Speaker cable manufacturers

I guess I would ask what musical attributes are you looking for? How do you feel your system is lacking? Are you looking for cables that provide more power and fullness, or cables with more speed and resolution? Also, do you prefer a more immediate presentation, or a more laid back soundstage? Front row or mid hall?

You cannot have it all, no matter what others may say. It's all a matter of balancing the sound to suit your tastes. Some do it with equipment, some do it with cables.

Before we can give you proper directions, we need to know what direction you wish to head in, east or west.

Cheers,
John

Jimbones, you say that you found the MIT MH750 not be clean/clear, which I agree with, however, you also say that you found it to sound forward and bright, which does not jive at all with my memory of this cable. It had a large, deep stage, but was a bit darker sounding.

Anyway, if you are looking for a laid back sound, I would skip the Analysis Plus cables. I found them to be very clear with good tonal balance, but very forward sounding cables, perhaps the most forward sounding cables I've heard. I had the Solo Crystal Oval 8's. You say that you are looking for laid back, smoother and cleaner sound. In my experiences, laid back and cleaner generally do not go hand in hand. They are heading in opposite directions. Cleaner sound generally occurs when the leading edge of the transient is quick, these cables also tend to have a quicker decay of the note as well, which leads to a cleaner sounding, more immediate (forward) presentation. The cables that sound laid back, which offer good stage depth, offer a slower, more natural decay of the note, though the downside is that they also are not as quick on the leading edge transient of the note. Just as one cannot find a full, warm cable that is also articulate and fast, laid back and cleaner tend to drive you in opposite directions.

If cleaner is your top priority, then the Analysis Plus may work for you, as they are smooth and clean, yet NOT laid back. You may want to try Tara Labs, Purist Audio, or Stealth if you want laid back. The Tara Labs and Stealth will be cleaner, though if you found the MIT cable to be bright, you may also find Tara Labs and Stealth to sound bright. Hell, even Analysis Plus will sound bright compared to my experiences with MIT cables. MIT are much like Cardas and Purist Audio, known for their fuller, deep 3 dimensional stages, yet rather dark sounding with some gear.

Well, since you seem to enjoy the QED, which is actually silver plated copper, not silver, you may look at other cables with similar conductors. Nordost and Audio Horizons offer silver plated copper conductors, among others I'm sure, but these are the only two silver plated copper cables that I've used. I wouldn't call either one of these smooth, but they are very revealing. Personally, I find these cables too bright for me, I think even pure silver is a bit smoother than silver plated copper, but as always, YMMV.

I see we have different ideas of forward sound. My idea of forward sound is a sound-stage that places you in the front row versus one with a more mid hall perspective. You describe a highlighted midrange band, which does sound more like the MIT cables that I've heard. MIT does have a deep 3D stage though, it is not a forward presentation in my sense, like the AP cables are. Some folks love that immediate, front row energy. I prefer a deeper more 3 dimensional stage.

Nordost top stuff is very expensive, as is MIT's, Purist Audio, Tara Labs, Analysis Plus and many others. You could probably get a used pair of Nordost Heimdall in your price range if you want though. Very clear and revealing, with a nice deep stage. Smooth it is not though, you may find it a tad bright.

Detailed and smooth are rather exclusive, as you get more detail, you get less smooth.