2. cables
  3. 1169833072

Audiogon speaker wire gurus, please help me

I need help form the audiogon experts. I want to upgrade my audioquest gibraltar speaker wire. Current components are dali ms4 speakers, cary 500mb monoblocks, first sound preamp, richard gray power, and acoustic zen reference + transparent audio interconnects. The room is excellent sonically (designed by Rives) and does not add any sonic signature. I'm looking for some warmth, a large 3-dimentional sound stage, and air between instruments. My budget is 2-3K for 10 ft of speaker wire (bi-wire). Can anyone help me out with suggestions? I will confess to having no knowledge of speaker wires or cables, and unfortunately have just been taking suggestions until now from people who have an interest in selling me something. Am looking for unbiased opinions. Thanks guys!
tcheathertree
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
the purpose of listening to music on a stereo system is to enjoy it, not necessarily achieve neutrality. some people don't want neutrality. they mant some color, like puttting ketchup on your stake or three teaspoons of sugar in a cup of black coffee.

it is best to listen to a bunch of brands and then gradually determine those attributes of sound which are more important and also determine what aspects of sound are less important or unimportant.

there is no substitute for listening. try to find a dealer or the cable company to borrow speaker cable.

your ears are unique. you can't rely on another person's perception.
oregon
822 posts
 
I agree with dodgealum- too much $ for wire. Try as amny as possible with the option to return from a local retailer or private seller or friend. Find what you think is best and spend some cash on LPS or Cds, etc.
Good luck!
philjolet's avatar
philjolet
2,306 posts
 
sorry I misread... for the higher priced spread I recommend Audio Note wire

the best thing to do is try for yourself, buy used try it for about a month and sell if necessary
jaymark's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jaymark
512 posts
 
Save some dough. Try the LAT international top end speaker cables. An 8 foot pair new will set you back about $450 bucks. I have them (the older version not the latest) in my reference system. They are outstanding.

Cables definitely sound different to me. However, given the performance I get from the LAT silver/copper hybrid cable - warm, silk smooth, holographic - I don't see much reason to spend oodles of money on higher end cables. Have I heard all of them? No. Are they the best cables out there? Who knows. But do they sound fantastic to a very critical listener who hates "digital" sound. Absolutely
ryder
1,690 posts
 
I agree with Dodgealum except that the money goes to better equipment rather than to charity unless you are in a real charitable mood. The rest have summed up pretty nicely.
More to discover