Preferred speaker cable

steveinaz
steveinaz Posts: 19,538
edited July 2008 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
What speaker cable do you prefer?

*********************************

"Other" brands/types mentioned:

- Blue Jeans Cable...3
- Canare 4S11...3
- Cobalt cables...1
- DIY Belden cable...2
- DIY Cat5...1
- DIY White Lightning Moonshine...1
- DIY Walmart patio wire...1
- Generic 14awg, 12awg, 10awg...4
- Mapleshade Helix...1
- Monoprice...1
- Monster...3
- PS Audio...1
- Tara Labs...1
- VH Audio...1
- XIOS...1
- Z Cables...2
- Z Squared...1
- Zu cables...1
Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
Post edited by steveinaz on
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited May 2008
    I use VH Audio Chela, DIY Cat5, Canare 4S11, and Monster. All have their own uses, I can't really hear much of a difference between the first 3 but like Chela because it looks cool. Preferred would be 4S11 for bang/buck ratio, and Chela irregardless of price.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • AndyGwis
    AndyGwis Posts: 3,655
    edited May 2008
    I have used and liked Tara Labs (prism and RSC 1000), Signal Cable (excellent value), PS Audio XStream, Canare 4S11, Monster, Audioquest (Type 2, Type 4, SA-20), and some cheapo 12 guage I ordered online.

    They all worked really well. Never done double blind or anything, but have noticed some minor differences between them. The PS Audio looks the coolest by far, though.
    Stereo Rig: Hales Revelation 3, Musical Fidelity CD-Pre 24, Forte Model 3 amp, Lexicon RT-10 SACD, MMF-5 w/speedbox, Forte Model 2 Phono Pre, Cardas Crosslink, APC H15, URC MX-950, Lovan Stand
    Bedroom: Samsung HPR-4252, Toshiba HD-A2, HK 3480, Signal Cable, AQ speaker cable, Totem Dreamcatchers, SVS PB10-NSD, URC MX-850
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  • phuz
    phuz Posts: 2,372
    edited May 2008
    Kimber 8tc.
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  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,858
    edited May 2008
    Love my Z cables
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2008
    Is "Z" a Monster cable? I'm trying to keep track of the "other" cables by brand...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited May 2008
    steveinaz wrote: »
    Is "Z" a Monster cable? I'm trying to keep track of the "other" cables by brand...

    Our own Zingo makes them: http://zcables.weebly.com/. Its Canare 4S11.

    Monster does have their own "Z" cables to.
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited May 2008
    MIT. Shotgun S1 and working my way up.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • brabus420
    brabus420 Posts: 38
    edited May 2008
    - MIT Shotgun S3's
    - diy CAT5 (http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/cables/diy-speaker-cable-faceoff)
    - diy walmart (http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/whitelightning/moonshine.html)
    - home depot 12gauge speaker wire
    - Cardas.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2008
    nm. Brain ****, 1 each.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • dcmeigs
    dcmeigs Posts: 708
    edited May 2008
    Patio Wire. $7.44 for 40 ft at Wally World. Transparent in runs under 15'. 100% Snake Oil free.

    Where is Blue Jeans on your list?
    The world is full of answers, some are right and some are wrong. - Neil Young
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    I've tried half of the cables you have listed and am still hooked on Goertz.
    "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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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited May 2008
    MIT Shotgun S1. It's more than mere cable and far better than the rest.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2008
    Amen!
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited May 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    MIT Shotgun S1. It's more than mere cable and far better than the rest.
    They're overrated. :D
    "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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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited May 2008
    I stand by my comment.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2008
    dcmeigs wrote: »
    Patio Wire. $7.44 for 40 ft at Wally World. Transparent in runs under 15'. 100% Snake Oil free.

    Where is Blue Jeans on your list?

    Polls are limited to 10 entries...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2008
    I'll be riding on F1Nut's shoulders with a pellet gun.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2008
    For $1700 bucks, they better sing me to sleep.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,729
    edited May 2008
    They will.

    BTW, the list is $2k.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • reeltrouble1
    reeltrouble1 Posts: 9,312
    edited May 2008
    MIT Shotgun.

    RT1
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  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited May 2008
    I was using Monster - then Belkin - but now am enjoying 14ga oxygen free stranded speaker cable made by ACE - 40cents a foot - for all speakers

    It improved the high end clarity

    Rock On.........
    http://rayslifecycle.blogspot.com/
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited May 2008
    i've been happy with the Cobalt Cables for my home theater front speakers. nice build quality.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • m00npie
    m00npie Posts: 697
    edited May 2008
    MIT S1.... until I heard Goertz.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2008
    Interesting, so far no Analysis Plus Oval 9/12 or DH Labs T-14/Q-10 owners...

    You MIT slugs need to give me some money. Your cables cost more than any single component (including my 50" DLP HDTV), I own! Bastages.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited May 2008
    So what are you wireless? You just "will" the signal to your speakers? Using a speaker cable that you hate the most? Have a live band doing covers of your favorite music in the family room?

    Please, enlighten us...:D

    ahhh snap, I get it. You're broke huh? I'm sorry man. Doro & Jesse can lend you some money, they have MIT's.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,990
    edited May 2008
    Reality cables.....from z-squared,tried monster,kimber,audioquest,and a whole cast of characters,Greg Strailey Reality cables sounds the best ,for me anyway.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • dave shepard
    dave shepard Posts: 1,334
    edited May 2008
    I rewired my room with Analysis plus Theater2 and have Oval12 for the front 3. It transfers really nice sound and is like a wet noodle.

    Dave
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited May 2008
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I'll be riding on F1Nut's shoulders with a pellet gun.

    If you haven't heard it.....
    And I'm there as well with a slingshot. I don't like guns. :)
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited May 2008
    I like AudioQuest. For most apps the bang for buck can't be beat, and my silver Star Quads are right there too. I run the AQ's on the lows, and my silvers on the highs.
    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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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited May 2008
    Steve - Cool poll and thanks for keeping a tally of the "Others". It's interesting to see where everyone is sitting.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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