Counterfeit Chinese Cables

@rolox

If I had speaker cables like those that were already terminated, I wouldn’t try to reterminate them because you might run into trouble if you’re not really experienced. Having said that, I had read in recent years that brass wasn’t as good as conductor as copper, so I decided to change the binding posts on my speakers to KLE low mass copper from the heavy brass ones that they came with, and the positive sonic difference was noticeable.

More recently, I bought a different set of speakers that are single wire, and I had a bit of a problem, because my favored cables were an internally biwired set. For a few weeks I used them with the unused banana plugs just hanging out in free space, obviously not a good idea.

I then remembered that I had for many years these Monster cable heavy brass banana five-way things that would allow me to put the other two banana terminated wired in contact with the speaker. I lived with that for several weeks until I remembered that I had seen some piggyback bananas once, and if I could find them it would solve my problem. I did some research and found solid copper piggyback bananas on walmart.com (of all places!) for $19.00 for the 4 pieces that I needed. The were made with set screws (no soldering) and I did the job two days ago.

Punchline, the difference sonically is a revelation! For the first time in three months, I am realizing how good my speakers really are. I am still shocked.

I have since looked at binding posts and RCA’s on walmart.com, and it turns out that they are a great source for these things at extremely affordable prices.

4Pcs Banana Plugs 45 Degree Angled Banana Connectors Screw Locking Connectors for AV Receiver,Amplifier,Speaker Silver - Walmart.com

Rolox.

Do your Chinese Valhalla SC have the large ( approximately 3 inch by 3 inch wood sections) that the clear plastic portion wire runs thru) ?

Aliexpress shows 2 different versions.... One with the aforementioned wood blocks...its referred to as Nordost Valhalla 2 Reference. The other, less expensive version, is call Valhalla 2.

I rather like the knockoff Odins.

I needed another XLR cable a few years back and having read about the fakes sounding good (I think) in another thread, I thought I’d give it a try.  I figured as long as I wouldn’t want to take them out immediately upon hearing them I’d be satisfied.

And I wasn’t expecting much, quite frankly.  
 

I replaced a genuine Nordost Quattro Fil with the fake Odins.  And, to my delight, I didn’t feel the need to put the QF’s immediately back in.  The Chinese cables sounded great so I didn’t bother with ABing them.

Then I needed some speakers cables and went the fake Odin route again.  This time the fakes replaced a genuine Analysis Plus Silver Ovals.  Results the same as when I swapped out the XLRs.

Great bang for the buck products, IMO.  

I replaced my Dh Labs silver sonic speaker cables with the Chinese Odin 2 silver cables then with the Chinese Valhalla cables.  The Valhallas are the best by far and here to stay.  What great speaker cables for the money.  Have not tried the Valhalla 2’s and really don’t feel the need.  

@tksteingraber  which Ali store did you buy the Valhalla speaker cables from?  There seems to be many different cables at different prices, all using the Valhalla name.  Thanks.