Audiophile Speakerwire Recommendations - Page 2 - Blu-ray Forum

Intamin · 09-19-2008, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

I've got to stop getting upgrade-itis, lest of all for cables. I'm running 14AWG monoprice wire/banana plugs/subwoofer coax - and for some reason, I sincerely think I would not hear any visible improvement unless I went above and beyond any sort of price guidelines I can imagine being feasible.

I thought I'd just laugh at the "hear any visible" comment haha. But ya, I think you are right to some extent. I think cables are probably the biggest area for diminishing returns, but they're so darn tempting!

JJ · 09-19-2008, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intamin

I thought I'd just laugh at the "hear any visible" comment haha. But ya, I think you are right to some extent. I think cables are probably the biggest area for diminishing returns, but they're so darn tempting!

LOL!

As they used to say in my ol' middle school - "Embarrassing!!"

I know they're darn tempting - the way I see it, HT is never done - heck, right now I could easily go out and spend money on stuff that isn't even directly related to equipment - i.e., treatments, wire covers, backlighting, frames - stuff to make it look nicer.

But wire - not for some time. I just...could never justify it to myself at this point in time. Maybe upgrading to 10AWG in the future.

jdc115 · 09-19-2008, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

LOL!

As they used to say in my ol' middle school - "Embarrassing!!"

I know they're darn tempting - the way I see it, HT is never done - heck, right now I could easily go out and spend money on stuff that isn't even directly related to equipment - i.e., treatments, wire covers, backlighting, frames - stuff to make it look nicer.

But wire - not for some time. I just...could never justify it to myself at this point in time. Maybe upgrading to 10AWG in the future.

Without major upgrades on speakers, room treatment will probably give most people the biggest bang for their buck. I saw that you bought treatment for your setup you just did, did you do much listening with and without it to compare?

mdabb · 09-19-2008, 11:56 PM

I made my own speaker cables from Canare 4S11 bi-wire cables and locking banana plugs. I combined four leads into two. Similar to this article...........

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

I am happy right now but will eventually buy custom length cables when I move. I don't want to buy twice and to be honest the cables I made sound perfectly great.

fronn · 09-20-2008, 01:42 AM

I'm sorry, but it's pointless to spend much more than the price of 10 Gauge Blue Jeans Cable wire when running an Onkyo 705 + Klipsch RF-35s.

That's not to say what you have is bad, not at all, it's just not worth spending 200+ dollars on something that won't matter.

I don't understand why this forum loves speaker wire so much. Go to Blue Jeans and get their 10 gauge or star quad, spend the rest of the money on room treatments (there is a thread)... You'll be much better off as far as appreciable gain in SQ goes.

This isn't just my opinion, it's quite unarguable.

TENSE · 09-20-2008, 02:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar780

must you jack every thread? if you are looking at just wire and not speaker cable, I am currently running 10 gauge copper wire with banana plugs on the ends to my 35s

does that make you mad?

mdabb · 09-20-2008, 02:52 AM

Only one way to find out if expensive cables are worth it.

I bet if anybody had the chance to audition "high-end cables" in their system it would be worth the try. (pending equipment used)

That's what is great about choices.

Also anyone ever try making braided speaker cables out of CAT5 ???

What about the "skin effect" ??? Is it hype or real ???

allstar780 · 09-20-2008, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fronn

I'm sorry, but it's pointless to spend much more than the price of 10 Gauge Blue Jeans Cable wire when running an Onkyo 705 + Klipsch RF-35s.

That's not to say what you have is bad, not at all, it's just not worth spending 200+ dollars on something that won't matter.

I don't understand why this forum loves speaker wire so much. Go to Blue Jeans and get their 10 gauge or star quad, spend the rest of the money on room treatments (there is a thread)... You'll be much better off as far as appreciable gain in SQ goes.

This isn't just my opinion, it's quite unarguable.

It's actually for a B&W stereo system, not the Klipsch surround setup... I will be using some large B&W bookshelf speakers, a decent tube power amp, and an Onkyo pre-amp... as well as as good a CD player as I can find...

like I said in my original post, I'm piecing it all together right now and I want to get the best I can out of my budget (which, for the speaker cable, tube amp, and CD player is about $1200)

I realize buying a brand other than Onkyo for the pre-amp and investing more money into the CD player would yield better gains than speaker cable, however I like the onkyo's equalizer, and I can't get anything better in my budget, especially considering my employee discount on onkyo products...

I feel that $300 on a pre-amp, $100-150 on speaker cables, and $750-800 to split between the power amp and the CD player should yield decent results

mdabb · 09-20-2008, 05:37 AM

allstar780........... why not just use your receiver for now as a preamp and buy either a SS or tube amp??? Just me but I think the money would be better spent and your current receiver as a pre and the preamp you intend to buy will yield similar results.

Just a thought!!!

allstar780 · 09-20-2008, 05:42 AM

I'm using it in a totally separate room... otherwise thats what I would do

mdabb · 09-20-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allstar780

I'm using it in a totally separate room... otherwise thats what I would do

OK!!!

Big Daddy · 09-20-2008, 06:08 AM

Allstar780, if you like tubes, may I make the following suggestions:

Tube CD Player, $399
Normal Price: $799
http://www.pacificvalve.us/BDHD19.html

Tube Preamp, $355
Normal Price: $499
http://www.pacificvalve.us/MingDAMC6R.html

Tube Amp, $525
Normal Price: $799
http://www.pacificvalve.us/MDMC84C.html

2.5 Meter Speaker Wire, $69
Speaker Wire.jpg
http://www.pacificvalve.us/ChosealCables.html

coolmilo · 09-20-2008, 06:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

It will be hard to find decent 10' runs for $100.

I agree. That is why I recommend DH Labs. These are the best bang for the buck and they are US made. DH Labs is well respected in the industry. The poster requested AUDIOPHILE speaker wire. DH Labs is the best solution.

Dagger · 09-20-2008, 06:25 AM

Agree on DH Labs. I use them for all my interconnects and they do make a difference (in digital too!)

Here's a dealer that's sells them below retail and with free shipping if spending $100 +

http://www.value-audio.com/contact.htm

allstar780 · 09-20-2008, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Allstar780, if you like tubes, may I make the following suggestions:

Tube CD Player, $399
Normal Price: $799
http://www.pacificvalve.us/BDHD19.html

Tube Preamp, $355
Normal Price: $499
http://www.pacificvalve.us/MingDAMC6R.html

Tube Amp, $525
Normal Price: $799
http://www.pacificvalve.us/MDMC84C.html

2.5 Meter Speaker Wire, $69
http://www.pacificvalve.us/ChosealCables.html

Thanks for the recommendations... bookmarked.

Blue · 10-04-2008, 03:43 PM

It may not look pretty and I can't make any claims as I haven't tried it yet, but it's worth looking into
http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

plowmanjoe · 10-04-2008, 04:47 PM

what's the skin effect?

RUR · 10-04-2008, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plowmanjoe

what's the skin effect?

Skin Effect

Lots of ongoing debate about the audibility of skin effect.

mdabb · 10-05-2008, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue

It may not look pretty and I can't make any claims as I haven't tried it yet, but it's worth looking into
http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

I've seen this before. If you made these cables you wouldn't have fingers left!!!

I wonder how DIY CAT5 cables sound??? Inductance and capacitance will be outside the norm of most speaker cables so I wonder how it effects the sound ??? Most likely is different though. I also wonder if these type of cables will have an effect on the lower frequencies???

Also seen a couple of other sites that show DIY CAT5 speaker cables and will have to post it once I come across them again. They looked interesting and the investment wouldn't be much including the fact there are certain CAT5 cables that are better to use (quality wise). Time consuming!!!

Anyone here ever had the chance to play around with CAT5 speaker cables???

mdabb · 10-05-2008, 02:48 AM

Speaker cables that have the wires twisted or braided are supposed to help reduce the "skin effect".

09-20-2008, 01:42 AM	#25
fronn Expert Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:St. Paul, Minnesota Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Blu-ray reviews:1	I'm sorry, but it's pointless to spend much more than the price of 10 Gauge Blue Jeans Cable wire when running an Onkyo 705 + Klipsch RF-35s. That's not to say what you have is bad, not at all, it's just not worth spending 200+ dollars on something that won't matter. I don't understand why this forum loves speaker wire so much. Go to Blue Jeans and get their 10 gauge or star quad, spend the rest of the money on room treatments (there is a thread)... You'll be much better off as far as appreciable gain in SQ goes. This isn't just my opinion, it's quite unarguable. Last edited by fronn; 09-20-2008 at 01:45 AM.

09-20-2008, 06:08 AM	#32
Big Daddy Blu-ray Champion Top ranked HT gallery Member since:Jan 2008 Location:Southern California Home Theater Gallery:79 Blu-ray collection:122 Trading Score:1	Allstar780, if you like tubes, may I make the following suggestions: Tube CD Player, $399 Normal Price: $799 http://www.pacificvalve.us/BDHD19.html Tube Preamp, $355 Normal Price: $499 http://www.pacificvalve.us/MingDAMC6R.html Tube Amp, $525 Normal Price: $799 http://www.pacificvalve.us/MDMC84C.html 2.5 Meter Speaker Wire, $69 Speaker Wire.jpg http://www.pacificvalve.us/ChosealCables.html Last edited by Big Daddy; 09-20-2008 at 06:14 AM.

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09-19-2008, 11:56 PM	#24
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	I made my own speaker cables from Canare 4S11 bi-wire cables and locking banana plugs. I combined four leads into two. Similar to this article........... http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volum...le-5-2003.html I am happy right now but will eventually buy custom length cables when I move. I don't want to buy twice and to be honest the cables I made sound perfectly great.

09-20-2008, 02:52 AM	#27
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	Only one way to find out if expensive cables are worth it. I bet if anybody had the chance to audition "high-end cables" in their system it would be worth the try. (pending equipment used) That's what is great about choices. Also anyone ever try making braided speaker cables out of CAT5 ??? What about the "skin effect" ??? Is it hype or real ???

09-20-2008, 05:37 AM	#29
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	allstar780........... why not just use your receiver for now as a preamp and buy either a SS or tube amp??? Just me but I think the money would be better spent and your current receiver as a pre and the preamp you intend to buy will yield similar results. Just a thought!!!

09-20-2008, 05:42 AM	#30
allstar780 Special Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Mar 2008 Location:Grande Prairie, Alberta Home Theater Gallery:15 Blu-ray collection:115 Blu-ray reviews:2	I'm using it in a totally separate room... otherwise thats what I would do

09-20-2008, 06:25 AM	#34
Dagger Active Member Member since:Sep 2007	Agree on DH Labs. I use them for all my interconnects and they do make a difference (in digital too!) Here's a dealer that's sells them below retail and with free shipping if spending $100 + http://www.value-audio.com/contact.htm

10-04-2008, 03:43 PM	#36
Blue Super Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2005 Location:Melbourne Australia Blu-ray collection:206	It may not look pretty and I can't make any claims as I haven't tried it yet, but it's worth looking into http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

10-04-2008, 04:47 PM	#37
plowmanjoe Senior Member Member since:May 2008 Blu-ray collection:6 Trading Score:2	what's the skin effect?

10-05-2008, 02:48 AM	#40
mdabb Power Member Member since:Jan 2008 Trading Score:1	Speaker cables that have the wires twisted or braided are supposed to help reduce the "skin effect".

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