Speaker cable change??

Hi Ray,

I ran Apogee Slant 8’s for many years. They are incredibly good speakers for the money. Audio Research is also a great compliment to them as it is really easy to have them sound really lean… with just too much resolving power.

Budget silver can sound really harsh. With those speakers I don;t recommend it

I would definitely look at Cardas. I used Golden Reference… although with the ARC that might not be required. If I was you I would try Cardas Clear Reflections, they should do exactly what you are requesting.

While the rule of thumb was speaker cost be around 30% of your total system. I found that Apogee’s could support electronics way beyond this! I think at one time each of my components were of greater cost than my speakers. I have experience with Baby Grand and Grand as well.

I highly recommend if you can afford it some day to get an Audio Research tube amp to power these. This will add a whole new dimension to what they can do.

I wound recommend one of the more affordable Audioquest speaker cables. 

Budget is a consideration isn’t a number. What’s your price range?

why are so many kinds of cable twisted....?  What is the advantage?

would like to stay approx. 1K and has to be bi wire

"why are so many kinds of cable twisted....?  What is the advantage?"

@stringreen 

I thought it was to minimize RFI. Not sure though.

These are awesome and unbeatable at this price and you can probably bargain these down. 
Puris Aqueos

I used these with B&Ws when I had CD3 MkII and ARC preamps. 

As an alternative I think you should be able to get Acoustic Zen Hologram within this price range on a used market.

The Purist are better cables though. 

@rsjm80 - take a look at this thread

• What Makes A Good Cable

It explains some of the current approaches to cable design - without getting into the science.

There’s three brands mentioned...

• they are are all excellent performers
• with varying price  points
  • but you do get what you pay for

WRT strnded vs. solid wire

• sollid wire can handle more current
• has less distortion

Silver wire is more dynamic and detailed

• which can sometimes be mistaken for brightness.
• If a cable is bright it is more due to geometry and insulation employed

Hoper that helps

Thank Willie that did help me some.as I have looked a bit the Synergistic SR30 seems like it might(?) fit the bill? I must also say that that I DO NOT PUSH the volume levels on the music I listen to (which is rock, alt rock) but I want to get the best listening as possible and NOT HAVE listening fatiueu.

@williewonka there's doubt about using solid core cables for speakers.

Speakers by their very nature, vibrations travel through the connectors, solid stranded cable is designed for vibration free environment, such as in wall. Vibrations and enough movement can break the conductor.

If the choice is current, there are many speaker cables that have larger stranded conductors to compensate the minor variation of solid/stranded cable current carrying capacity.  Seven strand cable is still not enough strands, as this is still not that flexible. 

@rms456 - I considered this and tried a quick test before using solid wire...

1. Using pliers, I bent the wire 90 degrees
2. I then bent the wire back on itself 180 degrees
3. After several iterations (appox 15) the wire snapped
4. This was the Neotec OCC wire

Considering a speaker cable will never undergo such extreme bending under normal use I figured it would probably be good for a lifetime.

Granted, vibrations can be fatiguing, but quality copper is able to withstand vibrations much better than household Romex.

Regards Steve

I’d recommend these Acoustic Zen Shotgun bi-wire cables.  I have them and they exhibit the sound characteristics you’re looking for.  Best of luck.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185798770113

All cables affect your system.  Sometimes you want a cable to hide or diminish a weakness of your system.  Presently, I prefer the Amazon Monolith speaker cables…something like $20, if you can believe it…