How to select a good Speaker Cable

Battery cables ride again!!  Woohoo!

I wonder if somebody makes hawsers out of copper...

Time to start experimenting.

https://www.amazon.com/KnuKonceptz-Kolossus-Kable-Gauge-Copper/dp/B008U38CPE

1).

Pass Lab 250.5 with Magnepan III's.

I replaced DIY 5 foot 16 AWG silver ladder line.  Have previously used a variety of commercial Helix design, solid flat wire and braided multi-stranded wires insulated and in multiple sleeves.  Alll 12 AWG, 5 to 8 foot length.  Costs ranged from $400 to $2,000.

I purchased 25 feet of 0 AWG form a supplier on eBay for $45 ($12 shipping) and four brass (supposedly gold plated) battery connectors ($7.49).

I constructed four five foot cables in just over one hour.  Battery connectors were converted to spades with a cold chisel and wire cutters, cable was cut with a hacksaw and insulation stripped with the hacksaw.  Spades were connected to Pass Labs 250.5 terminals (PL does not supply banana plug receptacles).  I attached banana plugs to a two inch piece of silver plated 8 AWG wire.  I hollowed out a holle in 0 AWG wire with a punch and did not remove insulation.  I then inserted the stripped 8 AWG wire in hole and secured the assembly with a hose clamp around the insulation at the cable’s end.

The cables were attached to my thirty year old modified MG IIIa’s.  

The results are stunning.  The amount of undistorted energy filling the room, is jaw dropping.  I keep turning up the volume to levels that previously irritated my ears, and experience no irritation.  In the modified lyrics of B.B. King, “The shrill is gone.”  My wife is hearing new detail in cuts she has listened to many times before.

In my case, b4icu57, you were absolutely correct, thank you (except for the part of you doubting ribbon speakers would be improved with installation of your design).  I can’t wait to try the cables in one of my other systems that employs cone speakers.

I am sure every case is different.  Nevertheless, I encourage other hobbyist to test your theories.

Thank you for your generosity and patience.
All good wishes 

2).

My cables arrived today. They're beasts!

As suspected the forks won't sit in binding posts without an adaptor. I'm currently using banana plugs. Here's an image of the before and after cables: https://imgur.com/a/De0LmuG (credit card for scale).

I hooked them up and there's a definite improvement. The sound is more transparent. I need to listen more but I'm happy with this investment. I'm going to replace the bananas with some bolt on ones: https://uk.farnell.com/staubli/22-1053/banana-plug-50a-4mm-screw-m4/dp/1085560, that'll give me a better connection. The current plugs are on tight, but it'll be nice to get a stronger hold. The stiffness of the cables means that there's actually very little weight on the binding posts as the cables stand up straight from the floor.

Thank you b4icu. As you said to me, where else can I get that level of upgrade for that money.

Amp: Classe CT-5300
Speakers: B&W 802 Nautilus
Previous Cable: 4mm / 12 awg, 2.5 m

Cost is £25 for the 5 meters

New cable: 0 awg, 2.5 m (I was recommended at 4 awg but was told 0 would be fine)

Impressions:

More detailed, more transparent. Like another layer has been peeled back from what was, in my opinion, an already transparent system.

Either way, b4icu said he’d recommend a cable that would give me an improvement. I tried it, it did. I don’t see the problem.

And now he’s two for two.

3).

Mr. Wilson, who exchanged a Transparent Audio Laboratory 14 AWG 12 feet long cable, that costs about $250, with a 0 AWG 2.5m long cable:

Amp: Emotiva 250W/Ch.

Speakers: Vienna Acoustics Beethoven.

"My initial impressions: It’s like having new speakers. The sound is pure and clean. Minute details are suddenly apparent. The range is amazing. Highs, mid-tones and a new bass that I didn’t know my speakers were capable of. I wonder now what I need the new … subwoofer for!

It feels that for all these years my speakers were being chocked and suddenly they can breathe and have their full voice.  

To say I’m happy about my new speaker cables is an understatement. I’m thrilled. Thank you for building these superbly engineered cables to unleash the full potential of my home sound system".

 4).

It improved the sound quality of my speakers (B&W 802N). Sounds are clearer and less congested. Continued listening and swapping back and forth reveals the same result. Others have said the same, including my wife.

For the £150 or so it cost me I would heartily recommend it.
I upgraded from Van Dam blue speaker cable.

5).

Below is SAM’s DIY cables sound impression.

My room is quite big so I have an issue of insufficient bass.  I recently added a pair of Rel 212se to pair with my Wilson Alexia driven by Passlabs 350.8 and I thought that it has made my day.  I have top to bottom and the music flowed v nicely with the Kharma Grand Ref speaker cables. The 1st impression upon installation of the DIY cables was wow 😮 it sounded very musical.  While the music sounded sweet with Kharma, the DIY cables sounded more realistic.  Soundstage was equally wide and the overall music has more drive.  Bass notes were drier and has better separation / weight.  As lack of good bass was my issue, I was pleasantly surprised.  The high extension seems to have lessened and sounded less sparkle, but sufficient and overall adequate.  The mid's and vocals seems to have taken to be more backward staging.  Therefore the presence of the mid's is where it is weak in.  Overall, this set up sings and I feel that the flow of music is more realistic and enjoyable and the Kharma is now in the box.

6).

Below is JOHN’s DIY cables sound impression.

I have been chasing for a better hifi system all the time. I have gone through numerous changes of preamps, amps, turntables/cartridges, phone amps, CD transports, DAC, interconnect cables and speaker cables over the many years in this hobby.

My present amps are Pass Labs 160.8 mono blocks (damping factor 200) driving Magico Q5 speakers with Ansuz Speakz C2 speaker cables. My 1st impression after installing the DIY 4AWG 2 meters length cables was the system sounded very pleasant and musical. Bass response was enhance and tighter and I noticed more excursion on the woofers motion.   The soundstage was equally wide but with more body presentation. The high is a notch less which is good as it is less edgy especially on vocal. I am very happy with the new DIY cables that I decided to retired the Ansuz in the box.

7).

Below is my DIY cables sound impression.

My interest in hifi date back to late 60s with Dual system. Bought JBL4315 speakers and Harman Kardon Citation 16 pre and power in 1970. I still have the Harman Kardon power amp in mint condition. Like John, I have gone through numerous changes in both equipments and cables in my hifi system over the years, trying to chase after that dream system.

Now I am using 4 Telos 600 mono blocks bi-amp to the Kharma Exquisite Ref 1 E Signature speakers with 2 pairs of Kharma Enigma Signature Loudspeaker cables for the last 10 years. My 1st impression of the DIY cables which cost less than USD100 was overwhelming. It sounded musical and not bright to the point of edginess especially on female vocal when I play loud to around 90dB region. Soundstage is wide with overall presentation very dynamic and full. Lost a wee notch on the sustain on the treble resulting in quicker decay of the high notes or less sparkle. However with the diamond tweeters of the Kharma, the extension of high is still more than adequate.

The best takeaway for me on the DIY cable is no edginess of vocal (hurting my ears) when I play loud. Like my friends, I retired the Kharma cables in the box which I have been using the last 10 years. I may try to parallel the Kharma with the DIY cables after spending some extended time with the DIY cables.

All our high-end cables are 2 metres in length with no spec on the gauge or size of

the cables.

SAM’s Kharma retail price USD 8,000 for 2M pair.
JOHN’s Ansuz Speakz C2 retail price USD 8,400 for 2M pair.
KHIAK ‘s Kharma retail price USD 17,000 for 2M pair.