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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?

dothebluecolts
audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,833 posts
 

Not to stir anything up but I’m curious how many Veritas cable recommendations come from people who actually tried them. Sure seems like every cable discussion has several Veritas recommendations

I can’t recommend them. I never tried. 

I guess the cables are so system, room and listener dependent that you don’t need to hear a particular cable and be familiar with what it does to recommend it. 

charles007100
236 posts
 

This cable thing I know I should do to complete my system but boy I am out of my element, I did try one set of RCA interconnects from Triode Wire Labs, made my system sound lean to my ears, thinking they were $500 or 600 I set them back after a few days.but that was only from my Pass Labs XP-12 PRE to the Pass Labs XA-25 amp..no matter which company I go with I better make sure there is a no questions ask return policy, in writing for that much money lol

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,833 posts
 

I had thr same experience with triode wire labs speaker cables. Lean and borderline bright. Yanked them out. Tried TWL power cords. Seven plus was decent. American Digital went back. 
Small manufacturers, be it cables or electronics, have limited variety of equipment to voice their products and most strive for the sound they like. Which isn’t necessarily the result I am looking for in my system. Not looking for flavor of the day - today it’s Veritas, yesterday it was Zavfino, last week it was TWL. No thank you  

That being said I have a well broken in pair of bluejeans rca interconnects that are like 17 years old. I use them periodically to get a frame of reference. They are not bad cables. Not the last word in resolution, clarity and soundstage but they don’t do much wrong. 

mceljo
1,368 posts
 

My experience with cables is relatively limited, but I was impressed with the level of additional detail that I got with my Morrow Audio SP4 speaker cables. You might wait for the Black Friday sale and try them since you can send them back. 
 

If I had your stated budget to spend I would try Iconoclast cables based on the engineering design behind them. I think they can be returned as well.

charles007100
236 posts
 

Speaker cables bi-wire at the speaker end, two pair 3 ft RCA interconnects  4K$ that would be the max..

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