Like some of the other poster said, try The Cable Company. They'll send you a box full of cables in your price range to demo. Listen to them and pick the ones that sound best. You can't ask for a better way to do it.
I'd like some recommendations for speaker cables
I understand this is a touchy subject. My intent is NOT to have this result in that typical cable discussion. All opinions welcome.
As an update, in a previous thread I was asking for upgrade recommendations. I ended up trading for a Hana Umami blue. It's great and I appreciate the advice.
I've since bought a set of long (25') XLRs to run between my amp and pre-amp, which has enabled me to move my component rack behind the listening position closer to the media. It was between the speakers. Now, the only thing between the speakers is my amp, and it's at floor level. This has made a huge difference in the soundstage, the accuracy and the location of things in the sound space. Great improvement.
The XLRs I was using to run between my amp and pre-amp were entry level high end cables. I replaced them with normal Mic cable. Well, high end mic cable. And the high end mic cable is way better than the audiophile high end brand cable. I'll go as far to say the audiophile cable is awful. I've since ordered another pair of XLRs, from a different manufacturer, to replace them.
I also replaced my speaker cables with mogami 3103 that I terminated myself. They sound "darker" and less detailed then the cable I was using, which I'm unsure of the manufacturer of my previous cable. I plan to re-terminate my previous cable in bananas to compare some more. My previous cable was, maybe, too bright. Don't get me wrong, the Momagi is good, just not what I think I prefer.
My main question is, If I'm looking for detail and a "brighter" sound, what speaker cables would you recommend I try?
Also, do most dealers let you try cables? It's not ridiculous to think I could work with a dealer to try to hone in on what I like, right?
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With. System consisting of Audio Research and Magico you should stick with established cable manufacturers - Nordost, Kimber, Audioquest, Audience, Synergistic, Shunyata, Transparent. |
+1 for Ice Age Audio. I stumbled on them almost by accident, gave them a try, and never looked back. I’ve used them for speaker cables, power cords and XLR cables. I’ve worked with Rick Parker, the owner, to create some custom cables for my Deer Creek Audio equalizers. Additionally Rick talked me out of spending more money than I needed to on some power cords, when he could easily have just taken my money. |
@charles007100 I agree 100% as usual with @audphile1 (and Kevin) your cables are likely a significant bottleneck in the context of your system, but cables like everything in audio depend on synergy and personal taste so just saying get Kimber may or may not be the right choice for you. I’d suggest starting a new thread and describe what sound characteristics are important to you and any improvements you might like to achieve and you’ll get lotsa good targeted recommendations. I’ll echo what I said here earlier that direct sellers can be your friend with generous trial periods and you’re only out shipping if they don’t work out. Trying something from Veritas, Ice Age, or Snake River Audio just to name a few and depending on budget would be easy to try with little risk, and I’d bet any of them would be an improvement over your Beldens. IMO it’d be worth the cost of shipping just for the education/perspective you’d be gaining alone even if you didn’t keep the cables. And as far as Gene at Audioholics, I respect him but IMHO he’s more of a home theatre/measurement-oriented guy and I’d never go by his advice when choosing 2-channel equipment, but that’s me. Anyway, just my $0.02 FWIW. |
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