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

As far as the speaker cables go, I’ve been switching back and forth from the original speaker cable I had, an unkown brand, and the Mogami 3103. 

The unknown cable seems to have more "color", which I like, but it seems to be grainy compared to the Mogami, or less clear. It was four individual wires I wrapped together in the banana.  I think, overall, when combined it’s a larger gauge.

The Mogami seems to have better detail, even though it seems a bit lifeless when compared to the other cable.

I’m just going to keep trying different cables.  I can’t help but believe that maybe the higher gauge may be the reason for more "color" or openness maybe.

I have always used blue jeans cables, never tried any other brand. Today Kimber Kable 8TC arrived. The Blue Jeans speaker cables are from the BAV   in the Iconoclast line. The spades in the Blue Jeans never really fit well to big or to small even when they sent me that card to check the size. The Kimber fit perfect in my First Watt Sit-4 and the Pass Labs XA-25 which has that little plastic cover over the posts for some safety thing. The Bi-wire bananas for the speakers sure fit snug, the Blue Jeans Banana was always a pain to get tight and comes  loose. Was nice to get that nasty little jumper wire off on the binding posts of my Volti Audio Lucera speakers going bi-wire..I scored the Kimber 8TC  off their eBay site for half price  and you have to make sure it’s Kimber Kable direct on eBay from Utah to avoid counterfeits. I also got a couple RCA Kimber interconnects to change out the Blue Jeans and will put them in later after I listen to the speaker cables. For  half price  I can’t find any signs of wear on anything, everything looks brand new totally impressed with the build quality. After a few hours of listening the only difference I hear is the tone is a little different, in the following days when I am reading and not paying attention to the music hopefully I go oh my I heard something…but so far for the build quality alone they are a keeper. 
Pass Labs XP-12 preamp, First Watt Sit-4 amp, Meinter MA3i Dac , Volti Audio Lucera speakers for the testing gear.

 

I am noticing more natural music bloom in this song by Sohn Trust the song Station, I know this song well listen to it every day. 

dothebluecolts

You have recommendations for some high end cables, here are a couple more.....a little more affordable.....I own and use both in my reference system.

Anti-Cables Level 4.2 Flex cables $460 for 6' cables. Paul uses these in many other company's booths whenever he covers shows.

Audio Sensibility Statement $900 cables for 6', made using Neotech OCC copper cables, and you can order with whatever connectors you want (WBT, AEC, Furutech, Neotech)

If you'd like a project and can use a soldering iron, build a DIY cable with Japanese high end cable: Neotech, Furutech, SAEC, Oyaide, Acoustic Revive; or European RAMM Audio. They are fun projects and the end result will be less than half of what a premade cable would be.

@charles007100  You need to give the cables at least 100 hours before making any critical assessments, but with your efficient speakers I’d expect you’ll hear bigger differences with the interconnects so that could be interesting.  That said, given the quality of your system I think you’re underspending on cables and they’re still a significant bottleneck.  You’ve basically gone from budget wires that aren’t bad to entry-level wires that are decent but may only be marginally better compared to what’s possible with much better cables, and IMHO at the level of your system you could get significantly better performance with even better cables.  What you have now is like putting good all-season performance tires on a Porsche — sure they may be better than budget tires but you’re still not getting anywhere near the performance capabilities of the car you paid dearly for, which is a shame.  Sorry, I don’t mean to be harsh here and just being honest.  Even if the Kimbers are an improvement, if I’m you I’d continue to either buy better used cables you can resell with little risk or do trials from direct sellers who offer generous return periods — one in particular would be Fidelium that’d almost certainly be at another level, but others like Veritas, etc. could also bring significant improvements and well worth a try and would be more inline with the overall quality of your system — again just IMHO, and at least you’ll see what you may be missing.  I the end it’s all about balance.  Just my $0.02 FWIW, and be interested in what you find over the coming weeks as the Kimbers settle in.