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Choice between 2 speaker cable types.

I would like to upgrade my speaker cables and I have been referred to two well known speaker cable companies. Straightwire and Cardis are the two recommended to me. Does anyone have any experience or input regarding these two companies and the two cable models suggested to help guide me in the right direction. Straightwire - Expressivo Grand vs Cardis - Cygnus series. 
I have a rather long run between my speakers (Focal Scala Utopia) and my amplifier (Mac MC302) at 26 feet so a proper quality cable has been suggested.
Thanks so much in advance for your assistance.
Andy

andyhifiman
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
At 26 feet I say pick your battles. In this case admit defeat and move on to ones you can actually win. $500 in a 26 foot wire won't make hardly any difference compared to $500 in a 1m interconnect. 
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
+1  noromance

With loss in speaker cabling at that length, and with cost of quality speaker cables, I strongly recommend an alternative solution. I suggest you go mono amp and place them right next to speakers, using quite short speaker cables and longer XLR interconnects. I believe the result would be far superior.

Hope it works out ok for you. :)
limomangus's avatar
limomangus
1,418 posts
 
26 feet is  what I had when I had my basement  set up.But I'm a wire cable guy diy.I had no problems. Ran 6 speakers, center and power sub.Sounded great. But had all the wires directly over head suspended ceiling .
andyhifiman OP
22 posts
 
Thank you everyone for your responses.
At this point I am trying to narrow it down between the two different cable brands as moving the placement of the components around will not work. (Happy wife, Happy Life).
b4icu's avatar
b4icu
558 posts
 
It is not about the logo on a speaker cable, but the length and thickness of it. A speaker cable shall be calculated by using the Amp's DF figure and the required length. That shall comply to a certain resistance.
Any cable, with that resistance (no matter who makes it, the conductor substance or ending) would do. 
Any thinner option, will sound less good and will get less out of your audio system. For two or more cables that has the same resistance, no matter what sticker you put on (brand) they should sound identical.
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