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Cables, Cables

I am sure this was asked many times before, but anyway here I go…
I've been using Home Depot 12 AWG copper wire, bi-wired. It sounded very good to my ear. After reading up some, I've decided to buy some really nice pre-made wire; after all I am always looking for some improvements. So, I bought Audioquest CV-4 not bi-wired. Brought it home, connected and the sound became flat and dull. Am I misunderstanding something here?
moganes
ozfly
887 posts
 
Do try Audphile1's suggestion and also be sure the jumper is decent -- not the stuff that typically comes with the speaker. A short length of the Home Depot wire should do the trick since you had good experience with it.

If it still sounds worse, even after some burn-in, enjoy the Home Depot wire, sell the Audioquest and think of all the money you're saving!
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
4,923 posts
 
Ozfly, good point. Something I forgot to mention is the jumpers quality.

Another thing Moganes, let the cables play for a while before you make up your mind. You may get used to this sound and not be able to go back to the HD wire.

Also, when you get better, more revealing cables, the flaws of your components show much easier.

P.S.
AQ cables in general have a bit of a dark character to their sound.
sonic_genius
528 posts
 
A few years back I was using black 18 gauge zip cord for my tweeters. It was quite good and bettered LAT, Kimber, and JPS mid-line cables.
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Any difference is likely to be inaudible or just barely audible - the huge difference you describe sounds like a problem somewhere (crossed wire giving incorrect phase maybe?).
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I switched to Home Depot 14 ga outdoor extension cord (HD-14) after reading a glowing review in The Absolute Sound that pitted this stuff against 500-buck wires. It's still in my system 18 months later. Replaced Omega Mikro which replaced Mapleshade which replaced Kimber 8TC. Obviously YMMV, but don't be surprised at how good this cable is. I could almost guarantee that it's better sounding than the AQ CV-4. Dave
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