Your "BEST" best speaker cable to date!

pearsall001
pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
edited May 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Just as the title says...what speaker cable have you found to be the best in your system. Was it bi-wired or a single run, what made you choose it over others you auditioned, new or used, price or anything else you can add to the discussion. I'm not looking to open up a can of worms here...just looking for personal preferences & the reasons why you choose them.
"2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
Post edited by pearsall001 on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited November 2008
    AQ CV4's with the DBS on the lows, and I use my Silvers on the highs. I am awaiting the MIT Demo:) I snagged up some AQ type 4's, and the CV4's at a real low price. I Made some Silvers, and found them to be sweet on the highs, but the bass was not as full as the AQ's. I have used many types of wires, but this setup allows the detail to come through. Negatives is that it makes bad recordings sound bad.
    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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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited November 2008
    Coat hangers. The plastic kind. Wood is ok, but lacked bass.

    Honestly though, I'm more anal about the connections(terminal cups, and internal speaker wiring) than the external stuff. It's like running a 4 gauge piece of wire for an amp in a car when the car's own battery ground is 10 gauge. You need to rewire the whole system to see full benefits.

    And with that said, I'm out.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,033
    edited November 2008
    AQ CV-8's w/ the 72V BP. Used, single run.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • markmarc
    markmarc Posts: 2,309
    edited November 2008
    A slight nod to AudioArt over Zebra cables (single). Super flexible and they play nice with any amp/speaker I've hooked them up to.
    Review Site_ (((AudioPursuit)))
    Founder/Publisher Affordable$$Audio 2006-13.
    Former Staff Member TONEAudio
    2 Ch. System
    Amplifiers: Parasound Halo P6 pre, Vista Audio i34, Peachtree amp500, Adcom GFP-565 GFA-535ii, 545ii, 555ii
    Digital: SimAudio HAD230 DAC, iMac 20in/Amarra,
    Speakers: Paradigm Performa F75, Magnepan .7, Totem Model 1's, ACI Emerald XL, Celestion Si Stands. Totem Dreamcatcher sub
    Analog: Technics SL-J2 w/Pickering 3000D, SimAudio LP5.3 phono pre
    Cable/Wires: Cardas, AudioArt, Shunyata Venom 3
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2008
    MIT AVt MA. Besides incredible clarity, definition, bass response, tone, and soundstage, who would have thought a cable could also improve 3D imaging?

    Alpha Core/Goertz AG2. Not very far behind the AVt MA, but having a slightly different overall tone, the imaging isn't as defined. But for less than half the price, I'm not going to complain.
    "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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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2008
    I went from the standard Monster cable from BB to AQ type 4`s and noticed a more full sound , all around..
    A solid cable in the price range, IMO

    I currently use AQ Bedrocks ~ Bi-Wired..
    I first bought them because of the good things that I had heard about them, and they were on sale at AA..

    These cables do all I want from a speaker cable.....It was like taking the kink out of a garden hose !

    The Bedrocks are much bigger guage than I had expected, and the terminations are rock solid.

    I highly recmmend these to anybody looking to upgrade.... to maybe the last speaker cable they may want to get.

    The only way I will change them out , is when I get the MIT Shotguns to match my I/C`s
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • jmwest1970
    jmwest1970 Posts: 846
    edited November 2008
    I started out with Monster Cable and after reading lots of discussions about speaker cables decided to try IXOS XHS806 twisted pair cables. I chose IXOS primarily because they were available from one of the last two non big box audio stores in the area, and the price wasn't too bad at $1.50/ft. The difference between the Monster Cable and IXOS was immediately evident. There was more sparkle and midrange no longer sounded like it had a quilt over the speaker.

    I used the same IXOS cables when I built the 2 channel system and the dynamics were certainly there, but the Totem Rainmakers seemed bright compared to the audition that I had with them. Having been told that the Rainmakers sounded better in a bi-wire configuration, I decided to try the IXOS XHS756. In the beginning, the change was obvious, but after a decent break in period the Rainmakers sounded much better.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited November 2008
    MIT Shotgun S1
    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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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited November 2008
    MIT Shotgun S3


    Have been debating if the jump to S1 would be worth it; maybe some day.;)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited November 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    MIT Shotgun S1

    Some day !!!

    Soon , I hope !
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,561
    edited November 2008
    I am with Ricardo

    MIT Shotgun S3

    Did wonders for my system.

    Now it is Power Cord time.

    Scott
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited November 2008
    Well, so far it looks like MIT is the most popular...then AQ. Interesting, I'm suprised there's no one using Nordost, Cardas, Signal, or even lamp cord (maybe there is). There's so many cable vendors to choose from to say the least. Keep 'em coming!!

    Another question for you...if you're happy with what you're running now, what brand did they dethrone from your rig?
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2008
    Goertz AG2 dethroned Signal and MIT AVt MA dethroned Goertz. FYI, MIT Shotgun S1's did NOT dethrone Goertz AG2's.
    "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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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited November 2008
    Audioquest Type 4, Signal, MIT (with a few not worth mentioning in between....)
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,566
    edited November 2008
    FYI, MIT Shotgun S1's did NOT dethrone Goertz AG2's.

    IIRC, the S1's were not fully burned in.
    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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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited November 2008
    DH Labs Q10.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited November 2008
    F1nut wrote: »
    IIRC, the S1's were not fully burned in.
    It's possible. I've been asking the owner to bring them by again.
    "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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  • george daniel
    george daniel Posts: 12,096
    edited November 2008
    MIT and Signal
    JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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  • fbm211
    fbm211 Posts: 1,488
    edited November 2008
    I used Heartland cables first (canare4S11) with vampire gold bananas.

    Later moved up to DH Labs T-14 terminated with cardas silver plated spades.And wired them in a shotgun config of course.
    SDA-2BTL with custom IC
    Adcom 565 monoblocks--Monarchy Audio M-10 preamp
    Theta Data Basic Transport--Stello DA100 Signature DAC--Camelot Dragon Pro2 MK III
    Harman Kardon T-55c TT
    DH Labs Q-10 Signature Speaker Cables With Furez silver plated copper bananas
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver Reference AES/EBU
    Revelation Audio Labs Prophecy Cryo-Silver i2s digital cable
    4 Furutech FP-314Ag with FI-11cu Plugs/FI-11AG IECs--- Power Cords
    DH LABS REVELATIONS ICs-amps
    Revelation Audio Labs Paradise cryo-silver ICs-Source to pre
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  • pearsall001
    pearsall001 Posts: 5,068
    edited November 2008
    wingnut4772 wrote: »
    DH Labs Q10.

    Hey Darla,

    How do you like the DH Q10 speaker cables. Any comments on what they replaced.
    "2 Channel & 11.2 HT "Two Channel:Magnepan LRSSchiit Audio Freya S - SS preConsonance Ref 50 - Tube preParasound HALO A21+ 2 channel ampBluesound NODE 2i streameriFi NEO iDSD DAC Oppo BDP-93KEF KC62 sub Home Theater:Full blown 11.2 set up.
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited November 2008
    I liked the Audioart silver over copper designed by DH labs.I have a 6'pair of MAC CUQ soundpipes ordered and they are pure copper 8AWG with BFA bananas on the amp end and Vampire gold over copper HD 5/16' spades on the speaker end....WCW III :)
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited November 2008
    Audioquest CV-8's. Best all around cables I have ever used.

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited November 2008
    W WALDECKER wrote: »
    I have a 6'pair of MAC CUQ soundpipes ordered and they are pure copper 8AWG with BFA bananas on the amp end and Vampire gold over copper HD 5/16' spades on the speaker end....WCW III :)

    I've been using MAC CuQs for a while now and see no reason to even consider upgrading. They replaced CV-8s, but to me, both cables sound virtually identical. So I'll have to say that my best speaker cable to date is MAC simply because they are about one-third the cost of CV-8's.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • read-alot
    read-alot Posts: 812
    edited November 2008
    MIT Shotgun - no need in even mentioning the rest.
    polkaudio SRS (rdo194 x 8)
    Dodd ELP (separate power supply)
    JC 1 blocks ( strapped )
    Rega Apollo
    MIT (speaker cables) Outlaw (ICs)

    polkaudio SDA2(rdo194x4) (front) polkaudio CRS (rdo194x4)(rear) polkaudio 400i (center)
    B&K 505
    Samsung LCD
    VIP 622
    HSU STF-2
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,165
    edited November 2008
    MIT Terminator 2; both IC's and speaker cables in the main rig.

    Home made Canare 4S8 double run shotgun style terminated with 'nanners for the office rig. WOW......what a difference over zip cord. I waited way too long to get some decent cables in the secondary rig.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,967
    edited November 2008
    Gregg Strailey Reality cables,bi-wired.Stiff as all hell,but sound is awesome.If you have the room,and don't have to turn into tight area's,give these a whirl,pretty darn cost effective too.Gregg is a local guy here in chicago and can meet all your needs.I know he has demo pairs that he floats around too.
    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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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited November 2008
    While I have not tried tons of different cables (about 5 or 6 different ones) the MIT S1's are by far the best and currently use them in my 2CH rig. Signal Cable has the presence in my HT.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited November 2008
    Single run of Kimber 8TC v.2 (white/clear jacket) bananas on both ends. I have no desire to replace it with anything.
    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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  • Hawkeye
    Hawkeye Posts: 1,313
    edited November 2008
    Single run of Mapleshade Double Golden Helix. Not a lot to look at, but I'm into it for the sound.
    2 Channel -
    Martin Logan Spire, 2 JL Audio F112 subs
    McIntosh C1000 Controller with Tube pre amp, 2 MC501 amplifiers, MD1K Transport & DAC, MR-88 Tuner
    WireWorld Eclipse 6.0 speaker wire and jumpers, Eclipse 5^2 Squared Balanced IC's. Silver Eclipse PCs (5)
    Symposium Rollerblocks 2+ (16)Black Diamond Racing Mk 3 pits (8)
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  • BigMac
    BigMac Posts: 849
    edited December 2008
    Luminous Audio - Synchestra Cables. I previously had the Prestige but sold them to someone here at CP.
    DON'T CLICK THIS!!
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