Speaker Cable questions

polkanddie
polkanddie Posts: 224
edited August 2009 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
1)How do you guys feel about the monster thx ultra2 1000 series cables (20ft), There is a guy on CL that will sell me 2 pair or 4 speakers worth for $75, or one pair for $40. I looked them up and they cost $150!!!! I am really sad to say that I am using 16g wire with a bit of fiberglass in between.2) I also was wondering, Could I use the wire that I have to hook up my rears and just add banana plugs? I also just upgraded to seperates if you look in my sig. Which is a HUGE improvement to what I had(Onkyo tx-sr601). The posting is still up so I guess he still has them. Any and all opinions are welcome!! Thanks~Adam
TV- Insignia 46'' LED,1080p,120hz
Monster Power center hts3600 mk2
Onkyo tx sr 503
Rm6600 with 4 sanus stands
SUB(DIY)
Dayton HPSA500, JVC Arsenal dvc 2ohm 12" wired to 4ohms in 1.5 cu ft sealed box
extras... RT10's.rti4s.atrium 5's.

"sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"-Tyler Durden
Post edited by polkanddie on
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  • lukewayne
    lukewayne Posts: 80
    edited August 2009
    adam,

    i know a lot of audio people will disagree with this, but somone on this forum posted this link and it all makes sense to me. as an electrician i was already a bit skeptical about bloated speaker wire prices.

    maybe this will help : http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
    ________________________________
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2009
    lukewayne wrote: »
    adam,

    i know a lot of audio people will disagree with this, but somone on this forum posted this link and it all makes sense to me. as an electrician i was already a bit skeptical about bloated speaker wire prices.

    maybe this will help : http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

    That link is so old and done to death . . . it is worthless.

    To the OP anything is better than zip cord.
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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited August 2009
    Monsters are evil!
    http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited August 2009
    obieone wrote: »
    Monsters are evil!
    http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp

    Go get yourself some 12 AWG wire form monoprice, and some of there banana plugs, or some GLS audio plugs if you feel like going apesh*t.
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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited August 2009
    polkanddie, there is alot of monster cable bashing and I was starting to believe it.Granted they over rated and are overpriced on alot of their ic's. When I purchased my used pair of Polk RTI12's I also purchased from the seller a pair of 15 foot monster ultra 1000 thx cables from him. Now,I was useing cheaper monster xp 14guage that I had purchased from CC some time back. Put some Nakamichi banana plugs on them and thought I was all set. When I hooked up these ultra 1000 they definately made a differance.Added clarity and depth and bass.I could not believe it! I since have purchased one for my center. I was not a big "cable can make a differance " believer but now I am. It definately made a differance from the cheaper monster cable or the junk you can buy in retail stores.(I even tried 12 guage) I am not saying that these can compete or are better than some of the brands that are mentioned on CP like audioquest and such but for the price and my personal experience I would definately consider getting them.The ends have nice bannana plugs on them and should say Lucasfilm/THX. If I did not need cables I would get them myself though 20 feet would be more than I need. Good luck!;)
    HT System
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  • tcrossma
    tcrossma Posts: 1,301
    edited August 2009
    I'm not a big fan of Monster, partly due to their business practice and partly due to the fact that it's nearly impossible to get technical specs on their cables. But to the OP, their cable is not awful. I'm not familiar with that particular series, but it'll probably be a good improvement for you. See how low he'll go...
    Speakers: Polk LSi15
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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited August 2009
    If he is selling 4 20ft cables for $75.00, that is a great price! If you do not consider buying them I would be tempted! Again,you can do alot worse and then again spend alot more money and do better.It looks like you are starting a system and these cables would be a great start! Again, I am not saying how great Monster cables are but these particular cables for that cable length and price are a great deal from my personal experience.:)
    HT System
    Parasound Halo A51 Amp, Marantz AV 8003 Pre, Arcam FMJ CD36 cd player, Marantz 7007 BD/SACD player,Acoustic Zen Matrix IC's, Analysis Plus Crystal Copper Oval IC's, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, B&W 703's Fronts, Center Martin Logan Motif hybrid, Surrounds DefTech BPX, 2 X DefTech Supercube Reference Subs, DSpeaker Antimode 8033 EQ.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,816
    edited August 2009
    lukewayne wrote: »
    adam,

    i know a lot of audio people will disagree with this, but somone on this forum posted this link and it all makes sense to me. as an electrician i was already a bit skeptical about bloated speaker wire prices.

    maybe this will help :

    Do yourself a favor and forget you ever read that pile of pure garbage and do us a favor and never post that stupid link again.




    To the OP, they will, without question, be better than what you are using now.
    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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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2009
    Roger Russel is deaf, just listen to the amps he's designed.
    "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: 50,816
    edited August 2009
    Face wrote: »
    Roger Russel is deaf, just listen to the amps he's designed.

    Bada Bing!

    Face is here all week, every week. Remember to tip well.
    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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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited August 2009
    The audioquest type 4's are great cables. I have a pair of 8ft ones that are in my 2 channel system.I would not say they are far superior to these particular monster cables. Are they far superior than the monster xp and other monster cables that you can buy in the store,definately. No doubt about it. But you will be paying far more for the cables that Keiko has listed. $75 dollars for 4 20ft cables,thats under 1 dollar a foot for these! Keiko,have you owned these Ultra 1000? Or are you just saying this because these are Monster branded cables? :confused:
    HT System
    Parasound Halo A51 Amp, Marantz AV 8003 Pre, Arcam FMJ CD36 cd player, Marantz 7007 BD/SACD player,Acoustic Zen Matrix IC's, Analysis Plus Crystal Copper Oval IC's, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, B&W 703's Fronts, Center Martin Logan Motif hybrid, Surrounds DefTech BPX, 2 X DefTech Supercube Reference Subs, DSpeaker Antimode 8033 EQ.
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  • nooshinjohn
    nooshinjohn Posts: 25,478
    edited August 2009
    I owned them and liked them, but the Canare's that I got from BlueJeans are much cleaner sounding.
    The Gear... Carver "Statement" Mono-blocks, Mcintosh C2300 Arcam AVR20, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, Sony XBR70x850B 4k, Polk Audio Legend L800 with height modules, L400 Center Channel Polk audio AB800 "in-wall" surrounds. Marantz MM7025 stereo amp. Simaudio Moon 680d DSD

    “When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited August 2009
    dekuda wrote: »
    ... Now,I was useing cheaper monster xp 14guage that I had purchased from CC some time back.....

    14ga?? Where did you get that info? I think you use the 16ga section on a stripper base on the diameter as delivered--- As far as I know Monster did not indicate what guage the XPs are. I have some XP wire and I took out that little plastic 'flux' tube and retwisted the copper--its more like 18ga in reality.
    ____________________
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2009
    I remember using the 16ga section of my strippers to re-terminate some XP cable.
    "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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  • dekuda
    dekuda Posts: 756
    edited August 2009
    I purchased bulk monster cable that had listed on the large roll it was on the quage number and the Monster brand. Back to my original statement and the reason for this thread. These are decent cables.If you have owned the Monster ultra 1000 cables I think you would agree that under $1/ft is a good price. If you want to spend more money you can obviously find better cables.The below link off of CR looks like the 14guage monster cable I purchased back then.
    http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/ele/1315252820.html
    HT System
    Parasound Halo A51 Amp, Marantz AV 8003 Pre, Arcam FMJ CD36 cd player, Marantz 7007 BD/SACD player,Acoustic Zen Matrix IC's, Analysis Plus Crystal Copper Oval IC's, Acoustic Zen Satori speaker cables, B&W 703's Fronts, Center Martin Logan Motif hybrid, Surrounds DefTech BPX, 2 X DefTech Supercube Reference Subs, DSpeaker Antimode 8033 EQ.
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  • tugboat
    tugboat Posts: 393
    edited August 2009
    lukewayne wrote: »
    adam,

    i know a lot of audio people will disagree with this, but somone on this forum posted this link and it all makes sense to me. as an electrician i was already a bit skeptical about bloated speaker wire prices.

    maybe this will help : http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

    Don't let anyone here stop you from posting helpful links and information. Unless someone has the electronics and audio background and written a paper disputing what is contained on that site, they have no leg to stand on. Some people want you to listen to them and fall in line like a Lemming, so reading contradictory information isn't looked upon kindly.

    http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
    Driver carries only 20 dollars in ammunition

    Pedestrians have the right of way, unless they are in the way
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited August 2009
    Oh for Christ's sake...

    If it sounds better, it sounds better. Screw physics or anything written in a damn article. Let the new guy listen for himself and see if he likes them better. That's the end of it.

    If my girlfriend who has NO IDEA how to even work my setup can hear a difference when i just swap one cable, or can look up at me and say "that sounds like crap!!!" when i haven't even told her i swapped anything, then i'll believe it.

    He's thinking about buying cable, not you. He wants an improvement, so he'll get suggestions just like everyone else. Staying with what he has will CERTAINTLY never garner an improvement.
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

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  • tugboat
    tugboat Posts: 393
    edited August 2009
    So why the big issue with giving the OP all the necessary resources to learn about speaker wire? Of course it comes down to how it sounds to the end user, but it's obvious the OP wants input. Not just YOUR input, but from everyone willing to chime in. For you, or anyone here to come down on someone providing information that you have some personal issue with is just ridiculous! The OP might like what is on that site. They might like to know what the recommended maximum run for a given wire size, etc. Don't assume they are better off without the information you choose to disbelieve.
    Driver carries only 20 dollars in ammunition

    Pedestrians have the right of way, unless they are in the way
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  • LessisNevermore
    LessisNevermore Posts: 1,519
    edited August 2009
    'keep tugging it tugboat'?

    Seems there's a tagger on both sides of the cable argument now, one just as classy and mature as the other. Nice.

    Care to reveal yourself?
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited August 2009
    All I can say is that there is more to a link on the internet - and if you base your whole view and outlook on links you are putting your blinders on and are willing to base choices solely on faceless names on the internet of unknown integrity, source, or agenda (and so called papers have agendas...EVERYONE has an agenda).

    I was a cable non-believer until I tried a comparison for myself.

    Do NOT let links be your one and only source - there are NOT definitive, nor necessarily 'factual' just cuz it is a 'paper'.

    Make up your own mind based on what YOU hear.

    If you don't hear a difference - cool.

    If you do hear a difference - cool.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited August 2009
    lukewayne wrote: »
    adam,

    i know a lot of audio people will disagree with this, but somone on this forum posted this link and it all makes sense to me. as an electrician i was already a bit skeptical about bloated speaker wire prices.

    maybe this will help : http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

    Ecellent reference article. The science of electronics is still valid and not based on the date of the article.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited August 2009
    bikezappa wrote: »
    Ecellent reference article. The science of electronics is still valid and not based on the date of the article.

    It's a great article for deaf people.:p
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited August 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    it's a great article for deaf people.:p

    qft.
    "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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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited August 2009
    It's a great article because it offends stupid people.

    To make fun of an article because it is a few years old is stupid.

    To make fun of the laws of electronics is stupid.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,816
    edited August 2009
    bikezappa wrote: »
    Ecellent reference article. The science of electronics is still valid and not based on the date of the article.

    It's complete and utter BS having no bearing on the cable technology of today. Quit living in the dark ages.
    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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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited August 2009
    concealer404 wrote: »
    ...Staying with what he has will CERTAINTLY never garner an improvement.

    Not even after the cable has had time to burn in? :p
    ____________________
    This post is a natural product. The slight variations in spelling and grammar enhance its individual character and beauty and in no way are to be considered flaws or defects.

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    Pool: Atrium 60's/45's
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited August 2009
    F1nut wrote: »
    It's complete and utter BS having no bearing on the cable technology of today. Quit living in the dark ages.

    +1

    And if my GF, along with Concealer's GF can hear the difference, then there must be something to it!
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
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  • polkanddie
    polkanddie Posts: 224
    edited August 2009
    Thanks for all the feedback, I have one more question. I have some power wire that is 8 gauge, what if I threw some bananas on that? I might have to trim them down a bit but would that be better? And I already have this wire so it would save me money. Has anyone else attempted this? Or do they make 8g banana plugs? I might have to look that up.
    TV- Insignia 46'' LED,1080p,120hz
    Monster Power center hts3600 mk2
    Onkyo tx sr 503
    Rm6600 with 4 sanus stands
    SUB(DIY)
    Dayton HPSA500, JVC Arsenal dvc 2ohm 12" wired to 4ohms in 1.5 cu ft sealed box
    extras... RT10's.rti4s.atrium 5's.

    "sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"-Tyler Durden
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  • polkanddie
    polkanddie Posts: 224
    edited August 2009
    Gotcha, I guess Ill just have to go with the cables, that 8g would be a bit of a pain to wire up, Thanks to everyone for all the info and advice, it really helped me out a lot!! ~Adam
    TV- Insignia 46'' LED,1080p,120hz
    Monster Power center hts3600 mk2
    Onkyo tx sr 503
    Rm6600 with 4 sanus stands
    SUB(DIY)
    Dayton HPSA500, JVC Arsenal dvc 2ohm 12" wired to 4ohms in 1.5 cu ft sealed box
    extras... RT10's.rti4s.atrium 5's.

    "sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken"-Tyler Durden
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