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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
rmdvp
7 posts
 

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

 

jsalerno277
496 posts
 

@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.  

charles007100
247 posts
 

@rmdvp NBS cables are way expensive, you must have a million dollar system. Can you really hear a big difference?..

dhite71
454 posts
 

@dothebluecolts 

I have ARC with Wilson speakers and have had Transparent Ultra G5 for a couple years and had not issue but tried some Shunyata Alpha V1 just to experiment and they really brought my system to life with greater detail and imaging without any brightness(which I am extremely sensitive to).

jsalerno277
496 posts
 

A point I was not clear on.  A the shield on shielded lug connector wire must be connected physically to the housing or ground of a component at preferably the reference or signal source end as opposed to an RCA connector where the shield can be grounded to the reference signal end the of connector housing.  
 

Many high end cables use internal conductor design such as Litz wire or other twisted conductor configurations, or thin flat conductor configurations, as a shield by electromagnetic field theory and creating a Faraday cage that does not permit EMI from entering the core signal path.  There is no requirement for a physical ground yet the cable is shielded.  Read more is if you desire on Faraday’s law and a Faraday Cage.  Conclusion, not all shielded cable designs need a physical ground. Some companies combine physical shielding with wire configurations, using both electromagnetic field theory and physical shields to ground. 

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