Acoustic Research speaker cable?

landry_p2000

I want to upgrade to a 12g speaker cable, and the only ones I can find locally are the Acoustic Research 12g wires that Best Buy carries. I can get a 30 foot spool for $29.99, and this will be more than enough to do my towers and center speaker. Is this wire good enough or better than Monster? I will get even better cables on down the line, but I just want a thicker wire than the monster cable that I am using now. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Polkersince85

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5802035185&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT

These are equal to 14ga, They put Kimber on the map . I've seen the AR, looks beefy enough.

John K.

Landry, if 12ga wire is needed probably the source to use in Memphis would be Home Depot, which has several types in packages and for custom cutting for 30 cents or so a foot. However, since you say that 30 feet will be more than enough for your three connections you're apparently going to have runs of only 5-10 feet. Study this guide to speaker wire and note that regular 16ga lampcord(probably equivalent to what you use now) is plenty for your situation. Neither thicker nor more expensive wire will provide an actual "upgrade".

landry_p2000

I went out and got it, hooked it up to my banana plugs, and I noticed an improvement in sound quality once I plugged them in and cranked the tunes up. AR is not bad. Not to mention that it looks awsome. The banana plugs are actually full of wire now. I didn't think that it really made a difference, but it does.

landry_p2000

This is what I used....30 feet of 12g wire.

Willow

I say go for it. Some one once wrote when I asked about AR, they showed me a link which stated AR maybe one of the best kept secrets ( or something to that effect) Heck in my cable Karma I was giving away AR cables. Russ won, I don't think if they were crap someone with such knowledge and a mass collection of gear and cables would take them. Unless he was going to use them to see how long they take to burn or even dissect them.

I say go for it. Most of the cables are made in china. I once pointed that out to a sales rep who was trying to force monster on me, I said look monster made in china, AR hmmm made in china. Now why should I pay 4$ more for monster.

aaharvel

I like Acoustic Research. Twice the cable of Monster imo.
don't buy their cheaper "Blue" cables- but start with their midline cables and go up from there. goodstuff 4$

landry_p2000

Excellent cables, with a noticeable difference in SQ. I am running a small gauge on my rears, maybe an 18g Monster Cable. Is this sufficient, or would that also be in order for an upgrade? I don't have any problem getting the surround effects in movies, just curious.

Mike682

I'm running 16ga for the surrounds. How far are the surrounds on your syst??

I might run down to BB today and give the ARs a try..thks for the info landry

aaharvel

you're prob. fine with 18g. depending on your speakers and the distance of the wire length. I use 16g. for my 4surrounds and 14g. for my front trio. IMO I think 16g. is a good standard.

landry_p2000

Mike682 wrote:

I'm running 16ga for the surrounds. How far are the surrounds on your syst??

I might run down to BB today and give the ARs a try..thks for the info landry

The runs to my side surrounds are about 18-20 feet, and the rear surround is about a 35 foot run, and it is estimation only. I may get the 100 foot spool of AR Pro Series II 16g cable, and re-run those jokers next weekend.

Willow

I run 16 AWG as well for rears