2. cables
  3. 158912-12183

Upgrading Speaker Cables: Wireworld Silver Eclipse or Transparent Audio Ultra?

More than 15 years ago, I bought a set of speaker cables to accompany my then brand new Revel Ultima Studios and Krell FPB amplifiers.  While I continue to adore the sound of my system, I know there have been a lot of advancements in cable technology this century.  Consequently, I believe that a [relatively] low cost upgrade would be a purchase of new speaker cables.  (I have no intent to replace either my speakers or my amplifiers at this time.)  I live in an area that is several hundred miles distant from any high end dealer, so doing a sonic audition of cables is infeasible; moreover, I could not duplicate my combination of other sources, amplifiers, interconnect cables, and power cords -- as well, of course, of my room environment.

All that being said, I have done tons of reading about speaker cables these past few months.  The result of my efforts has been to narrow down my two upgrade choices (both bi-wired) to Transparent Audio's Ultras and Wireworld Cable's Silver Eclipse.  Coincidentally, their respective MSRPs are between $50 of each other.

Ideally, I would love to read responses from other Audiogon members who have actually auditioned one cable against the other.  That is likely to be nigh unto impossible because I have been unable to identify a single dealer who carries both lines.  Consequently, I would be delighted to receive anyone's thoughts about the pluses and minuses of each individual cable.

Many thanks to all who provide their much appreciated insights!
128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjmeyers
b4icu's avatar
b4icu
558 posts
 
Mr.  ditusa

If you would be kind to google Damping factor Wikipedia, you will find out that DF is a pure number (no values) of 8 ohms (resistive only) divided by the Amps Ro (internal resistance), also resistive only. I was not the one to invent that.

The way some electronic circuitry is analyzed, is by looking into the front end (inputs) or rear end (outputs and see what the source or the load seas.
As so, the speaker (load) is not a part of that analysis. If you look back, into an Amp's output stage, you see the Ro, or the DF. Now t is up to you to make a decision:
a). Would you look at the Amp's output directly, or via the speaker cables, or.
b). the same to words the speaker.
As I figured it out, the right way to go, is looking into the Amp's output, via the cables. As so, the cables are an extension of the Amp's Ro...
The Speaker (load) is not a part of that analysis. When looking into the Ro (pure resistance) so shall be the cables.
On top, if you followed my idea, the cables are thick. The resistance is very low. Anything (inductive or capacitive) connected to them in parallel is negligible. Thick cable come as singles, so no capacitance between the two, nor dielectric figures. Neither electromagnetism. 
It not only purify the audio path, and the "say" it also simplifies the calculus.
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,900 posts
 
@b4icu inductance is DF greg timbers engineer at jbl said it not google your not a engineer if you were then you will know
b4icu's avatar
b4icu
558 posts
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damping_factor

First two lines:
"In an audio system, the damping factor gives the ratio of the rated impedance of the loudspeaker to the source impedance. Only the resistive part of the loudspeaker impedance is used. The amplifier output impedance is also assumed to be totally resistive."

You and other JBL and people who said...need to be updated.
It would be a shame if die without knowing the facts!
ditusa's avatar
ditusa
1,900 posts
 
@b4icu inductance in the voice coil is df resistance is impedance jbl engineering department 
b4icu's avatar
b4icu
558 posts
 
Mr. ditusa
How many times I'll need to buy the Bruckling bridge?
On my previous post to you, I stated clearly, that the speakers are not part in this analysis.
It's about what kind of Amp's output, does the speaker sees. 
And actually sees the Amp's Ro through the speaker cables.
So The speaker claim and JBL engineering are irrelevant.
Even the Wikipedia DF ling specify some facts of speaker cables resistance influence (ruing) the DF.
As so, with Tubes, The DF is so low, that it makes no difference.
But when DF increases above 150, it does. It becomes even worst when the cables get longer.
What about a guy, who just approached me on my thread:  How to select a good Speaker Cable
Who upgraded his PASS Labs 250 (DF=150) into a Devialet 120 (DF=8000).
You still think that your argument applies?
Read how a #0 awg, upgraded his sound experience, in 2018, with his PASS and a Magie III.
So please, give it a second look and try to follow.
You might very pleasantly surprised if you implement it.
More to discover