Best speaker wire

BlueFox

I know that.

msg

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

ACK! Takin' lessons from @voltz?!?
Man that musta hurt. Definitely cringe-worthy.

Lol, radial arm saw...
Seriously though, what were you using, Kelly? You're not supposed to have to swing any chopping tools to strip wire.

jdjohn

Toughen-up, buttercups. I've got pics of my fingertips after a table saw didn't recognize the difference between a piece of wood and my fingers. Not for the faint of heart.

Hermitism

I can't quite put my finger on it, but...

Hermitism

A gorgeous young redhead goes into the doctor's office and said that her body hurt wherever she touched it.

"Impossible!" says the doctor. "Show me."

The redhead took her finger, pushed on her left breast and screamed, then she pushed her elbow and screamed in even more. She pushed her knee and screamed; likewise she pushed her ankle and screamed. Everywhere she touched made her scream.

The doctor said, "You're not really a redhead, are you?

"Well, no" she said, "I'm actually a blonde."

"I thought so", the doctor said. "Your finger is broken."

BlueFox

LOL. Poor blondes.

Hermitism

K_M, that joke wasn't directed at you. I just felt this thread was deserving of a finger joke or two. The next time I tear my knee, which seems to happen often, you all can pile on the knee jokes!

Pull my finger...

tonyb

Wire is like any other component in your system, has to have synergy with it's playmates.

"BEST"....is subjective, best in a certain price class may narrow it down some, but still subjective. So really there is no such thing as the best wire, only the wire that fits in your budget , has synergy with it's playmates,and pleases your ears.

joecoulson

Trooth

gdphoto

Thanks everyone! Lots of good information. I am not looking to spend upwards to $600.00 for speaker cables, it would be nice, but not possible for me. I am considering this cable from Cable Matters.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWS34RU?ref_=pfb_ameflcdd5bgjhe9fbje06l67bgjm&tag=hydfbook0e-20&ascsubtag=pfb-P01-V01-O3-X98-HI-JL0SES&fbclid=IwAR3jMl2zV6Qg-lG7IZeeb0dfzBKSBrCrR3eA6jE4HtD4SW3Kp5AVfT6B0PE. It will give me an 11AWG cable when 2 conductors are combined. I only have an 8 to 10 foot run on
each side. From what I gather by your comments, this should be an improvement over my 30 year old Monster cables. If you have suggestions for other cables in the lower price range let me know. I am also considering this one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZKNSKC/ref=gno_cart_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1N62ANATP10CZ.

Thanks for your help!

motorhead43026

Go to eBay, Zu cables. Get a set of Mission speaker cables for next to nothing

pitdogg2

gdphoto wrote: »

If you have suggestions for other cables in the lower price range let me know. I am also considering this one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZKNSKC/ref=gno_cart_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1N62ANATP10CZ.

Thanks for your help!

If you decide on this go to douglas connection @helipilotdoug who is a very good member here and will treat you right.

Those Zu that motorhead suggested are another very good option and very very reasonably priced as suggested.

Faustin

Any thoughts out there on Mogami W3103 bulk wire? Parts Express has it for $3.88 a foot.

tonyp063

I'm also going to suggest Douglas Connection.

Just made *my* first cable move to them from something similar to what you have & the difference was very noticeable.

rpf65

Some excellent cable deals on this forum.

dromunds

I think Douglas Connection can give you a better deal on the Furez you are considering and we gives member discounts not to mention a great guy and super straight shooter with tons of knowledge. Go to his website and shoot him an email.

tonyb

gdphoto wrote: »

Thanks everyone! Lots of good information. I am not looking to spend upwards to $600.00 for speaker cables, it would be nice, but not possible for me. I am considering this cable from Cable Matters.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BWS34RU?ref_=pfb_ameflcdd5bgjhe9fbje06l67bgjm&tag=hydfbook0e-20&ascsubtag=pfb-P01-V01-O3-X98-HI-JL0SES&fbclid=IwAR3jMl2zV6Qg-lG7IZeeb0dfzBKSBrCrR3eA6jE4HtD4SW3Kp5AVfT6B0PE. It will give me an 11AWG cable when 2 conductors are combined. I only have an 8 to 10 foot run on
each side. From what I gather by your comments, this should be an improvement over my 30 year old Monster cables. If you have suggestions for other cables in the lower price range let me know. I am also considering this one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JZKNSKC/ref=gno_cart_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1N62ANATP10CZ.

Thanks for your help!

Imho....you'd be wasting your money chasing those cables. Why ? Because they aren't much different than what you have already. Maybe slightly better, at best.

Look for OCC copper cable, Like Wireworld or Acoustic Zen or Analysis Plus cables use. The AP cables in the FM here are a good value. While gauge is important, it's not the only thing to look at.

Tells us what your looking for, sound wise, in terms of improvement over the sound you have right now and we can better help you.

Also, don't hesitate to buy used cables. They don't go bad ya know. Plus you can get more cable for your buck buying used. Most times half of retail.

delkal

halo wrote: »

Audioquest cables are available from Audio Advisor at deep discounts:

Type 4,

Halo already mentioned my pick got the best bang for the buck cable (that you WILL hear a difference on your system). The Audioquest Type 4 "no frills" from Audio Advisor. The Type 4 cable is a classic with 4 strands of solid (OCC?) copper. The design had been kept the same since the 80's because it works. If you like tight, extended, bass this is one of the cables you should try.

These no frills cables have the same Audioquest wire inside but have plain sheathing and are hand terminated. They don't have the pretty woven sheath and don't look as fancy as the current type 4 that Audioquest sells. But a 10 foot 'no frills' pair runs about $120. The "pretty" cable from Audioquest is about $300.

Just buying the bare wire costs $6 a foot but you can get these finished cables for basically the same price.

https://audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQT4NF

gdphoto

Thanks Tony! My system sounds really good. I rebuilt the amp and preamp back in 2010. Then I upgraded the XO's and tweeters in my SDA 1c's. About 3 years ago I bought a Rega Exact cartridge. All of these moves improved the sound. Recently I made a pair of interconnects using Mogami 20 AWG instrument cable and I swear there's a bit more clarity. This got me thinking about my speaker cables. Like I stated, they are 30 year old 12 AWG Monster cable. I have often read that a lot people don't like Monster cables, so I am thinking this is another area for improvement. Building a pair of quality cables is not a problem, I enjoy haveing a project to keep me out of trouble. I am not looking for to do this as cheep as possible, but I also don't want to unnecessarily over spend. If I were to find a great deal on an existing pair I would certainly concider them.

tonyb

The AQ type 4 cables mentioned above is a good budget cable. With SDA's, MIT works well, and all the brands with OCC copper. Just depends on the level of sound your looking for. Generally speaking, OCC copper is a step up from your regular oxygen free copper. When considering wire with the oxygen free label, especially under 100 or so bucks, you won't find that big a difference sound wise. Some oxygen free copper cables do have some variations, that make them slightly better sounding than others though. There's more to building cables than just slapping connectors on the end of bare wire. If your looking for the minimalist approach though, and on the cheap, that's the way to go then. I have found though, it's better to leave the cable building to people who know what they are doing, can measure things we can't. Trial and error come into play, the brands that sound good to your ears, synergy in your system, and can fit your budget. Buying used cables allows one to experiment more, with little to no loss of coin invested.

Also consider your interconnects as well as the speaker cables, everything matters in the chain.

pitdogg2

FYI Audioquest type 4 is long grain copper. Audioquest best is perfect surface+ copper
Lots of good wire out there used like said is a good option be patient and keep eye's open

mrloren

I got my AQ Type 4 off CL for $50 for 3 10'. It would take a lot for me to part with them. A tad better than the Doug's Furez.

Doug's Furez cable is very good. A big step up from the Monoprice it replaced.

Monoprice 12AWG, Not bad cable. Good for basic systems or people who don't want to spend a lot on cables. Amazon Basics and Cable Matters are all about the same.

Walmart 14AWG Car audio speaker wire. OK don't laugh here. This is actually some decent wire for the price. It is OFC and works well for someone on a budget.

Monster stuff, I find this to be #1 way over priced and way over hyped. I replaced mine in the 90's due to it turning green. Hint how I found the Walmart wire.

Home Depot lamp cord well it just works but for the money see Monoprice

The above is speaker wire I've used in my HT listed best to worse.

mantis

There is only one BEST speaker wire company and that is Audioquest period.

F1nut

mantis wrote: »

There is only one BEST speaker wire company and that is Audioquest period.

What a joke.

joecoulson

Siltech

mrloren

Everyone has there own opinion.

AQ Type 4 has been the best speaker I have used. Is there better wire, most likely yes. Can I get 3 sets for $50 like I did off CL, doubt it.

If someone wants to send me some wire to try I have no problems doing a blind test on my kids. They use my system as much as I do.

tonyb

mrloren wrote: »

Everyone has there own opinion.

AQ Type 4 has been the best speaker I have used. Is there better wire, most likely yes. Can I get 3 sets for $50 like I did off CL, doubt it.

If someone wants to send me some wire to try I have no problems doing a blind test on my kids. They use my system as much as I do.

If your only criteria for wire is cheap, then your spot on. My question to you would be....do you hold the same criteria for your other components ?

You can get a Pre amp for a 50 too on Craigslist, why spend more ?

When we start treating cables as a component in our systems, that's when thinks start to click. Too bad some don't see it like that.

mrloren

tonyb wrote: »

mrloren wrote: »

Everyone has there own opinion.

AQ Type 4 has been the best speaker I have used. Is there better wire, most likely yes. Can I get 3 sets for $50 like I did off CL, doubt it.

If someone wants to send me some wire to try I have no problems doing a blind test on my kids. They use my system as much as I do.

If your only criteria for wire is cheap, then your spot on. My question to you would be....do you hold the same criteria for your other components ?

You can get a Pre amp for a 50 too on Craigslist, why spend more ?

When we start treating cables as a component in our systems, that's when thinks start to click. Too bad some don't see it like that.

no and yes. I look for the best deal I can find. Garage sales, CL and estate/divorce sales are a good place to find good deal on good used equipment.

No I doubt I would buy a $50 pre amp, at that cost it would most likely be junk.

When I was amp shopping I was checking all the SoCal CL Adds and wound up spending the extra cash for new. I couldn't find anything good in my budget used.

K_M

Hermitism wrote: »

K_M, that joke wasn't directed at you. I just felt this thread was deserving of a finger joke or two. The next time I tear my knee, which seems to happen often, you all can pile on the knee jokes!

Pull my finger...

Well, yeah I get that...but I am not blonde...brunette here!

motorhead43026

I like brunettes, please send picture.