Inexpensive speaker cables: any experience?

Recently replaced some thinnish speaker wire (prob. obtained at Radio Shack eons ago) with Canare 4S11 and it does sound quite a bit better to my ears. 2nd system in a workshop/art studio environment…

I needed longer runs than my Kimber Kable or Cardas wires would reach, so I bought some bulk OFC 12 gauge copper 4-conductor cable from Monoprice, added tech flex and terminated my own ends.  It's good....very good.

@oldhvymec - many thanks for the endorsement - it is very much appreciated👍

williewonka’s DIY RCAs are the biggest bang for the buck period. Are there better cables?

The answer to that is Yes - of course there is better

• take a look at Hijiri - I hear they are very good but a little pricey ($4k),
• but according to one member it’s a swings and roundabouts kinda deal i.e.
  • The DIY’s are better at 1,2 and 3
  • the Hijiri are better at 4,5 and 6 but overall they do a little better job than the DIY's
• But the cost of the Hijiri is not as much as other cables that boast to be "the best" -
  • while costing upwards of $30k for a 1 meter  interconnect (I kid you not)

The latest version of my DIY Helix interconnects with

• 2 x 20 gauge 5N solid silver signal wires and
• 2 x 18 gauge 6N solid UP-OCC copper neutrals
• finished with Absolute Harmony RCA’s
• cost around $400 CDN for a 1 meter pair to build
• and if you get the latest Perfect Harmony RCA’s (which I am yet to try) that price goes up to $460 CDN
• But they are the best sounding Helix DIY Interconnect I have built to date

If anyone is interested in taking a look at the DIY Helix - here’s the link that shows how to build them

http://image99.net/blog/

MY VIEW - When you deploy cables at this level of performance, the differences are subtle and can vary due to the components in the system.

But upgrading from a more conventional cable design, to cables that use advanced geometry, wires and insulations - such as the cables mentioned above - the improvements can be a bit of a revelation

DIY or Hijiri - It really boils down to what YOU are prepared to pay to reach that elusive "Audio Nirvana".

Regards - Steve

@paulgardner Before Zavfino took over as the current fav of AG posters, one of the other much favored and less expensive brands was Audio Envy.  You might take at look at them, too.  I know Audio Envy offers some kind of home trial for standard lengths.