Need Opinions for Different Cable Manufacturers/Cable Designs


I have a McIntosh 200wpc receiver [MAC7200] and Focal Sopra 3 speakers - and am using low-grade cables. I'm looking to vastly improve my system with a complete cable upgrade. I like a warm sound with lots of clarity and detail and naturalness. I have been reviewing tons of literature and am intrigued by Cu/Ag and Cu/Ag/Au combinations. I will probably buy used, and look at offerings in the midrange to lower high-end range of products. Cannot afford the best each manufacturer has to offer. Looking to spend up to $2,000 for 3m speaker cables and up to $700 each for RCA and XLR cables. Again, I hope to buy used.

 

I am interested in opinions on the following manufacturers:

AUDIENCE

DH LABS

PURIST AUDIO DESIGN

SILNOTE

SNAKE RIVER

Please feel free to offer your opinions on these and any other recommendations you may have. I really appreciate your time and advice!! Thanks!

kinarow1

@vthokie83 In your post you stated:

" Others to compare: OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) RAMM Audio, DH Labs, Zavfino, Furutech, lot's of others, UP-OFC (Ultra Pure Oxygen Free Copper) Viborg and Neotech, Triple-C (Pure Copper Continuous Casting) Furutech, SAEC, and Acoustic Revive, 102SSC (special surface copper) Oyaide, DUCC (Dia Utra Crystallized Copper) Furutech, Alpha Nano (Alpha OFC + nano liquid) Furutech. " 

The PC Triple C is a Wire Type produced by Furukawa, that was a wire designed to Supersede their production of OCC Wire Types. PC Triple C is offered as Pure Copper or as PC Triple C / EX which is a Wire Type that has a High Purity Silver as the outer coat. The Silver is Forge Clad onto the Copper Wire. There is not a process where electrolysis is the coating method.

D.U.C.C Wire is produced by Mitsubishi, as a Manufactured Material it is known as  Mitsubishi High-Purity Copper MOF®-6N8 having 7N-class purity.

I am not sure how you intend on using these Wires, i.e, Single End RCA, XLR, or Power Chord? 

I am an advocate of both Types and extensively tested it over a reasonable period of time in comparisons to OCC, which each Type has successfully superseded the use of OCC. 

PC Triple C for most who I have introduced it to, and made extended periods of loan as well, has been the one to create changes to others plans for Wire used in their Audio Systems.

To date as a result of my own investigations and one carried out by others, some of which I am instrumental in encouraging. I have heard PC Triple C used as a Cart's Tag Wire, Tonearm Wand Wire as a continuous wire from Cart' to RCA's, Umbilical's, Speaker Wire, Speaker Internal Cabinet Wire, Amp's Internal Hook Up Wire and Power Cable.

In relation to Tag Wire, Tonearm Internal Wand Wire, Umbilical's, Speaker Wire and Power Cable. I have been able to experience the Wire used as a comparison Wire, and PC Triple C has always been the preferred wire, even without an adequate Burn In Period allowed for it. 

There are posts in the Gon made by myself, where more can be learnt about the experiences had, and recommendations for a Wire Type, that has been compared to more expensive options and proved the better option as a result of comparisons undertaken. 

D.U.C.C should not be overlooked as a Wire Type, even though it has not proved itself the most attractive option to others I have introduced to it. I have found it to be a extremely important Signal Path Wire when used in conjunction with PC Triple C in the Signal Path.   

I have not heard D.U.C.C as a entirety of a Signal Path Wire as I have with PC Triple C.

In the Helix Cable Thread on this Forum a couple of Cable Builders have tried Triple C and have made it known more was discovered than some of the other Wire configurations used.  

 

@kinarow1

Cannot afford the best each manufacturer has to offer. Looking to spend up to $2,000 for 3m speaker cables and up to $700 each for RCA and XLR cables. Again, I hope to buy used.

....i will do more listening today, but I must admit to being stunned by the overall sound quality improvement. The Fidelium cables have made listening to music even more enjoyable. I am quite sure there are other cables that do the same, but, for me, such a significant improvement at what in today’s market is a reasonable cost is both remarkable and quite enjoyable.

By the way, the company has a 30-day return period, but it took me less than 30 minutes (seconds?) to decide these cables are keepers!

I echo what @mike4597 says above, search for more Silversmith Audio Fidelium threads here on A’gon. If you have up to $2000 to spend on speaker cables to my knowledge you cannot beat the Fidelium’s. They are produced in a 10 foot length for $1595 new- as they are bought direct from the manufacturer realize they would retail for twice this if marketed through dealers.

I have been reviewing tons of literature and am intrigued by Cu/Ag and Cu/Ag/Au combinations.

Look up Kapton.

Your receiver is not the most revealing of details (for good and bad) but your speakers may make up for this. I believe if you are currently using "cheap" speaker cables after hearing these in your system you will claim it is "vastly improved". And hey, if you don’t there is a 30 day money back guarantee.

Fidelium

Pindac

Thanks for the response. I'll do some more research that you suggested, and probably reach out to you for some more help. I can surmise that like in all things (resistors, caps, connectors, inductors, etc.), higher quality will yield better results

Just about every cable will sound differently in each system.  In some systems, cable A may sound better than cable B, but in another system, cable B works better than cable A.  Trial is the only way to tell.  Personally, I found that the cheapest OFC cables worked best for my current system, but in my old system, the more expensive cables sounded better, because I had equipment that needed moderating in my old system.