Yet another cable thread

heiney9

This is not a debate thread. Just my personal observations and once again I'm blown away and at the same time speechless. I can't explain why I hear what I hear but there is a marked difference in speaker cables.

I finished my DIY project of making my own speakers cables this afternoon. The original intention was to use them in the office rig as I have always been happy with the cables on the main rig.

These are simple inexpensive DIY cables, nothing fancy. 10 feet of copper cable, cable pants, shrink tubing and some pretty nice nanner ends.

http://www.accessories4less.com/cgi-bin/item/IXOSXHS806S

This is the bare wire I got, nothing fancy even though the description makes them sound like a breakthru in cable.

They sound so much better than the Monster Cable I was using in the main rig. The SDA's came to life in a way I've never heard before. Finally stuff was all over the room and the transparency went up a notch. Bass is little leaner and overall the presentation is a bit more forward. I'm hoping they will break in and settle down a tad.

I just listened in disbelief that the change was so apparent right off. Not because I don't believe in cables sounding different, but because everything was SO different. I highly recommend IXOS cable for an inexpensive DIY project. They remind me very much of Kimber PBJ because they are braided around a center core with neither conductor touching one another.

Also of note was how fine the OFC strands were, they almost felt like cotton the strands were so fine. I have a lot more listening to do, but so far they are probably staying in my main rig permanetly. Partly because I mis-measured and they aren't long enough (10ft) for the office rig.

I just keep shaking my head because the difference IS night and day. Amazing.......simply amazing!!!

H9

RuSsMaN

AC4L has carried IXOS for a few years, they used to offer their pre-terminated models also (I didn't look to see if they still do). They got some pretty decent reviews for the $, I know a few Polkies have tried them before.

It is truly amazing when it's so obvious, isn't it?

Cheers,
Russ

madmax

I normally don't put stuff down but I REALLY don't like the way monster wire sounds. It is always bright and harsh. Just like having a tweeter on the edge. I spent a lot of time way back trying all sorts of wire from where I work. (we used a lot of different wire). I found that most all of it had different characteristics.
madmax

PolkThug

Yeah! Eff M*!

I remember way back when in car audio, when strand count was a spec that I paid attention to when picking out wire.

1660 strand copper wire for 1.25 a foot (scroll down).

phuz

You say it's nothing fancy, but IXOS makes some damn fine wire. Just because you bought some off of a spool from AC4L and did "DIY" - doesn't make the wire that you decided to go with anything less.

Going from Monster to IXOS is just the kind of "jump" one would need to really hear a difference in cable. Of course, it looks like you went from copper to silver as well. Nice.

heiney9

I never like to admit that I was using Monster but I got a bunch of it for free a long time ago and I've just been using it because I thought it was adequate. I've never had anything against Monster especially since I got it for free so all the pricing issues, etc. didn't seem to apply.

For the record when they mention silver in the description they are talking about the jacket around the conductors not the actual conductor itself. These are very fine strand OFC.

Again, I am just speechless at the difference. When I first got the SDA's they sounded really good but I just never got anything to really jump out except for very extreme recordings with lots of seperation already in the mix. I thought it was my room, etc. The SDA experience was there, just not in full bloom like they are now.

Now, WOW the transparency and the soundstage have been taken to a whole new level. It startling and it's like I've gotten a whole new piece of equipment to listen to. Everything has so much more depth and focus and it's so uncluttered now. Again, it was really good before, but now I can actually hear the background singers very clearly and certain instruments are way out to the sides, etc. This is all on music I am very very familiar with. The biggest thing I notice is there much more depth to the music. Layers are even more defined than before.

I have always known that cables matter that's just a fact but this is just so apparent. I listen and just keep shaking my head and then think why didn't I do this before. I have been so stubborn to change anything on my rig for 2 reasons. 1) cost of buying something that won't make that much of a difference or no difference. 2) satisfaction of the current configuration and the slight hassle of swapping stuff in and out and trying to determine if there is a significant change.

I am going to get some more of the IXOS just to keep handy. And again this is a very cost effective way to really take your listening experience to a new level. I highly recommend IXOS and AC4L had the cable shipped to me within 2 business days. I was extremely impressed with their service. It just proves you don't have to spend mega $$$ to get a very noticeable improvement.

I am one happy camper

H9

venomclan

All cables sound the same.

Face

venomclan wrote: »

All cables sound the same.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels the same.

Seriously though, I'd love to give the DYI stuff a try. Now if my neighbor's house alarm would stop going off.....:mad:

madmax

Cables really don't make a difference. What you are hearing is in your mind. We have put the idea in there that you would hear a difference, and now you have. It is all snake oil. It really sounds exactly the same. Yea, right...
madmax

mantis

Do it. learning about wire is fun and fustrating all in the same breath. You'll never get a truely honest answer from anyone.

I say trust your ears and watch your budget.

Dan

Early B.

You ain't heard nuthin' yet!! Wait until you move up to some high end cables. I'm burning in some new ICs as we speak and the differences among them are often night and day.

I agree with Mantis, it can be frustrating if you allow yourself to go there. But you won't know unless you experiment. Sometimes it requires spending some money to do so.

venomclan

I decided to try some car battery jumper cables the other day, my speakers went from Bose-sounding to Wilson Maxx 2-like.

Mike Reeter

I've been using IXOS in our HT rig for quite a while...I have a 13 ga. and 15 ga.

I don't think you beat it for the money,my only quam is it's hard for an old man like me to tell the difference between the Gray and the White leads