Yet another thread about speaker cable:

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Da5id4Vz

Da5id4Vz

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Joined 2003
#1
Did anyone else catch the article in this months "The Absolute Sound":
Loudspeaker Cable Survey, Part 2

An Excerpt:

Home Depot HD-14G
est. $30 per 50-foot pair with terminations
Okay, the model designation is my own invention, standing for H (Home) D (Depot) 14G(auge) outdoor extension cord. Otherwise, this entry is no joke. Like several other cables, it comes in a decorative jacket, here of striking orange and black, evocative of Halloween; unlike the others, you must snip off its AC connectors and attach terminations of choice (I used Pomona bananas).
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http://www.theabsolutesound.com/newsletter/147/cable_survey2.html
 
#6
Wow, the man has some guts!

You don't often see mixing in a "ordinary" copper cable in a speaker cable listening test. We can only wish that every cable tester would use such an approach.

Mostley the testers are afraid of diminishing advertising income to do so.

I've always problems hearing the benefits (differences) of the exotic expensive cables except if they are seriously flawed, but I'm probably audiphilic deaf (= new identified decease for people who are not able to hear differences between cheap but good and exotic > 800€ cables😀)

I enjoy what I'm hearing though through more or less ordinary cables.
 
#9
I just purchased a 500 ft roll of Belden High Strand 10 guage exterior rated speaker cable. It has 64 strands per conductor, has a full 360 degree twist to it every 2 - 3 cm and is made of high grade copper. It cost $220.00 Canadian or 44 cents a foot. I thought this was good deal because of the high cost of getting it by the foot. So now I have enough speaker wire to last a lifetime.

I am still in awe of those with enough disposable income to spend a grand on speaker cables. My thought is that if you have that much invested in your wires, you must have an absolutely incredible speaker system. Otherwise I am wondering if the monies invested aren't better spent on updating the drivers. No crap, I have seen very expensive cables on a full range drivers. This is beyond my compehension. Not to say the cables don't make a difference, just that to me that's like putting gold plated wheels on a Chevy.

Comments?

Cal
 
#11
I'll take the Chevy comment lightly. I've heard many systems using full-range drivers that are far from the audio equivalent of a "Chevy". But, I do agree if you're using $30 drivers it doesn't make sense to spend $500 (or whatever extravagant amount) on a pair of cables. I think I'd be more inclined to spend that amount of money on the source first.
 
#12
No crap, I have seen very expensive cables on a full range drivers. This is beyond my compehension. Not to say the cables don't make a difference, just that to me that's like putting gold plated wheels on a Chevy.
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on the contrary, i think, a good fullrange driver whitout a load of crap in x-over might be the speakertype that reveals difference between cables clearest. The ridicoulus pricing on some cables is maybe more a reflection of our time, not directed towards entusiasts but those with to fat wallets. Remarkable thoug is, as far as i know, only one audio cable specialist manufacture the cables the entire way, Supra ( no they dont mine the copper )
all else are oem and subcontractor stuff.
 
#13
I just purchased a 500 ft roll of Belden High Strand 10 guage exterior rated speaker cable. It has 64 strands per conductor, has a full 360 degree twist to it every 2 - 3 cm and is made of high grade copper.
Click to expand...

What kindof jacket and fillers does this use? Is it 10/2 SJ power cord or is it made specificly for speaker cable?
 
#14
Timn8ter said:
I'll take the Chevy comment lightly. I've heard many systems using full-range drivers that are far from the audio equivalent of a "Chevy". But, I do agree if you're using $30 drivers it doesn't make sense to spend $500 (or whatever extravagant amount) on a pair of cables. I think I'd be more inclined to spend that amount of money on the source first.
Click to expand...

ingvar ahlberg said:
on the contrary, i think, a good fullrange driver whitout a load of crap in x-over might be the speakertype that reveals difference between cables clearest.
Click to expand...

Please excuse my indescretions in the comparisons, not meaning to offend.

Tim: Well said

Ingvar: I believe you are correct

Cal
 
#15
Originally posted by Da5id4Vz What kindof jacket and fillers does this use? Is it 10/2 SJ power cord or is it made specificly for speaker cable?
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Here is the label
 

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#17
I’ve seen a lot of the 12ga erosion of the same stuff. Systems integrators don’t like to pay extra for the 10ga unless you push the issue. Decent stuff, and the CL-2 rating is nice if its going to be run through any walls or stuff. Its a traceable specification that building inspectors and insurance people can look at and easily sign off on.
 
#18
Cal Weldon said:
...I am still in awe of those with enough disposable income to spend a grand on speaker cables. My thought is that if you have that much invested in your wires, you must have an absolutely incredible speaker system. Otherwise I am wondering if the monies invested aren't better spent on updating the drivers.
Click to expand...
Some people must really believe that their hifi system is so fantastic that even the wiring has to cost hundreds in order to make the most of it. But what irritates me the most are those pseudo-technical explanations from people with vested interests in such expensive cables. If anyone ever wants to hire a con-artiste, they need only look as far as the local hifi cable manufacturer and somehow convince the prospect that the offer is more lucrative than selling audio cables.

CM

:whazzat:
 
#20
Although I stand by my earlier comment, maybe I was little bit harsh, so I'll explain. In all the technical explanations concerning hifi cabling that I've read, there often crop up things about parasitic capacitance + inductance, and related non-linearities, conductor properties, and so on, and descriptions of how it all adversely affects sound quality... But these things are never quantified, nor are they taken in the context of all the other goings-on in a hifi system. If I must add an automotive analogy, then it's like polishing the outer chrome on the tail-pipe and explaining that the improved aero-dynamics will make your car go faster. Of course, there are certain situations where real improvements can be gained from more suitable cables, but even so, the prices don't need to be on the wrong planet.

CM
 
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