|   best speaker cable for a sub 1000$ system | danielr
Nov 19, 2001 4:06 AM | | Well after a research i came up with the following names
IXOS 6003 - very good revies, but one reviewer (here in audioreview) said they have a tendancy to oxidize ?!?(sorry for spelling)
Audioquest type 4+ - Again good reviews.
Cabletalk 3.1 - Very much praised by the magazines but some user seem not to like it....
QED qudos - A solid cable but nothing more
Cambridge audio linea 4 - good a good review in one place but that's it.
so which cable should i pick ?
TIA
-daniel |
| re: best speaker cable for a sub 1000$ system | Jon Risch
Nov 19, 2001 10:34 AM | | Hard to go wrong with the Audioquest type 4, it is a decent sounding entry level speaker cable, and will not dissapoint. Still available from Audio Advisor for $80 a ten foot terminated pair.
Ideally, one would audition them all, and choose the best for your syustem and tastes, but often, folks are buying mail order or used, and this is not a ready option.
Jon Risch |
| Am I mistaken here? | Norm Strong
Nov 19, 2001 6:43 PM | | This is a system that cost, in total, less than $1000, and you're advising the purchase of $160 worth of speaker cable alone? What should he add for interconnects? |
| Am I mistaken here? | mtrycrafts
Nov 19, 2001 8:25 PM | | I think he meant $80 for both speakers. But that would leave him with $20, or less, for the rest of the cables. Jon like the 10% rule:) |
| Yes | Jon Risch
Nov 20, 2001 9:01 PM | | A PAIR of terminated cables cost $80.
He asked specifically about speaker cables. Not interconnects.
He specifically asked about cables for less than $100.
$80 is less than $100.
I am on record as recommending spending from 10 to 15% of the total system cost for systems $1000 and up. Given the specified constraints requested, the posted recommendation was appropriate.
And the problem is? |
| Yes | mtrycrafts
Nov 20, 2001 11:32 PM | | If he spends 8% on speaker cables, that leaves him 2% for the rest of the cables by your rule. That is inconsiderate of you, don't you think? Now he has to buy cheap cables as you already spent most of it on one cable. |
| Flexibility | Jon Risch
Nov 22, 2001 10:34 AM | | Do you have the least notion of what a rule of thumb is?
It is not carved in stone.
Besides, I did mention a range of from 10 to 15%, and so if one really wanted to be this anal and bizarre, he could easily pick up some Tara Labs Prism 22 IC's (two IC's), and stay within the rigid confines of such a general recommendation.
I point out yet again, that he specifically asked about speaker cables under $100, and not anything about IC's.
Jon Risch |
| Flexibility | mtrycrafts
Nov 22, 2001 4:44 PM | | Oh, so now he has $70 for all other cables? Lets see, a few pairs of interconnects, a few digital cables, a few video cables.
"I point out yet again, that he specifically asked about speaker cables under $100, and not anything about IC's. "
Yes, Home Depot cables are under that as well and plenty left over for other cables.
By the way, your % rule of thumb is just out of thin air, isn't it? |
| I guess I have a semantic problem | Norm Strong
Nov 21, 2001 4:21 PM | | To me, a "pair" of speaker cables is 2 wires; one to the speaker and one back. Sort of like a pair of pants. You're saying that a pair is always enough for 2 speakers? Suppose they're bi-wired?
It would seem that the the advent of surround sound would make the concept of a "pair of speaker wires" less useful. |
| While we're on the subject | Norm Strong
Nov 21, 2001 4:38 PM | | I'm looking at a review of the Nordost Halhalla speaker cable. It states the price as "$4000/m pair". The picture shows it as 4 lengths of wire connected for bi-wiring, banana plugs on one end and 4 spades on the other. What do you get for your $4000? Enough to bi-wire 2 speakers?
Change of subject: Have you ever noticed that there is no "Measurements" section to Stereophile wire reviews? Speakers, CD players, amps; all have a measurements section. But not wires! |
| While we're on the subject | Jon Risch
Nov 22, 2001 10:29 AM | | I would assume that it is indeed enough for a stereo pair, bi-wired, but before spending that kind of money, it would be good to make sure, eh?
Stereophile was not very keen on speaker cable differences until recently, then they decided that gee, you COULD hear differences between various cables.
They have essentially taken the tack that since there are no industry accepted standards for measuring audio cable sonic quality, that to measure the classic LCR parameters would be pointless and confusing.
Jon Risch |
| Stereophile... | Monstrous Mike
Nov 22, 2001 12:47 PM | | <<<< Stereophile was not very keen on speaker cable differences until recently, then they decided that gee, you COULD hear differences between various cables. >>>>
How about: "Gee, if we don't state that there are cable differences, no audiophiles will buy our mag"?
<<<< They have essentially taken the tack that since there are no industry accepted standards for measuring audio cable sonic quality, that to measure the classic LCR parameters would be pointless and confusing. >>>>
How about another Monstrous Mike theory. Perhaps the acceptance of an industry standard for measuring audio cables will result in testing that reveals data which cable companies are none to keen to publish |
| While we're on the subject | mtrycrafts
Nov 22, 2001 4:51 PM | | "Stereophile was not very keen on speaker cable differences until recently, then they decided that gee, you COULD hear differences between various cables."
Yes, you seem to be correct, they decided. Interesting.
Where and how did they demonstrate this though? Which publication? DBT? Of course not. They abhor DBT truth serum.
"They have essentially taken the tack that since there are no industry accepted standards for measuring audio cable sonic quality,"
But there is a standard how to listen for audible differneces, right? I bet they don't do that, DBT, do they? They have done it once with amps and that was the last time, a piss poor one at that.
" that to measure the classic LCR parameters would be pointless and confusing. "
Based on what evidence, Jon? Sheer speculation on your part and their part, or it would be published in a respectable place, not in their rag. No, Jon, you nor they have any evidence. Just more marketing snake oil on their part. |
| For my $10,000 plus system, I use . . . | Pat D
Nov 19, 2001 11:46 AM | | 12 guage speaker wire, and an assortment of interconnects, some coming with the equipment and some bought at Radio Shack, etc. I get excellent results.
Unless you have really long lengths, 16 or 14 AWG should be fine, but if you can fit it, 12 guage is so cheap at Radio Shack, Walmart, and Home Depot that you may as well use it. |
| For my $10,000 plus system, I use . . . | audiojoe
Nov 21, 2001 1:18 PM | | I went target yesterday and looked for 12 gauge wire and all i could find was 18 gauge. The same with walmart. 12 Gauge at radio shack was a dollar a foot. I think that they are jumping on the expensive cable bandwagon too becasue they actually sell a 40$ component video cable.(same price as monster) Lots of thier cables are the same price as monsters entry level cables, and I'm sure that the difference between the two is just looks. But to compare Radio Shack to monster...hmm maybe some people might just get pi$$ed off. Because the overall consensus is to buy cables from radio shack because they arent out to mark up their cables 500% like other cable companies do...I beg to differ. I think home depot is just fine, but radio shack is just like all the other companies making expensive (Gold series)cables. Funny thing is...I sell the exotic cables. You know why? Because they pay me double, sometimes triple what the actual hardware pays me. |
| For my $10,000 plus system, I use . . . | mtrycrafts
Nov 21, 2001 9:53 PM | | Thanks for being honest, Joe:)
A better deal may be partsexpress.com at about $.30/ft. Radio Shack tends to be convenient. WalMart and Target has interconnects and video cables very inexpensive. Did you ask if they are out of 12ga or just don't carry it? Low voltage landscape wire is just as good too. |
| For my $10,000 plus system, I use . . . | audiojoe
Nov 22, 2001 7:55 PM | | thanks for the info and suggestions. You are right about Radio Shack being convenient, it seems like i see one on every street corner. Target said that they just dont carry 12 Ga. Maybe my target is just getto. |
| For my $10,000 plus system, I use . . . | mtrycrafts
Nov 22, 2001 10:45 PM | | There may be an even better source, sometime. A post above, or at HT mentioned 12ga at Costco for 100ft for about $16.50. I need to look the next time. |
| re: best speaker cable for a sub 1000$ system | mtrycrafts
Nov 19, 2001 8:23 PM | | Indeed you need to consider 12 ga from partsexpress.com, Target, WalMart, Homedepot. |
| You're not gonna want to hear this, but... | Markw*
Nov 20, 2001 4:30 AM | | ...at this time I'd go for tghe generic 12 gauge at .$30/ft. This would mean an investment of somewhere around $6.00.
Live with this for a few months. Play around with seeaker positions forthe best sound.
Then, when you know what you have, feel free to experiment with the more expensive stuff but be aware that your expectations may have a lot to do with what you here there. Switch back and forth a few times while listening carefully. Many times something "you've never heard with the cheap cables was there all along. You just never listened for it before the new cables gave you the incentive to listen for it.
Then tyou can decide if the changes are worth the price difference. |
| You're REALLY not going to want to hear this | Norm Strong
Nov 21, 2001 11:22 PM | | I bought 12 40' rolls of AWG12 speaker wire, complete with gold plated pins and colored booties for $30--postpaid. No, they're all gone. Sorry. |
| Good Deal | sometimesjones
Nov 22, 2001 3:09 PM | | That beats mine: 100 ft roll of generic 12 ga for about $16.50 US tax included (at Costco). |
| Good Deal | mtrycrafts
Nov 20, 2001 6:12 AM | | WOW, Costco has cables? A regular item or a sometime item? |
| re: best speaker cable for a sub 1000$ system | sam9
Nov 21, 2001 10:03 AM | | In this price range, I expect any amount you pay for speaker cable beyond what you can get at the local hardware store would be more effectively spent on speakers or a few more quality CDs. |
| ?????? | Jon Risch
Nov 22, 2001 10:37 AM | | So he should run out and buy a $100 pair of speaker to upgrade his $1000 system?
I would hope that he spent more than $100 for the pair on his current speakers!
Bizarre advice indeed!
That is the thing with reasonable cable upgrades, they fit a niche for a price point that does not involve the same level of investment to upgrade other major components.
Jon Risch |
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