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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
 

@charles007100

HI CHARLES

What is gained with reference level equipment and cables, in my experience, is greater separation, the easy separation of voice/instruments to achieve is the right to left, and top to bottom, the harder separation to get is the front to back (holographic) experience

I am sure there are many reference level cables out there that can do the job, NBS reference is one of those companies

Every time I changed a piece of equipment to reference, I could hear a positive difference in holographic imaging

The last piece of the puzzle was tube rolling, in my tube pre-amp, went through dozens of great tubes recommendations, only to find a few that could keep up with the rest of my equipment, regarding imaging

 

 

 

pcrhkr's avatar
pcrhkr
332 posts
 

I have used 10ga oxygen free cable off brand for years and it works great. Its also cheap on Amazon. Give it a try before spending alot of money. I bet you will like it.

tom2441
25 posts
 

@sls883 @mambacfa 

I can’t vouch for the Silversmith Fideliums but I do agree that Jeff Smith is a great guy to deal with.

I was looking to upgrade my speaker cables about 1.5 years ago and was ready to drop $2K - $3K.  I kept reading great reviews on the Fideliums and really liked the flat profile (I have to run the cables across my room under a rug) so I contacted Jeff directly.

He told me that the longest length he could go to is 10 feet due to some manufacturing limitation (I needed 12 ft.) but he gave me a DIY recipe for foil speakers cables that he said would outperform just about any cable on the market.  So I figured what the hell, the material costs were low and it would only take a few hours to assemble.  When I installed the finished cables between my Pass XA100.5 monos and my Magico S3 II’s, I couldn’t believe how great they sounded!  Extended sound stage and more air around cymbals were clearly evident, and they continued to open up over the next few weeks.  I immediately sold my Audience AU 24 SE speaker cables which are fine cables in their own right, but this home brew blew them away.  In fact, the money I saved on the speaker cables allowed me to upgrade all interconnects in my system to Cardas Clear Beyond.  Wow.

The point of all this is if my homemade speaker cables based on Jeff’s foil recipe sound this good, I would guess that his Fideliums have to be great!

lovehifi22
34 posts
 

To the OP and anyone else who may have a suggestion,

I, too, moved all my components to the side wall and have only the amp between the speakers. Soundstage was noticeably better. I use a pair of 30' XLR cables that I feel could be better. I'm looking to upgrade, and I never thought of a mic cable. May I ask where you purchased them from? Also, any other ideas would be most appreciated.  Thank you.

lovehifi22
34 posts
 

To all,

I forgot to mention that I have a lot of glass in my listening room. Consequently, I am constantly looking for ways to reduce tweeter harshness. I have come a long way with room treatments, etc. 

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