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Best Speaker cables on the cheap?

Aloha everyone, I am going to be upgrading my speaker cables from 12 gauge monster to something better. I dont have very much money to spend, maybe 50-75 dollars and i need at least a 10' pair. So far i think Kimber Kable 4PR seems to be my best buy, although Audioquest type 4 also was well rated, a friend of mine had them and for him they lacked bass, which i dont want. And i would like something terminated with all bannanas or half spades,half bannanas. But i can terminate them myself to save a buck. No, i dont really want to buy used either. Thank you.

Heres my system.

NAD C-370 amp
JBL ND310 speakers
Cambridge Audio D300 cdp
Clarity Wires "foxfire" Silver IC's
Clarity Wires "emberglow" Jumpers
haoleb
shaqspack's avatar
shaqspack
91 posts
 
The IXOS 6003 was my first upgrade in my current system. Excellent Value. My Favorite inexpensive cable. It also demonstrated to me the value of good speaker wire and have since traded up. I too had the old Monster stuff prior to the IXOS. Huge difference in a fairly modest system. I also agree that audio advisor does often have good sales, but if not on clearance, you pay retail for it.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
For the IXOS 5003 at www.AC4L.com which is also www.accessories4less.com; they will terminate the IXOS 6003 for no additional charge over the charge of the terminations. I think bananas are $9.99 for 4 (2 pair) which is one cable; and spades are $13.99. So for 20 feet (ie, two 10ft cables); the cable is $31 ($1.55ft) plus $20 to $28 for the terminations. So you are under $60 unless you are running bare wire which is then $31.
jvr
105 posts
 
heres a really cheap...but effective especially on ss gear.
go to radio shack; buy 30ga magnet wire. cut to length. remove color coating (scrape with a knife) and attach to your amp and speakers. it will sound shockling better. can only do short runs though...not better than 8 feet.

do not laugh until you try it. i tried it with modestly priced gear (hafler 9180 power amp and nht 2.5i). it sounded so much better than the 1500$ transparents i had....it killed me. should cost 4$ then buy the speaker cables cook book and make your own.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Sorry I am laughing. Hard to believe your system had $1500 speaker cables connected to $1200 speakers and a budget amp. No wonder it sounded bad. Too bad it is the system that would make the cables sound bad and not vise versa. (You really didn't did you?)
paulwp
585 posts
 
Do you suppose that 30 awg wire might be filtering out something unpleasant that the expensive and thicker wire is letting through? Maybe?

The AQ Type 6, Axon and Ixos cables recommended above all seem like safe bets. I would avoid the Kimber 4PR, but the 4VS is fine. 4VS sells for $3 retail and comes up here every once in awhile for about half price.
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