very noob wire question.

northernwind
northernwind Posts: 57
Hey guys,I have a serious question that is at the same time embarrassingly noob.When I hook up my speaker wire,I use two different wires for each speaker,for postive and negative.My question is,when I checked out signal cable and blue jean cable,I notice that their speaker wire has 2 banana plugs at each end.Does that mean each single wire can be used for 1 speaker?I'm pretty new to this audio world so I have no clue.
Post edited by northernwind on
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Comments

  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,722
    edited December 2013
    No, each speaker will still take two wires, in your case two banana plugs
  • northernwind
    northernwind Posts: 57
    edited December 2013
    maybe I'm a bit confuse,you mean each wire I buy from signal cable can be use for 1 speaker per wire right?So I don't have to buy 4 speaker wire just 2 as each single wire can be plug up to a single speaker?

    edit-I'm just practically stalking the forum right now as I'm very excited about the cable.
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    edited December 2013
    I notice that their speaker wire has 2 banana plugs at each end.Does that mean each single wire can be used for 1 speaker?I

    Each of those speaker cables will have 2 runs of wire inside, one positive and one negative, so you need only one speaker cable per channel.
    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

  • northernwind
    northernwind Posts: 57
    edited December 2013
    thank you sir,straight to the point.I figured that is the case when i notice the red/black wires but I just wanted to make sure as these cables can be very expensive.
  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited December 2013
    ..... I just wanted to make sure as these cables can be very expensive.

    Yes, a good observation. :lol:
    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.
  • northernwind
    northernwind Posts: 57
    edited December 2013
    thank you -).Now I'll have to decide between 70 dollar blue jean or 140 dollar ultra speaker cable.Anyone???
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2013
    Stick with Blue Jean cables to start, they are very well assembled and should do you well.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    edited December 2013
    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

  • northernwind
    northernwind Posts: 57
    edited December 2013
    lol I would but I like living in a house with a car and a happy family and food...I love that.

    On a serious note,ya nguyen I think ill go with blue jeans,not like I have 5k speakers.Modest lsim703(loving them).

    Edit-21 dollar speaker cable,22 dollar shipping and handling go canada!!
  • nguyendot
    nguyendot Posts: 3,594
    edited December 2013
    I ordered like $400 in cables from them with their very impressive locking bananas. Good for the money. There is certainly better but that's pretty much where I choose to top off for cables.
    Main Surround -
    Epson 8350 Projector/ Elite Screens 120" / Pioneer Elite SC-35 / Sunfire Signature / Focal Chorus 716s / Focal Chorus CC / Polk MC80 / Polk PSW150 sub

    Bedroom - Sharp Aquos 70" 650 / Pioneer SC-1222k / Polk RT-55 / Polk CS-250

    Den - Rotel RSP-1068 / Threshold CAS-2 / Boston VR-M60 / BDP-05FD
  • northernwind
    northernwind Posts: 57
    edited December 2013
    did you get them welded?That's dam expensive.
  • LeftCoast
    LeftCoast Posts: 406
    edited December 2013
    F1nut wrote: »

    Yeah, Baby! That's what I'M talkin' about! That's next on my list.

    My new soundbar is gonna ROCK!
  • Bob1947
    Bob1947 Posts: 39
    edited December 2013
    I have been buying from Blue Jean for the last two years. Very good quality, good variation of choices that would apply to what type of system you have. The welded bananas out what I have been using. Also have upgraded a set of RCA's for my turntable and an upgraded cable for sub. Very satisfied with their product.
    Regards, Bob

    Samsung PN51E6500 Plasma
    Marantz UD 7006 7.1 Blue Ray/CD/DVD Player
    Marantz SR 7007 HT Procesor
    Polk LSiM 705 Fronts
    Polk LSiM 706c Center
    Polk LSiM 703 Rear
    Klipsch RW12D Sub
    Music Hall 5.1 SE TT
  • mikemokr
    mikemokr Posts: 150
    edited December 2013
    F1nut wrote: »

    I need 10' but only can afford the 8' run of this. I should be able to just splice in a couple feet of Home Depot cable, right? Or maybe Lowe's cable - I've read some bad things about Home Depot cable on the interwebs.
    Main HT (family room): Polk Monitor 7 (1987-original owner) (L/R) / CSi40 (C) / RTi38 (SL/SR) / SVS 20-39PC (sub), Outlaw 975 pre/pro / Outlaw 7075 amp, Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray, LG 42LM5800 teevee
    2ch (family room): CRS+ (1987), Outlaw 1050 AVR, Denon DCM-420 CD
    Kitchen satellite 2ch: Polk M3II, Topping TP-20 Tripath amp fed from 975 rec line out
    Home office: Model 5 (1978-Danish Peerless), Lepai 2020A+ Tripath amp fed by laptop dock
    Awaiting assignment: PSW202 (NIB) to be wired inline in home office rig; Monitor 5JR (1988), Model 4 (1983-US Peerless)
  • mccarty250
    mccarty250 Posts: 220
    edited December 2013
    If you splice in a few feet of another cable type it defeats the purpose of spending money on boutique cables in theory.

    But then again, what do I know, I run all 12 gauge monoprice cables, perhaps my ears are less than golden but I can't tell the difference between comparable 12 gauge cables in blind A/B testing but then that's me. I prefer to spend my cash on the other portions of my system.
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited December 2013
    mikemokr wrote: »
    I need 10' but only can afford the 8' run of this. I should be able to just splice in a couple feet of Home Depot cable, right? .

    Absolutely not, don't even think about it.
    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
  • headrott
    headrott Posts: 5,484
    edited December 2013
    mikemokr wrote: »
    I need 10' but only can afford the 8' run of this. I should be able to just splice in a couple feet of Home Depot cable, right? Or maybe Lowe's cable - I've read some bad things about Home Depot cable on the interwebs.
    tonyb wrote: »
    Absolutely not, don't even think about it.

    I was thinking he was making a funny? Maybe not??
    Relayer-Big-O-Poster.jpg
    Taken from a recent Audioholics reply regarding "Club Polk" and Polk speakers:
    "I'm yet to hear a Polk speaker that merits more than a sentence and 60 seconds discussion." :\
    My response is: If you need 60 seconds to respond in one sentence, you probably should't be evaluating Polk speakers.....


    "Green leaves reveal the heart spoken Khatru"- Jon Anderson

    "Have A Little Faith! And Everything You'll Face, Will Jump From Out Right On Into Place! Yeah! Take A Little Time! And Everything You'll Find, Will Move From Gloom Right On Into Shine!"- Arthur Lee
  • mccarty250
    mccarty250 Posts: 220
    edited December 2013
    You never know, he did say he was new and he did ask so I'm not going to clown him. In reality I bet if he did splice in some substandard cable and you put a blindfold on me and A/B'd between his spliced run and a run of boutique cable I personally probably would not know the difference but still it's not a best practice to splice in a run, etc. Better to get a run of cheap cable than something spliced IMO.
  • mikemokr
    mikemokr Posts: 150
    edited December 2013
    headrott wrote: »
    I was thinking he was making a funny?

    Sorry folks but I long have been emoticon-challenged.

    I do think it would be pretty funny to try that A/B test - funny except perhaps for the part about snipping $50,000 (!!!!) cable to do it ...
    Main HT (family room): Polk Monitor 7 (1987-original owner) (L/R) / CSi40 (C) / RTi38 (SL/SR) / SVS 20-39PC (sub), Outlaw 975 pre/pro / Outlaw 7075 amp, Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray, LG 42LM5800 teevee
    2ch (family room): CRS+ (1987), Outlaw 1050 AVR, Denon DCM-420 CD
    Kitchen satellite 2ch: Polk M3II, Topping TP-20 Tripath amp fed from 975 rec line out
    Home office: Model 5 (1978-Danish Peerless), Lepai 2020A+ Tripath amp fed by laptop dock
    Awaiting assignment: PSW202 (NIB) to be wired inline in home office rig; Monitor 5JR (1988), Model 4 (1983-US Peerless)
  • mccarty250
    mccarty250 Posts: 220
    edited December 2013
    Wow - I just got it. He was referring to the MIT cable. Man, I'm dense. HAD to be a funny.
  • mikemokr
    mikemokr Posts: 150
    edited December 2013
    mccarty250 wrote: »
    But then again, what do I know, I run all 12 gauge monoprice cables, perhaps my ears are less than golden but I can't tell the difference between comparable 12 gauge cables in blind A/B testing but then that's me. I prefer to spend my cash on the other portions of my system.

    That's my feeling too. I'm far from an expert on this stuff but the claims I see on some boutique cable sites just set off my BS detector. One site that is, uhh, not too far from this thread boasted of speaker interfaces that deliver anywhere from five to 14 times "better performance." How is the "performance" construct operationalized? It is inconceivable to me that there is anything I can do to my system (power, speakers, connections - anything) that can make it SOUND at least "five times better" than what I have now. And I don't much care what improvement bench testing may yield if my ears can hear little to none of it. (Well, OK, I'd take "little" audible improvement if it doesn't cost a lot more than a "little" money.)

    All that said, when I recently hooked up some new gear I noticed my very old 12-gauge Monster Cable to my mains had taken on a lovely turquoise color from end to end inside the clear insulation. I figure that cannot be a positive, though I have not noticed degraded sound. So at some point before long I will get replacement wire something along the lines of Monoprice and take the opportunity to blind A/B test it against the vintage turquoise Monster.
    Main HT (family room): Polk Monitor 7 (1987-original owner) (L/R) / CSi40 (C) / RTi38 (SL/SR) / SVS 20-39PC (sub), Outlaw 975 pre/pro / Outlaw 7075 amp, Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray, LG 42LM5800 teevee
    2ch (family room): CRS+ (1987), Outlaw 1050 AVR, Denon DCM-420 CD
    Kitchen satellite 2ch: Polk M3II, Topping TP-20 Tripath amp fed from 975 rec line out
    Home office: Model 5 (1978-Danish Peerless), Lepai 2020A+ Tripath amp fed by laptop dock
    Awaiting assignment: PSW202 (NIB) to be wired inline in home office rig; Monitor 5JR (1988), Model 4 (1983-US Peerless)
  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    edited December 2013
    mccarty250 wrote: »
    But then again, what do I know, I run all 12 gauge monoprice cables, perhaps my ears are less than golden but I can't tell the difference between comparable 12 gauge cables in blind A/B testing but then that's me.

    If the gauge is your only criteria you are selling yourself short.
    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

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 49,711
    edited December 2013
    It is inconceivable to me that there is anything I can do to my system (power, speakers, connections - anything) that can make it SOUND at least "five times better" than what I have now. And I don't much care what improvement bench testing may yield if my ears can hear little to none of it.

    But your ears haven't heard these cables you speak of.

    BTW, that Monoprice cable is infamous for turning green just like your Monster stuff.
    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

  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,902
    edited December 2013
    mikemokr wrote: »
    So at some point before long I will get replacement wire something along the lines of Monoprice and take the opportunity to blind A/B test it against the vintage turquoise Monster.

    Not to be picky here my friend, but two entry level cables do not make a test.
    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
  • mccarty250
    mccarty250 Posts: 220
    edited December 2013
    No, they don't but those weren't the only cables I've heard either, just the cables mentioned in a discrete example. Again, I prefer to spend money on preamps, amps, and speakers where the bang for the buck isn't debatable but is palpable. I could spend hundreds or thousands on cables and perhaps get a perceived difference or spend that same money on other gear and get a guaranteed difference. Just one man's choice and one man's opinion on where his greenbacks go.

    As far as the cable turning green I'll be curious to see if you hear a difference trying a different cable type. There have been a lot of blind A/B tests regarding audible differences between cables, in fact there are a lot of PDF's out there showing the result of such testing. I won't start the flame war by saying what the results in most of these tests have been, people can easily google these on their own or make their own determinations. I'll say that for analog cables there is room for argument. For digital cables there is not.
  • mccarty250
    mccarty250 Posts: 220
    edited December 2013
    Green cable is decorative, the price should be higher for green cable! ;)
    F1nut wrote: »
    But your ears haven't heard these cables you speak of.

    BTW, that Monoprice cable is infamous for turning green just like your Monster stuff.
  • northernwind
    northernwind Posts: 57
    edited December 2013
    mccarty250 wrote: »
    No, they don't but those weren't the only cables I've heard either, just the cables mentioned in a discrete example. Again, I prefer to spend money on preamps, amps, and speakers where the bang for the buck isn't debatable but is palpable. I could spend hundreds or thousands on cables and perhaps get a perceived difference or spend that same money on other gear and get a guaranteed difference. Just one man's choice and one man's opinion on where his greenbacks go.

    As far as the cable turning green I'll be curious to see if you hear a difference trying a different cable type. There have been a lot of blind A/B tests regarding audible differences between cables, in fact there are a lot of PDF's out there showing the result of such testing. I won't start the flame war by saying what the results in most of these tests have been, people can easily google these on their own or make their own determinations. I'll say that for analog cables there is room for argument. For digital cables there is not.

    I also agree with this.The only reason I'm going with blue jeans is for the reliability and good build so at least I know my cables will be 100 percent.Almost went for signal but only because they look so much nicer.If my 10k speaker,10k room treatment,10 k amp doesn't make a difference doubt a little cable is going to do much if anything at all><.I think there was a blind test somewhere in which a mit cable employee couldn't tell the difference between his cable and a no name brand.When the lights are off it's hard to tell...lol

    BTW-I'm just giving a examples,no way do I own all that lol.
  • mccarty250
    mccarty250 Posts: 220
    edited December 2013
    I have used some blue jeans cable in various areas of my home, I like it's build a lot more than the monoprice cable but for the volume of cable I use in my home the price difference made me go with monoprice in most areas. One of my rooms was all BJC. I also like that +/- is clearly labelled on the BJC. I concur with everything you're saying. I think there was a big debacle with Pear Anjui cables and the Amazing Randy i.e. they wouldn't take his bet on people being able to A/B test and tell which one was theirs but there are tons of things like that out there.

    I just concur and say that if it's debatable to my ears, and my ears are what I'm buying the gear for, then my dollars are going to go towards what makes a difference for me and my opinion will be shaped by that.
  • mikemokr
    mikemokr Posts: 150
    edited December 2013
    mccarty250 wrote: »
    Green cable is decorative, the price should be higher for green cable! ;)

    Green Monster should be a hit with Red Sox fans!
    Main HT (family room): Polk Monitor 7 (1987-original owner) (L/R) / CSi40 (C) / RTi38 (SL/SR) / SVS 20-39PC (sub), Outlaw 975 pre/pro / Outlaw 7075 amp, Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray, LG 42LM5800 teevee
    2ch (family room): CRS+ (1987), Outlaw 1050 AVR, Denon DCM-420 CD
    Kitchen satellite 2ch: Polk M3II, Topping TP-20 Tripath amp fed from 975 rec line out
    Home office: Model 5 (1978-Danish Peerless), Lepai 2020A+ Tripath amp fed by laptop dock
    Awaiting assignment: PSW202 (NIB) to be wired inline in home office rig; Monitor 5JR (1988), Model 4 (1983-US Peerless)
  • mikemokr
    mikemokr Posts: 150
    edited December 2013
    F1nut wrote: »
    But your ears haven't heard these cables you speak of.

    This is true. At one point some years ago I did a bunch of reading about speaker cabling and came to the opinion I still hold now. (I admit it doesn't hurt that the WAF is strong on this one.) I keep an open mind though and will look up blind A/B test results. But bang/buck is what attracted me to Polk in the first place 25+ years ago, it's why I've chosen the A/V gear I run now and I'd have to be convinced - like in blind A/B testing in my own system - that there's sufficient return on investment in boutique cable. Of course the problem is how to test cable at home without buying it ...
    tonyb wrote: »
    Not to be picky here my friend, but two entry level cables do not make a test.

    Sure they do - a test of oxidized vs non-oxidized entry-level wire ;-). ... A separate test, without oxidation as a potential confound, would be non-oxidized generic 12-ga vs boutique 12-ga.

    Anyway, having started to do some more research on my green Monster I'm actually curious whether the oxidation has any audible effect. The contact points are not green and I detect nothing indicating the insulation is grossly breaking down (no flaking, stickiness or greasiness - a few symptoms I've seen reported).
    Main HT (family room): Polk Monitor 7 (1987-original owner) (L/R) / CSi40 (C) / RTi38 (SL/SR) / SVS 20-39PC (sub), Outlaw 975 pre/pro / Outlaw 7075 amp, Oppo BDP-93 Blu-ray, LG 42LM5800 teevee
    2ch (family room): CRS+ (1987), Outlaw 1050 AVR, Denon DCM-420 CD
    Kitchen satellite 2ch: Polk M3II, Topping TP-20 Tripath amp fed from 975 rec line out
    Home office: Model 5 (1978-Danish Peerless), Lepai 2020A+ Tripath amp fed by laptop dock
    Awaiting assignment: PSW202 (NIB) to be wired inline in home office rig; Monitor 5JR (1988), Model 4 (1983-US Peerless)