AudioNervosa
Electro Stimulation Ward => Signals and Noise => Topic started by: James Edward on July 04, 2020, 12:41:01 PM
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Happy 4th to all in these United States. The following is just a rumination...
I’m getting the itch to change(notice I did not say upgrade) speaker cables. I currently use 12 gauge Anticables. Of course now they offer a doubled up version at 9 gauge. My speakers do not have bi-wire capability, so that is a non-issue. The 3.1 version of their cable is simply their 2.1 cables with an extra pair of wires. http://anticables.com/speaker-wires/2-channel#!/Level-3-1-Speaker-Wires/p/14644527/category=3449817
Then there is Supra- they have a 9 gauge stranded, tin plated wire- pretty much the polar opposite of what Anticables espouses.
https://www.madisoundspeakerstore.com/speaker-wire/supra-classic-6.0-speaker-wire-per-foot-9-awg/
Quite a while ago, I spoke with Pierre at Mapleshade; he was adamant that large gauge wire muddied up the bass. This is also a factor in my head, FWIW. Supra does sell a smaller gauge wire of the same type(stranded copper with tin plating).
Lastly, I will say that I run rather long lengths of wire-18 ft., and 23 ft. Therefore, these two contenders are likely all I can afford to try. Others out there run into megabucks.
Any thoughts or experience on stranded vs. solid core, etc., are appreciated.
If it makes a difference- speakers are Spatial M3 Turbo S, amp is Luxman L-590 AX Mk2.
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Supra.
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I'm really frugal, I use this solid wire (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-250-ft-18-5-Brown-Solid-CU-CL2-Thermostat-Wire-64169644/202316418)...
(https://images.homedepot-static.com/productImages/bdd57645-0c63-4746-9c1b-23a619f159ab/svn/southwire-thermostat-wires-64169644-64_1000.jpg)
I use 2 conductors for +, 2 conductors for -, and the 5th conductor for the OPT input on my Gallo Reference 3.5 speakers.
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I’d opt for Supra.
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I went with Triode Wire and am thrilled with it.
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Triode is way out of my budget due to the lengths I need.
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I have Supra Rondo 2 x 2.5 (stranded, tin plating) and various model Morrow (solid core) speaker cables. The Supra is full and pleasant but I find it veiled and lacking in speed, presence and precision compared to the Morrow. When using Supra I find myself leaning in and craving the detail that I know is there, but not being revealed. Very smooth and easy to listen to, though. I would say it might be a good match for leanish and hyper-detailed / anyalytical systems. Not how my rig is voiced so not the best match for me.
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PS: FWIW, years ago I owned the original version of Anti-Cables SC. Good clarity and speed but when listening for awhile I found it a bit insistent and fatiguing in the upper mids and treble. But I'm very sensitive to that sort of thing, so YMMV.
No idea how the current A-C versions stack up.
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James, I'll second tooblover's thoughts on stranded vs. solid cables, and also that in general, cabling is very system dependent. I do believe that cables can alter the sound of a system, but don't believe a more expensive cable is necessarily a "better sounding" cable. The solid wire I use is available in a 50' length for under $20 (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Southwire-50-ft-18-5-Brown-Solid-CU-CL2-Thermostat-Wire-64169640/204862207). Will it sound vastly different than your current Anti-Cables solid wire? Can't say, but it may, and for $20 could be worth the experiment(?)
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Cheap experiment. All you have to do is spend a few bucks and be patient.
Break in takes time. A week or so.
Buy CAT5 plenum rated Ethernet cable.
Most important: strip off the crappy PVC jacket.
Bundle one run to the + and another to the negative of your speakers. Twist the individual wire bundles at 1 - 2 turns per foot.
Give these cables at least a week to burn in.
Report back.
Just sayin’...