Speaker cable opinions

garyleg · « **on:** 28 Oct 2009, 07:06 pm »

Hello everyone,

I found someone localy selling some speaker cables on craigslist and am considering upgrading. My speakers are VR-4 Gen III HSE's. Right now I am using some homemade cables made with CAT 6 wire.
Does anyone have any opinions or experience on which of these cables would be the best choice and if there would be much difference in sound.

Here is a list of what he has available

10' Harmonic Technology Melody12 Locking banana or Bare wire $125
10' Cardas CrossLink Spades $100
10' Audioquest CV8 $225 Spades 10'
10' Audioquest Rockefeller new in box Spades $385
20' Audioquest Crystal $275 Spades
8' Audioquest Crystal $150 Bare wire
6' Audioquest Crystal $125 Bare wire

Thanks in advance.
Gary Legerton

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Oct 2009, 09:04 pm »

Gary:

I just bought 50 feet of bluejeanscable speaker wire and I'm very pleased with the results. I have the same speakers as you. My amp is a Mcintosh 352.

Cheers
Charlie

decal · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 03:32 am »

Keep your DIY's and spend the money on music.

Delacroix · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 01:42 pm »

Gary -- I cannot speak from experience with any of those cables but you can at least reduce the choice space by determining the length you need for your system. If you require more than 10' of speaker cable, there is only one real choice here; if not, there is one less. As for terminations, I actually am a fan of bare, and of biwiring with dual runs of cable where it works for your set up (you mention speakers but not the amp). The prices quoted sound fair and you would hardly be out of pocket if you bought and sold on if dissatisfied.

However, I used homemade cables for years with no problems, other than the nagging concern than I might be shortchanging myself and my system (be careful with such voices in your head, there is no known cure that does not cost $$$!). So, the voices won and I believe the improvements were worthwhile but I never want to shop for speaker wire again and I keep the old homemades for a reality check.

es347 · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 03:11 pm »

Quote from: decal on 29 Oct 2009, 03:32 am

Keep your DIY's and spend the money on music.

Hey wait a minute. I thought this was all about the hardware. aa

JackD201 · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 04:07 pm »

Hi Gary,

I loved my HSEs

What sound are you after? I settled on AP Silver Ovals up top and AP Oval 9s down below back then because my electronics were on the dark and I mean DARK side. The AP silver added some much needed edge.

That said, I'm not a big fan of using cables as attenuators but if you can manage extended home trials and one floats your boat for a fair price go for it!

Jack

McTwins · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 06:59 pm »

Hi
I have Cardas Golden ref and it's works great here. Of course, haven't tried Crooslink but you schould try them.
thanks

garyleg · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 10:42 pm »

Thanks everyone for the input
Delacroix-10 foot cables are the perfect size. so that helps with the choices. I am bi amping with a Denon 5805, it has 10 channels @170 watts each which are configurable anyway you want which makes it very flexible. So I will need 2 pairs of cables for biamping. To be honest I am very happy with the sound of my system and have put a great deal of time into setup, but as you said i am plaged with the thought that I may be short-changing myself and system also. It's going on close to 2 years since I've had these speakers and I am still completely amazed at the sound with every listening session I have. Someday I hope to upgrade my electronics and maybe even move up a notch in the von schweikert line. But for now those old VR-4 hse's are keeping me extremely satisfied which has never happened before in the past.
One other question-My common sense tells me I should keep the cable runs equal between right and left channels regardless of the actual distance from amplifier. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Gary

vinylphilemag · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Oct 2009, 11:19 pm »

Quote from: garyleg on 29 Oct 2009, 10:42 pm

One other question-My common sense tells me I should keep the cable runs equal between right and left channels regardless of the actual distance from amplifier. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Gary

Yep.

Delacroix · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 Oct 2009, 03:04 am »

Quote from: vinylphilemag link=topic=73029.msg687471#msg687471

One other question-My common sense tells me I should keep the cable runs equal between right and left channels regardless of the actual distance from amplifier. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Gary

Ideally yes, for aesthetic and theoretical reasons...but practically, the scientist in me doubts anyone could hear the difference between a few extra feet of cable....

es347 · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 Oct 2009, 01:26 pm »

Quote from: Delacroix on 30 Oct 2009, 03:04 am

Quote from: vinylphilemag link=topic=73029.msg687471#msg687471
One other question-My common sense tells me I should keep the cable runs equal between right and left channels regardless of the actual distance from amplifier. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Gary

Ideally yes, for aesthetic and theoretical reasons...but practically, the scientist in me doubts anyone could hear the difference between a few extra feet of cable....

Everyone except Albert

stewie · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Nov 2009, 12:37 am »

I've got the VR4 iii HSEs and I"m with Charles: I bought 50 feet of Belden 5000 from Blue Jeans cable, enough for four runs (I"m bi-amping), and sized each pair according to the distance needed. All for under $40.

bentknee · « **Reply #12 on:** 4 Nov 2009, 07:38 pm »

For those on a tight budget I can also recommend Cat 5 wire (the white jacket not the blue). I got it for 26 cents a foot at Home Depot. I used it on my 4jr's until I got my Analysis Plus cables. The Cat 5 has a sweet and smooth sound for those are looking for that in their system.

Blessings, Bob

es347 · « **Reply #13 on:** 4 Nov 2009, 07:58 pm »

Hi Bob,

Analysis Plus cables look interesting. I know that Albert has used them in the past.

mfsoa · « **Reply #14 on:** 4 Nov 2009, 08:12 pm »

I have a run of Reality and one of Analysis Plus Oval 9. I prefer the AP on top (smoother, more dimensionality) and Reality on the bass (tighter "starts and stops").

It's nice to be able to tailor the cable to the job that needs to be done!

BTW had 30+ audionuts over for the October NYAR Rave, and the comments re my original VR4JRs were very positive. We drove them mostly w/ Digital Amp Co. class D amps at , ahem, significant volume for 8+ hours.

System was helped mightily by a borrowed Krell SACD player that has the most amazingly tight bass I've ever heard. I guess it must measure flat, but it doesn't sound like it (in a good way)

-Mike

es347 · « **Reply #15 on:** 4 Nov 2009, 10:33 pm »

Hey Mike,

Consider yourself lucky to live in an area where you actually get together with other audiofetishists routinely. I have to beg and plead just to get folks over for a listen and I'm talking others who are heavily invested in this hobby. We here in the midwest wouldn't know a rave if it bit us in the butt.

StereoNut · « **Reply #16 on:** 13 Nov 2009, 04:46 pm »

FWIW

I have Albert's "first born" (serial#'s 001 & 002) VR-4 Gen.III's with Naim electronics. (A modded "Chrome" NAC42 pre-amp, a modded "Chrome" dual rail SNAPS power supply, an outboard phono stage & a "Chrome" NAP250 power amp.)

A few years ago I finally got up enough guts to try something else besides NACA5 speaker cable to see (hear) what possible improvements could be had. I now have QED Silver spiral speaker cable with a set of custom made jumpers between the cabinets of the same QED.

I find the QED cable to have a much fuller, "fleshed out" sound compared to my old NACA5. The NACA5 sounded thin in comparison. The QED put some "meat on the bone" so to speak.

The QED may be worth a try???

SN

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #17 on:** 25 Nov 2009, 05:30 am »

I use all Synergstic Research and my sound is pretty amazing given the room I have to work with. Albert will attest to this and when he heard it a year ago, it only had 1 VAC amp (now there are 2) and no DAC (now there is an APL Super-DAC prototype with 20 2nd generation AKM 32 bit chips, double tubed Class A output stage, etc., etc. As a prototype, it is the only 1 in the world, according to Alex Peychev, the designer. Has less than 75 hrs on it so far and sounds ridiculously impressive already...).

I'm pretty sure if Albert heard my system now, it would be hard for him to leave... Hell, its hard for ME to leave!!

I believe AVS used SR cabling years ago himself and was very happy with them. The advancements now are pretty impressive - they are not inexpensive, but you get good value thoughout their lines.

es347 · « **Reply #18 on:** 25 Nov 2009, 12:28 pm »

Hey there Fplanner..

The only problem I have with Synergistic Research is their "Audio Art" system. I've never heard/seen it but sure looks like snake oil to me. No offense to those who disagree with my assessment.

fplanner2000 · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 Nov 2009, 02:02 pm »

In my system, the SR cables work very, very well.

I heard the room treatment product you described at RMAF and although it seemed to make a positive contribution in their demo room, it is not how I judge the company and its other products. I tried similar "room treatment" devices about 3 years ago and they did nothing in my room.

This in no way takes away from the quality and results of their cabling, IMO. Like all manufacturers, we as consumers pick and choose from among a company's product line those pieces that best fit into our systems to give us the results we are looking for.