Speaker cable - Signal v. ...

JPC

I have the Onkyo 501, RTI 70's, CSI 50 center, FXI 30 surrounds and am looking to upgrade my connections. I have have auditioned the Monster MCX1s biwire and MCX2s cables. I am also trying the Signal internal biwire cables. My use is about 60 - 70% movies.

The Signals appear to beat the Monster cables for music. But the monster seems loader and more distinct, especially the center channel for movies, although the signal cables only have a few hours on them.

I am also trying the signal digital coax cable and am going to audition a few others against it.

Does anyone have any opinions/ suggestions? Would upgrading to a higher line of Signal speaker cable or other not ridiculously priced cable be better? Is signal cable generally better for music and other's better for movies? Will there be a significant improvement in the signal cables with break in? Will I not have any real improvement unless I upgrade the receiver to one with more power (only 65 watts per channel with the 501)?

Thanks.

dorokusai

JPC - Nice to see you in the forum. I upgraded my entire 5.1 into Signal Cable brand. Monster Cable was my previous reference point for ALL things wire bound. The SC Digital, Component, Composite and Power Cables are also in that setup.

I watch more movies than 2CH music, and I use different interconnects for the 2CH and 5.1 music. That is just a choice, and allows me to hear different manufacturers. My HT has more slam with the SC speaker cable than with the MC brand.

I chose the Double Run, series, as I don't care for internal pairs of wire. It is simply personal. If you do a search, you will find my small review on the SC vs MC speaker cable.

I think it would be worth your while to audition the SC Shotgun Bi-Wires. Yes, IMO, they do burn in, but that is purely subjective to my own views. I have not regretted any purchase from SC, and have zero plans on change them out. It is really a no-brainer, as all the cables have a 100% money back guarantee.

MC is real nice in the M and Z series. I found SC through the forum, Polkatese, and he has a very valued opinion.

100% money back

Custom terminated lengths

High quality

5% off for Polk members

What more do you need to at least give them a whirl?

Check them out, and post a review, good/bad its all good information. I think you will like them very much. Let us know what you decide to do.

JPC

Thanks for your reply. Do you recommend the double run bi-wire or single wire SC? Also, what speaker wire are you using for your surrounds?

dorokusai

Yes, I suggest the SC "Shotgun" Bi-wire for those speakers capable of that feature. I would not suggest anything BUT double run for ALL speaker applications. I prefer a single run, L&R for any speaker cable, regardless of what brand. That's just me, and I certainly do not have the end all answer to the cable theory. All I know is that it was better than Monster Cable, in my application.

I use SC-DR, in the whole system, surrounds included.

paulsturbs

Personally I think the best speaker wire on the market is Canare's QuadStar line. Check out the specks at canare.com, with those and some good connectors you can't go wrong.

dorokusai

Obviously use whatever you want to use, you mentioned MC and Signal, so I posted as such. If you want to try Canare, go ahead, its from the common DIY design theory that Signal uses, instead of Belden its Canare brand....no huge differences between the two.

DarrenS

Originally posted by paulsturbs
Personally I think the best speaker wire on the market is Canare's QuadStar line. Check out the specks at canare.com, with those and some good connectors you can't go wrong.

I picked up 50 ft of the Canare's QuadStar line couple weeks ago its still sitting on floor had no time to hook it up, it looks like some good Quality wire hope i hear a difference from my cheap homedepot stuff.