Next upgrade: cables. But which ones first?


Please help with guidance regarding cable upgrade. I’m a total cable novice. So far I’ve focused on upgrading components and I think the next move should be cables. But where to start?

I have B&W 804S speakers, McIntosh MC275 amp, Lamm LL2D pre, Rotel RCD1072 cd player, a Squeezebox Touch, and I plan on getting a DAC in about a year. I have two 10 AWG dedicated power lines with hospital grade outlets, and the system makes no hiss, no hum. All power cords are stock (none shielded), speaker cables are magnet wire (DIY anti cables), and ICs are Nordost cheapest RCAs.

I’m trying to decide whether to upgrade speaker cables first, or power cords first. While ICs are still cheap, I guess they are a small step above the speaker and power cords. I also realize this is yet another form of source first vs. speakers first debate. Yet I need to decide what would make a larger sonic impact for about $1000. I could buy used in the US or DIY, but I’m overseas so getting a bunch of cables and trying is not an option.

Thank you!
lewinskih01

Showing 2 responses by dcrugby

my two cents is that i would buy an inexpensive power cord to try on each of your components and a set of interconnects to see if you're interested in changing your sound.

i've had blue heavens and red dawns in my systems and i never felt they let the other gear work at 100%. if your speaker cables work as well as anti cables, you're good to go with them unless you're itching to just experiment, i've got a set of them and they punch well above their price point.

and i agree with the idea that the power cords are the easiest way to jump on the cable wagon - the thing about them (in MY experience) is that a good power cable ALWAYS sounds as good or better than a stock one (sometimes a lot better), while interconnects and speaker cables can just sound different sometimes - not necessarily better or worse. and i really don't want to start an argument here, so please, please no one hijack this thread to start this debate again, but one thing i've had to watch out for in my experience is that you can't judge some cables right away (particularly power cables), they often do have to run in for a few days to sound right.

if i had your system and i was playing around, i'd buy a power cable from one of the adiogon guys (my audio cables, element, cullen, etc.) or find a big, fat, shielded ps audio cable for $100 or so and then buy some interconnects in whatever price point that you want to experiment with.

any mit or analysis plus or most of the van den hul interconnects (disclosure: some people get a hum when they use a vdh first or second interconnect with tubes, as they are carbon, not metal), for example, would sound better than the nordosts, i would think.

but it's all up to the audio gods in the end....
good luck!
i personally have never been impressed by a 14 awg cable on an amp, but maybe the venusta is special, i know people love that brand.

the cables i've ended up liking on amps are all 10 and lower. my favorite one i have for amps is a 10 awg solid silver, crazy power delivery.