Inexpensive external bi-wire cables.

Posted by Duster (M) on May 15, 2017 at 17:32:38

Having experience of both the AudioQuest FLX/SLiP 14/4 and AudioQuest FLX/DB 16/4 bulk speaker cables in my computer workstation system, I find they are an impressive example of how wire and cable technology has progressed over the years. For little cash outlay, the AudioQuest FLX designs provide big bang for the buck performance for an inexpensive product line. So, in the case of folks who might reject the use of external bi-wire cables based on the cost-factor of two runs of speaker cables per loudspeaker, the AudioQuest FLX design might be the ticket vs. using a bi-wire jumper configuration. So here's a suggestion:

First-off, the design of the AudioQuest FLX design is not the same as Canare's star quad cabling, which feature a conventional stranded conductor design, while the AudioQuest FLX features a concentric lay design that performs closer to that of a solid core conductor, in that distortions due to strand interactions are reduced in a more sonically optimized manner. Spatial information and overall coherence is greater than a typical stranded conductor speaker cable as a result, IME. This is not to say the concentric lay design is equal to that of a solid core design, but I find it superior to more conventional lay stranded conductors, and offered at a lower price point than a usual higher-performance solid sore design.

The AudioQuest FLX design has two model types: The SLiP which is marketed as in-wall cable, and the DB which is marketed a direct-burial cable. From what I can tell, they are similar if not the same in effect, with only the color of the cable jackets being noticeable. Otherwise, the difference to consider from an external bi-wire configuration POV is the use of a 14/4 cross-connected star quad FLX cable for the low-pass binding posts, and a 16/4 cross-connected star quad FLX cable for the high-pass binding posts. The smaller 16/4 FLX (13 AWG aggregate gauge) provides a more airy and nuanced treble characteristic while the larger 14/4 FLX (11 AWG aggregate gauge) provides a bolder presence and stronger bottom-end. Since the metallurgy, dielectric, and geometry are the same, there is good integration of the high-pass and low-pass sections.

See links:

https://onecall.com/audioquest-flx-db-14-4-per-ft-14-gauge-4-conductor-in-wall-speaker-cable

https://onecall.com/audioquest-flx-db-16-4-dark-gray-per-ft-16-gauge-4-conductor-in-wall-speaker-cable

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