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

What a discussion. You have to look at the entire audio path. To not do so might create what some call "bottlenecks". I personally have a set of AudioQuest Robinhood cables and they sound good to my ears. I have to caveat that my ears are not what they used to be. They are if I remember shielded and they have some sort of contraption on the end that supposedly sucks up and interference picked up along the way so you supposedly get a more clean signal into you speaker. I have also found for my desktop system a set of speaker cables that are like maybe if I remember correctly about $200 for about 8ft of cable from a direct sales company called Clarity Precision. They are not the bestest but I feel pretty dang good for what you pay. BTW I use the Audioquests on a pair of LSA Signatures and have excellent depth/width/timbre for my ears. I also like the idea of using the cable companies lending library. I wouldn’t get into an over the top discussion with them. tell them the price range and go from there. Good luck. Oh, one more thing I tend to like my music more on the warm side of things. I find too much clarity, especially in the higher listening range, can be harsh to my ears. Give me a nice warm wide and deep soundstage in ink blackness and I'm just too happy.

@mambacfa +1 for Silversmith Fidelium.  I haven't tried many speaker wires because I really didn't think they'd make much difference.  My previous set were Synergistic Research wires that were $350 about 25 years ago.

Anyway, a friend with $90k speakers uses Fidelium cables and really liked them.  So, I tried a pair.  Big difference.  I had several conversations with Jeffrey Smith in the process of trying to understand what was going on.  Very nice man.  Smart guy. Unless it's changed, he has a nice return policy.  You might give them a try. 

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Plain old cheap 12 AWG OFC. There is nothing else you can buy for any price that will sound or measure better. Gotta love physics and the science of sound. Anything else is just marketing snake oil.