MIT speaker cable suggestions

tcrossma
tcrossma Posts: 1,301
edited July 2009 in 2 Channel Audio
I currently have Audioquest CV-8 36v dbs speaker cables, and although I like them quite a bit, the spades don't fit my amp particularly well. So I've been tossing around the idea of swapping them out for some MIT cables.

For those that know MIT, is it possible to get into 6' or 8' MIT speaker cables in the <>$300 range that would better my current cables? Or would I need to spend more?

Edit: I meant to specify that I would almost certainly buy the cables used.
Speakers: Polk LSi15
Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
Amp: Pass Labs X-150
CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
Cartridge:Denon DL-160
Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
Post edited by tcrossma on
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited June 2009
    Cut the spades off and wrap the wire around the binding posts. Might be a bit less expensive.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited June 2009
    BlueFox wrote: »
    Cut the spades off and wrap the wire around the binding posts. Might be a bit less expensive.

    I'd rather not do that to these cables as it would seriously hurt their resale value. The spades do work on my amp, but they don't have the grip that I'd like. So while it's not an emergency, I was tossing around the idea of trying something new and fixing the connection issue while I'm at it. I've been wanting to try MIT for a while, so I thought this might be a good chance. I just don't know if I need to get up too high in the MIT line in order to be an improvement over my current cables.
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,536
    edited June 2009
    Try these, or something similar to adapt spades to fit banana terminals:

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQ1002G

    You could get Terminator 2's for under $300. Shotgun S3's would be double that. The problem is you'd be better off using cables from one manufacturer which means you'd be better off replacing the interconnects as well as the speaker cables. Not worth it at all in my opinion at that price level. I use MIT S1's, S2's and S3's as well as Audioquest CV6 DBS. In some system configurations I prefer the CV6's.
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  • jerryj12
    jerryj12 Posts: 451
    edited June 2009
    Emlyn wrote: »
    Try these, or something similar to adapt spades to fit banana terminals:

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQ1002G

    Wow, I did not know these existed. Nice info.
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited June 2009
    Emlyn wrote: »
    Try these, or something similar to adapt spades to fit banana terminals:

    http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQ1002G

    You could get Terminator 2's for under $300. Shotgun S3's would be double that. The problem is you'd be better off using cables from one manufacturer which means you'd be better off replacing the interconnects as well as the speaker cables. Not worth it at all in my opinion at that price level. I use MIT S1's, S2's and S3's as well as Audioquest CV6 DBS. In some system configurations I prefer the CV6's.

    Thanks for the info.

    My amp's binding posts don't take banana's, so I'm stuck with spades. I don't currently have AQ across the board in terms of speaker cables and both sets of IC's, although I plan to at some point. So right now I don't have an issue with having a different brand speaker cable than my IC's.

    I'm not even sure that a different brand's spades would fit better -- but most look a bit thinning than the ones I have (which are AQ's screw-on conversion from the nanners), and I'm hoping that a different spade might fit better.

    In your opinion would the S3's be the logical step up from my CV-8's, at which point I'd have to spend about double the $300?
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • Emlyn
    Emlyn Posts: 4,536
    edited June 2009
    tcrossma wrote: »
    Thanks for the info.

    In your opinion would the S3's be the logical step up from my CV-8's, at which point I'd have to spend about double the $300?

    I'd say it's worth a try, given the high quality gear you have. The Iconns available with MIT cables are a great feature to have. You may be tempted and advised to get the interconnects as well though. You should be able to hear a noticeable difference.
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited June 2009
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablspkr&1251127901&/MIT-Oracle-V3.2-Wide--Band-8ft-pr--10/10

    Buy these and you'll have them for the next 20+ years. Probably end up saving you money in the long run.
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited June 2009
    NJPOLKER wrote: »
    http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablspkr&1251127901&/MIT-Oracle-V3.2-Wide--Band-8ft-pr--10/10

    Buy these and you'll have them for the next 20+ years. Probably end up saving you money in the long run.

    That's just not going to happen :eek: I do believe I said $300, not $3000 :)
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited June 2009
    tcrossma wrote: »
    That's just not going to happen :eek: I do believe I said $300, not $3000 :)

    Whats the big deal?? :confused:








    :p:D
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  • NJPOLKER
    NJPOLKER Posts: 3,474
    edited June 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    If you don't like them you can always 'karma' them. :rolleyes: :D

    As long as they Karma to me thats the best idea I've heard all year.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,841
    edited June 2009
    The shortest speaker cables that MIT sells are 8 foot. I'd recommend the S3's as the minimum starting point.

    I should add that if you can find any of the older MH-750's in gray, that they are worth buying, a very musical speaker cable.
    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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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited June 2009
    tcrossma wrote: »
    I'd rather not do that to these cables as it would seriously hurt their resale value. The spades do work on my amp, but they don't have the grip that I'd like.


    Sounds good. From my perspective, it someone tried to sell me speaker wire with spades or banana plugs I would ask for a discount since the signal quality has been compromised, even if ever so slightly.
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,841
    edited June 2009
    Yeah, seeing as the copper starts to oxidize as soon as it is exposed to oxygen.....nah, that won't compromise the sound quality. :rolleyes:

    Technology has moved forward, perhaps you should too.
    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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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited June 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    Yeah, seeing as the copper starts to oxidize as soon as it is exposed to oxygen.....nah, that won't compromise the sound quality. :rolleyes:

    Technology has moved forward, perhaps you should too.


    Okay. That is a good point. Of course, spade lugs, along with crimping and/or soldering, is not exactly a quantum leap forward in technology.

    At least not as big a leap forward in technology as is a music server and an external DAC. :rolleyes:
    Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
    Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
    Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes

    Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
    Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
    Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables

    Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
    Three 20 amp circuits.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited June 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    The shortest speaker cables that MIT sells are 8 foot. I'd recommend the S3's as the minimum starting point.

    I should add that if you can find any of the older MH-750's in gray, that they are worth buying, a very musical speaker cable.

    Thanks for the info. I'll keep my eyes open for the 750's, or start saving for the S3's :)
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
    Pre: Adcom GFP-750 with HT Bypass
    Amp: Pass Labs X-150
    CD/DVD Player: Classe CDP-10
    Interconnects: MIT Shortgun S3 Pro XLR
    Speaker cables: MIT MH-750 bi-wire
    TT:Micro Seiki DD-35
    Cartridge:Denon DL-160
    Phono Pre:PS Audio GCPH
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited June 2009
    I have the 750s and they are awesome.
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  • NotaSuv
    NotaSuv Posts: 3,864
    edited June 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I have the 750s and they are awesome.

    I have had the 750's in my system for 6 weeks or so and they had a very positive effect....tried them on both the Mirage M-1's and the 2.3 tl's and a noticeable improvement on both in all areas using a Proceed hpa2 amp

    was a gamble for me too spend more than usual but was well worth it...now saving for matchin IC's ;)
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited June 2009
    NotaSuv wrote: »
    I have had the 750's in my system for 6 weeks or so and they had a very positive effect....tried them on both the Mirage M-1's and the 2.3 tl's and a noticeable improvement on both in all areas using a Proceed hpa2 amp

    was a gamble for me too spend more than usual but was well worth it...now saving for matchin IC's ;)

    I have MIT S3s ICs on the rest of my system. It seems like a match made in Heaven.
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  • leroyjr1
    leroyjr1 Posts: 8,785
    edited June 2009
    Is this a good deal?

    http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/ele/1242590946.html
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  • schwarcw
    schwarcw Posts: 7,341
    edited June 2009
    Like Jesse said, the gray ones would be better.
    Carl

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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited June 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I have the 750s and they are awesome.

    Very good cable!!!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited June 2009
    There are some great deals out there; keep your eyes open for a pair of S3's and you'll probably get the last pair of speaker cables.
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  • gavn8r
    gavn8r Posts: 53
    edited June 2009
    You may want to try the AVt 1's. They are not as high-end as the Shotguns, but they give you a really good bang for your buck. Personally, I would go with the AVt's over the older MH-750's with your Pass amp as they are wider bandwidth and more linear.

    http://www.mitcablesdiscount.com/speaker-cables/avt-1-speaker-cable.html
    mitcables.com
    audioevo.org/mitcables
    twitter.com/mitcables
    facebook.com/morethanjustcables
    youtube.com/mitcables
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  • gavn8r
    gavn8r Posts: 53
    edited July 2009
    Keiko wrote: »
    I caught a nice deal from another polkie awhile back on the AVt2's. My entire front end including IC's are AVt2's. I couldn't be more pleased gavn.

    Glad to hear it.
    mitcables.com
    audioevo.org/mitcables
    twitter.com/mitcables
    facebook.com/morethanjustcables
    youtube.com/mitcables
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