2. cables
  3. 1394910366

Need a good Nerd Opinion - Biwire Best Value

Hey guys,

I am by no means an audiophile, but I'm also not a novice. I've recently settled on a new reciever (Arcam AVR400 or 450), to replace my current setup, and will probably be upgrading to KEF R300's. Not the most elaborate system in the world, but much better than most. That said, I am having a hard time figuring out the cabling situation. I've decided to biamp my front mains, but am not sure what biwire solution offers the most value. To complicate things, one run will be 3x's the length as the other. Any suggestions on a brand and/or configuration I should look in to? I am not spending $500 on cables. I just can't bring myself to do it. Since you guys are the experts, I figured you might know about some hidden gems that are at a good price point, and offer better than average performance.

Thanks!
Tony
unctonythetiger
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Since biwiring is not an issue because you're using 4 channels, the only thing that remains is cable choice. Opinions vary, but I recommend using the exact same cables for all channels. Some people try to use different cables for the highs and lows hoping to get better sound. If that works for you, great. That's all that matters. But every time I've tried it, I wasn't happy with the results. I could always hear the 2 different cables.

If you want to learn more about biamping and biwiring, go to Vandersteen's web site and download owners manuals for something like the Model 2 or 3. They do a great job explaining all the different terms and options. Also, Vandersteen was the first one to come up with concept of biwiring.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,478 posts
 
Yes Anti-Cables....they are so inexpensive, you can get the same lengths for each side and just dress them accordingly. Anti- Cables have various "levels"....the higher the level the better, but don't be afraid of their cheapest ones.
unctonythetiger OP
12 posts
 
Guys - I have to say, thanks so much for the help, this has been great. You gave me great options to check out and research.

I ended up feeling pretty good about the pricing with Signal Cable and that for my first experience with this could buy something without breaking the bank. I'll let you know how it goes, and thanks again :)!
zavato's avatar
zavato
1,405 posts
 
A little tough to find in the US, but it's worth looking for QED 79 strand. It's not expensive and sound sweet. There are dealers in the UK which will gladly ship to the US.

Ps- I would avoid drastically differing lengths of cable
unctonythetiger OP
12 posts
 
Hey guys - my Signal HiFi cables arrived this week and I installed them. They are amazing, thank you for the suggestion. The biggest improvement I can hear is from my center channel. It sounds like a completely different speaker. Voices are clearer and more natural, bass sound ways better, and overall performance is noticeably improved.
More to discover