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Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?

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Posted on March 8, 2017 at 12:35:29
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2362
Joined: September 27, 2004
I need better speaker cables for my Avantgarde horn speakers. I'm using Chord Odyssey at present and looking to pay about £500-800 for a used pair of £1000-1500 list price cables of 3.0m.

Another preference is that they are flexible. I've tried stiff cables but the space behind my amps makes these awkward.

Suggestions for internationally available cable suggestions appreciated.

 

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RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 8, 2017 at 19:00:05
I too was in the market for a nice set of speaker cables.

I decided to purchase a set of Blue Jeans Cable - BJC Ten White (5T00UP) (White jacket, 10 AWG) to tied me over until I did some proper research etc. Years later, the desire to purchase speaker cables has gone.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 8, 2017 at 19:48:19
You might check out AudioGon. There is a person selling "military surplus wire" (Keith ).It is white in color and is a silver plated 18ga cable.These are available for audition ,with money back option.
When I sold Omega Mikro,many customers' wives were running them over with the vacuum cleaner.I went looking for a quality cable that was more durable. Wahla, tried them and really liked them.Along with many of my former customers.
Get them "shot-gunned" and have him mark directionality.They sound best with the arrow pointed at the speaker,coming from the amp.And vise-versa on the negative/return.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 8, 2017 at 19:52:34
@Audiogon.com.Search "military cable" or "military nuclear".Same cable/person.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 9, 2017 at 00:31:25
Duster
Manufacturer

Posts: 17117
Location: Pacific Northwest
Joined: August 25, 2002
You have quite an assortment of power amplifiers to choose from. Which one is your primary power amplifier, if not your reference power amplifier?

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 9, 2017 at 03:24:37
Don't know why you keep posting to me as if I am the original poster.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 10, 2017 at 08:46:48
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3348
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
September 4, 2000
After reading your system profile,( Inmate's Systems) I'm wondering if addressing room acoustics (either thru passive or active methods) would have a more positive effect. Depends on if you're going to be at this location for the long haul of course. Since no cable I'm aware of is going to correct room acoustics, I would try something very reasonable as a few have suggested already. If you're looking for a cable that's available just about anywhere, I would suggest Supra. The Ply 3.4 would be a reasonable starting point. Good luck, but as always....YMMV.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 10, 2017 at 09:50:39
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2362
Joined: September 27, 2004
Thank you for the Supra suggestion. Supra used to be widely available, but for some reason they are now difficult to find in the UK. No dealer at all in Hampshire!

However I can get them supplied from the importer. I've been looking at the very poor Supra website and see there are Ply cables, but also Linc, Quadrax and a much more costly XL Annorum.

Most of these cables are appreciable cheaper than my present Chord Odyssey cables, so I am wondering whether they'd actually offer an improvement in sound quality. They are very differently constructed and may be worth a try. I'm inclined to think the Quadrax in shotgun form may be better than Ply. Do you have any experience of these cables? Thanks

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 10, 2017 at 14:57:32
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3348
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since:
September 4, 2000
My experience is limited to the Ply 3.4, Rondo 2.5 and the 2.5 Classic. All easily punch above their respective price points. All can be sourced from Madisound here in the U.S. They also feature two different Quadrax versions that are terminated. Since all of these are manufactured in Sweden, I'm sure they'd be easy to find in Europe as well. I wouldn't get too hung up price vs. performance either. Many here and at Audiocircle have ended up prefering less expensive speaker cables such as the Duelund or WE #16 to the $1000 plus cables they had been using. All system dependant of course.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 11, 2017 at 04:51:01
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2362
Joined: September 27, 2004
I agree. There's a lot of rubbish peddled by exotic cable vendors, mostly for their own unwarranted profits, but possibly more to encourage their dealers to sing the praises of grossly and unnecessarily over-priced cables - and other audio accessories for that matter.

I did have some Supra cables years ago, probably their first ones - 2.5 or 4.0 Classic I suspect. They were nicely flexible but I was persuaded to upgrade to Chord Odyssey. I'd always like to see and handle cables before purchase as how they connect to the amp and lay across the floor are important factors. The nearest Supra dealer is about 80 miles away so I'll try to visit when I going in their direction. However I would be prepared to pay a higher price if I can be convinced they'd be better. I don't want to lose any of the potential quality from £25K worth of kit.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 11, 2017 at 12:55:02
KanedaK
Audiophile

Posts: 2515
Location: Brussels
Joined: April 27, 2010
QED "Original" (?) is what I use and I find it balanced with a good all-round presentation top to bottom. I'm sure there are better cables around but if you need some lenghts QED doesn't break the bank and sounds very good.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 19, 2017 at 21:42:07
Posts: 1
Location: Palo Alto CA.
Joined: March 19, 2017



I have the a par of Duo and 230 subs. I open the back of the speakers and re-wired them with Kimber speaker wire color 4Blue and 4Black about $12 per foot. The old cable that came with them where 16g cheap wire. All it take is a alien wreath Just look and you make up your mind.

 

RE: Speaker Cables - Which to Buy?, posted on March 20, 2017 at 08:53:12
cawson@onetel.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2362
Joined: September 27, 2004
Thanks very much for your reply. When I bought my Unos with 225 subs, I had them wired by Avantgarde with silver wiring both inside the cabinets and for the jumpers. I've never thought these as particularly good, so your suggestion for change is welcome.

I was thinking of using Chord Odyssey cable which is high purity copper silver coated, but maybe Kimber is better. Was it a simple job to change the wiring? I've never taken the back covers off the tubes or the drivers out of the subs. I presume this has to be done. Also, I'm thinking of gloss spraying the horns and rear caps with an automotive paint. I guess these polycarbonate parts can be removed at the same time with little extra effort.

What cables do you use (or would recommend) between the amp and the speaker? I'm using Chord Odyssey but I know it should be upgraded.

I didn't know the 230 sub was available with the Duo. Does the 230 use bigger drivers than the 225's twin 10" ones and is the cabinet wider than the 225's 300 mm? Thanks. Peter

 

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