Higher end cable ?

footwedge

For those with MIT, Kimber, Audioquest cables, do you use the exact same cable for your center? Hope this is not a dumb question, just trying to budget for new cables.

tonyb

You should, unless you want the center to sound different than your front left and right.

mrloren

If your front sound stage is matched then match the cables.

footwedge

Figured as much but every time I see cables for sale they're always in pairs. I guess these are the fortunate ones with a separate 2 channel rig.

Normally the cables in the FM are much longer that what I need and wonder if modifying the cables to make three would be possible?

BlueFox

I haven't had any issue buying a single cable online for the center. I just ordered from The Cable Company five Shunyata Venom speaker cables; two 16', two 8', and one 12'.

I suspect buying in a store they would be reluctant to open a package to sell just one.

voltz

FW

here is a good deal on what I'm current gonna use for my SDA-CRS+'s. their cost would $130 with $12 shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Analysis-Plus-Black-Oval-12-Speaker-Cables-6-Ft-Pair-Excellent-Hifi-/111554215980?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f926402c

Not sure if your looking for something like that or not for speaker cables but I got some bulk wire coming to make me a interconnect cable of the same stuff, and I would have a 4 foot section left over which would make a small center cable. So if you bought something like that I could hook you up with a section for the center.

F1nut

MIT sells single cables.

mrloren

Call Doug http://douglasconnection.com/main.sc you can buy the raw cable and make your own.

footwedge

voltz wrote: »

FW

here is a good deal on what I'm current gonna use for my SDA-CRS+'s. their cost would $130 with $12 shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Analysis-Plus-Black-Oval-12-Speaker-Cables-6-Ft-Pair-Excellent-Hifi-/111554215980?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19f926402c

Not sure if your looking for something like that or not for speaker cables but I got some bulk wire coming to make me a interconnect cable of the same stuff, and I would have a 4 foot section left over which would make a small center cable. So if you bought something like that I could hook you up with a section for the center.

Appreciate the offer but not sure at this time which way I will go. I will need a 7' and 2 at 3'.

As asked above, is it possible to modify high end cables to fit my needs since most in the FM, Audiogon, are longer than what I need?

BlueFox

Whether true or not, I do not know, but it has been mentioned a few times here, and other audio sites, to not go below 8' with speaker cables for optimum sound.

F1nut

^This^

Jhayman

Oh crap, I did not do ^ this^ I did < this > instead..shorter as I'm using mono blocks 6 feet

footwedge

F1nut wrote: »

^This^

F1nut,

The wife and I like your shirt.

Not being argumentative, but there's a lot of high end cables made to order at 4 to 5' in length except for the MIT cables. I guess that' why you like so much. LOL.
I will need to do some more reading.

BlueFox

Of course there are. Vendors don't care if you want lower quality. They want to make money.

tonyb

footwedge wrote: »

[
As asked above, is it possible to modify high end cables to fit my needs since most in the FM, Audiogon, are longer than what I need?

What exactly do you mean by " modify" ? Cut it up ?

Depends on the cable and how it's built. For example you couldn't do that with some MIT cables because of those impedance matching boxes.

Most all Higher end cable companies will custom make cables in any length for you. You can also buy some in bulk and terminate the ends yourself. Buying used already made pairs....depends on the cable if you want to slice it up.

footwedge

tonyb wrote: »

footwedge wrote: »

[
As asked above, is it possible to modify high end cables to fit my needs since most in the FM, Audiogon, are longer than what I need?

What exactly do you mean by " modify" ? Cut it up ?

Depends on the cable and how it's built. For example you couldn't do that with some MIT cables because of those impedance matching boxes.

Most all Higher end cable companies will custom make cables in any length for you. You can also buy some in bulk and terminate the ends yourself. Buying used already made pairs....depends on the cable if you want to slice it up.

"Cut it up" and "slice it up" sounds kinda barbaric but that's what I meant, .

What are your thoughts on minimum cable length? Since I need 2-3's, how would I handle the excess?

F1nut

Not being argumentative, but there's a lot of high end cables made to order at 4 to 5' in length

Such as?

Since I need 2-3's, how would I handle the excess?

Big loops or S's. Do not coil.

footwedge

F1nut wrote: »

Not being argumentative, but there's a lot of high end cables made to order at 4 to 5' in length

Such as?

Acoustic zen, analysis plus, audioquest, audio magic kimber, shunyata to name a few

F1nut

Interesting, can't say I was aware of that, but I've always needed at least 8 foot cables.

treitz3

This *may* just boil down to different views of what a "high-end" cable is.

High end for some may be a $200.00 speaker cable, for instance. High end for the next guy may be a $2,000.00 cable. High end for the next guy may be $20,000.00. At each "high end" level (depending on what high end means to that person), less than 8 feet in length may or may not be available. I always have had the thought that the higher in price you go, the less likely a speaker cable would be available in less than an 8' length. Your experience may yield a different viewpoint, although I suspect you may have already started to experience this based upon your comment about the cables on the 'Gon being too long.

It would still make sense to have a minimum of 8' for future expansions (adding a sub), moving into a new room, getting a new rack, allowing some play room for proper speaker setup, etc..

Regardless, one would want all SC's to be the same length. You can also chop some longer length cables and re-terminate....but not all. Any cable that has a network box attached you can not chop.

Tom

tonyb

treitz3 wrote: »

It would still make sense to have a minimum of 8' for future expansions (adding a sub), moving into a new room, getting a new rack, allowing some play room for proper speaker setup, etc..
Tom

This ^^^

tonyb

http://www.thecableco.com/Product/4TC-Bulk

Problem solved and under budget.

footwedge

tonyb wrote: »

http://www.thecableco.com/Product/4TC-Bulk

Problem solved and under budget.

Looks promising and will keep in mind.

Visited the Reality Cable site and liked what I read. I assume you are satisfied with them?

tonyb

You'd better call first, don't know if he's still in business.

Yes, I am Happy with them and if your interested I have an 8 ft bi-wire set that I will be selling soon as I find some Analysis plus cables I'm looking for.

footwedge

DSkip wrote: »

The exception is if you have monoblocks. That is often where you find shorter pairs, but the resale value is not as great. I only need a 4' pair. The benefit there is that longer ic's generally cost less than longer scs.

So are your speaker cables 4'?

tonyb

You should be rolling some higher end cables Skip for that exact reason. 4-6 FT Pairs are a lot cheaper from other monoblock users.