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Speaker Cable-The Best of the Cheap?

Hi all, I must confess, I've used relatively inexpensive 12ga Monster Cable for quite a few years, and is pretty much due to the four 10ft runs of cable I need in my own system.

Can someone here please recommend a similar cost, similar gauge cable that would perhaps exceed the Monster Cable's performance, and build quality?

The Cable does not have to be terminated, this I will do myself.

I'm open to all suggestions, and would also like to know who would be the best business to buy this said cable from?
Thank you all, Mark
markd51
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
The Home Depot wire mentioned above and praised in a review in The Abolute Sound is sold as 14 ga (not 12 ga) outdoor extension cord.. It's orange with a black stripe. I started using it more than a year ago and have been extremely pleased with it, especially since I started configuring it in "shotgun" fashion -- one entire 3-conductor cable in the forward/+/black direction and another in the return/-red link. I used to use $500 speaker cables but like this stuff better. It's also replaced almost all the pricy detachable power cords in my system with equally positive results. Good luck, Dave
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
Go for the Canare 4S11. Great cable for the price.
kotta's avatar
kotta
649 posts
 
You might want to consider Audioquest Type 2 or 4. Very good sounding inexpensive cables.
myraj
351 posts
 
Depogue,
Thanks for the correction (14ga, not 12) to my gauge comment on the Home Depot wire. And also for your power cord comment too. I haven't tried that yet. And I further agree with your assesment of the performance of the HD wire. I use better stuff in my 2-channel 300B based system (Stealth UR_$1600 list price) but the HD wire does a nice job in my Home Theatre system and I've had NO desire to change it since trying it. And it's certainly anti-TRIP/easy to SEE. :-)
Good listening!
markd51 OP
763 posts
 
Hi All, Many good recommendations thank you.
The Canare 4S11 sounds interesting, and at the .69 a ft sounds mighty reasonable enough.

As I see, the Canare 4S11 is a 4 conductor Cable, which each wire strand being said to be 14ga.

I just need to terminate with two Spades on either end.
Since I have vintage Mac gear, with the horribly tiny Terminal Strips, I was thinking of Purchasing Cardas Spade Lugs, the ones specifically designed for Vintage Mac Gear, and then larger Spades at the Speaker Ends, As I have upgraded Edison-Price large solid copper 5-Way Terminals on my JBL Speakers.

Is there any special way to properly terminate these Canare 4 conductor Cables, or no? Does it matter which two are combined to be crimped-soldered to each of the lugs? I would assume also, that two 14ga Wires combined per lug would have superior performace-
less loss versus one 12 ga wire? Correct? Mark
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