12 wire compared to Nordost Blue Heaven Speaker Cable?

It's just like putting the carriage before the horse, it won't go anywhere.

@ristrettox6 

Welcome to the forum.

After you unpack the Blue Heavens and connect them, I would either a) put on some Depends@, or b) have a change of underwear close by.  You should experience something(s) quite different in your system -- in a good way.

There's quite a bit of "noise" on this forum about whether or not a system has to be of a certain caliber to hear differences in cables (or other upgrades).  Just a point here that a respected cable manufacturer (highly supported by this group) literally used a jam box with detachable speakers to demonstrate premium speaker cables with consistent and compelling results.  So, your "modest" system WILL reveal differences in cable/upgrades.

That being said, it is possible to be a little top heavy (or bottom heavy) when assigning cost to various components and putting too many eggs in a particular basket.  Interconnects, power cords, AC noise/suppression, room acoustics and a LOT of other factors come into play. Trying some, or all, of the above is what makes being an "audiophile" fun.

I just hope you're enjoying your hobby, and money spent gives you the sonic improvements (and grin from ear to ear) you are looking for.  

Enjoy.

As a long time slave in the mines of mid-fi, let me help OP with this. The Denon DRA-697CI is a very good mid-fi receiver. When it was current it sold for around $800.00 iirc, so it is not an entry level item, and has a fairly unusual feature set implied by the CI designation. Your Polk RTI-8Ts are solid, well made upper mid-fi speakers, with many owners singing their praises online. 12 gauge tough pitch stranded copper zipcord speaker wire is what you have.  Nordost BH is not the first rung of the ladder up from there. If you have been given it to try, by all means do so, and form your own opinion!  If you have to purchase it at retail, even in Nordost’s line there are more sensible options, like Super Flatline.  But I would suggest getting Mogami or Canare wires from WBC as more suitable to your circumstances. 

I think you would have better off upgrading the power cord to the Nordost Blue Heaven or Red Dawn. I did this in the past and it blew my mind. I would definitely buy used which will be easy because Nordost just upgraded their Leif line. The one cavity to this is the New Nordost blue Heaven power cable is the same guage as the Old Red Dawn power cable. If you can find an old 2 meter Red Dawn power cable at 40% + off retail  you will be set. The power cable made a bigger difference in sound on Home theater than the speaker cable did. Probably because it has so much DSP. You give it a good RFI/ EMI filter power cord like Nordost you won’t believe your ears. I say return the speaker cable. Guage is more important. 

OP my guest is you will get a better sound with Nordost blue heaven, this are amazing cable for the price.Just let the Nordost acclimate for six days, and burn in if its brand new.By experiment you will learn and constant listening.Play your familiar cd or music. Keep us update what you think. Just be patience.