HD speaker cables

Willow

Are the regular speaker cables at home depot oxygen free?? I'm running their 12awg but I never even noticed if they are oxy-free ??

Oldwriter

Yo - I tried to find out - called the HD Central Offices - but they just said "huh?" - and nobody seems to have an answer. When I asked them about contacting their wire supplier, they said they'd get back to me. Three weeks ago and counting.
I doubt very much if they are oxy-free - and frankly, from what I've read - I doubt that it makes that much difference. I'm using new 10-AWG Belden speaker cables from Blue Jeans Cable - and it's great! And cheap! Went there from "your" HD 12-AWG "extension cord" - last week.
To each his/her own - but I'm not convinced that the oxy-free designation will make any diff. Larry R.

Willow

thanks O-W, I just can't jsutify purchasing more new and more expensive speaker cables...thought about kimber but pricey is the word !!

Oldwriter

. . . that you go Online and contact Blue Jeans Cables? After LONG research, I think they have a solid answer to all of our collective problems.
Just got an e-mail from them yesterday - saying that the Belden cable they carry is not true "oxygen-free," but they contend that this is not a problem worthy of any concern.
I've not got a lot of their cable - speaker and interconnect, and with their Canare RCA plugs or gold-plated bananas, well they are as solid as I could imagine!
The Blue Jeans folk seem to have spent a LOT of time choosing fine-quality material - and their made-up connection cable is just plain beautiful! Prices are rock-bottom - unless, of course, you follow super-audiophile trends and go for the mega-buck stuff. I'm not convinced that anything above Blue Jeans level is worth it. Good hunting - Larry R.

Willow

it may seem not to expensive to you but being up north we must factor in the damn exchange rate...then it's much more expensive, I to be heading to North Carolina this winter I will have to check them out then !!

Oldwriter

. . . on the Blue Jeans site, you might be pleasantly surprised. Still money - Canadian, I know - but certainly not out of the question price-wise. Even I - on fixed retirement income - found that I could afford them - but then, as you so wisely point out, I deal only in "lower 48" Yankee dollars! DOUBLE GRIN Larry R.

dcarlson

Willow, if you go to a local audio shop, you will be able to find some high quality speaker wire in bulk. I bought a couple of runs of Kimber 4vs at $4/foot, 2 runs of 6 feet. At least for your mains and center, buy only what you need and forget about it.

Oldwriter

OK - can't remember the conversion rate for Canadian/US dollars, however -
The Belden 5T00UP 10-gauge wire at blue jeans is .57 US per foot, bare. This is at Blue Jeans - Washington state.
IF you want them to attach the gold banana plugs at both ends, and get two 6-foot lengths - the total price USD is 70.84. Again, sorry, I don't have conversion handy. (should though, having all those relatives up in Quebec!!!)
Hope that helps. Kimber I'm not too familiar with. Larry R.

dcarlson

If you want to go cheap, stick with the HD wire and don't bother with anything else in that price range. If you want to take a step up? Try the Kimber, $4/foot is cheap when compared to stuff out there.

Willow

funny I just looked at both websites blue jean isn't that expensive
then a dealer here has kimber but at 4.75 ft. not quite cheap when id be looking at about 20-25ft.... I thought I saw a shop near work that may have some used.......Might wander over there this lunch !!!

dcarlson

Which speakers are you wiring?

Willow

RTI4 CSI3 mains and centre rears I will continue with HD I have a 75ft run way to expensive for kimber

Oldwriter

Yo - just got an answer back from a central office-mope with Home Depot - who said that their "highly-rated" outdoor extension cord, et al - comes from - tah-dah - Belden. In other words, if you use the HD 12 or 10-gauge wire (bulk in the stores) you're basically getting the same wire as you'd get in many "wire stores."
I don't get the mega-buck-per-foot theory at all. From my testing, 10-gauge sounds much fuller than 16-gauge. But that's about it. OK - I'm "common," but I know what my ears tell me.
Good hunting! - and please, please let me know if your Kimble (looked it up Online) really does sound any better?
No arguments - just ideas - Larry R.

Willow

O-W never any arguing....I wound't be on the forum if I didn't welcome other peep's thoughts advice and ideas.

regarding HD, interesting...... as I mentioned I am using their 10awg and it sounds good to me as far as looks well its all tucked away in flexi-tube, we are speaking of the clear jacket HD speaker cables right ??

tryrrthg

cheap oxygen free cable can be had at Parts Express . Search for Sound King speaker wire. They make a few different guages.

dcarlson

Originally posted by Willow
RTI4 CSI3 mains and centre rears I will continue with HD I have a 75ft run way to expensive for kimber

I agree with you that 75ft would be too expensive. You can always just wire your mains and center with the Kimber and keep the HD for the rears.

I used to have some cheap Walmart wire feeding my rears when my HT was setup. I've had the Kimber 4vs on my fronts for a couple years and the only way I'd upgrade from there is to go with some megabuck wire.

Willow

intersting what were you using before for your mains HD ?? did you find a difference ?? going to kimber ??

Oldwriter

Not the clear-clad stuff. Had a run of bad luck with that - saw through the coating that there were Green splotches beginning to form along the run. Not good! Corrosion rears its ugly head! Nope - I'm talking about the orange/black/clad "outdoor extension cord" stuff that HD has on big reels.
The "speaker wire" that you're using - well, you may find soon that it's losing some of its great conductivity. If I can come up with a great site I recently accessed I'll send it along - the may, who's an old-time expert, says NO to using the clear-clad.
BTW - wife and I just finished another big session trying to see which is better - analog or digital output from the CD to receiver. Find it on the Up-Sampling thread here in about 15 minutes or so. Answers - and questions - there. (and did not mean to imply that we/you were arguing - sorry) Larry R

dcarlson

I had some 14 gauge AR stuff that are now delegated to the camp system. They were oxygen free stranded copper.

The Kimber gives a clearer sound, it's been awhile though so I can't give specifics. I paid around $60 to wire my mains and I still use them after many, many upgrades. The only time I'll replace them is when I replace my speakers.

IMO, a wire upgrade can be a relatively cheap alternative to purchasing a new component and will allow your system to grow when you do add new components.

Willow

no me either about the arguing not at all !! hmmm looks like better cables will be needed now for sure !!!

Oldwriter

Now, if I can just figger out how to insert it here - well, here goes nothing!
http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

OK - go there for some rather chilling reports from an old pro at the audiophile game. I found his stuff worthy of much thought.
Hope you "enjoy." Larry R.

Willow

I saw some oxy-free 10awg at walmart may check that out as well but kimber seems good right now Ill check them out on the weekend

dcarlson

With all due respect Larry, that link has popped up here many times. If you take what he says as gospel, you'll be doing yourself a disservice.

If you've never had a chance, I suggest getting a hold of some high quality wire and giving it a try. The proof is in the auditioning, if you can't hear a difference then, that's Ok by me. As your level of gear increases, wire plays a more important from power, interconnects and speaker wire.

Oldwriter

Yo - in chatting with the rep from Blue Jeans Cables, he said that there are several ways to rate cable as "oxygen-free," but frankly I forget just what they are. Anyway, he said to be careful if the product is labelled "oxygen-free" - guess he basically said not to worry about it. LR

Oldwriter

OK - I bow to expertise far above what I have - I mostly ask questions, and don't try to give answers that I doubt myself. That said - the site you mention may or may not be "gospel" to me, but I found it very thought-provoking, to say the least.
I'm sure that you are correct re the cable-thing. I DID find it so when I went from 16 to 10-gauge speaker wire - for sure!
BUT - friends of mine have been pushing "silver serpent" interconnects - and when I borrowed a pair to compare with the Blue Jeans Belden interconnects from CD to receiver - I could not tell one whit of difference. Bought the Blue Jeans - returned the serpent with thanks. However, you (with probably much better equipment than I can afford) might well hear sonic differences that make the money "well-spent."
The dialogue continues - probably forever! GRIN Larry R.

dorokusai

Roger Russel is the Michael Moore of Audio. He has collected some good data, and states the case well, but it's your choice to believe him or the next guy. Good read, but not something to change your life about.

Oldwriter

Had to chuckle with the comparison there - didn't think of Russell in that light, but perhaps you are correct. To me, he's just got such credentials that, well, I tend to believe him. You're obviously better-informed in things audio than I am - which is why I come here and ask a lot of (probably boring) questions. I learn as I go - with a LOT of help from my cyber-friends!
Thanks - again - Larry R.

Willow

all this aside are my clear coat 10awg hd speakercables junk ?? and be honest !!

Please and thanks

dcarlson

Originally posted by Oldwriter
BUT - friends of mine have been pushing "silver serpent" interconnects - and when I borrowed a pair to compare with the Blue Jeans Belden interconnects from CD to receiver - I could not tell one whit of difference. Bought the Blue Jeans - returned the serpent with thanks.

Now, that is totally understandable. There could be a few factors at play and the choice is TOTALLY yours to make when you do the comparisons.

There are many people out there who close their mind's to the possibility that cabling could make a difference. All I'm saying is listen for yourself and use reviews and opinions a rough guide. Everyone has their personal tastes and preferences.

Oldwriter

Yo - Willow - no, your wires are not junk. Just look them over occasionally to see if you can spot corrosion. If so - THEN - they are junk. Not until.
Dcarlson - very, very well spoken - obviously well thought-out reply, which I appreciate. Thanks - Larry R.

Willow

inspecting cable seems more a a pain in th A$$ than just coughing up more cash for better ones !!! I'm to lazy to check them all the time !!