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I need your expert advise

I am relatively new in the high end stuff. In fact, I am really probably more in the mid-high end with my gear. Being a novice makes deciding on speaker cables a real challenge. There are so many, all with those glowing reviews. My current system is PSB Stratus Goldi speakers, NAD Silver S100 Preamp with companion S200 amp. I currently have a NAD 515 CD player (my next upgrade). What I need is your expert advise on speaker cables. I am searching for a 10ft external bi-wire set up. I am currently using Monster Z2. They are fair but I'm sure I am missing something by not having better speaker cable. Room size is very large with cathedral ceilings. Speaker cable budget is $500-$600. I am more than willing to buy bulk cable and terminate it myself to save some $. When you are new to this hobby and don't have all the years of trial and error experience on cables, it can really be tough to make a selection. My musical taste is mostly jazz: Pat Metheny, John Coltrane, Eric Alexander etc. I like a warm but dynamic sound with deep punchy bass, smooth mid and crisp highs. I can't handle a bright, sharp or edgy sound. I play it loud. I'm thinking perhaps Geortz M1 2, Analysis Plus, MIT t2, DH Labs Q10 but I am wide open to advise from those who have been there. Any suggestions for my set up would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
boski
jjwinterberg
45 posts
 
Please before you do anything find a friend or a dealer who will let you audition a set (both I/C and speaker) of quality speaker cables. I would recommend JPS Labs cables as I am quite familiar with these cables and think they would match well with your setup. Another strategy is to buy and sell through the used market as your purchases will not depreciate much during your trials.

The other suggestions are good but I think the NAD gear is good and I have had bad experiences with the Monster.

Good Luck

John
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
I have been lucky enough to gain some very good cables at reasonable prices, some here at Audiogon. When I had "mid-fi" gear and tried cabling that was almost as expensive as my hardware, it really did improve sound greatly, so I suggest you get the best interconnects and speaker cables you can afford first, (try Audiogon's classified, where some Acoustic Zen and Harmonic Technology cabling can be had at more than 50% off). Then, change your CD player if it isn't satisfying. You can then use your cables with your new CD player. The Monster wire is a good beginning towards the benefits of good cabling, but there are better choices to be made without breaking the bank, good luck.
natalie
404 posts
 
Tacs your way off base,The nad is so far down the food chain that it is the weak link in the sysytem
A rega Planet 2000, MF A3CD,something in this range is required.Even a NAD silver series player will lift this sytem a few rungs.
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
I have been lucky enough to gain some very good cables at reasonable prices, some here at Audiogon. When I had "mid-fi" gear and tried cabling that was almost as expensive as my hardware, it really did improve sound greatly, so I suggest you get the best interconnects and speaker cables you can afford first, (try Audiogon's classified, where some Acoustic Zen and Harmonic Technology cabling can be had at more than 50% off). Then, change your CD player if it isn't satisfying. You can then use your cables with your new CD player. The Monster wire is a good beginning towards the benefits of good cabling, but there are better choices to be made without breaking the bank, good luck.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
I don't know anything about the Monster, but I do believe that the NAD CDP may be the present weak link. You can certainly do a lot better for $600 used (maybe even consider a used DAC; could get a Muse 2 and a decent digital cable for $600).
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