AudioQuest or Bluejeans cable

mrloren

Hello,

I am considering changing my speaker cable for my front 3 speakers from the Monoprice 12AWG to either AudioQuest X-2 14AWG or Bluejeans cable. If I go BlueJeans which one should I get? Canare or Belden? And yes I have been read through past threads.

I am slowly going to be upgrading my HT as money permit. first off is to get ride of the generic cables. Then add a Parasound A23. Te list goes on but the cables will be done by Christmas.

Cheers

Loren

voltz

Are you looking to build your own or have them built? as heres another option that Audio Advisor does called no thrills , they take bulk cable & terminate them any way you like.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQT2NF
they even make single cables (for the center channel)

As pitdogg said Don't forgot about Douglass Connections, all my 2 channels cables from IC's to speakers are made by Doug I even bought bulk cable from his DIY section and made some myself for a friends RTA12c's. they were 10awg Furez 2 conductors.

[Deleted User]

"no thrills"
That is what she told me.

pitdogg2

I've used both but I would look at Canare and add your own ends maybe even reach out to Douglas connection he also carries Canare but only in gray it also comes in black jacket. Doug also makes his own and all have been extremely happy with the results.

tell him you're a club Polk member he'll take care of you.

mrloren

I am leaning for the Canare from Bluejeans cable, I have loads of locking banana plugs and silver solder.

The AudioQuest cost the most followed by the Canare and the Belden is the cheapest.

My goal is to do away with all my generic cables before I upgrade.

pumpkinman

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Canare-4S11-Star-Quad-11-AWG-Wire-Speaker-Cable-1-Pair-6-Ft-/150887204628?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2321940714

mrloren

Cool, I can make those cables. I will order the Canare, I already have the plugs (GLS AUDIO) and the heat shrink.

Moose68Bash

You may find that the Canare cable is a bit too bright. Perhaps, you should also have a look at Supra Rondo. I replaced Canare with Supra Rondo cables in my daughter's system, and she is much happier with the sound -- richer, less sterile and technical to her ears, and I agree.

And do listen to those who recommend Doug.

leftwinger57

I was famous for using my world renown 14 gu clear. That changed to the much better BJC 10gu Belden to my Polks w/my own double set screw banana plugs. I also went from Signal Cable I/Cs to also BJC Belden 1 mt. analog I/Cs. Coincidentally I found at a garage sale some very old Audioquest 12 gu and it did nothing for me ,maybe because of the age I don't know. Right now I'm in conversation w/ Douglas Cable Connection to try O2 free customs but that will wait for cash to come. As you have heard Doug is a great guy and will build to suit your needs.

mrloren

now this just got more interesting,

A friend uses this speaker wire http://www.knukonceptz.com/home-theater/speaker-wire/kord-speaker-wire/ I wish he had Polk speakers

tonyb

Interesting ? Why is that ? Nothing interesting about standard wire like you get at Home Depot wrapped in a different jacket.

ZLTFUL

There is nothing knu about KnuKoceptz. It is your standard lamp cord wrapped in a pretty blue jacket.

mrloren

Why is this more interesting?

Well I am going to upgrade my system by the end of 2015 starting this year with getting rid of my generic Monoprice wires and cables. I have read good things about AudioQuest and BlueJeans cable and am going to give them a try over my generic speaker wire. I wish I had the $300 to dump in higher end speaker wire but I do not. So I am looking at moving up from my Monoprice 12AWG.

I have already replaced my HDMI cables with AudioQuest Evergreen which did make a small improvement in video quality. Got them at a good price to boot.

My up grades for the year are going to be:
1 Speaker wire
2 Add a Parasound A23
3 New TV 65" 4K
4 LSi speakers
5 Try to find a way to change the in ceiling speaker wire. The builder used some generic 16AWG and stapled it to the studs
6 Oppo BD player

tonyb

While your list of upgrades is interesting, your choice of wires isn't. Audioquest, at least their lower line is very uninspiring....to put it nicely.

You have to think of cables as a piece of gear and not an after thought. You can find many, many used sets of speaker cables for a relative cheap price than what Audioquest or Belden has to offer.

mrloren

tonyb wrote: »

While your list of upgrades is interesting, your choice of wires isn't. Audioquest, at least their lower line is very uninspiring....to put it nicely.

You have to think of cables as a piece of gear and not an after thought. You can find many, many used sets of speaker cables for a relative cheap price than what Audioquest or Belden has to offer.

I have been looking for good used for awhile but can't find anything in my budget. After I switched out the HDMI cables and noticed a small difference on the video on my 7 yeard old LCD I want to rid my system of all generic cables. The guy that sold me the Evergreen cables also sold me a sub cable that made a big difference.

I will keep looking for another week or so and if I don't find anything good i will get the Belden.

pitdogg2

try this I have done business and they are solid

http://store.haveinc.com/p-49380-canare-4s11-starquad-speaker-cable-14-awg-cut.aspx

cheapest

voltz

Doug sells those in his DIY section for raw cable at a cheaper price

http://douglasconnection.com/Canare-4S11-14AWG-4-Conductor-Speaker-Cable-C4S11.htm

F1nut

Go MIT or go home.

txcoastal1

F1nut wrote: »

Go MIT or go home.

Lend me your credit card...LOL

mrloren

txcoastal1 wrote: »

F1nut wrote: »

Go MIT or go home.

Lend me your credit card...LOL

No kidding, If cash was not a problem I would just go to one of the high end shops left in San Diego and get the best they had.

I am not rich, and do have a kid in a UC school so my hobby has to stay a little on the lower end.

I am either going to try the Belden or just wait and save more money and keep looking for good used on ebay and craigslist. I will wait till I buy the amp and do my speaker wire then if I don't get the Belden. The Belden is only going to cost me $30 to give it a try.

voltz

Question, are you after bi-wire cable? or just regular cable? are you using jumpers on your speakers?

mrloren

Regular cable not bi-wire and yes I still have the jumpers on my RTi8's, I did flatten out my jumpers so they fit snug.

tonyb

mrloren wrote: »

[LOLThe Belden is only going to cost me $30 to give it a try.

....and your expecting something of an upgrade in sound for 30 bucks ? Seriously man, good cables can be had in the 150-300 buck range. Not a lot of scratch even with kids in school. Heck, that's one dinner out with the wife for me.

Save the 30 bucks and wait until you can afford something worthy to be called an upgrade.

voltz

ouch!! 150-300 that had better be the best dry cure steak I ever ate with a great bottle of wine!

spent $200 in Vegas once but it was mostly the wine that cost so much....hmm saying money for cables sort of makes sense in the long term return you get.

mrloren

OK so I will go back to saving the coin mode till I have enough for the Parasound A23. I will save extra $150 for the speaker cables. Which ones should I get in the price range? I will now have till March, that is my set goal for the amp.

When I went from the XP wire to the Monoprice 12AWG my system said hello. I went from a THX certified sub cable to a low end AudioQuest and the sub sounds so much better. With getting rid of the generic HDMI and sub cable my HT is a lot better. I got them at a garage sale for cheap, they already sold the amp and speaker cable.

One thing I forgot is I will also need to replace my 5.1 SACD RCA cables too. Crud more money but that is last. Wonder what Moment of Glory on SACD is going for now?

$150 for a nice dinner in San Diego area is about right depending on the wine.

voltz

seen some = Analysis Plus - Clear Oval - Speaker Cable 6ft pair $99 - 8ft $120
- I'm sure most can recommend better though.
- also buying used to step up to a better cables then cost of new ones is smart.

mrloren

oh my mind is open but my wallet is not as much as I would wish for.

Every Christmas I always get nice Amazon gift cards, they carry anything good for speaker wire?

F1nut

mrloren wrote: »

No kidding, If cash was not a problem I would just go to one of the high end shops left in San Diego and get the best they had.

I am not rich, and do have a kid in a UC school so my hobby has to stay a little on the lower end.

I am either going to try the Belden or just wait and save more money and keep looking for good used on ebay and craigslist. I will wait till I buy the amp and do my speaker wire then if I don't get the Belden. The Belden is only going to cost me $30 to give it a try.

Here's a pair that won't break the bank and you can get rid of those crappy jumper plates, http://app.audiogon.com/listings/speaker-mit-avt-1-10ft-speaker-cables-bi-wire-2014-11-17-cables-92551-moreno-valley-ca

tonyb

Yet another good entry cable....cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330890492996

Or buy bulk wire and use bare ends ....
http://www.thecableco.com/Product/4VS-Bulk

5 bucks a foot is easy on the wallet and is way better than belden or monoprice.

tonyb

You can also go to this site, plug in what your looking for and go.

http://www.hifishark.com/

Take note of the dates though on the right side, some are old and likely sold off already. If it's dated in the last 2 months, chances are they are still good.

voltz

tonyb wrote: »

Yet another good entry cable....cheap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/330890492996

This is the same price as what Audio Advisor sells it for new as I've look at this many times

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ANBMOV12