Great speaker wire discussion

[wem003]

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, but I am looking to buy an amp and was researching what speaker wire I should really have for 4 ohm Era's and a Rotel amp.

Just found it interesting and wanted to share.


http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

[Clark Kent]

Another good link with answers about speaker wire, HDMI, and video cables:

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/articles/index.htm

[big angry]

I saw a study somewhere a few years ago on audioreview.com or some other such site where they compared expensive Monster cable to a straightened-out metal coat hanger and nobody could tell the difference.

[welwynnick]

I wonder if their approach to speaker wires should also apply to interconnect cables. The effects of impedance should matter much less there, but my thought is that differences are actaully more readily apparent.

Nick

[HDJK]

Originally Posted by big angry

I saw a study somewhere a few years ago on audioreview.com or some other such site where they compared expensive Monster cable to a straightened-out metal coat hanger and nobody could tell the difference.

Well, a coat hanger is basically a solid core connection, so of course it sounded good

Anyway, interesting link (just skimmed through, but I will get back to it when I have some spare time. Thanks.

[Mr.Sparkle]

My house was already wired up for surround sound speakers when we bought it, the wires are fairly plain looking (I had to trim them myself so I could use them) and they sound great, so I don't think it matters for the most part, all of them sound extremely similar.

[Gremal]

To some extent this is a trick question. If you have cheap audio gear incapable of resolving details and nuances in recordings, you're not going to notice the differences between cables. If you have quality components, you will hear a difference between cables. No one should tell someone else whether the difference is significant enough to warrant buying expensive cables. That is up to each of us, individually. But the more you listen, the more you realize that everything in the signal path impacts the overall sound, and the quality is only as good as the weakest link.

The guys on audioreview.com who engage in "double-blind placebo-controlled" studies of cables are just deluding themselves and failing to really hear or optimize their systems in an unbiased way by pretending the art of listening is an objective science.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Gremal

To some extent this is a trick question. If you have cheap audio gear incapable of resolving details and nuances in recordings, you're not going to notice the differences between cables. If you have quality components, you will hear a difference between cables. No one should tell someone else whether the difference is significant enough to warrant buying expensive cables. That is up to each of us, individually. But the more you listen, the more you realize that everything in the signal path impacts the overall sound, and the quality is only as good as the weakest link.

The guys on audioreview.com who engage in "double-blind placebo-controlled" studies of cables are just deluding themselves and failing to really hear or optimize their systems in an unbiased way by pretending the art of listening is an objective science.

Amen to all of that!

[yellowlt4]

Originally Posted by Gremal

To some extent this is a trick question. If you have cheap audio gear incapable of resolving details and nuances in recordings, you're not going to notice the differences between cables. If you have quality components, you will hear a difference between cables. No one should tell someone else whether the difference is significant enough to warrant buying expensive cables. That is up to each of us, individually. But the more you listen, the more you realize that everything in the signal path impacts the overall sound, and the quality is only as good as the weakest link.

The guys on audioreview.com who engage in "double-blind placebo-controlled" studies of cables are just deluding themselves and failing to really hear or optimize their systems in an unbiased way by pretending the art of listening is an objective science.

An entertaining post.

[billt928]

Originally Posted by Gremal

To some extent this is a trick question. If you have cheap audio gear incapable of resolving details and nuances in recordings, you're not going to notice the differences between cables. If you have quality components, you will hear a difference between cables. No one should tell someone else whether the difference is significant enough to warrant buying expensive cables. That is up to each of us, individually. But the more you listen, the more you realize that everything in the signal path impacts the overall sound, and the quality is only as good as the weakest link.

The guys on audioreview.com who engage in "double-blind placebo-controlled" studies of cables are just deluding themselves and failing to really hear or optimize their systems in an unbiased way by pretending the art of listening is an objective science.

I agree 100%

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by Gremal

To some extent this is a trick question. If you have cheap audio gear incapable of resolving details and nuances in recordings, you're not going to notice the differences between cables. If you have quality components, you will hear a difference between cables. No one should tell someone else whether the difference is significant enough to warrant buying expensive cables. That is up to each of us, individually. But the more you listen, the more you realize that everything in the signal path impacts the overall sound, and the quality is only as good as the weakest link.

The guys on audioreview.com who engage in "double-blind placebo-controlled" studies of cables are just deluding themselves and failing to really hear or optimize their systems in an unbiased way by pretending the art of listening is an objective science.

QFT! Very well said!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by Gremal

To some extent this is a trick question. If you have cheap audio gear incapable of resolving details and nuances in recordings, you're not going to notice the differences between cables. If you have quality components, you will hear a difference between cables. No one should tell someone else whether the difference is significant enough to warrant buying expensive cables. That is up to each of us, individually. But the more you listen, the more you realize that everything in the signal path impacts the overall sound, and the quality is only as good as the weakest link.

The guys on audioreview.com who engage in "double-blind placebo-controlled" studies of cables are just deluding themselves and failing to really hear or optimize their systems in an unbiased way by pretending the art of listening is an objective science.

Ahhhh... what you just said, you are so correct. The art of listening...an objective science . Heariing in itself is subjective, to ones health, and even to one's training! Good post ! Check out the thread What classifies an entry level High-end system, I would love your feed back on that topic (located in the audio section).

[Lucy Diamond]

I am really happy with my Audiostream.

It has always given me excellent reproduction and it cost me just slightly over a dollar a foot.

I terminated the ends with banana clips from Monoprice.com a couple of months ago.

Cables are important and unless you move around alot, you usually only have to buy them once, so it is a pretty good investment.

[mdabb]

I am no expert on speaker wire but wanted to share a couple things I have read not that long ago.

When using copper speaker wire and adding gold banana plugs, etc..... it adds resistance to the signal (switch from copper to gold) and is overall just for appearance sake????

Using silver wire is the best and offers the least resistance???? So who makes silver speaker wire???

[airkitty]

Audioquest, Straight Wire, Siltech, etc... it seems that all high end capable speaker wire mfgs understand the transfer purity of silver. When I worked in a high end audio some 18 years ago I had an interesting experience. One day a navy sailor was visiting the store and made this observation - old oxidized silver transfers more signal than gold that is new and fresh. It has been known in high end audio that gold is used for two reasons: 1) it corrodes/oxidizes very slowly and 2) there is normal consumer perception that "GOLD" is wonderful and we should all want it. Silver wire is very expensive but tasty to the ears if you do not die from sticker shock.
Mark
my system now
Marantz, Panasonic, Sony, AMC, Audioquest, B&W, etc..

[RUR]

Originally Posted by mdabb

...So who makes silver speaker wire???

Here's a relatively inexpensive option. There are many others.

[Grubert]

Speaker cables are very important. If I unplug them I get no sound at all.

[mdabb]

First I want to say thank you for the feedback!

While looking for Silver speaker cable I came across this article. It may be interesting to some. It is not about Silver speaker cable but about constructing your own cables.

http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...le-5-2003.html


Well Silver cable is indeed expensive and I wonder if the performance justifies the cost? Does anyone use Silver and what is your honest opinion? Is there an honest improvement? I have skimmed over quite a few conflicting theories so I am trying to make sense of it.

As for banana plugs, etc.... if it adds resistance and you want to preserve signal quality why bother other than the fact that it will oxidize slower? Anyone know of "Copper terminating connectors" or what about simply soldering the ends of the cable any known drawbacks?

Since I have been acquiring hi-end speakers I obviously want to do what is best for them. The heavier the gauge the better and also the quality is important to me. There are a lot of choices out there and I'm not interested in bashing companies just for the sake of anger or personal bias. Quality is quality!

One other side note: Some speaker cables offer many strands of wire in a cable and others offer fewer but thicker strands. Wouldn't the fewer thicker strands be an overall benefit to the signal? Other than flexibility being a drawback.

Would anyone with more knowledge care to add his/her thoughts? Please keep in mind the overall goal is to preserve the signal and prevent loss of fidelity.

Thanks in advance!

[richteer]

Originally Posted by mdabb

Since I have been acquiring hi-end speakers I obviously want to do what is best for them. The heavier the gauge the better and also the quality is important to me. There are a lot of choices out there and I'm not interested in bashing companies just for the sake of anger or personal bias. Quality is quality!

Heavier gauge isnn't necessarily better. If you're interested in quality, check out cables from Nordost, Tara Labs, or Kimber. All three offer cables at several budget levels. (I'm a fan of Nordost Frey myself.)

One other side note: Some speaker cables offer many strands of wire in a cable and others offer fewer but thicker strands. Wouldn't the fewer thicker strands be an overall benefit to the signal? Other than flexibility being a drawback.

It could be. Many moons ago, when I first started experimenting with cables ('cause I didn't believe they could make a difference), I found that solid core sounded better than multi-stranded--for the cables I tried. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule.

[Johk]

Originally Posted by richteer

Many moons ago, when I first started experimenting with cables ('cause I didn't believe they could make a difference), I found that solid core sounded better than multi-stranded--for the cables I tried. I don't think there's a hard and fast rule.

I think one of the main advantage of multi-stranded wires vs solid core is the flexibility of the cable.

On another topic, I wonder how cables made of superconductive material (no resistivity) would sound ? I can just imagine a HT with nitrogen cooled superconductive ceramic cables...