educate my **** on buying speaker cables

polkfarmboy

I want to buy speaker cables that I can use for now and later when I get better electronics . I also want some IC's too but dont have a clue

Theres so many costing more than a good set of speakers themselves so I would like to know if theres and speaker and IC cables that are awesome at a realistic price

Also why do they cost so much and what do they do?

ben62670

I like AQ type 4 speaker cables, and the silvers I make for Polkies. If you buy used AQ's you can sell them at what you paid for them.
Ben

polkfarmboy

ben62670 wrote: »

I like AQ type 4 speaker cables, and the silvers I make for Polkies. If you buy used AQ's you can sell them at what you paid for them.
Ben

Great info ben thanks ... I am looking the aq cables up right now and wonder whats the best way to have the cables terminated ?

I might shoot you a pm some time about those IC's:D

ben62670

I would use bananas for speaker termination.

zingo

AQ does offer great products at all difference price points, but I prefer spades on my speaker cables.

polkfarmboy

I have found that the banana plugs I got from monoprice are starting to get loose and fall out the binding posts

I wont even comment on the crappy hdmi cables the sold me except that 4 of thems now in the trash

Toolfan66

+1000 on what Ben is telling you. you will keep hearing them get better even 6 months later..

polkfarmboy

Does cables bring out more details in a recording when compared to my monoprice speaker wire?

Is it more important to have pricey cables running from the dvd plyr to the pre than it is to run cables from the pre to the amp?

WastelandWand'r

PFB,
Really it comes down to what you like, what you can afford and what you are connecting.
If you are independently wealthy, have little in the way of outstanding debt, and are secure in your job, spend to your hearts content and enjoy.
If you are not wealthy, are loaded with debt, and your employer gave you the boot weeks ago, you should consider staying with what you have or upgrading slightly.
Take into account what your equipment is or is going to be.
On this forum you will find set ups that really are top end, some in the middle and some just starting out. Almost all of them sporting different cables and interconnects. Figure out where you are and go from there.
Buying used is a great way to go without draining the account (that applies to almost anything electronic). If you can audition them, even better.

Ben's silver cables are held in pretty high regard as are a number of others. I believe there were some Kimbers listed in the Flea market recently that would be a great start.

By the way, what type of equipment do you have and what are the immediate plans you have for upgrading? With that information some may be able to shout out some suggestions for you.

Happy Trails,
Nathan

polkfarmboy

I just bought martin logan source and have them hooked up to a crappy avr and I listen to cd's on a marantz byt I will be getting a 2channel system soon as I build up more money

I plan on spending $1000 on a used pre and amp shortly

polkfarmboy

Lasareath wrote: »

I just bought these:

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?cablspkr&1275243601&/MIT-EXp1-12ft-pair-NEW--sealed

I haven't hooked them up yet, I will most likely early next week

What are you hooking the MIT up to ? and how would these favor to the aq4's? EDIT _____ Nevermind I just checked out your website

Jetmaker737

I have AQ type 4 and am very happy with them. In fact I want another set to biwire. I bought them used on A-gon. I need 15 foot runs so buying used is a great way to try them and save some coin.

I like nanners on the amp end, but on the speaker end they don't fit tight so I use spades.

fbm211

Furez makes some exelent nanners that have great contact.You actually have to PUSH them in.(But do it carefully so as not to bend them)
Some might find these too soft but that is because they are pure copper and not that copper plated Brass,bronze or even nickle GARBAGE.--Stay away from that stuff.These are not cheap either.I bought 4 pair a few weeks ago and find them very well made.I got the silver plated copper ones (they even ship them with cotton gloves)
Link>>http://www.av-outlet.com/index.html?target=dept_149.html&lang=en-us

polkfarmboy

fbm211 wrote: »

Furez makes some exelent nanners that have great contact.You actually have to PUSH them in.(But do it carefully so as not to bend them)
Some might find these too soft but that is because they are pure copper and not that copper plated Brass,bronze or even nickle GARBAGE.--Stay away from that stuff.These are not cheap either.I bought 4 pair a few weeks ago and find them very well made.I got the silver plated copper ones (they even ship them with cotton gloves)
Link>>http://www.av-outlet.com/index.html?target=dept_149.html&lang=en-us

I dont think I will ever be making my own speaker cables again

polkfarmboy

Jetmaker737 wrote: »

I have AQ type 4 and am very happy with them. In fact I want another set to biwire. I bought them used on A-gon. I need 15 foot runs so buying used is a great way to try them and save some coin.

I like nanners on the amp end, but on the speaker end they don't fit tight so I use spades.

Are speaker cables in danger of loosen resolution once they run over a certain length?

treitz3

Not really in a home environment. Just try to keep them as short as possible and in equal lengths. Ben pretty much said what I was going to suggest as far as cables, so that's already been covered.

shack

Signalcable.com

I am also a huge AudioQuest fan and have a couple of pairs of speaker cables and several pairs of AQ interconnects. Frank's speaker and IC cables are near their equal and I would not hesitate to use them in anything short of a very high end rig. Very high "bang for the buck" with SC.

marvda1

you can hold onto straley reality cables for a while as you move up.
http://www.realitycables.com/

comfortablycurt

polkfarmboy wrote: »

I just bought martin logan source and have them hooked up to a crappy avr and I listen to cd's on a marantz byt I will be getting a 2channel system soon as I build up more money

I plan on spending $1000 on a used pre and amp shortly

I'd worry about upgrading that AVR to some 2 channel gear long before worrying about buying higher end cables.

Just my $.02


+1 on Audioquest Type 4 speaker cables. That's what I'm using in my 2 channel rig, and I'm quite happy with them. I can't say that I really noticed much, if any, of an improvement over the 14 gauge zip cord I was using before...but they're a quality cable. Terminations are excellent, they connect very tightly with the speakers binding posts(I'm using bananas).

I'm also using Audioquest Sidewinder IC's, and I'm very happy with them. I was running some Monster THX IC's before the AQ's, and I got a BIG improvement in sound when I switched the the Sidewinders. The overall coherency of my rig was much improved. The soundstage has much more air...more breathing room between instruments. The SDA effect from my 2A's was also quite noticeable wider with the AQ's. The Monsters were somewhat sterile sounding...where as the Sidewinders are somewhat warm and sweet sounding. The have a very nice low-mid/upper-bass warmth, with lots of punch. The high end was much sweeter sounding than the Monsters also.

For now, I'm very happy with my Sidewinders and Type 4's. After my next round of gear upgrades is completed, I'll probably move up to the Audioquest King Cobra IC's, and some of the Audioquest speaker cables that utilize their DBS technology...Most likely the AQ Rocket 88 with the 72v DBS system.

JPSmario

when I was running my Rotel's through the B&W 602 S2's (all moderate priced gear), I upgraded to Kimber 8TC speaker cables (factory-term'd banana's, still hold a snug fit) and then AQ Viper and Analysis Plus Copper Oval In IC's. I heard distinct changes in detail and space with each upgrade without limiting my diet to ramen and mac-&-cheese. All were purchased used. Later on, the SDA's sound great, better in most ways than the B&W's with the same cable setup.

Just some food for thought. Enjoy your journey!

acmf74

I just picked up some AQ Type 4 cables for my fronts and the AQ Hawk Eye IC. Hoping to see a huge improvement over Acoustic Research cables..cant wait!

OKstate

I am new to this site and it may be my first post so I don't want to start anything, but quality of cables is super overrated. Everyone is going to have their opinions, but monoprice is top notch stuff for very cheap. There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it. Monoprice is by far the best hook up site I have ever used.

concealer404

OKstate wrote: »

There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it.

Ouch. That's a pretty low blow on monoprice.

shack

OKstate wrote:

I am new to this site and it may be my first post so I don't want to start anything, but quality of cables is super overrated. Everyone is going to have their opinions, but monoprice is top notch stuff for very cheap. There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it. Monoprice is by far the best hook up site I have ever used.

Oh great...another new person that wants to tell us the error of our ways when it comes to the pros/cons of various cables. :rolleyes: No thanks!

If your frame of reference is monoprice and monster...then you haven't even begun to explore/know what is out there in terms of cables and what they can do for a system.

As I have said in other cable threads...use whatever you want...promote your prouduct of choice...I don't care if it is rusty baling wire...if it works for you...have at it.

But don't come in here to tell us that there is no way we can tell the difference between cable x and cable y. If you can't... say so and that is fine. But don't presume what we can or can't tell.

heiney9

OKstate wrote: »

I am new to this site and it may be my first post so I don't want to start anything, but quality of cables is super overrated. Everyone is going to have their opinions, but monoprice is top notch stuff for very cheap. There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it. Monoprice is by far the best hook up site I have ever used.

Those that don't know...........don't know that they don't know. Get some experience with higher end cables and then come back and discuss.

H9

hearingimpared

OKstate wrote: »

I am new to this site and it may be my first post so I don't want to start anything, but quality of cables is super overrated. Everyone is going to have their opinions, but monoprice is top notch stuff for very cheap. There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it. Monoprice is by far the best hook up site I have ever used.

Sorry but I've used Monoprice ICs and speakers wires and they are pure garbage. They make it sound like there are blankets and quilts thrown over the speakers.

Tell us your experience with using different cables but don't come here telling us what we can or can't hear.

To the OP; Singal Cables and what Ben suggested are a good bet.

This may sound crazy but I've experienced it first hand. Don't buy speaker cables under 8' or ICs under 1.5 meters. Shorter runs than that sound lousy. I've done experiements with this when I read about it in the Mapleshade Records catelog in the tweaks section. Being skeptical I tried it and was blown away at how true it is.

cstmar01

shack wrote: »

Signalcable.com

I am also a huge AudioQuest fan and have a couple of pairs of speaker cables and several pairs of AQ interconnects. Frank's speaker and IC cables are near their equal and I would not hesitate to use them in anything short of a very high end rig. Very high "bang for the buck" with SC.

I really like SC they make a great product and Frank will help you out with whatever you need. If you need custom work, he makes it VERY affordable to do so. I needed the ends a bit longer than normal as the XPA-1's had the + and - on different sides of the amp. It was only 10 bucks more which is more than fair.
Also MIT is great as well as AQ.

cstmar01

OKstate wrote: »

I am new to this site and it may be my first post so I don't want to start anything, but quality of cables is super overrated. Everyone is going to have their opinions, but monoprice is top notch stuff for very cheap. There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it. Monoprice is by far the best hook up site I have ever used.

btw interconnect that we are speaking about and speaker cable is different than HDMI.

DMara

cstmar01 wrote: »

I really like SC they make a great product and Frank will help you out with whatever you need. If you need custom work, he makes it VERY affordable to do so. I needed the ends a bit longer than normal as the XPA-1's had the + and - on different sides of the amp. It was only 10 bucks more which is more than fair.
Also MIT is great as well as AQ.

There's a set of top-of-the-line SC speaker cables available:
http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99462

:D:D

polkfarmboy

hearingimpared wrote: »

This may sound crazy but I've experienced it first hand. Don't buy speaker cables under 8' or ICs under 1.5 meters. Shorter runs than that sound lousy. I've done experiements with this when I read about it in the Mapleshade Records catelog in the tweaks section. Being skeptical I tried it and was blown away at how true it is.

This is great advice as I had the notion that short short cables had less residence with a signal

polkfarmboy

OKstate wrote: »

I am new to this site and it may be my first post so I don't want to start anything, but quality of cables is super overrated. Everyone is going to have their opinions, but monoprice is top notch stuff for very cheap. There is no way you will be able to tell the difference between a monoprice speakerwire/hdmi or monster hdmi. Try it. Monoprice is by far the best hook up site I have ever used.

If you read the posts before chiming in youd know I had and have problems with the monoprices monoquality cables . As far as there hdmi cable go ... mine has heated up from the heat from my onkyo . The hdmi pin buckles have came loose from the jackets and are busted

I suspect this may boil down to cheap glue used to fasten the metal to the plastic

Next time you post try start a sentence by saying " I think...... In my opinion ...... this simple step can help you get along with the good folks at club polk