what to buy under $500 bi wire spkr cable


i have a vincent 236 integrated powering psb stratus golds. using a jolida 100 cd player. what speaker cables would you recommend. my sound seems harsh with not enough low end. using 15 year old monster m series 1.4 cables.
vikingnick
i cant screw in a light bulb let alone make cable. i need the best and easiest connection . thanks
If you haven't already, before purchasing a new set of biwire cables you might want to see if the weak bass you are experiencing is improved by connecting without biwiring, and using jumpers between the two sets of speaker terminals.

There have been two prior threads in which three different people reported that a significant reduction in bass resulted from biwiring, which in one case was actually measured. Near the end of the threads I offered a possible although speculative explanation:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1247016622

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1247245568

Obviously many people biwire very successfully, but perhaps you are experiencing something similar to what was reported in those threads.

Regards,
-- Al
Vikingnick,

you could just buy the wire and cut it to length and strip 1/2 inch off the end and use it bare

I am just trying to save you some money and let you try a wire you might really enjoy

I used to ignore DIY wire posts, I just never believed that they could better expensive wire but I was wrongas I found with the WL

good luck to you
Beyond the connection-related possibilities I suggested in my two previous posts, which are easily checked, I agree with those who have suggested that the problems are not being caused by your cabling.

I note in Stereophile's measurements that your speakers present a very demanding load in the bass region, due to a combination of low impedance, highly capacitive phase angles, and low sensitivity. Not sure which version of the 236 amplifier you have, but in the case of the SV-236MK, at least, its measurements suggest that the ability to deal with difficult loads is not its forte. Note that while it can deliver 150W into 8 ohms with both channels driven, it can only deliver 362W into 2 ohms with only one channel driven (the ideal being four times the 8 ohm rating, or 600W into each of the two channels).

I see in your other thread, also, that your room is "small." Room effects could certainly also be a factor.

I think that Michael (Sufentanil) put it well: "Mess with cables only when you're close to the sound you're looking for."

Regards,
-- Al
If I understand the issue correctly, I also suspect the speaker wire is most likely not responsible.

Speaker wires may sound different, better or worse but not sure I have ever heard them result in "harshness". Not likely I would speculate, but hey, anything is possible. Hard to say without hearing/seeing.

Try tweaking the easy things first like speaker orientation/toe-in/toe-out relative to listening location, matching polarity of speaker wires from amp to speakers, etc.

If all else is well, the IC from CD to amp might make a difference even, usually more so and more likely than speaker wires. Power conditioning is another possibility but I would recommend getting the rest working well first as best as possible before tweaking there.

Often addressing these things is just a matter of better setup and integration end to end including with the room. The solution need not cost more, but more likely just requires things be done differently.