Suggestions for good cheap 12AWG or better speaker wires?

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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited January 2008
    It's not worth my time. This has been beat to death thousands of times over for years in other forums, I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince anybody.

    Try using the search feature of Google.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2008
    wizzy wrote: »
    It's not worth my time. This has been beat to death thousands of times over for years in other forums, I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince anybody.

    Try using the search feature of Google.

    TRY using what God gave you. .. . there is one on each side of your head.
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited January 2008
    jakelm wrote: »
    The popcorn is starting to smell good,, its almost done in the microwave.. damn...cant find my pillow..

    That's about the best post of the last few in the thread :)
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited January 2008
    Mike Kozak wrote: »
    I bought these from an audio store where I live, expensive, but they do my Paradigm Mini Monitors justice. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-lgBijUTTQKs/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?i=119U1K1010


    Please get in touch with ben62670 before buying these. He might be able to make you some.
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • Kex
    Kex Posts: 5,205
    edited January 2008
    mojo_13 wrote: »
    I know this is my first post here but I've been on other forums for a while. I have listened to a few different types of wire and the wire I use is from monoprice. I cant tell the difference between that and monster cable but if someone thinks that the upgraded wire is beneficial to them who are we to tell them no. It all comes down to the end listener.
    I'll just pop out from behind my couch for a minute ...

    Hey, mojo, welcome to Club Polk. I get the impression from your post that you think Monster Cable is good. I use it BTW, I bought it a long time ago (with my first real stereo stuff). You will find that Monster is considered to be a bit like Bose here: very well known, overpriced, and very mediocre. In fact, I think ben62670 has posted somewhere here that he considers Monster and Monoprice to be of equivalent quality.

    The real discussion theme is whether cables such as Signal, or Blue Jeans Cable, are better than decent budget 12 AWG from Monoprice, electrical cord, Home Depot wire, Rat Shack wire, or other alternatives.

    http://www.signalcable.com/speaker_cables.html
    http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

    Now ... where's my couch? hidesbehindsofa.gif
    Alea jacta est!
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2008
    I have Monoprice, Monster, BJC, SignalCable, Goertz, and Ben's interconnects here. The only I/C use I use in my 2ch rig are Ben's, they have the best detail and bass of the bunch. As for my HT rig, it's mostly Signal, with a Goertz and BJC here and there. I've tried all of them in various parts of my rig and can tell you, you don't know what you're missing unless you try different cables. Monoprice cables are good if you like the sound of bed sheets thrown over your speakers, and Monster isn't a whole lot better.

    As F1 said on another board, cables are a integral part of your rig. Think of them as a component just like anything else. Changing pre-amps or amps can change the sound of your rig, so why can't cables?

    Some cables will sound alike, some will sound completely different, it's a matter of finding what works well with your system. If you're happy with your Monoprice cables, you're really missing out. And if you try something better(not monster), and not notice a difference, maybe the rest of your rig isn't up to snuff. `
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Acadian
    Acadian Posts: 60
    edited January 2008
    Face wrote: »
    Monoprice cables are good if you like the sound of bed sheets thrown over your speakers, and Monster isn't a whole lot better.

    If you're happy with your Monoprice cables, you're really missing out. And if you try something better(not monster), and not notice a difference, maybe the rest of your rig isn't up to snuff. `

    Ok, this is something i have to ask...

    Unless one has an unlimited amount of cash or his own store, how can you test a bunch of different cables/speakers combinations? At which point do you say...hey, it's not the cables, it's my crappy speakers?

    Are you saying SOME wires are better (regardless of which speakers you have)? If so, which ones are they?

    I'm not trying to start an argument here, but i have read alot of forums the last few weeks to see which wires to buy and where. And i am getting alot of MONOPRICE suggestions.

    Is it really worth the extra money to get better wires for Rti8, Rti4, CsiA6? ...or is monoprice fine?
    Rti8
    CsiA6
    Rti4
    PSW505
    Yamaha 6050
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    With my rti8s I like my AQ indigo cables the best. This after trying Monster, AR, Kimber4pr and AQ type 2. Don't be affraid to buy your cables used. That's what I did...for the most part. I have lying around an extra type 2 you could try for free. PM me.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2008
    That's nice of you Willow. Great suggestion on buying them used. They're already broken in, and if you don't like them, you shouldn't take much of a hit when you sell them.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    Now I'll clarify that it's only 1 cable about 4ft long. But at least you can compare it to what you have.
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  • Acadian
    Acadian Posts: 60
    edited January 2008
    Willow wrote: »
    Now I'll clarify that it's only 1 cable about 4ft long. But at least you can compare it to what you have.

    PM sent! 4 feet doesn't matter for testing purposes...as long as i can hook it up to one of my Rti8.

    Say i hookup both my fronts (at the same time) and use one with the AQ type 2 and the other with the cable i have on loan right now, would that harm anything?
    Rti8
    CsiA6
    Rti4
    PSW505
    Yamaha 6050
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2008
    Say i hookup both my fronts (at the same time) and use one with the AQ type 2 and the other with the cable i have on loan right now, would that harm anything?

    Won't harm a thing, but it will be a complete waste of time testing. Since the speakers are in different locations, they will have different room response and sound different regardless of cables.

    Also, I assume your source is stereo, which means you will also have different signals going to each speaker, which will also sound different regardless of cables. Of course you may be able to switch to a mono setting, but then how would you hear the imaging, depth, and other magical qualities claimed of the cables.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    but it will be a complete waste of time testing. .

    Why dont you let him decide instead of speaking for him....

    No it won't harm anything. To be fair just be sure both 8s are the same distance from the receiver sit back and see if you can tell a difference.
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2008
    Why dont you let him decide instead of speaking for him....

    Who was speaking for him? Nice quote out of context. I quite clearly explained why testing with a different wire on each speakers is pointless. If you can't see why that is true, that's your problem.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    . If you can't see why that is true, that's your problem.


    I guess it is...
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited January 2008
    So test on the left, then test on the right. ;)
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • jakelm
    jakelm Posts: 4,081
    edited January 2008
    Push your left cable in ,
    pull your left cable out,
    push your left cable in
    and you shake it all about,
    you do the cable pokey
    and you turn yourself around,
    thats what its all about....
    Monitor 7b's front
    Monitor 4's surround
    Frankinpolk Center (2 mw6503's with peerless tweeter)
    M10's back surround
    Hafler-200 driving patio Daytons
    Tempest-X 15" DIY sub w/ Rythmik 350A plate amp
    Dayton 12" DVC w/ Rythmik 350a plate amp
    Harman/Kardon AVR-635
    Oppo 981hd
    Denon upconvert DVD player
    Jennings Research (vintage and rare)
    Mit RPTV WS-55513
    Tosh HD-XA1
    B&K AV5000


    Dont BAN me Bro!!!!:eek:
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  • Acadian
    Acadian Posts: 60
    edited January 2008
    jakelm wrote: »
    Push your left cable in ,
    pull your left cable out,
    push your left cable in
    and you shake it all about,
    you do the cable pokey
    and you turn yourself around,
    thats what its all about....

    A polkologist doing the pokey....
    Rti8
    CsiA6
    Rti4
    PSW505
    Yamaha 6050
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2008
    wizzy wrote: »
    Really? I can't find any documents right now, but it seems like I've read before that no one has ever put together a double blind test where listeners could figure out if they were listening to high priced speaker wire or a cheap electrical cord.

    Or even more precisely, tests have been done where no one could pick out which was high priced "speaker cable" versus plain old stranded copper wires.

    I have never heard anything with my eyes. Use your **** ears with a nice pair of cables, and your electrical cord. If you are doing this experiment with a **** system you may not hear any difference at all. Also if you take your head out of your **** you can hear much much better. This is coming from a guy who believed that cables did not make a difference. I thought these guys with their fancy cables spent too much time pickling their fingers in martini's showing off their fancy cables. I actually picked on them.
    Thanks to a fellow Polkie bring over some cables, and me buying a used pair of IC's on Ebay I have seen the light, and my system sounds much better do to it.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited January 2008
    ben62670 wrote: »
    ... Use your **** ears ... take your head out of your **** you can hear much much better ...

    Wow, you're a dick.
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,903
    edited January 2008
    take a look at this.
    http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/whitelightning/moonshine.html
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2008
    wizzy wrote: »
    Wow, you're a dick.

    Only sometimes:D
    I was also picking on myself with those statements, because I once believed as you:;):p
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited January 2008
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Only sometimes:D
    I was also picking on myself with those statements, because I once believed as you:;):p

    Well I must say, I didn't say anything about IC cables in my messages. I know there are some really crappy IC cables out there - and if memory serves there is something about the low level signal going over an IC and impedance that can produce an rather noticeable difference between a well made IC and a crappy one.

    I'm thinking IC as in the cable between the CD player and the pre-amp, the pre-amp and the amp, the turntable and the pre-amp, etc.
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,055
    edited January 2008
    I too was like ben cept the dick part;) it was not until I hooked up my diamondbacks that I noticed what good cables can do.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2008
    wizzy wrote: »
    I'm thinking IC as in the cable between the CD player and the pre-amp, the pre-amp and the amp, the turntable and the pre-amp, etc.

    Yes
    I think that good IC's are more important than speakers cables. When you have a good amplified signal then good speaker cables can really make a nice system shine. Thats why I mentioned the IC's. Sound always starts from a source. If the source sucks (like an 80's tape deck) then nothing after it is going to make it sound good. So then speaker cables would make no difference at all.

    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited January 2008
    ben62670 wrote: »
    Yes
    I think that good IC's are more important than speakers cables. When you have a good amplified signal then good speaker cables can really make a nice system shine. Thats why I mentioned the IC's. Sound always starts from a source. If the source sucks (like an 80's tape deck) then nothing after it is going to make it sound good. So then speaker cables would make no difference at all.

    Ben

    Hmm, my late 80's Nakamichi tape deck sounds pretty darn good :D
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2008
    wizzy wrote: »
    Hmm, my late 80's Nakamichi tape deck sounds pretty darn good :D

    Nakamichi does make some pretty awsome stuff. I have a sub amp for my car. It is only rated at 220 watts. It hits hard, and is nice and quiet.

    About where do you live? Maybe a fellow Polkie could invite you over for some comparisons. Not all of us are Dicks:)
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • wizzy
    wizzy Posts: 867
    edited January 2008
    Asheville, NC
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited January 2008
    wizzy wrote: »
    Asheville, NC

    Well hopefully someone from that area will see ya, and you can have a get together.

    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2008
    I can't believe this thread is still kicking.
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