whats the deal with the anti-cables?

AdamRagland

so im fairly new to this so forgive me if this is a repost but im starting to build my first system and am looking to invest on some fairly decent speaker cables. ive been reading about the anti cables but im not sure if its just hot air so i wanted to hear from someone who has actually tried them or knows more than me. if not anti cables what would be the best choice for me? im looking to stay at or under $200 for the font channels of my HT setup

RuSsMaN

I have a pair in the closet I wouldn't sell to an enemy. Matter of fact, I need to just pull them out and throw them away.

Horrible, in every sense. It's terminated, flexible coat hanger for the most part. YMMV, but I'd look elsewhere, Signal Cable, Audioquest, Kimber, etc.

Cheers,
Russ

steveinaz

Not familiar with anti-cables other than the brand. I've used Audioquest, Analysis plus, Kimber, Straightwire, Signal Cable, and various Monster through the years. I settled in on Kimber.

AdamRagland

russ what made you hate them so much? yea i have looked at some signal cable but theres sooo many diffrent companies all saying they are amazing. just not sure which to invest in

RuSsMaN

They sounded horrible, very hard on the top end, no real bass or bass control.

AdamRagland

thank you by the way for your input. i was seriously about to purchase them tonight. im looking at the signal cable ultras. any experience with them?

beardog03

I think I have a pair of 10 footers somewhere...

I`m using AQ Bedrocks now .....great cable at a good price

dorokusai

The Anti-Cable is the worst cable I've heard to date. Not only that but it's difficult to work with and looks like crap.

My HT is 100% Signal Cable and I wouldn't change a thing.

bigaudiofanatic

I bought a pair for my neighbor THEY WERE WORSE THAN CHEAP RADIO SHACK CABLES

RuSsMaN

The Signal Cable Ultra is a solid choice. Tell Frank Dai you are a Club Polk member and you'll get a small discount.

Cheers,
Russ

AdamRagland

thanks for the input guys..saved me from wasting my money. i think im narrowing it down to AQ or SC. any thoughts from people who have used both?

steveinaz

Audioquest has a whole different line now, so I doubt my input would helpful---but at any rate I liked them very much (Copperhead IC's and Granite speaker cables).

dorokusai

I've never liked AQ's interconnects but the speaker cable is pretty decent.

opus

anti-cables are a joke, IMO. I'll give you a set if you want. Hell I'll even pay shipping to get them out of the house

daboyz

I've got AQ type4's I'm using now and am enjoying them. Great budget cable.

Face

Signal makes some great cables.

ben62670

I have been making some silver IC's here is a couple links to them. I sell them for the same price as good coppers. I like the cheaper locking connectors myself the most.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55854

Here is a review from a fellow Polkie post #13
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55881

And my website that I have just started to put together.

http://bwaudio.net/interconnects.html

AdamRagland

opus if you really are serious i would pay shipping just so i could AB them on my brothers system.

opus

AdamRagland wrote: »

opus if you really are serious i would pay shipping just so i could AB them on my brothers system.

pm your addy please

AdamRagland

pm sent

beardog03

daboyz wrote: »

I've got AQ type4's I'm using now and am enjoying them. Great budget cable.

I agree

Type 4`s are a great entry cable

I went to the bedrocks after those and am very happy...
AA is always having a sale on them

I have some anti cables that I used for the top posts on a bi-waire experiment

I thought it was kinda cool

LBrize

RuSsMaN wrote: »

I have a pair in the closet I wouldn't sell to an enemy. Matter of fact, I need to just pull them out and throw them away.

Horrible, in every sense. It's terminated, flexible coat hanger for the most part. YMMV, but I'd look elsewhere, Signal Cable, Audioquest, Kimber, etc.

Cheers,
Russ

Tell you what. When I got my home theater amp (Rotel RB 985 Mk II), I thought the amp deserved some great cables. So I Ebayed a set off 90 degree dialectric cables, all twisted and expensive, with fancy colors and all, and was THRILLED to get these in the mail. That is until I hooked them up.

I went around and around with some wire afficionados on another forum, those who say wire makes no difference, but I definitely noticed a difference when I hooked up these wires, and I agree with the above quote, I would not sell these to my worst enemy. I've thought about putting them back on Ebay, but really, I don't want to do that to someone. They make a nice looking decoration for my closet.

disneyjoe7

I have to agree on "Anti Cables" I remembered them being holey... Highs but like no mid but lows, I couldn't stand them. I think any cable is better then those.

The Trigg

Hi,

I don't own nor have I heard the Anti-Cables, but I have some friends with them and knowing their systems, which aren't cheap...I'd have to say that most of the "opinions" stated here are unsubstantiated in terms of coming to rash conclusions. The anti-Cables are your basic 12 gauge wire with enamel coating. The wire itself is very high quality single crystal copper...ala magnet wire, some say. Single crystal copper generally requires longer than normal break in times...some say as long as 100 hours or more. I would not be surprised if those who felt the sound was "off" were to let the wire "burn" in for a couple of weeks might have a different attitude. Its very easy to do, especially with a radio or just use the repeat on your source (CD player). Besides that, there are meny more reputable vendors besides most of the "snake oil peddlers" mentioned that you might consider...try googling Reality Cables & LAT

PolkThug

The Trigg wrote: »

I don't own nor have I heard the Anti-Cables...

...I'd have to say that most of the "opinions" stated here are unsubstantiated in terms of coming to rash conclusions.

classic!

dorokusai

How is personal experience "unsubstantiated"? It's junk.

The Trigg

I knew my reply would cause some reactions (bring out the bandits!!) and to each their own (forums are like opinions…everybody has one)...bottom line: cables are system dependant. Most of the advice provided was way too generalized. Many components work fine right out of the box, some just require a little more time to develop than others. Single crystal copper, does require many hours of burn in. I would not use the Anti-cables IF I were using a surround sound set-up or anything that requires a shielded version, since the cable is not shielded for obvious reasons. Think dedicated 2 channel set-up. I would agree that there are better cables out there, but for substantially WAY more money. Consider this…maybe the cable was telling you the truth about your system…

dorokusai

I doubt it but rock on.

The Trigg

ditto (touch

AdamRagland

The Trigg wrote: »

Consider this…maybe the cable was telling you the truth about your system…

if my cables lie to me and make me hear better sound...then why buy cables that "tell me the truth" of the crappy sound??

i'm going to guess you are an anticable fanboy?

just finished ordering the signal cable ultras...i sure hope these cables are good liars cuz i want good sound!!!!

tonyb

The Trigg wrote: »

I knew my reply would cause some reactions (bring out the bandits!!) and to each their own (forums are like opinions…everybody has one)...bottom line: cables are system dependant. Most of the advice provided was way too generalized. Many components work fine right out of the box, some just require a little more time to develop than others. Single crystal copper, does require many hours of burn in. I would not use the Anti-cables IF I were using a surround sound set-up or anything that requires a shielded version, since the cable is not shielded for obvious reasons. Think dedicated 2 channel set-up. I would agree that there are better cables out there, but for substantially WAY more money. Consider this…maybe the cable was telling you the truth about your system…

I use un shielded cables in a combo system with no problems whatsoever.Anti cables have a real love/hate thing going on with users.At that price,what have ya got to loose?