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Signal Cable REL cable vs Speakon Custom REL cable

Has anyone had an opportunity to compare the Signal Cable REL subwoofer cable ($90) with the REL Speakon Custom sub cable that's built by an A'gon member 'zikhmark' ($88)?
Are either of these cables really a sonic upgrade for using with my newly acquired REL Storm III?
If you have compared these cables, what differences did you hear? Or, if you upgraded to another REL sub cable, what did you purchase, and what is your recommendation?
In advance, thanks! I look forward to hearing your thoughts and recommendations.
louisl
wolf_garcia
6,696 posts
 
I recently bought a single nice "biwire" Canare cable to replace another simple (read "cheap") cable I'd made...mostly out of curiosity and because the Canare looks great...stuck my spades and angled (hard to find angled Neutrik Speakon plugs...but they make sense) Speakon on it and immediately heard a substantial improvement with my REL Q150e. Neutrik Speakons are so easy to use I find it's easy to make your own REL cables out of whatever cable you want to try (as long as it has at least 3 conductors).
xti16
1,525 posts
 
I went with a Nordost Baseline cable made to Rel spec for my B3 and the difference was huge. I heard attack and decay I didn't even know I was missing. My brother in law bought the Signal Cable for his Q108 and he was very happy too.
louisl OP
183 posts
 
Xtil6,
When you commented on the Nordost Baseline "made to REL spec", does that mean that Nordost builds the cable with a Speakon connector on one end, and the three separate leads for the amplifier end? Is this a special order type of arrangement, or do dealers keep this in stock? Thanks for this great suggestion.
xti16
1,525 posts
 
Yes it is a custom order from Nordost. My dealer had it within 1 week. There was also a $35 upcharge. I wouldn't think any dealers would stock them unless they were both a Rel and Nordost dealer. Now that being said once you see a basline cable you will be surprised. It's only 1/4" wide flat ribbon cable. But for me again the difference was huge as far as what I heard.
jkuc
181 posts
 
Xti16,I made a "REL cable" from same baseline Wireworld speaker cable. Sound with the sub is fuller, full-bodied, instruments more palpable etc. When I turn off the sub clarity, purity of sound slightly improves though. Do you experience the same? I wonder if it's the cable that picks some RF noise or just more mikro detail causes the impression the soundstage is not crystal clear.
Both cables offered on audiogon have "Tri-braid geometry" that probably makes them immune to noise pickup.
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