Douglas Connection Alpha Bi-Wire

tratliff

I just placed an order for Doug's Alpha Bi-Wires. Really looking forward to seeing improvements. Next up will be tweeter upgrade and VR3's crossover but want to give it some time. One step at a time to let my ears settle in on each modification. Anyone use these cables in the past? How was the experience?

EndersShadow

@DSkip - Skip has used some so I will let him weight in here. I'm sure he's talked about them before but I dont have time to browse his quotes for info.

Mystery

Here is a quote from DSKip's reply in my thread:

DSkip wrote: »

Here is my advice. Sell off your excess pieces and use it for the following:
4. Upgrade your interconnects to Douglas Connection Furez IC's. At $100/pair, they are still (as you've probably heard me say) the best bargain in audio right now.

5. Upgrade your speaker cables. My two favorite cables are Douglas' Alpha SC's and PNF Audio Symphony SC's. The latter are very difficult to find and the former can be a bit expensive if you are new to 'boutique' cables, but worth the money IMO.

...

tratliff

Skip, thanks for you feedback and impression of the Alpha cables. LSAF is where I first ran into Doug after reading about his cables here.

tratliff

I did. GF and I talked and listened to your system for quite some time. I was not aware that you were using Doug's Alpha's at the time. Nice to know. I will provide feedback after putting in some listening hours.

helipilotdoug

Thank you, and hope you will enjoy them Todd They shipped out yesterday.

tratliff

Got the cables in the system. Fit and finish are superb. The locking bananas are a great addition.

I could immediately tell something had changed in the system. Low level volume had more detail. Left them running for a day and gave a good listen. Soundstage has opened up and detail more precise. Found myself more involved in the detail of recordings that I had never heard before. Spent 6-8 hours listening.

Great product Doug. Thanks

VCoak

Speaker cable question, Bi-wire and "regular" speaker cable. I'm running two W4S mono's into SDA SRS 1.2tl. My system is two channel only and don't under stand the Bi-wire???

I bought douglas interconnects awhile back for my DAC.

EndersShadow

VCoak wrote: »

Speaker cable question, Bi-wire and "regular" speaker cable. I'm running two W4S mono's into SDA SRS 1.2tl. My system is two channel only and don't under stand the Bi-wire???

I bought douglas interconnects awhile back for my DAC.

Bi-wire is basically one positive and one negative connection at the amp end, then 2 positive and 2 negative connections at the speaker end. Some prefer this method to using jumpers. They both perform the same function however.

[Deleted User]

"They both perform the same function however."
not for cable manufacturers.

EndersShadow

rednedtugent wrote: »

"They both perform the same function however."
not for cable manufacturers.

Depends. For instance Kimber Kable doesnt MAKE jumpers in their VS series, so I'd have to order custom jumpers if they were even offered.

And I should clarify. They perform the same function as a set of jumpers of the same cable your using for your amp/avr connection to the speaker.

For me it was cheaper by far to get a set of bi-wire cables (6 connectors per side + cable) v the cost of custom jumpers would have likely been (2 more connectors per side + cable).

EndersShadow

EndersShadow wrote: »

rednedtugent wrote: »

"They both perform the same function however."
not for cable manufacturers.

Depends. For instance Kimber Kable doesnt MAKE jumpers in their VS or PR series, so I'd have to order custom jumpers if they were even offered. And even the jumpers in their TC line are more expensive than a set of bi-wire cables of the same size.

And I should clarify. They perform the same function as a set of jumpers of the same cable your using for your amp/avr connection to the speaker.

For me it was cheaper by far to get a set of bi-wire cables (6 connectors per side + cable) v the cost of custom jumpers would have likely been (2 more connectors per side + cable).

tratliff

To be fair to the cables being originally discussed in this thread I think you would have to refer to the specifications. http://www.douglasconnection.com/Douglas-Connection-Alpha-Bi-Wire-Speaker-Cables-DCALPHABWSC.htm

Although they do have one positive and one negative at the amp end and two positives and two negatives at the speaker end the cables used for highs/lows are not the exact same specifications. Doug could probably provide some valuable input on the details.