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Best speaker wire

gdphotogdphoto Posts: 149
in Speakers
I have a set of SDA 1c's which I bought new in 1987. Did a rebuild on them in 2010. They are driven by my Hafler DH220 power amp which puts out 115 watts per channel. Everything sounds very nice. My question is, they have been hooked up with Monster Cables all of these years, should these cables be up graded? Any great DIY ideas out there that you would recomend? Is there any reason why I should, or should not change them? Thanks! Gary
Hafler DH220 Power amp Recapped
Hafler DH110 Preamp Recapped
Hafler Digital FM Tuner
Virtue Audio M1 Piano CD Player
Technics SL-1210-MK5 with a Rega Exact Cartridge
Polk SDA1c's(Rebuilt XO's by Ben) RDO194 Tweeters
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Comments

  • rpf65rpf65 Posts: 2,056
    Yes, you should change them. Lots of better choices out there.
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  • halohalo Posts: 5,201
    gdphoto wrote: »
    I have a set of SDA 1c's which I bought new in 1987. Did a rebuild on them in 2010. They are driven by my Hafler DH220 power amp which puts out 115 watts per channel. Everything sounds very nice. My question is, they have been hooked up with Monster Cables all of these years, should these cables be up graded? Any great DIY ideas out there that you would recomend? Is there any reason why I should, or should not change them? Thanks! Gary

    If you know anyone from whom you can borrow different brands of speaker cables that would be ideal. In that situation, you can try before you buy, so to speak. Cables lend a degree of synergy to a system as a whole and cables that sound good to you are not always going to be what sounds good to someone else. Let your ears be the judge. Also, what is your budget and how many feet do you need? Do you prefer banana connectors or spades?

    Douglas Connections offers discounts to Polk Forum members, as does Signal Cable. Just be sure to mention that you are a member of the forum when you place your order.

    Audioquest cables are available from Audio Advisor at deep discounts:

    Type 4, Type 8, Rocket 33, Rocket 88.

    I don't own SDA speakers but those on the forum that do have reported excellent results with MIT speaker cables. Best prices are from Joe Abrams on Audiogon as he is an authorized retailer.

    You can always look to Audiogon, your local Craigslist, eBay, HiFi Shark, or USAudioMart for good deals on used cables as well.

    Hope that helps and good luck :)
    Audio: KEF Q150 * NAD C 316BEE * Bluesound Node 2i * CAL Sigma II * APC H10 * StudioTech HF-5 G/S
    Vinyl: Fluance RT82 * Nagaoka MP-110 * Bottlehead Reduction + Integration Upgrade * KAB RF1
    Video: Panasonic TH-50PZ850U * Panasonic DMP-UB200P-K * ROKU Premiere * Z-line Designs Elektra
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  • DSkipDSkip Posts: 16,115
    I had the Monster z series before. I actually had a tinge of guilt when I sold them. Surely they were better than clear coat. Surely?

    Those were the only items I’ve sold that I felt that way with.
    audiothesis.com/
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  • F1nutF1nut Posts: 42,692
    gdphoto wrote: »
    I have a set of SDA 1c's which I bought new in 1987. Did a rebuild on them in 2010. They are driven by my Hafler DH220 power amp which puts out 115 watts per channel. Everything sounds very nice. My question is, they have been hooked up with Monster Cables all of these years, should these cables be up graded? Any great DIY ideas out there that you would recomend? Is there any reason why I should, or should not change them? Thanks! Gary

    MIT
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • heiney9heiney9 Posts: 24,112
    Monster is terrible cable.

    On a budget check out Douglas Connections as Halo pointed out.

    To wake up the system and have it sound correct. MIT cables from Joe Abrams.

    Cables matter.....everything matters.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass

    Pass Aleph 30 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Plus DAC | MIT Shotgun S3 | MIT Z P/C's | updated SDA 1C| SQ Box Touch/Welbourne Labs P/S- Tubes add soul!
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  • joecoulsonjoecoulson Posts: 3,456
    ASM movement
    Auralic Vega G1/Rega TT/Denon SACD - Parasound P6 - PS Audio M700x2 - Elac Adante AF-61
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  • VR3VR3 Posts: 23,425
    One of my favorites that I replaced MIT shotguns with was the DH Labs Q10. Fantastic wire

    Currently sporting the supra Quadrax, which I am fond of. I would do Q10, but just don't want to plunk down 30 bucks a foot
    - Not Tom

    Vr3Mods.com ///// Version3Audio.com

    "No, that's silly talk. Dude, you can't possibly be this audio dumb so quit the act." - Doro
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  • joecoulsonjoecoulson Posts: 3,456
    I used to run DH T14 with my Totems and it’s was very detailed.
    Auralic Vega G1/Rega TT/Denon SACD - Parasound P6 - PS Audio M700x2 - Elac Adante AF-61
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  • jdjohnjdjohn Posts: 951
    VR3 wrote: »
    One of my favorites that I replaced MIT shotguns with was the DH Labs Q10. Fantastic wire

    Currently sporting the supra Quadrax, which I am fond of. I would do Q10, but just don't want to plunk down 30 bucks a foot
    Only $22.50 here! https://www.ebay.com/itm/DH-Labs-Silver-Sonic-Q-10-Signature-Speaker-Cable-sold-by-the-Foot-DIY/360331643024
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator

    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    or here.
    https://www.moon-audio.com/dh-labs-q-10-bulk-speaker-cable.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm_6UiJqg3wIVjLbACh3FZg5lEAQYBCABEgLnSfD_BwE&ad=303026047368


    Actually thanks Trey looking into this stuff I seen their site and the hook up wire I'll think about for my 2.3TL's when I re-wire them. OCC and silver coated..woohoo
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  • VR3VR3 Posts: 23,425
    edited December 2018
    T14 is nice but has absolutely nothing on the Q10.

    Q10 is some of the best wire on the market, imo

    Side note, the air matrix interconnects are also incredible
    - Not Tom

    Vr3Mods.com ///// Version3Audio.com

    "No, that's silly talk. Dude, you can't possibly be this audio dumb so quit the act." - Doro
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  • jdjohnjdjohn Posts: 951
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Actually thanks Trey looking into this stuff I seen their site and the hook up wire I'll think about for my 2.3TL's when I re-wire them. OCC and silver coated..woohoo
    If you're talking about re-wiring the internals, you might check-out this eBay seller's stuff: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&_udlo=&_udhi=&_ftrt=901&_ftrv=1&_sabdlo=&_sabdhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=37221-2575&_sargn=-1&saslc=1&_salic=1&_fss=1&_fsradio=&LH_SpecificSeller=1&_saslop=1&_sasl=navships&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_fosrp=1 He's got all manner of silver-coated wire...looks to be military and NASA surplus.
    "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to." - Cicero, in Gladiator

    Regarding collectibles: "It's not who gets it. It's who gets stuck with it." - Jimmy Fallon
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  • DSkipDSkip Posts: 16,115
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    or here.
    https://www.moon-audio.com/dh-labs-q-10-bulk-speaker-cable.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm_6UiJqg3wIVjLbACh3FZg5lEAQYBCABEgLnSfD_BwE&ad=303026047368


    Actually thanks Trey looking into this stuff I seen their site and the hook up wire I'll think about for my 2.3TL's when I re-wire them. OCC and silver coated..woohoo

    I’d strongly suggest the Wireworld Helicon OCC if you are talking about internal wiring.
    audiothesis.com/
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  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 12,069
    'Best' is, most likely, out of the poster's price range. However, a really good inexpensive cable is the Shunyata Venom speaker cables. I have them in my Home Theater/spare stereo, and they sound great.

    https://shunyata.com/products/speaker-cables/venom-sp/

    Bud - Silicon Valley

    Lumin X1
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    edited December 2018
    jdjohn wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    Actually thanks Trey looking into this stuff I seen their site and the hook up wire I'll think about for my 2.3TL's when I re-wire them. OCC and silver coated..woohoo
    If you're talking about re-wiring the internals, you might check-out this eBay seller's stuff: https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=&_in_kw=1&_ex_kw=&_sacat=0&_udlo=&_udhi=&_ftrt=901&_ftrv=1&_sabdlo=&_sabdhi=&_samilow=&_samihi=&_sadis=15&_stpos=37221-2575&_sargn=-1&saslc=1&_salic=1&_fss=1&_fsradio=&LH_SpecificSeller=1&_saslop=1&_sasl=navships&_sop=12&_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_fosrp=1 He's got all manner of silver-coated wire...looks to be military and NASA surplus.


    I've used this guy a bunch for other projects, good wire but not always the gauge he states in his ad's. My last purchase was listed as 16ga. yet it was only 16ga with the PTFE insulation. Without the insulation it was much closer to 20ga. I also found out where he actually purchases wire from.


    DSkip wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    or here.
    https://www.moon-audio.com/dh-labs-q-10-bulk-speaker-cable.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIm_6UiJqg3wIVjLbACh3FZg5lEAQYBCABEgLnSfD_BwE&ad=303026047368





    Actually thanks Trey looking into this stuff I seen their site and the hook up wire I'll think about for my 2.3TL's when I re-wire them. OCC and silver coated..woohoo

    I’d strongly suggest the Wireworld Helicon OCC if you are talking about internal wiring.

    Yes I am talking internal. we've talked yet unless the price has decreased the above DQ I'm looking at is OCC and silver coated 14ga. also no need to buy special strippers that I may never use again. No disrespect intended Skip I have not made a final decision but this does look pretty good. My final wire installation will be hard wired and from what I have heard from others WW insulation is very heat sensitive so crimping and soldering quick connects may affect insulation more than I'd like.

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  • K_MK_M Posts: 1,396
    An interesting question and post.
    We have used Monster Cable on a few speakers over the years (the thick clear one from maybe the early 90's...) but never found their sound to be audibly compromised in any way that was immediately heard.

    We have also used, generic cable, Belden and Blue Jeans, monoprice, and a few other names that escape me.
    But at the same time, never used thin cable nor anything more than 10 foot long.

    What traits did the monster cable display, good or bad?
    Lsi15, Lsi9, LsiC,Rta11t,M5jr+,M4,SDA 3.1TL, SDA SRS 2.3TL, Rti6....Still listing stuff, a work in progress.
    B+W-Sold
    Epos-Now gone
    Infinity-Sold
    Advent-Now gone
    Yamaha A-S801
    Yamaha RX-V377
    Yamaha RX-A860
    Yamaha RX-A3060
    Harman Kardon Hk-350i
    Harman Kardon Hk-........
    Harman Kardon PM-665
    Harman Kardon HK-775
    Pioneer.......Stereo Receiver

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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    In my experience Kelly most of the clear jacket stuff monster or not several years on you get green sticky corrosion from the jacket onto/into the wire strands. Somehow the jacket and wire have an adverse reaction to each other. Myself I've had this not only happen at the ends but in the middle of a run. I've cut them open and the wire was incredible sticky green from corrosion completely through the copper.
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  • vcwatkinsvcwatkins Posts: 1,909
    Mine grew garish green grunge over the whole length from '94 to maybe '05. I had no idea that the sound had degraded until I switched out to ordinary but new 16g wire. Huge difference. Haven't gone anywhere close to Monster since.
    Den: Rega RP6 * AT33PTGII * Budgie SUT * Jolida jd9 * Roon (Sonic Transporter) * PS Audio DirectStream Jr. * Joule-Electra LA-100 mkIII * Sunfire Signature II * PSAudio Power Plant 3 * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 1.2
    Office: Roon * Sonore UltraRendu (LPS-1, WW Plat7, Iso Regen, Lush) * ProJect Pre Box S2 * Pass ACA * PSA Dectet * DH Labs Q10 * Brines Folded ML-TQWT RS 40-1354
    Beach: Music Hall MMF5.1se * Speed Box II * DL103r * Lounge Copla/LCRIII * W4S Sonos * Schiit Yggdrasil * Belles 20a Pre * First Watt F5 Clone * PSA Dectet * MIT S3 * Polk SRS 2.3tl
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  • gmcmangmcman Posts: 1,488
    My first experience with upgraded cables started with replacing the white Monster XP with AQ Crystal somewhere around 1999-2000. Made a believer out of me right away.
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  • K_MK_M Posts: 1,396
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    In my experience Kelly most of the clear jacket stuff monster or not several years on you get green sticky corrosion from the jacket onto/into the wire strands. Somehow the jacket and wire have an adverse reaction to each other. Myself I've had this not only happen at the ends but in the middle of a run. I've cut them open and the wire was incredible sticky green from corrosion completely through the copper.

    Okay interesting. After looking at ours, I see no evidence of any discoloration at all. I have seen what you describe though on some other wire ( no idea which at the moment) but know what you speak of.

    I just checked ours out....but now thinking it may be a very late 80's Monster cable, not sure if that matters or we just had good luck somehow?
    Lsi15, Lsi9, LsiC,Rta11t,M5jr+,M4,SDA 3.1TL, SDA SRS 2.3TL, Rti6....Still listing stuff, a work in progress.
    B+W-Sold
    Epos-Now gone
    Infinity-Sold
    Advent-Now gone
    Yamaha A-S801
    Yamaha RX-V377
    Yamaha RX-A860
    Yamaha RX-A3060
    Harman Kardon Hk-350i
    Harman Kardon Hk-........
    Harman Kardon PM-665
    Harman Kardon HK-775
    Pioneer.......Stereo Receiver

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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    edited December 2018
    making your own is always fun. Douglas connection is a good step up reach out and mention you're a member here and he'll treat you right.
    HCM audio I believe still sells bulk or terminated Audioquest and maybe some others.

    https://hcmaudio.com/

    I have used and like Canare 4s11 cable pretty nice for the dollars.

    http://store.haveinc.com/default.aspx

    I've dealt with them a bunch just search for Canare 4s11 it will come up with a bunch just look for raw/bulk one of them will be on the page

    Frank at signal cable is another who used to give a small discount for Polk audio members he has nice cables as well.

    Some pretty good options here on the page

    reach out to Dskip as well he could set you up with some bulk wireworld stuff.

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  • K_MK_M Posts: 1,396
    edited December 2018
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    WARNING-BAD PICTURES AHEAD!
    Post edited by K_M on
    Lsi15, Lsi9, LsiC,Rta11t,M5jr+,M4,SDA 3.1TL, SDA SRS 2.3TL, Rti6....Still listing stuff, a work in progress.
    B+W-Sold
    Epos-Now gone
    Infinity-Sold
    Advent-Now gone
    Yamaha A-S801
    Yamaha RX-V377
    Yamaha RX-A860
    Yamaha RX-A3060
    Harman Kardon Hk-350i
    Harman Kardon Hk-........
    Harman Kardon PM-665
    Harman Kardon HK-775
    Pioneer.......Stereo Receiver

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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    K_M wrote: »
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    next time try a radial arm saw geesh

    OUCH! bet that hurt more 3 day later than it did the day of :*
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  • K_MK_M Posts: 1,396
    edited December 2018
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    next time try a radial arm saw geesh

    OUCH! bet that hurt more 3 day later than it did the day of :*

    It hurt for a week at least. I feel pain just seeing the pictures. I am literally shaking. But a good excuse to not manicure and paint my nails for a while!

    Listening to my Diana Krall christmas album on the Rti6 now, but from another room. Also sipping rum and coke to relax!
    Lsi15, Lsi9, LsiC,Rta11t,M5jr+,M4,SDA 3.1TL, SDA SRS 2.3TL, Rti6....Still listing stuff, a work in progress.
    B+W-Sold
    Epos-Now gone
    Infinity-Sold
    Advent-Now gone
    Yamaha A-S801
    Yamaha RX-V377
    Yamaha RX-A860
    Yamaha RX-A3060
    Harman Kardon Hk-350i
    Harman Kardon Hk-........
    Harman Kardon PM-665
    Harman Kardon HK-775
    Pioneer.......Stereo Receiver

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  • verbverb Posts: 7,648
    K_M wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    next time try a radial arm saw geesh

    OUCH! bet that hurt more 3 day later than it did the day of :*

    It hurt for a week at least. I feel pain just seeing the pictures. I am literally shaking. But a good excuse to not manicure and paint my nails for a while!

    Dude you should've gave a warning - Do Not Open the Pics! :smile:
    Basement: Polk SDA SRS, Cary SLP-05 Pre, Enlightened Audio Designs CD Transport, Northstar Designs Excelsio DAC, Silnote Morpheus Ref2 Digital Cable, Marantz SA-14 SACD, McIntosh MC300 Amp, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Pangea Power Cables, Wireworld Oasis 8 RCA IC's, MIT Shotgun S3 IC's, MIT Shotgun S1 Bi-Wire speaker cables
    Office: PC, EAR Acute CD Player, EAR 834L Pre, PASS ACA Monoblocks, Denon UDR-F10 Cassette, Acoustic Technologies Classic FR Speakers, SVS SB12 Plus sub, MIT AVt2 speaker cables, IFI Purifier2, AQ Cinnamon USB cable, Groneberg Quatro Reference IC's
    Spare Room: , Antique Sound Labs Wave AV-8 Monoblocks, Tisbury Mini Passive Pre, Tjoeb 99 tube CD player (modified Marantz CD-38), Analysis Plus Oval 9's, Zu Jumpers, AudioEngine B1 Streamer, Klipsch RB-61 v2, SVS PB1000 sub, Blue Jeans RCA IC's
    Living Room: Peachtree Nova Integrated, Cambridge CXN v2 Streamer, Furman 15PFi Power Conditioner, Polk RT265 In Wall Speakers, Polk DSW Pro 660wi sub
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    bondo :D :D :D
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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    edited December 2018
    verb wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    pitdogg2 wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    next time try a radial arm saw geesh

    OUCH! bet that hurt more 3 day later than it did the day of :*

    It hurt for a week at least. I feel pain just seeing the pictures. I am literally shaking. But a good excuse to not manicure and paint my nails for a while!

    Dude you should've gave a warning - Do Not Open the Pics! :smile:

    ummm nope Dudette
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  • BlueFoxBlueFox Posts: 12,069
    K_M wrote: »
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    Not good at posting pictures either. :)

    Bud - Silicon Valley

    Lumin X1
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD
    Pass XP-22 pre, X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers, SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on preamp, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • K_MK_M Posts: 1,396
    edited December 2018
    BlueFox wrote: »
    K_M wrote: »
    My last venture trying to strip wires....I am not the most coordinated doing this kinda stuff, but I try!

    Not good at posting pictures either. :)

    Oh come on..really?
    I thought I did a great job........just have some rum and coke..you will be okay!

    Seriously this is usually the time I drink and watch Live PD and yell at the the people they arrest!
    Lsi15, Lsi9, LsiC,Rta11t,M5jr+,M4,SDA 3.1TL, SDA SRS 2.3TL, Rti6....Still listing stuff, a work in progress.
    B+W-Sold
    Epos-Now gone
    Infinity-Sold
    Advent-Now gone
    Yamaha A-S801
    Yamaha RX-V377
    Yamaha RX-A860
    Yamaha RX-A3060
    Harman Kardon Hk-350i
    Harman Kardon Hk-........
    Harman Kardon PM-665
    Harman Kardon HK-775
    Pioneer.......Stereo Receiver

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  • pitdogg2pitdogg2 Posts: 14,326
    hmmm maybe bud ;) ;) ;)
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