2. cables
  3. 126133-85386

Recommend a Cable/Interconnect Set

I know this issue stirs controversy and can spark "vigorous dissent" (understatement), but I was looking for some recommendations on both speaker cables and interconnects for my system.

Can you guys suggest a modestly priced but high performance set of cables? I know 'modestly' covers a lot of ground, so what would be extremely helpful is some sort of "buyer's guide" to offer insight on what characteristics to look for, how to decide what you need, and how to set a budget so that I, and others reading on or those new to this pastime, can make a more informed decision.

Though I subscribe to the basic premise that the more you spend, the better it gets, I also know there is also a point of diminishing returns on the price:performance curve.

My equipment is:
HiFiBerry DAC
Krell KRC-3
Bryston 4BST
Dahlquist DQ10* (see below)
Polk PSW650

Right now, I have Monster XPHP going to the speakers, and an old set of Monster interconnects from the DAC to the Krell. Lengths for interconnects can be as short as 1.5 or 2 feet, since all my electronics are together, out in the open, and accessible from behind.

So, I figure I'll need:
1x Balanced (Krell to Bryston)
2x RCA (one for the DAC to Krell, the other Krell to PSW)
1 set speaker cables ~8-10 ft

Hit me. I'm all ears. Those of you who have indluged me in other similar questions of this type (i.e. power amp, preamp) know I take your input seriously and act on it, so this isn't just an exercise.

Thanks in advance for all your help!


(* - At some point in the future, I hope to buy a set of CLSII's, so kindly factor that into the recommendation since it doesn't make sense to buy a set of cables and find they're not up to the task down the road)
parabolic
seanheis1
622 posts
 
Blue jeans cable. High quality and transparent. They don't believe that speaker wire should be used as a tone control. 
parabolic OP
106 posts
 
@soix I'm not sure if there *is* a PM function... but if your last name ends in a vowel... I might have a moment of pause.  ;-)    All kidding aside, that sounds very gracious of you.  Not sure how to sidebar this conversation, but the input is pretty good so far.  Lots to consider.  If you find a way we can exchange contact information securely, let me know.

@seanheis1 The guys at Blue Jeans are on my short list.... especially after that letter the owner sent to Monster Cable.
bpruitt110498
2 posts
 
In process myself and best to consider "fun" and part of being an audiophile.  I was an AQ guy then borrowed some lower end Transparent Cable Gen 5 and was blown away by the difference (All ICs were still AQ it was just speaker cable).

My buddy was a huge help and I'd highly recommend doing a fully blinded test.  Pick 4-5 tracks that cover the range of music you like - listen to 1 minute of each, then, w/ same cable listen to all 5 again (Oh - cardboard placed over any spot where I could see which cable was hooked up and buddy switched them out and wrote down).  Then have buddy blindly switch them out and repeat the same music.  With higher end AQ and mid end MIT - MIT blew out of water.  (listened to the second set for about a minute it was so obvious).  

Then the bigger test.  ~$3-3,400 range for 10' MIT vs TC Gen 5 Ultra.  Blinded again and it took a little longer, maybe 2 more minutes and TC Ultra killed the 39 pole MITs.

I don't care about brand name- poles, geometry or any of that other BS - that's why I went completely blinded.

I don't have a great audiophile ear but I know what I like - and that is your challenge - take the time and find what sounds best to you (blinded)
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

"Which speaker cable" will pose about a million different opinions.  Not all cables sound the same, even in the same price range.  What I have found from a lot of R&D is that better material will provide better sound:

- solid core wire is better than stranded wire (stranded will give a bright/harsh effect).

- OFC copper is better than tinned/cheap copper.  OCC (Ohno) copper is better than OFC.

- Normal Silver (even 5N silver) will typically have an upper midrange glare/push and will not have as much bass/midbass punch.

- OCC silver is better in that it will not have that upper midrange glare.

- braided copper shielding will usually result in a more closed-in sound (not as open or airy = high frequency rolloff).

- braided conductors will sound better (think Kimber).

- silver cables may be faster, but they sometimes may not have an much bass.

I hand build all my own cables from 20awg solid core OCC wire.  My cousin has tested the WireWorld Exclipse (which uses 28awg OCC conductors in a near solid-core configuration -- they are definitely not bundled strands).  The report is the Eclipse does very well, but I will not be able to hear this and compare to my cables until next weekend.  I will see if it sounds as good as my custom braided cable.

auxinput
2,920 posts
 

oh, another comment on speaker wire.  I have done comparisons and the regular OFC copper stranded 12awg speaker wire (basic monster wire) is actually very very nice.  I usually do double-runs to bi-wire at speaker where they support it.  This is actually better than the BlueJeans Beldon 10awg speaker cable.  The Beldon was actually very lo-fi and could not reproduce the high frequency resolution.  Any sort of silver plated cable was too bright. 

-disclaimer - of course you will have to figure out synergy between equipment.  Sometimes silver or silver-plated can help some systems if they are just too laid back, but in my opinion, the better solution is to focus on the resolution of the equipment with good power supplies and circuits.

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