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In Reply to: RE: CMC CMC-6005-CU-R Bare Copper Spade posted by Uncle Mike on June 17, 2017 at 03:44:58
I terminated a 9 foot pair of AudioQuest FLX 16/4 bulk speaker cable priced at $1.28 per foot with the CMC CMC-6005-CU-R bare copper spade, and the combo sounds better than it should for less than $40 in total. Very open sounding from top to bottom, with a detailed leading edge without sounding etched. Comes pretty close to the sonic signature of a solid core cable; certainly doesn't sound ill-defined like inferior stranded speaker wire tends to, and the combo sounds more transparent/less colored than AudioQuest Type 4, which is more expensive.
Follow Ups:
The AudioQuest 16/4 (13 AWG aggregate/effective gauge) FLX sounds so good, I ordered the 14/4 (11 AWG aggregate/effective gauge) FLX as another option, since in my experience the tonality of the two cables are quite different. Rather than a more airy treble and laid back presence, the 14/4 FLX presents a more visceral gestalt, with a denser tonality, and a stronger bottom-end. I look forward to comparing them within a DIY television audio loudspeaker project I'm working on. $1.68 per foot from Audio Advisor.
See link:
Notice the AudioQuest FLX 14/4 speaker cable shown in the above image.The wiring scheme that What Hi-Fi? shows is incorrect. Each of the four color-coded conductors are marked on the insulation by AudioQuest:
Red - Right Positive (+)
Green - Right Negative (-)
White - Left Positive (+)
Black - Left Negative (-)
---
If wired as an internal bi-wire speaker cable with a side-by-side geometry, the color codes that are tied together in the image do not conform to AudioQuest's markings.
---
For a proper cross-connected star quad configuration:
Red and White should be tied together for Positive (+) at both ends.
Green and Black should be tied together for Negative (-) at both ends.
Edits: 06/26/17 06/26/17
Quite a few years ago I came across some Belden 2 cond. 16 AWG silver plated stranded cable spec'd out for instrument signal wire. It was unusual in that there were more stands per bundle and it was silver plated. I thought it was tinned but found out it was in fact silver so it piqued my interest. Since there was plenty left when the project was complete I acquired some to sample. It was and is to date the best speaker cable I have have come across. I use two pair per speaker which works out to about 13awg per leg.
After I stripped the cover I used it to make interconnects too, though I have to be careful where I use them as they can sound shrill/ bright. I have many vintage tube pieces that they work well with.
Copper spade connectors are a common commodity as well. Though those you listed are priced well as most audiophile items are absurdly expensive.
So you see I can DIY most any cable that cannot be touched for the price.
Belden makes good wire and, if you get the right stuff, I also believe it can be just as satisfying as some of the multi $K wires folks purchase. I find it interesting that audio people tend to look down on systems using basic Belden, Mogami, Canare, etc. wire but when Blue Jeans Cable or others make cables from the exact same wire then all of a sudden it becomes a great value.
To your price comment, I still find the Western Electric wire to sound excellent compared to many expensive, and some less expensive, wires I have had in my systems. I can honestly say, none have been as musically satisfying to me. Specifically, I use the WE10ga with two twisted pairs going to each speaker for bi-wiring but I also have a set made from quads of WE16ga (13awg aggregate) for the MF/HF and quads of WE14ga (11awg aggregate) for the LF and those also sound excellent.
The longer I have been doing this audio hobby, the less convinced I am of the sonic benefit, and certainly the value, of the many things sold for a lot of money to audiophiles. Much of it seems like a Jedi mind trick on a massive scale, but maybe I am just getting old.
I'm with you. I cannot get my head around purity and OFC claims. Especially when I know all copper electrical wire is 99.3 % copper and the role oxygen plays in the manufacturing process. A google search can be a dangerous thing I suppose.
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