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Inexpensive speaker cables: any experience?

I’m currently running some entry Kimber Kable speaker cables and looking at possibly upgrading. In my research I’ve come across some “budget” options on eBay. I assume they’re not great but curious if anyone has any experience with some “no-name” or “budget” cables? 
 

Thoughts on these? 

Thanks!

paulgardner
dill
2,523 posts
 

This ribbon or parallel design has been around for quite awhile, Weber Wire and Bradley Audio TC10 come to mind. Aside from the possible, somewhat awkward placing or routing of the cable, they look well made and their feedback is quite complimentary, decent pricing too.

chayro
2,984 posts
 

There’s nothing wrong with fooling around with cheap cables for fun or to see if you can get a different flavor, but frankly, in the price bracket you are looking, I would just keep the Kimbers and perhaps think about moving up within the Kimber line. You have a nice system and it may well benefit from a real cable upgrade. Kimber makes good stuff 

digsmithd
913 posts
 

What chay said is some good advice...after your done with the budget stuff the itch for some high level comes calling...i did some diy speaker cables this summer and it was to see what/were these budget cables were at after reading so many convincing reviews.I really was quite shocked at how good a couple of these sound in my system...and keep telling myself i could live with them in...i didnt. 🔃

williewonka
3,075 posts
 

@paulgardner - Those cables use just plain copper and as such will impact the dynamics performance of your system !!!

Save yourself time and money and invest in Zavfino speaker cables...

https://zavfinousa.com/collections/speaker-cables/products/nova-speaker-cable

The are a little more expensive, but they work and you WILL hear improvements across the board AND, they have a nice product lineup so when it’s time to upgrade there is a cable that will fit your budget.

So why do they work?

  1. the cable geometry used - very low noise floor
  2. UP-OCC copper wires - which improves the dynamic performance of a cable
  3. choice of wire insulations - which improves the micro details
    • which in turn improves imaging
    • e.g. venue acoustics - those little echoes and reverberations of the concert hall

Also try their interconnects and power cables - just excellent!

And just in case you are wondering - these cables will improve the sound of ANY system they are installed on, regardless of its components

There are better cables out there, but not at their price

Regards - Steve

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