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Help me buy some new cables....

Okay, I am looking to buy some cables on eBay--I am hoping to take advantage of some clearance items. I use an all Magnepan HT driven by Citation 7.1 and 5.1 amps. My processor is a Lexicon MC-12 (don't know how much that matters). I am thinking of buying one set of a couple to try them out and then buy more if there is one I like, but frankly, I am not a big cable experimenter and with two newborns I just don't have the time or money to do much right now.... So any way I can cut a corner and get a good sound the happier I will be. Anyway, there are a few choices that I've got:

Straight wire Musicable II
Vampire Wire
Monster Cable of a few types (300i and 350i I think, plus a couple others)
DH Labs White Lightening
Audio quest g-snake
knuconceptz
Tributaries (their lower end cables of course)

I could also DIY some cables, but time becomes a REAl issue. Also, while I have no doubt I can make a functional cable, I've never actually made interconnects before so I am worried about the end quality even if I found the time to do it.

I'm also open to suggestions. As you might guess, I am not looking to spend very much here. My budget basically maxes out at $50 per pair. I'm considering doing one very nice pair for the front speakers and perhaps center channel and lower end cables for the surrounds.

Thanks for any advice!
Aaron
aewhistory
rsjm80
207 posts
 
Aaron, Have you tried contacting Grover Huffman? I use his cables and they are not only cost effective but they are netural and very fast and natural. Grover is very personable I'd try asking him your concerns. and good luck
aewhistory OP
70 posts
 
Howdy,

Thank you both for your responses! I found Signal Cable, thanks; I'll check them out.

I haven't spoken to Grover Huffman. The name is only vaguely familiar... But I don't know why I know the name at all to be honest. Is he on the board under his name or something like that? Perhaps that's where I've seen the name? (he is probably some famous engineer and I'm totally blanking right now :)

BTW, if any moderators read this, could you please smoosh my three threads together? I don't know how I started three of the exact same threads, but I apologize for cluttering the board.
tycobb
26 posts
 
Either crutchfield or vanns has Monster m650i and m850i on sale right now. Great all around cables. I'm using as Pre amp to amp runs deeper bass than Audioquest Coral
aewhistory OP
70 posts
 
Unfortunately a much better reply was lost when my browser crashed, so this will have to do. I've no completed the acquisition of the first group of tryout cables. Since OCC-type cables, and Vampire wire, had been highly recommended to me, I initially sought these out. This led to an unfortunate discovery--Vampire Wire no longer makes OCC cables. Bummer. The few other available OCC cables I was able to find are quite expensive for me, but I found one that was affordable: Liberty Cable. I also purchased some Van Den Hul bare OCC wire to make my own interconnects in the future.

I've also been grubbing around looking for deals for other cables to try. This led me to the idea of trying composite, component, and digital cables as audio interconnects. Should work like a charm. We will see. Ao this is what I have so far:

Liberty z-500
Tributaries A3 (x3 pairs)
Straight Wire Silver Link II (x3 singles)
monster Cable m850cv (2 sets of 3 leads = 3 audio pairs)
Straight wire concerto (? I think that is the name, 6 pairs)
Tributaries 5a (2 pairs)

I am looking at morrow audio, a pair of mid level vampire cables on evilbay, and some others as well. My main quandary, however, is finding OCC cables for the $50 range I've been aiming at. I think Liberty might be my only option.
batch68
27 posts
 
You may have already dealt with this issue, but have you bought upgraded power cords yet? I ask b/c changing pc's seems to make a bigger difference in my systems than changing IC's or SC's & -- if you are on a tight budget -- you might want to look at them first. You can get good Pangea, Zu, or Signal Cable PC's in your under $100 price range.

Batch
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