Speaker cable that won't break the bank

Geoff4rfc
Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
edited November 2011 in Speakers
I've been shopping for new cable and have looked at BlueJeans and Monoprice. I'm looking to accommodate two 9' runs and single 4' run. The prices I've seen from the afore mentioned companies suit me okay.

Are there any other places I could be looking?

Thanks
Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
Post edited by Geoff4rfc on
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,093
    edited November 2011
    Geoff4rfc wrote: »
    I've been shopping for new cable and have looked at BlueJeans and Monoprice. I'm looking to accommodate two 9' runs and single 4' run. The prices I've seen from the afore mentioned companies suit me okay.

    Are there any other places I could be looking?

    Thanks

    Here you go...Frank is a great guy & offers a discount for us Polkies. http://www.signalcable.com/
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited November 2011
    Great information! Thanks for the link. I'll give Frank a call.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • PrazVT
    PrazVT Posts: 1,606
    edited November 2011
    +1. I second that suggestion.

    I've slowly migrated both my HT (front stage) and my 2ch to all Signal speaker cables, ICs, and a few power cables and have been very happy. Great SQ all around with my LSi and RTi A speakers. Frank and Co. even built me a custom y-splitter to match the Analog 2 ICs for the HT.

    Great SQ for the buck all around.
    ALL BOXED UP for a while until I save up for a new place :(

    Home Theater:
    KEF Q900s / MIT Shotgun S3 / MIT CVT2 ICs | KEF Q600C | Polk FXi5 | BJC Wire | Signal / AQ ICs | Shunyata / Pangea PCs | Pioneer Elite SC 57 | Parasound NC2100 Pre | NAD M25 | Marantz SA8001 | Schiit Gungnir DAC | SB Touch

    2 Channel:
    Polk LSi9 (xo mods), Polk DSW MicroPro 2000 sub | NAD c375BEE | W4S DAC1 | SB Touch | Marantz SA-8001 | MIT AVt 2 | Kimber Hero / AQ / Signal ICs | Shunyata / Signal PCs
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  • Dawgfish
    Dawgfish Posts: 2,554
    edited November 2011
    I strongly suggest looking at JW Audio Cryo Nova cables. They run $10 per foot including your choice of terminations including combinations of terminations (i.e spades on amp end, bannanas on speaker end, etc.). They would run you $200 for the length and runs you're looking for. I have tried Signal cable in the past and the JWs beat them by a mile imho. I tried the JWs out of curiosity just to see what they sound like figuring I wouldn't have much to loose at the price. I can honestly say the JWs sound better in every way compared to the Audioquest CV-4s I was running. Also if you have tried Anti Cables in the past, these things look just like them, but don't be fooled the difference in performance is night and day. I've tried the ACs in the past and they don't hold a candle to the JWs. It's been my experience you have to spend a lot more money for a cable than the JWs to get similiar performance. I'm getting ready to replace mine with some MIT S1 or S3 shutguns, but I've been more than pleased with the JWs so far. I've tried a lot of different cables and the price to performance ratio of these things is the best I've ever heard.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited November 2011
    Personally (and Mantis can speak better on this) I purchased some Audioquest FLX 14/4 CL2 wire from a local hi-fi shop. 3 runs of 11 feet cost me under 40 bucks. The wire sounds great, allows me to bi-wire or bi-amp if I want and is an overall good wire.

    The banana's I went with (GLS Audio locking banana's) actually cost more than the wire lol.

    Here are a couple pics of my semi finished wires (still need to put cable pants on them and a outer covering.

    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=204118&d=1299277313
    http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=204119&d=1299277313
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited November 2011
    Kimber Kable.
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  • MrGlobe
    MrGlobe Posts: 401
    edited November 2011
    I've put together a couple hundred feet worth of speaker cable out of Wood's extension cord from Wal-Mart in the past few months. There is a 6moons how-to article about the "White Lightning Moonshine" DIY cables. $11 for 40', $15 for 80'. I've been swapping between 8' runs of the WLM and a set of MIT Exp-2's and I'm happy with either one.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited November 2011
    MrGlobe wrote: »
    I've put together a couple hundred feet worth of speaker cable out of Wood's extension cord from Wal-Mart in the past few months. There is a 6moons how-to article about the "White Lightning Moonshine" DIY cables. $11 for 40', $15 for 80'. I've been swapping between 8' runs of the WLM and a set of MIT Exp-2's and I'm happy with either one.

    Didn't we just wrap up another thread about this....... Damn can we get a break. At this rate the word cable will be banned from the forum
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • ROHfan
    ROHfan Posts: 1,014
    edited November 2011
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    Didn't we just wrap up another thread about this....... Damn can we get a break. At this rate the word cable will be banned from the forum

    Really, MrGlobe. Take your common sense and rationality elsewhere. It's obviously not tolerated here.
    TV: 65" Samsung QLED 4K
    Fronts: Energy RC70 --- Center: Energy RC-LCR
    Front Heights: Polk RC65i --- Rears: Polk RC85i --- Sub: Power Sound Audio XS15
    Pioneer VSX-1120K --- Parasound HCA-1000A --- Oppo BDP-103
    Vincent Audio SA31 preamp --- Teac UD301 DAC
    AIYIMA Tube T7 preamp --- Nobsound 12AX7 tube preamplifier
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2011
    I prefer Signal Cable over extension cords but that's just in my experience. They won't break the bank either although they aren't on the homeless level of cheap. Good luck, either way, it's your stuff.

    The DIY suggestion as a whole is solid and will give you something fun to make yourself.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • decal
    decal Posts: 3,205
    edited November 2011
    DIY with Canare 4S11
    If you can't hear a difference, don't waste your money.
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  • MrGlobe
    MrGlobe Posts: 401
    edited November 2011
    Keiko wrote: »
    snip

    Those Monster brand banana plugs are my absolute favorites so far. I prefer the standard banana plug variety, but the quality and overall performance is great. Its unfortunate they carry the name Monster, and the accompanying price
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  • MrGlobe
    MrGlobe Posts: 401
    edited November 2011
    ROHfan wrote: »
    Really, MrGlobe. Take your common sense and rationality elsewhere. It's obviously not tolerated here.

    Haha fair enough, how dare I share applicable experiences
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited November 2011
    MrGlobe wrote: »
    I've put together a couple hundred feet worth of speaker cable out of Wood's extension cord from Wal-Mart in the past few months. There is a 6moons how-to article about the "White Lightning Moonshine" DIY cables. $11 for 40', $15 for 80'. I've been swapping between 8' runs of the WLM and a set of MIT Exp-2's and I'm happy with either one.
    ROHfan wrote: »
    Really, MrGlobe. Take your common sense and rationality elsewhere. It's obviously not tolerated here.
    MrGlobe wrote: »
    Haha fair enough, how dare I share applicable experiences

    I was not commenting on his experiences but broadly refering to the fact that a post along those lines is normally that is where a thread turns into a "Copper is Copper" and "Wire is Wire" all you guys buying anything other than Monprice are blowing your money and are dumb...... yadda yadda yadda...

    Most cable threads quickly deteriorate into said debate.

    Sound is subjective. If you cant tell the difference between MIT and Monoprice, cool, but lots of us can and prefer to spend a "moderate" amount on cables. I figure if I have a 800 dollar AVR, a 500 dollar amp I can afford to spend 100 on cables to connect them, but thats my choice.

    Audio in and of itself is a Rabbit Hole. How far down you go is your choice. Some are soo deep up in it their skin has turned tranluscent and they are blind, while others simply like to play with the rim.


    Back to the OP, I suggest spending about about 10 - 20% of the total cost of your equipment on cables (speaker wire, interconnects, etc). That will give you a great cable setup you may never need to upgrade from, but thats where I am in the Rabbit Hole. Your experiences and mileage my vary :smile:

    Enjoy the ride.
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • MrGlobe
    MrGlobe Posts: 401
    edited November 2011
    EndersShadow wrote: »
    I was not commenting on his experiences but broadly refering to the fact that a post along those lines is normally that is where a thread turns into a "Copper is Copper" and "Wire is Wire" all you guys buying anything other than Monprice are blowing your money and are dumb...... yadda yadda yadda...

    Most cable threads quickly deteriorate into said debate.

    Sound is subjective. If you cant tell the difference between MIT and Monoprice, cool, but lots of us can and prefer to spend a "moderate" amount on cables. I figure if I have a 800 dollar AVR, a 500 dollar amp I can afford to spend 100 on cables to connect them, but thats my choice.

    Audio in and of itself is a Rabbit Hole. How far down you go is your choice. Some are soo deep up in it their skin has turned tranluscent and they are blind, while others simply like to play with the rim.

    Haha so to prevent the 'great cable debate', you bring it up. I just said I would be happy with either cable, not that I couldn't tell a difference between them. It's far from my place to decide how much other people should or shouldn't spend on cables. Buy what sounds good to you.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited November 2011
    There's been very helpful, and entertaining, responses here.

    I've considered the DIY, and would certainly invest in solder and a gun for said project. Signal looks to be an awesome product as does BlueJeans, I would love to consider the Canare 4S11 but I currently run 14awg want to upgrade to 10awg.

    I currently run 70s L/R and would love to bi-wire and that's where Signal starts to look good with their "Ultra" series.

    Emo just sent out a Holiday email with lots of stuff on sale, all cables are 25% off. I looked up a review made by H.T. mag.com and they gave a pretty informable review on the X-Series speaker cable (as well as others by Emo) and so I now stand on the fence.

    Do I pay $80 for a 9' run for bi-wire or do I pay $52 per 9' run for single? After the review, Emo is looking pretty sweet indeed.

    Thanks for all that have input, greatly appreciated!
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • BeefJerky
    BeefJerky Posts: 1,320
    edited November 2011
    The problem seems to be that some folks are unable to give their opinion without attacking those who have opposing viewpoints. I saw no attacking in MrGlobe's post, so there is no reason to call him out. He simply gave his opinion and moved on.

    As for me, I use 12ga low-voltage lighting cable from Home Depot/Lowes with Monoprice banana plugs. I'm very happy with this setup, and it works very well for me. It's something I would suggest looking into.

    However, if you would prefer to go with some higher end speaker cables, that is fine as well.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited November 2011
    BeefJerky wrote: »
    I saw no attacking in MrGlobe's post, so there is no reason to call him out. He simply gave his opinion and moved on.

    I concur
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited November 2011
    Yeah, took advantage of the emo sale, 25% off all cables.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • MrGlobe
    MrGlobe Posts: 401
    edited November 2011
    Nice! glad you found some that'll work, let us know what you think of them once you get them

    which ones did you get? The X-series or the Ultra?
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2011
    Blue jeans cable. I got the 12 gauge in my system and it sounds fabulous.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited November 2011
    MrGlobe wrote: »
    which ones did you get? The X-series or the Ultra?

    X-Series
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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  • Geoff4rfc
    Geoff4rfc Posts: 2,480
    edited November 2011
    I'm hoping I got a pretty sweet deal here, compared to what I saw priced at Lowes with paks of banana plugs, Emo also had termination kits, four of their X-series banana plugs, four separator sleeves and what looks to be some shrink material (hard to tell), but that for $5. I ordered a few of those to a couple of DIY for my center and surrounds.
    Source: BRP Panasonic UB9000, CDP Emotiva ERC3 - Display: LG OLED EVO 83 C3 - Pre/Pro: Marantz 8802A - Amplification: Emotiva XPA-DR3, XPA-2 x 2, XPA-6, Speakers, Mains/2ch-Focal Kanta No2's, C-LSiM706, S-702F/X, RS-RTiA9's, WS-RTiA9's, FH-RTiA3's, Subs - Epik Empire x 2

    Cables: AudioQuest McKenzie XLR's/CDP/Amp, Carbon 48/BRP, Forest 48/Display, 2 channel speaker cable: Furutech FS Alpha 36 12AWG PCOCC Single Crystal (Douglas Connection)

    EXPERIENCE: next to nothing, but I sure enjoy audio and video MY OPINION OF THIS HOBBY: I may not be a smart man, but I know what quicksand is.
    When I was young, I was Superman but now that old age has gotten the best of me I'm only Batman
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