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If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable

108.249.169.177
Posted on July 24, 2016 at 13:58:09
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I have had several emails from people who want to try the Beldin 8402 interconnect and Western Electric 16 Ga speaker cable. They are telling me they can't find the Western Electric cable.I here offer two alternates

#1) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Belden-9497-High-End-Speaker-Cables-SET-Amps-Banana-Banana-8-Pair-/272316742497
This cable is interesting because it was The late Ken Shindo's cable of choice. I have a set coming and will compare it to the Western Electric

#2) From parts express comes the Deuland hookup wire which is supposed to be a modern copy of the Western Electric
http://www.partsconnexion.com/wire_hookup_duelund.html
Alan

 

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RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 24, 2016 at 17:43:12
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3365
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 As far as the WE speaker wire, I'd definitely head for one of the 2 options listed under your #2. Several months back I bought a pair of the "9497" speaker cables from a Canadian seller here on AA. Extremely inexpensive terminated with cheap bananas for about $60. Have no idea if it was the real deal or not. I didn't see Belden printed anywhere on either cable. Certainly resembled pics I'd seen of the 9497, but who knows. I found it pretty thin and brittle sounding overall. Not exactly my cup of tea, but perhaps in the "right" system? It's my understanding that Ken Shindo used the 9497 for internal wiring for his speakers, not as speaker wire per say. As always YMMV. Personally if I hadn't found the real WE #16 from from a trusted seller already, I'd be checking out what Parts Connexion or Parts Express had to offer.



 

Dueland wire, posted on July 25, 2016 at 18:23:19
hawkmoon
Audiophile

Posts: 903
Location: cleveland
Joined: July 11, 2003
 Looks very interesting. I'm buying some next week. I've already ordered a set of the interconnects. Keep posting!

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 26, 2016 at 05:59:05
HandmadeElect
Dealer

Posts: 2
Joined: January 30, 2001
 Belden doesn't mark many of their lower priced cables, wires and I am not aware of any knock off 9497. Putting the brand and type on would be an extra cost on a commodity type product.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 26, 2016 at 10:22:49
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3365
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Thx. Good to know I might actually have the real thing. Unfortunately, still not what I was looking for sonically. Probably haul it out sometime in the future and give it another shot though.

 

RE: Dueland wire, posted on July 26, 2016 at 12:58:06
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Keep us posted- hawkmoon.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 26, 2016 at 16:03:04
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1990
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 I am a bit of a skeptic. I don't doubt people like i what they have, but finding the exact one on ebay isn't something I would spend money on.
And am very skeptical of anything Jeff Day recommends. He has no original thought and will fanboy anything and everything if it gets him a deal.

The Belden and Dueland are hook up wire, so, not sure if that translates into good speaker wire... but maybe.

Allot of Western Electric aficionados like Supra speaker cables. These are people w real mega buck WE drivers, horns, amps etc... I would think they are looking for something that doesn't mess up the iconic WE mid-range. Food for thought.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 26, 2016 at 17:18:32
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 After many years of buying audio equipment and talking about it on internet sites I no longer pay any attention to people who are skeptical of a product who have not heard the product. As far as Jeff day I do not take anything he says as absolute truth but might examine a product he brings up that I have never come across. His column triggered my sampling and now use of Beldin 8402 interconnects and Western Electric 16 ga speaker cable. These $275 worth of cables in my $40000 system are simply the best sounding cables (including very expensive cables) I have ever heard. I will try the Deulands because they are cheap enoough to try. I will eventually sell my Auditorium 23 and High diamond 8 cable and come out well ahead of what I have spent on these cheap cables. By the way I really like the Supra usb cable
Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 26, 2016 at 19:04:40
hapinoregon
Audiophile

Posts: 118
Location: SW Oregon
Joined: June 21, 2007
 How stiff is the Belden 9497?

Inquiring mind...

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 26, 2016 at 21:12:55
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I don't know
I have some on order and will let you know when I get it
Alan

 

Another skeptic, posted on July 27, 2016 at 07:23:56
Salectric
Audiophile

Posts: 1358
Location: East Coast
Joined: February 23, 2003
 I have tried the WE16g (several varieties) and the Belden 8402 interconnect, and went through the cycle of being impressed initially but then disappointed. Neither is used in my system at present. Yes, the WE wire and the Belden wire, whether used together or with other wires, do sound smooth and musical and they have a warmth that is missing from many systems. However, in my system which was already smooth, musical and warm to begin with, the WE and Belden end up being too colored and they are not as detailed or refined as my other cables.

Despite all that, I ordered some of the new Duelund wire. At the price, I can't resist trying it just to see whether it might succeed where the others did not.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 27, 2016 at 09:07:27
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3365
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 9497 is totally flexible..... no problems in that area. Just didn't cut sonically for me. Short of finding "real" WE #16, I'd head for the Duelund.

 

RE: Another skeptic, posted on July 27, 2016 at 13:21:00
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Keep me posted -Salectric & Mick.

 

RE: Another skeptic, posted on July 27, 2016 at 13:31:57
Salectric
Audiophile

Posts: 1358
Location: East Coast
Joined: February 23, 2003
 I will post something about the new Duelund wires, but probably not right away. It takes time to get the full measure of a new wire especially considering break-in time. Several times I have made the mistake of posting a favorable comment about something after only a day or two, only to find out later that my opinion had changed. Sometimes the ear latches onto the "good" things right away and ignores or downplays the not-so-good qualities. It takes longer listening to get a full, balanced appreciation of something new.

 

You can still lead a happy life, posted on July 28, 2016 at 16:49:36
madisonears
Audiophile

Posts: 1587
Location: midwest
Joined: September 6, 2006
 Flavor of the month, enhanced by the romantic vintage element. Tinned stranded wire is still tinned stranded wire, whether it's from the cargo hold of the Titanic or the hardware store.

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

 

FYI: Here's a link to 14 gauge WE stranded/tinned (cotton?) wire still available in bulk..., posted on July 28, 2016 at 17:23:40
DeKay
 It's later production (late 90's per the copy).

Not endorsing it, just mentioning that's it's out there.

I still have quite a bit of the 47 Labs OTA cable (that I have been using for 14+ years) thanks to a friend who gifted me approx. half a kit, so did not try WE (plus... aside from lipstick & handbags I'm not real keen on the color Red;-).

Think it's been selling on the Bay for @ least a year now, maybe longer.

BTW, I was using 47 Labs OTA @ least 4 years before Jeff Day reviewed it (not a Jeff fan in general, but occasionally our tastes coincide).

 

RE: You can still lead a happy life, posted on July 28, 2016 at 18:10:30
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 Just came across some strong recommendations of Supra speaker cable. Upon investigation it is stranded tinned copper.
Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 28, 2016 at 18:12:36
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 Got my Belden 9457
It is flexible
A very wet sounding cable
Wet meaning it enhances reverb and room sound

Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 28, 2016 at 18:14:42
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 By the way Supra uses stranded, tinned, copper wire
Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 29, 2016 at 09:32:03
DrN
Audiophile

Posts: 366
Joined: January 31, 2014
 Alan, how are you using it? 6 conductors 3+ and 3 - ?

BTW, I read way back in the 40's? WE were the first ones to come out with OFC copper.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 29, 2016 at 11:57:26
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I bought the cable pre-terminated so I am not sure
Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 30, 2016 at 07:34:03
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I can not recommend Belden 9457 speaker cable
It is very colored. It makes everything sound lush and romantic
Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on July 30, 2016 at 15:59:01
lokie
Audiophile

Posts: 1990
Location: Georgia, USA
Joined: January 28, 2003
 Put some SUPRA Classic 6.0, 9 awg in the system a few months ago.

Yes they are stranded and tinned and a material nothing like I have ever used. Very flexible and very heavy.

Can't really comment on the Supra sonics due to numerous changes in the system. I can say I'm currently hearing the best sound I've ever heard in my house- but how much the Supra speaker cable is responsible? I dunno.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 2, 2016 at 06:15:31
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 what other gear is in your system?

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 2, 2016 at 07:46:17
pc123v
Audiophile

Posts: 225
Joined: February 6, 2014
 @ahendler and users of we16ga. The western electric we16ga piqued my interest for quite some time but was unable to source for some. Now that duelund has come up with something very similar...I will definitely try it. Before I pull the trigger...I would be most grateful if you could give some insight on how they sound (I do realise it's sys dependent). Area that is most important to me is ... Density in the vocal band (seeking full and large image size esp piano) and HF smoothness and etch ( seeking non etched for sure). Slightly recessed TOP end would be important too. Thanks.

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 3, 2016 at 22:00:30
ahendler
Audiophile

Posts: 5151
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Joined: January 24, 2003
 I am still waiting for my Dueland cable
Alan

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 4, 2016 at 23:05:39
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Mine came today and right out of the box it is impressive, I will let it play for most of the weekend and get back with you. I was using $15,000 speaker cables so it will be interesting to see how good it really is, but I am impressed.

theaudiobeatnik.com

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 5, 2016 at 20:13:38
pc123v
Audiophile

Posts: 225
Joined: February 6, 2014
 Looking forward to your impressions of the WE16ga. Thanks

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 6, 2016 at 14:27:04
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 jnr-

which $15K cabling are you using?

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 6, 2016 at 14:48:35
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
 High Fidelity Ultimate Reference
theaudiobeatnik.com

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 8, 2016 at 13:45:12
pc123v
Audiophile

Posts: 225
Joined: February 6, 2014
 @Jnr... how do you like the Duelunds so far? In particular...how did it fair in the midrange esp density in the vocal band and upper treble (etch and sibilance). I am hoping that the new Duelunds could be the cable for me...have had one too many miscues lately :(

Thanks

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 8, 2016 at 17:01:28
jnr
Reviewer

Posts: 2164
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Joined: April 5, 2000
 Well, I only have about 20 hours on it so far, and I want to get 100 before I publish anything definitive, but at the moment I'm loving it.It sounded a little rough on voices for about 5 hours, it is anything but etched. The sound is very live sounding. It's a little hard to put into words, but my system sounds more like real performers are in the room than before. It helps that I have heard live jazz the last two Saturday nights. I really like how it sounds on rock.
theaudiobeatnik.com

 

RE: If You Can't find Western Electric speaker cable, posted on August 11, 2016 at 06:26:57
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15524
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 TY- jnr

 

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