Just got my first taste of high(er) end speaker cables...

HTguru1982

So recently, Pepster hooked me up with some Nordost Flatline speaker cables to try out. I have been using Monster Ultra 600 THX cables for the last 4 years and was always pretty happy with them, especially for how little I paid for them. The Nordosts are considerably more expensive but still within the realm of affordability, for most. $200-$300, which unfortunately is more than my significant other will let me spend on cables. Gonna be sad when I send them back

So how do they sound? Well, they smoke the Monsters - just a better cable period. I've gone back and forth between the two, and there is simply more detail to be had with the Nordost. When I hooked the Monsters back up, it seemed like I put a blanket over the speakers. I don't know how I lived with these cables for so long lol.

Unfortunately for me, the Nordost cables are out of my price range. After I send these back to Pep, I'll be looking for something better albeit more affordable. Can anyone recommend something in the sub $100 range?

tonyb

Speaker cables are tough for under 100. Heck, most of us spend that on IC'S if not double and triple that. I would suggest getting some bulk Canare wire if your budget is that tight....either use bare wire ends or terminate yourself.

deronb1

Pepster? How is he doing? I think Audioquest or Bluejeans may have have something for you

HTguru1982

Thanks. I'm looking at bluejeanscable.com right now. Is there any particular reason to opt for the Canare over the Belden? My system is going to need a complete overhaul, cable-wise. It's all Monster. I know, I know...

HTguru1982

deronb1 wrote: »

Pepster? How is he doing? I think Audioquest or Bluejeans may have have something for you

Seems like he's doing fine. I found ad of his on Craigslist for some NHT speakers and after texting with him a bit, we realized we were both on the forum. I wasn't able to buy his speakers unfortunately but he was kind enough to send these Nordost cables to try out, as well a very nice Better Cables subwoofer Y splitter(to keep!).

I'm hoping to be able to purchase some speaker cables within the next week or so. Probably need 25 feet for my front 3. It will be a few months before I can piece together the rest. Sticking to a budget sucks. Blue Jeans is looking very promising.

CoolJazz

HTguru1982 wrote: »

Thanks. I'm looking at bluejeanscable.com right now. Is there any particular reason to opt for the Canare over the Belden? My system is going to need a complete overhaul, cable-wise. It's all Monster. I know, I know...

Belden is a professional product. There is more Belden around than anything else for a reason. The reason is a professional company with a responsive design department that makes product to fill need. Tough, durable and available.

On the other hand, Belden literally makes fun of "audiophiles" (presented in a distastful way) for believing you hear differences (laughing inserted here by their spokesperson) in cable. The exact opposite of what you've just experienced for yourself. As a result, I find Belden to be just as distasteful as I do the monster lawsuit company. Not because the product is necessarily bad in most cases, just that their professional approach does not result in a product that goes above and beyond. Which I want my audio to do. I find that buying a product made from a company that makes fun of me and what I've found to be the real results to be counter to my choices and where I want my money to be.

Canare is a company that cares and builds a nice product. If you buy measurements, then the right choices from either of those companies for the situation, will result in reasonable results in either case. If you want to buy music, then look for companies that make music to your ears. It's extremely rewarding when you find it!

CJ

11tsteve

if I can ask here, for normal 2 channel cable, is the 4S8 the one to get? and if so, I assume the two like-colored conductors go in each terminal? I desperately need new speaker cable, but like the OP am on a tight budget.

EndersShadow

Tell Pep we all say hello. I hope he is doing well and wish him nothing but the best.

Great forum member and I was very sad to see him go, but totally understand the reasons for it.

I'd drink with him anyday!

HTguru1982

I will let Pep know. I don't fully know why he left but I'm sure he had his reasons. Definitely a great guy to talk to. So, right now, the Canare 4S11 is the cable to look at, yes? It seems to be well within my budget. Would it be beneficial to run my surrounds with this or am I okay to continue using this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rca-DT100SW-100-FT-Digital-Speaker-Wire-16-AWG-Oxygen-Free-Copper-/161210862790?pt=US_Audio_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2588ea8cc6

EndersShadow

I'd use canare for your surrounds as well. If I could I would.

headrott

Thanks for telling Pepster hello from us. I think he is a nice guy and I hope he is doing well. Hope to see him back on the forum sometime.

BlueFox

headrott wrote: »

Thanks for telling Pepster hello from us. I think he is a nice guy and I hope he is doing well. Hope to see him back on the forum sometime.

Same here. I miss his beer induced posts.

F1nut

So, just why did he leave? Seemed pretty childish canceling his membership and all.

Apexpro

I had a good friend - Don Boone, rest his soul, who was an EE and sound engineer and owned a company that wired theaters; from high school auditoriums to our $65million preforming arts center. Don had $tens of thousands invested in equipment to sonically map rooms and test sound in every form known to man.

One weekend we decided to use his array of equipment to test speaker wire. Don already knew the answer, but he humored me. Back in the mid/late 1980s I'd spent literally 80+ hours hand winding speaker wire when it was in fashion to braid wires to eliminate all sorts of demonic electrical crosstalk that 'ruined the sound of quality speakers'. Neither our ears or his equipment - that could measure way beyond what a human can hear - could detect the slightest bit of difference in my creations, Monster cable, twisted copper speaker wire from Radio Shack, and solid copper wire (as long as the gauge was sufficient to carry the current over the distance). We used his McIntosh amp and my Polk SDA 2s for the test.

Since that day I've used 12/2 Romex...12ga. annealed solid copper wire. It's a bit difficult to work with, it needs to be hidden since it's bright yellow, but it carries a great signal and even in today's metals market you can buy it for about $1 a foot. Cheaper in larger quantities. And every time I see that wire, or re-tell this I think of Don and the valuable lesson he took the time to teach me.

nspindel

http://signalcable.com/ultraspeaker.html

nooshinjohn

Apexpro wrote: »

I had a good friend - Don Boone, rest his soul, who was an EE and sound engineer and owned a company that wired theaters; from high school auditoriums to our $65million preforming arts center. Don had $tens of thousands invested in equipment to sonically map rooms and test sound in every form known to man.

One weekend we decided to use his array of equipment to test speaker wire. Don already knew the answer, but he humored me. Back in the mid/late 1980s I'd spent literally 80+ hours hand winding speaker wire when it was in fashion to braid wires to eliminate all sorts of demonic electrical crosstalk that 'ruined the sound of quality speakers'. Neither our ears or his equipment - that could measure way beyond what a human can hear - could detect the slightest bit of difference in my creations, Monster cable, twisted copper speaker wire from Radio Shack, and solid copper wire (as long as the gauge was sufficient to carry the current over the distance). We used his McIntosh amp and my Polk SDA 2s for the test.

Since that day I've used 12/2 Romex...12ga. annealed solid copper wire. It's a bit difficult to work with, it needs to be hidden since it's bright yellow, but it carries a great signal and even in today's metals market you can buy it for about $1 a foot. Cheaper in larger quantities. And every time I see that wire, or re-tell this I think of Don and the valuable lesson he took the time to teach me.

POPCORN HERE!!!! Get your POPCORN!!!!


I used to thing 16ga lamp cord was just as good as everything else too. I was wrong, and so are you.

Erik Tracy

I'm an EE and skeptical of anything....and until then doubted the hype of cabling in audio systems - until I tried a pair of Ben's ICs for my phono pre and had the WTF NFW moment.

Since then I have experimented with other cabling and had similar repeatable results.

Cabling does make a difference. Does my testimony 'cancel out' Apexpro's non-sense?

voltz

I had Doug from Douglass Connections make me some cables for my M10's, but for my 4's I made my own using his Furez 12 awg cable and added some sleeve's I got from ebay & a little shrink wrap and banana plugs!

Moose68Bash

Canare 4S11 presents great detail, but can be pretty bright. They may sound a bit harsh to some -- e.g., my wife.

You might also try Supra Rondo 4x2.5.

Apexpro

Moose68Bash wrote: »

Canare 4S11
You might also try Supra Rondo 4x2.5.

Where's the best place to buy Supra Rondo? I've seen it on eBay, but I'm hoping there is a better source in the USA. International freight can get expensive.

Moose68Bash

Apexpro wrote: »

Moose68Bash wrote: »

Canare 4S11
You might also try Supra Rondo 4x2.5.

Where's the best place to buy Supra Rondo? I've seen it on eBay, but I'm hoping there is a better source in the USA. International freight can get expensive.

Contact Trey at Vr3 Mods, and he will be able to help you. You might try PMing him.

I just checked eBay: $16.50/meter with free postage.That's less than $5.50 per foot.

kevhed72

I don't understand how people can claim to hear no difference in speaker cables. I just tried AQ CV 4s for about a month and then a pair of AQ Slates showed up yesterday. In short the CV 4s are gone and the Slates are staying. I have also found bi wire is the way to go vs. any type of jumper. There are a ton of used AQs out there worth trying....but I guess you have to actually listen to your gear to hear a difference. The romex for speaker wire idea is a bad one and usually used on real audio forums to start an argument vs. actual discussion.

westmassguy

Have to say the Canare 4S11 is very well made. Reminds me of heavy duty SJ Power Cabling. Terminations can be tricky, but with a little creativity, and some color coded heat shrink tubing, it comes out very nice and professional looking. I did my 2As, and Center Channel. I may redo my surrounds and backs with the smaller gauge. It's also excellent for custom SDA Interconnects.