Speaker wire... Diy?

Interestingly those two examples - Anti Cables and Audioquest Water - are both prime examples of cables that are controlled for directionality during manufacture. Thus, I would caution that their sonic superiority might well be due to their correct directionality, not the fact they’re solid core. 

And this just goes to show how it all can mean nothing as completely system and hearing dependent.

I also tried solid core Anticables and they rendered the music lifeless and supremely bass heavy and not in a good way, more a muddied way. Kept them 29 days with no signs of improvement and returned them for full refund.

Does that mean they are bad or will sound that way for everybody?

Of course not!

Just did not work for me in my system at the time.

My Western Electric cables in use right now are tinned copper strands.

Might sound awful in YOUR system though...….

Audiogon...where experience means nothing.  Happy delusional trails!!

Dave, you may like a particular cable in your system in your room on your program. Fair enough. But I could come over with my program and be underwhelmed. Ditto you here.

I have bins of cables in the garage. Every so often I swap out a set. All have varying strengths depending on the program AND associated equipment.

I recently pulled my Transparents in favor of some old Monster and Hitachi StarQuad when I changed bottlerockets from 36w stereo to 125w monoblocks and Kimber BiFocal XL.

My experience is only worth a sou on my system in my room and my program at that moment in time. I would never presume to recommend anything based on my experience, other than to recommend ignoring all advice and listen for yourself.

I almost never make system changes in the summer months as I listen more in the winter. The colder weather and dryer air affect the sound dramatically relative to the summer.

@soix Solid is far less flexible, hard to route and will eventually break if flexed enough. If you like the sound and are willing to put up with it, go for it.

GK has a bit of a point, of course many of the cables I’ve used are directional.  Anticables characteristics (not saying preferable) are do largely in part to having almost zero shielding as well.  Did I not say in my system?  Overall however, we can make some judgements when used with various equipment and different environments.  As usual though, all IMHO

I think you probably mean insulation, not shielding. But, you’re right, there are many variables involved, thus making it rather difficult to prove solid core vs stranded. Purity of metal, type of metal, type of dielectric material, break in, shielded vs non shielded, directionality, geometry, cryogenically treated or not, etc.

It’s what I chose to believe. - Dr. Elizabeth. Shaw in Prometheus