[Rbpa]

Hi all,

After 10 years of Von Schweikert speaker audio bliss, I've been struck with the upgrade bug and have upgraded my VR-3s to VR-4SR MkIIIs.  Now, however, I need bi-wire.  I have one length of Analysis Plus Oval 9s.  I'm considering waiting until I can find another used pair (I don't think the new, black Oval 9s are the same).  On the other hand there are so many other cables out there, including VS' own brand.  What have people used to good effect?  Has anyone tried the VS cables?  Are they worth an additional $2k+ investment?

Thanks for the help!

[es347]

I have a pr. of VSA biwires and they pair up well with the VR4s and 5s.  I compared them to the MIT MA shotgun biwires and on my VR5 anniversaries, they won out.  Yes, they are worth the money.

[JackD201]

Current production cables I like with VSA VR-4SRs

Kubala-Sosna Fascination
Purist Audio Museas
VSA Master Built Bi-Wire
Kondo KSL-SPc

All are full bodied and on the forgiving side with gentle top end roll off. The higher models from the same makers I like with VR-5s and up being more transparent but also can be ruthless of source and amplification not at par with the loudspeakers. From an economic point of view I find it difficult to recommend the higher cables for SRs because some of them cost almost as much as the speaker. These on the list however are big punchers with lots of speed for their weight class and provide excellent price to performance in my experience.

[McTwins]

Hi
I am using Cardas golden reference with great result. Cardas has all the benefit when it comes to cables. About cables, the most important thing is that the speaker cable should have low Inductance as possible and for the interconnect low Capacitance as possible.
That is what the golden ref has. That is what I am looking for in a cable performance. Many of the cables out there do not presents these specs.
Thanks 

[ceedee]

Hi,

I also use the VSA biwire Masterbuilt on our speakers.
Very fine detailed, spatial and over all very musical.

Worth the money? Sure since the speakercable is the most important cable, you need a good one. VSA found one already.


Enjoy.

Cor

[es347]

Albert's cables use the single crystal copper in some exotic geometry plus they have the very nice Viablue connectors.  The VSA biwires have extra long tails on the speaker end where the cable bifurcates; most internal biwire speaker cables won't work with VSA speakers due to the M/T and Bass jacks being so far apart.

[stewie]

A dissenting opinion.

Speaker cables do matter, but I believe you can reach the performance ceiling rather quickly and inexpensively. Canare star quad, for example, will give you everything you need in a bi-amping cable for 1.35/ft. I recommend blue jeans cable, but you can get it elsewhere. Terminating is a snap, and a pleasure. 
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

Speaking only for myself, I'd spend my upgrade money on other things: tube amps for the top (if you don't have them already), some 20-yr-old Ky. bourbon, or what have you.

[es347]

Oh no, here we go again! 

[stewie]

I love bourbon. Is that a crime? 

[JackD201]

I love dissenting opinions. Is that a crime too? 

Fact is I HATE all cables. They make a mess and are tough to clean. No surprise that Ad shots rarely show speakers with cables strapped to them in those gorgeous living rooms. They are a necessary evil however and what makes them more evil is that they really can make or break a system.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away I had a discussion with a local tube amp designer/builder who refused to acknowledge that an IC or a SC could have any significant effect. All I asked was if he used any old wire to hook up his output transformers to the speaker taps. He said of course not! He uses some special silver wire throughout his builds that he picked up in bulk from military surplus that he says gives his creations a unique character, OPT to taps included. I then asked why he thought two inches mattered but the next eight feet didn't. Hmmph.

Performance can be objectively arrived at with a signal generator and a scope. Price vs. Performance however is not as easy for obvious reasons. What most people tend to forget that an audio system is actually a single circuit from the outlet all the way back through ground. Anything in between will make a difference. Whether it is better, worse, worth the dough or not is an entirely different story..........

[Rbpa]

Thanks for all the responses.  So I gather I should just get a bunch of cables and listen since the range of suggested cabling is from $20 - $2k+.    Since standard bi-wired cables typically don't have enough "split" length at the speaker end to span the VS binding post separation, I expect I'll need 2 pairs of cables.  If I want to try used cables, where can I find them?  Usually I only see one pair sold at a time; I could wait forever for a match.  Has anyone used "The Cable Company?"

Jack, you described your preferred speaker cables as having "gentle top end roll-off."  Are the VR-4s (too) bright or tilted up so they need to be tamed a bit? 

Happy New Year!

[es347]

Rbpa....I sent you a private message.  Happy new year to you too.

[JackD201]

Jack, you described your preferred speaker cables as having "gentle top end roll-off."  Are the VR-4s (too) bright or tilted up so they need to be tamed a bit? 

Happy New Year!

Not at all Rbpa. It's not so much a problem of tonal balance than presentation. A lot of digital sources are on the forward side. This is just a bit of insurance. If the sound with any of these cables makes the sound too recessed it becomes a very simple matter of dialing in the rear ambiance tweeters to bring the soundstage presentation forward or back to exactly where you want it. One of the big perks of VR series speakers