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nice system

Posted by madisonears (A) on May 23, 2015 at 22:22:20

In Reply to: Cable advice for new system posted by kingist on May 23, 2015 at 20:07:10:

Nice components deserve decent wire. If this is truly a dream system, there is no point in skimping on quality, but that doesn't always mean high price.

Rule number one: BUY USED. Cable does not wear out unless it's abused, and there is not much new happening with cable design and materials. Most marketing of new product is BS. You should get equivalent quality of used cable for half the cost or less of new. Buy from a reputable seller with good feedback.

Twenty feet, forty total, of speaker cable is going to cost a lot (I consider $1000 a lot), and possibly compromise performance no matter how good it is. If there is any way to reduce that length, it's the biggest improvement you can make and will save money, possibly a lot.

The longest cable is the most important. If that's speaker, then pay attention to gauge, conductor material, insulation. Method of construction, type of connector, all else is secondary. Get one set of really good cable, forget bi-wiring for now, although if your speakers are designed for it, ultimately it will offer an improvement. But it's not critical at this point. Twenty feet long requires 14 gauge, and bigger than that is not necessarily better. Look for OFC or OCC copper, multi-size solid not stranded if you can afford it. Avoid silver, including plating over copper wire, as it could be the most expensive audio mistake you'll ever make. Look for teflon or polypropylene insulation. Spades are good, cheap, bananas are okay, convenient. Gold is good connector plating, silver okay, avoid nickel and bare copper.

IC's are pretty much the same, except smaller gauge (24 and under) is better. Look for OCC copper and teflon insulation. Avoid silver and exotic insulation. Decent quality connectors are important. Furutech is excellent and Vampire generally good, as are a few others. WBT is overpriced. Neutrik is popular, almost a standard for some reason, but it's not really very good. Locking type is not wanted unless you have little kids or inquisitive pets. Gold plating is the best, avoid any nickel, no need for exotic materials.

Power cords are frosting. I expect that your quality electronics will function suitably without exotic or expensive cords. Use what comes with them to start, and then you can experiment with better cords later on. It will improve the sound, but it is swamped by quality of speaker/IC's.

I have never heard a bad Audioquest product, although their entry level stuff is nothing special. The level of resolution goes up with the price, but it is all pretty well balanced. There are plenty of weird brands. Anybody can make decent cable (even you), and the mark-ups can verge on criminal. Some designs are more exotic, some are cheaper, many cost far more and are not much better. Avoid shit from e-Bay with shiny connectors and flashy jackets. Look for a bargain, but not a stupid bargain. High grade copper wire is expensive anywhere in the world. Don't skimp on copper. That's pretty much what wire is. If it's crazy cheap, it's junk.

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

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