot to choose from and don't forget used.
I use Home Grown Audio solid core silver for interconnects also for a long time now and they have never been bright.
It comes down to what you like. All of our systems are different YMMV.

I would suggest reading the archives on most of the boards. That is what I usually do.

D

[TheChairGuy]

I try to pay as little attention to cabling now as I can.  I have heard differences, but in the overall scope of a chain of components, the differences that cables have provided me are pretty small.  I find sideways moves often occur.

You can try Speltz Anti-Cables (hi quality magnet wire)...they're sensibly priced and do sound lively and have stout bass.  I found that, maybe due to solid core construction, the refinement is a bit lacking (treble, in particular).

The Alpha-Core MI-2 is also quite good...a fave in many respects...and not budget killing (for most).  It has sounded very suave and smooth with a variety of setups I've had.  It's less stiff than the magnet wire, so it's easier to use (and less likely to pop out from terminals). It is super high capacitance, the highest I know of, so short lengths are likely advised to reduce instabilities with your amplifier (tho they now include a Zoebel network that reduces the threat of this issue).

Unobtrusive for me is important in my new, trimmer set-up (now neatly stores in an armoire)....both the above options are trim.

Turns out my MI-2 cabling is too short for my current set up so I tried different options on cabling the past few months.  I tried 16ga. lamp cord....you know what, it sounds bloody fine!  (again, I'm at a loss on these things as to why...).  I tried 18ga and found that bass was a bit more prominent, warmer (less resistance = more signal) with the 16ga.  I couldn't find 14ga - did want to try that, too.

I ended up going down to Best Buy (electronics store in the US) and buying a 30' roll of Rockford-Fosgate 16ga speaker cable for like $29.99.  Snipped off two 8' lengths and use that now.  It sounds to me really decent....it's very refined and nicer looking jacket than lamp cord.  It's made of LC-OFC (Liquid Crystal - Oxygen Free Copper) so copper purity is pretty high and grain structures/boundaries are minimized.  I think they had 12ga, too, but I think I like the detail of the finer gauges for treble...while I appreciate the larger gauges for their lower resistance and better (more powerful) bass. 

14ga. is probably ideal for less than 10' lengths. Why don't you just use some Furutech speaker cable (I see you use Furutech IC's)....I forget the model name for it, but my modded Magnepans were wired with it and the modder tells me he uses it for all his speaker mods as it sounds so well.

Here's a higher end speaker cable...not DIY (and the seller is in Asis/Japan): http://cgi.ebay.com/Furutech-Evolution-3m-Speaker-Cable-(Pair)_W0QQitemZ200239880947QQcmdZViewItem?IMSfp=TL080718148r11916

Hey, good luck - leave some moola' for component purchases!

John

 

[nathanm]

Listen to Jacco, he has the most sensible advice so far.

[nonoise]

Try Paul's Clear Day Audio solid core silver speaker wire. He's a member here and he
advertises on A'gon. His prices are pretty damn resonable ($150/8') considering how awefully damn good they sound.

nonoise

[mark funk]

If you would like good cabling from a manufacture that has been making cable for over 100 years, try Belden Cable. I use Belden 5T00UP 10AWG for $.89 per foot, audio Belden 1505F (17 pF/ft) for $32.00 per 3ft pair and for digital Belden 1694A 3ft $13.50. You can find this cable at Blue Jeans Cable. Even if I won the Lotto I would not pay any more then this for cables.

[pbrstreetgang]

If you would like good cabling from a manufacture that has been making cable for over 100 years, try Belden Cable. I use Belden 5T00UP 10AWG for $.89 per foot, audio Belden 1505F (17 pF/ft) for $32.00 per 3ft pair and for digital Belden 1694A 3ft $13.50. You can find this cable at Blue Jeans Cable. Even if I won the Lotto I would not pay any more then this for cables.

I find this highly interesting even though you use ultra rare $400/pr tubes in the output buffer section of your DAC. Not bashing you, I just find it interesting what people prioritize, Justify, dogmatize, and preach. Lord knows we all have our, likes, opinions, and our own audio religion. Hell I once ran into a guy that  believed in using cheap TTs but sure felt his $2500+  cartridges were essential.

[KS]

Sam,

Try these options for your speaker cables...
1)--some #12 gauge speaker wire, maybe from bluejeanscable.com
2)--some landscape power cord from any local home supply store
3)--some #20 solid core silver-plated copper with PTFE (Teflon) jacket from apexjr.com.
4)--some high end cable with a 100% refund policy.

Let us know if you hear any difference.  If possible, have a helper switch wires while you're listening (only two choices at a time), and you try to identify which one is playing.  If you hear a difference, let us know which sounds best on your system in your room to your ears.

Any AC circuit, including speaker wire, has three attributes...resistance, inductance, and capacitance.  The sum of these is called impedance.  Speaker wire capacitance is extremely low and not significant.  Inductance will be very low unless the cable is made with some weird configuration, and twisting individual strands (like the PTFE wire) reduces inductance.  Resistance counts, but probably not a lot except at the highest power levels.  By the way, just about all copper wire is both oxygen free and continuous cast...don't fall for hype.  Try several options before you spend more money on cable than a good lunch costs.

[*Scotty*]

Most copper now manufactured cannot be considered "oxygen free". Most copper used for conventional wiring is some form electrolytic tough pitch copper,this includes most wire used for internal hook up purposes in electronics and loudspeakers unless specifically claimed otherwise. Here is a link to some good information on copper,copper alloys and their manufacture.
http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=61
See specifically Oxygen Free Coppers   types C103 or Cu-OF and CU110 or Cu-OFE
I have never been particularly worried about whether or not a cable or conductor was oxygen free or not. I have heard good sounding cables made from both oxygen free and ETP copper, I use what works regardless of it's audiophile pedigree. Have fun with your search for new cables and don't be afraid to pay less for something that works.
Scotty

[BrianM]

I find this highly interesting even though you use ultra rare $400/pr tubes in the output buffer section of your DAC. Not bashing you, I just find it interesting what people prioritize, Justify, dogmatize, and preach. Lord knows we all have our, likes, opinions, and our own audio religion. Hell I once ran into a guy that  believed in using cheap TTs but sure felt his $2500+  cartridges were essential.

I didn't read Mark "dogmatizing," just giving his opinion. I happen to share it about copper wire. I've compared pricey tubes to more supposedly ordinary ones and can honestly say that for me the perceived sound differences are not rationally justified by the price differences. Of course I kept the pricey ones - they did sound a LITTLE better. I don't think any of those tubes cost as much as $400 anyway - a pair of NOS ECC801 Telefunkens usually goes for around $250.

I compared the Reality Cables to high quality Belden 10-gauge wire and heard no real difference.  Save your money would be my advice.  The Reality Cables are also a tightly braided design which makes me suspicious and there are apparently no measurement specs available for them.

[richidoo]

groverhuffman.com - he finally has a website! Prices are listed. There is no magic there. The physics are real and the prices are reasonable considering the materials used and hand assembly. For the price you won't find much better. If you can afford JPS, I recommend those too, but a little more expensive. HT is also great.

Any new wire worth owning has a free home trial or easy guilt free return policy. If not then you should expect to be ripped off. With the risk removed, there is no reason to not try and hear for yourself. Extension cord is not good enough for high end audio. Using bargain wire that is not able to carry the life of the music wastes the money you spent on fine components. There is no free lunch.

I understand that people wanna get a bargain on used wire, which has no return policy. That is a risk, but it is offset by the used discount. No different than speakers or CDP. There is a wire seller online, advertises in the mags, who lets you try used wires at home, a friend of mine used that with good results, but he ended up with wires more expensive than he intended... which is what usually happens once you get on a wire search and realize what is possible in your own system with your own ears. You realize the value of good wires and become willing to pay to get the performance.
Rich

[stvnharr]

I've been all over the map with cables from the ridiculously expensive to diy.
If you can solder, not difficult, just buy some good quality wire, Furutech or something, and just solder on some spades and cover with heat shrink.  No matter how you go about this it likely won't cost more than $100, and probably less.  Nowadays I wouldn't think of doing anything else.

[samT]

Guys, I must have touch an emotional subjects, given the varse amount of opinions. I have known of people spending up to USD12K on cables. I have a site recommended to an internet friend, I purchased couple of the furutech OCC and silver power cables, they are pretty good quality (made, not sure about sonic quality). I am still running them in.

http://stores.ebay.com/Vintage-Audio-Lab

I found a pair of used Shunyata Gemini cables for $299 from Audiogon and waiting for the delivery. I heard a lot about Shunyata, but never can part with the kind of money they are asking for new.

Appreciate all your comments.

[Double Ugly]

... I just find it interesting what people prioritize, Justify, dogmatize, and preach. Lord knows we all have our, likes, opinions, and our own audio religion. Hell I once ran into a guy that  believed in using cheap TTs but sure felt his $2500+  cartridges were essential.

Good point.

We all have our likes, dislikes, priorities and beliefs based upon our experiences.  Further, our ears and our systems are all different, and as a consequence I may or may not hear what you do.

Please remain on topic (i.e. make recommendations if you have them), but before clicking the "Post" button, please review what you've typed for statements which may invite a confrontation with others.  The purpose of this thread is to provide samT with recommendations... period. 

Contrary to popular belief, what you hear is not grounds for an absolute declaration for anyone except you, nor is what others claim to hear wrong.  There is only what you perceive, and no one here has a "perception" which outweighs or is otherwise more valid than than anyone else's.
 
Thank you.

[selfdivider]

Hi, Sam. I also use Leben CS600 (with Harbeth Super HL5, La Platine Verdier with terrazzo plinth as main source.) Anti-Cables are really awesome, but for some reason, didn't really work on the Leben. Don't know why that is, b/c they are excellent cables in general. One affordable speaker cable that was nice was Cardas Quadlink. On Audiogon, these surface often enough, at a cheap price. But if & when you step up to a more full-range speakers, my feeling is that you'd have to ditch the Quadlink, but for your present needs, Quadlink will sound really nice & voluptuous. Cardas sound really mates well with Leben. Audio Tekne cables sound more liquid & open than Cardas, which I really like... it's rare that they surface on Audiogon, but when they do, you should go for them. Hudson Audio's Tom Hills also makes silver speaker cables that work surprisingly well with Leben; contrary to popular opinion, they are NOT bright-sounding. Very very warm & inviting-sounding. Really affordable, too, for 99.999% silver cables, handmade.