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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?
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I own two Veritas "Praesto" power cords and they can out perform cables well above their price point. In fact, they replaced power cords three to more than four times their cost. Haven’t tired their interconnects yet, but may at some point. I just have other priorities now. The company offers a 30-day return policy, so what have you got to lose? |
Another recommendation for Veritas. Fantastic cables for a reasonable price. I own their top of the line Aperta SE speaker cables and after a few hundred hours of break-in hours they are top notch. You do have to be patient through the break- in period as they do change throughout that time. I also own their top of the line IC’s, USB, ethernet and power cords. Could’t be happier with my decisions. Veritas is so easy to work with and they will extend you 30 day trial period as needed especially for the Aperta SE speaker cables which take many hours to settle in and come alive. |
Its hard to try every cable company out there, I started out with pretty cheap cables, quickly moved up to reference level due to the wild limitations on sound with cheaper cables, the veil effect A great cable is transparent reference cable, from what I remember and pretty flexible cable Eventually, I upgraded to NBS 'black label' cables, for all components, power cables and speakers, and sold my transparent cables on audiogon NBS are great, never needed to think about another company, one caveat, they don't bend well, its a struggle to get them in a tight space Once you start replacing older equipment with reference quality, helps to find the weaker components in your system, by comparison, especially with a good return policy from your local high end store, which is nice The comparison part, is the labour of love, in this audio addiction
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@cleeds Really? Where would you connect the shield? I apologize for taking so long but I wanted to fact check my memory with some electrical engineers from the electromechanical medical device company where I was a regulatory affaires, quality systems, and quality engineering professional. My memory was correct. The shield on cables with lug, RCA connector and banana connectors is connected to the housing of the connector to create a ground at only the end that is the reference for the signal to prevent ground loops that would be created by potential difference if both ends are grounded. For cables with XLR connections, the shield is connected to Pin 1 ground at both ends to prevent ground loops. So there is a ground path for EMI to prevent it from entering the signal. The benefit of shielding is inversely proportional to the voltage carried by the cable. There is more benefit for low voltage cables like for servers and DACs than for high voltage speaker cables, but all cables benefit SQ by shielding from EMI. |
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