Looking for new speaker cables


I’ve been using Audience AU24SE cables for a few years and really like them. They have all the detail, air, and speed I need. If anything, they might lack a bit of body. That’s my ideal, all those good qualities but just more body. Not to the point of being thick or slow, though. Does that make sense?

I’ve recently tried the Tubulus Concentus and Fidelium but will continue looking. The newer Audience SX and Front Row cables are said to be way better than my SEs. I remember when the SX came out everyone said it was basically a new direction in sound for Audience. So they are a potential candidate, if anything the Front Row. I’ve also read good things on the Townshend Fractal cables here. Budget probably up to $7-8k but $4-5k is the comfort area.

Looking for suggestions that might work. Air, speed, and a more body than the SEs. Haven’t called the Cable Company on this yet, just looking for user or listener experiences at this point.

jaybe

Karl Schuster’s Empirical Design cables have made a difference in my system. Karl has a good ear and his wires have a scientific basis for their design and construction. Been in business for over 20 years. Not cheap but not crazy expensive either. They will not be thick enough nor flashy enough for some.

The only thing worse for this hobby than a quote like this (and I don't blame the OP for being fed this can of lies)...

"They have all the detail, air, and speed I need. If anything, they might lack a bit of body... Not to the point of being thick or slow..."

... are the people who perpetuate that nonsense and let those individuals continue thinking those are all real things. They're not. Those things objectively don't exist. They're straight up lies put out by manufacturers. Pure lies. You would hear no difference, at all, between an expensive boutique cable and cheap, standard 12AWG OFC (or even 16AWG). Because there is no difference. In some cases, the "bells and whistles" manufacturers put onto their cables actually increase resistance.

I have been using Signal Audio Cables for decades. Yes these mid priced cables are worth every penny and are better than the Amazon stuff and cables costing 10 times more.

Everything in moderation.

I've had high end models of Audience, Audioquest and Synergistic Research.  Then I happened to read some reviews on Silversmith Fidelums, tried them and they smoked everything I'd run.  Amazing speaker cables at any price and yet extremely reasonably price......shocking really.  Three of my audiophile are now running them.  A little surprised they have not been mentioned.  Worth exploring.  BTW, may be the ONLY cable of any sort that also sounded very good out of the box....they do improve but can be enjoyed immediately.

Enjoy the journey!

I have used a number of different speaker cables over the years and have finally settled on Iconoclast SPTPC Series II.  They seem very neutral and well balanced through the whole frequency spectrum.  If you go to the Belden/Iconoclast website, you can read all about velocity of propagation and how it affects music.  The design engineer, Galen Gareis is great.  He explains how and why he designed these cables to minimize coloration, delays, etc.  They also go into how their made with ultrasonic welding instead of soldering he connections.  They sometimes have demo cables they can send to you to try before you buy.  I did that working with Bob Howard, their sales director.  They are in a word, terrific.  While they're not cheap, they also don't break the bank.  You should seriously consider trying these.  Good luck with your speaker cable quest !