Home Depot Cables as Speaker wire

[Violator]

I read this weird review of Home Depot Industrial extension cords. It stated that the Home Depot extension cord played just as well as $1000 speaker cables including a set from kimber. I wish i could find this review again so i could post it. I know it was in the soundstage network website. http://www.soundstagenetwork.com/
i cant find it now tho. This is the home depot site to give u a better view of this cable.
http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@2005701385.1082569926@ @@@&BV_EngineID=ccdjadclfigjkmjcgelceffdfgidgjk.0&CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=Products_2/Electrical&MID=9876&pos=n04

has anyone tried this. Im giong to next pay check I get. It uses really good copper, this copper is meant to run really heavy duty machines which is why i think it sounds so good when used as speaker cable. If anyones tried this reply here. ANd if not ill let eveyone konw when i try it out

[Ron-P]

Home Depot linky no worky. Need a sku # or brand to find the wire.

[John K.]

V, it's possible that you may be instead thinking of this (http://theabsolutesound.com/newsletter/147/cable_survey2.html) review in Absolute Sound. If so, the only weird thing about it is the rip-off prices charged for the other cables in the article. One rather humorous note is the horrified disclaimer Bob Harley makes near the end following the comment of one of the reviewers as to how low in order of importance speaker cables are.

What they did was merely cut the plugs off of a standard heavy-duty 14ga extension cord and attach banana plugs. There's no good reason to go to that bother if you want a 14ga or 12ga wire that's as good as anything else regardless of price. Home Depot has even less expensive wire(about $0.30 a foot) that's suitable or something like this (http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?DID=7&PartNumber=100-065) is available online. Don't be a victim of the exotic wire hoax.

[PolkThug]

Violator,

Here's what I did to my Home Depot wire. I like it.

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17892&highlight=ThugJumpers

[HBombToo]

I have ran RS 12 guage since 2002 and it has not been replaced and my speakers my Polks are still here also.

resistance is key and thats just my opinion.

HBomb

[Frank Z]

Don't be a victim of the exotic wire hoax.
Ya gotta luv this guy!
Go get 'em John!:D
I know there are lots of "Wire Guys" here, no disrespect intended. If it works for you, well there ya go.

Enjoy what you're listening to, no matter whatcha ya use!

[F1nut]

A couple of things to think about........



The mind (and ears) are like a parachute, they only work when open.

Those that don't know, don't know that they don't know!!!

If you haven't tried it, don't knock it.




.....and for those that haven't signed up for the cable demos, what do you have to lose???

[warviper]

I have heard a great difference usind Interconects and I dont see how speaker wires woudnt help. But the price for preformance maybe an issue. Use comon sense in the fact that the high end wires and ics should be used on the high end system for best results.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by warviper
I have heard a great difference usind Interconects and I dont see how speaker wires woudnt help. But the price for preformance maybe an issue. Use comon sense in the fact that the high end wires and ics should be used on the high end system for best results.

Im getting you a spell checker. lol

usind = using
interconects = interconnects
woudnt = wouldn't
preformance = performance
comon = common

All in good fun. :D

[PolkWannabie]

Whether it's interconnects or speaker wire ... If you can hear the difference and you don't know what flavor is hooked up then what you noticed is probably meaningful.

[warviper]

Thats it im sick and tierd of this crap Im leaving.;)

[pjdami]

Home Depot wire is always a good place to start as a reference or "base" point. For many folks this is all that is needed.

Hbomb does make a good point about resistance. One wants low resistance in a cable. So go bigger right?? Larger cable equals lower resistance and lets the current flow. Ah, but the balance here is to have low AC induced inductance as well. These are measurable quantities. Now does that mean that all these measurements are audible??

I own Radio Shack and Home Depot wire as well as 5 pairs of "higher end" speaker wire. If it didn't make a difference for me I would have quit buying different speaker wire after the first pair. I got good deals used on Audigon which helps one "swallow" the cost of these guys. But definitely, system dependant. If your speakers or gear is bright / harsh then different wires will do little to change that.

One cable may be "zippier" or brighter sounding. the other more mellow and all sibilance disappers in female voices. Noticeable changes for sure. It's really an adventure like skiing or parachuting like F1 says. You can choose to do or not. Its up to you and if you can hear a difference.

[gidrah]

I'm gonna have to give this a try. I just wish they gave a SKU number. Have you guys seen how many extension cord options there are at HD?

I've tried a few different speaker wires. Resistance is a major portion after a certain point. I have some 11awg teflon wrapped silver-coated copper wire that just sounds like dookey when compared to simple 14awg copper.

[PolkThug]

Originally posted by gidrah
I'm gonna have to give this a try. I just wish they gave a SKU number. Have you guys seen how many extension cord options there are at HD?

Home Depot has 12awg speaker wire labeled as "Speaker Wire."

[gidrah]

Yes they do, but I want to try the extension cord.

[Violator]

Polk Thug. What do you think of the sound quality of the Extension cord. And is there lots of resistance. EVen if there is resistance ill just get a bigger amp. But the thing is is that if these extension cords compare to wire brands that are well known for their quality, at a much cheaper price i would rather get the extension cord.

[HBombToo]

http://silversonic.com/docs/prod/

I have been considering the Q10 for the Bomb Shelter. The T14 also looks very impressive so any advice out there is welcome.

I may be very pragmatic on my approach regarding interconnects and speaker wire but I'm not closed minded.

1/4Twin

[pjdami]

Hbomb,

The DH Labs Q10 is an incredible speaker wire for the money. I own it as well as Kimber 8TC, Transparent MusicWave, and Acoustic Zen Satori. These are all incredible speaker wire. The Q10's are not as "zippy" as the Kimbers and very close to the Transparent for less money. I find the Q10's to be very neutral in fact but let all the music through from your source / amp. I've been having a hard time lately deciding between them and the Satoris which cost almost double retail. Do it! The Q10s will not disappoint. I have used them on LSi, Polk Monitors, and my Spendors with similar results. I got mine from Jeff at Valueaudio in Cali with the upgraded spades. In fact I just ordered some DH Labs bulk power cord to make my last power cord for the ultimate power cord shootout. I really believe in this company a lot. I can definitely hear differences on speaker wire in my two channel system. Like adjusting the treble +2 / +4 in most cases and differences in bass as well.

If you are going to do the DH Labs speaker wire I think I might have found a place that sells it bulk and you can make your own terminations to save a few bucks. I'll have to find that website though. right now pjdami is like 3/4 atomic bombed so will have to wait till tomorrow!

Paul

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by pjdami


right now pjdami is like 3/4 atomic bombed so will have to wait till tomorrow!

Paul

I'm right there with ya bud:D

Bulk is cool and I would be real interested in that.

I can't seem to figure out if I purchase through Welbourn labs how to ensure the Q10's come with bananna on both ends... is it mearly a note in the message box? I figured I'd go with a pair of six footers to get started.

1/2Twin;)

[pjdami]

Hbomb,

Welborne Labs is one place to get the Q10 in bulk @ $10 / ft.

Parts Connection has it for $9 / ft. But they are in Canada and there may be some small import fee:

http://www.partsconnexion.com/catalog/wire.html

You may also just want to call Jeff at http://www.value-audio.com/ . He put some custom crimped Analysis Plus spades on my Q10s and did a nice job with the heat shrinking and labeling even. Costs a little more this way, but ensured to be a professional job. Nice guy to talk to about wire too. He can do single run or internal biwire (what I have). Jeff can terminate the wires with bananas or spades to your request.

One warning about the Q10s. It is not a very flexible cable. The min radius is like 3 inches or something before the cable starts to strain like it will kink. So make sure that you order long enough to account for that.

Here's a shot of the spade terminations:

[pjdami]

Here's a "naked" sample of the Q10 wire that Jeff sent me with my cables. It is very rigid and difficult to bend:

[HBombToo]

Thanks for the info pj...

For a short guy like me, my claim ta fame is GIRTH:D and the stiffer the better:p

also thanks for the link and this week Ima callen Jeff!

HBomb

[Brianomatic]

Nelson Pass and Matt Polk along with hundreds of others have performed tests on speaker cable. ( see link below).

http://www.passlabs.com/pdf/spkrcabl.pdf

http://www.passlabs.com/pdf/trouble.pdf

Pass recommends using a speaker cable as short as possible. Short and stout (yes, girth). In addition, it should be oxygen-free copper (OFC), or silver. He states he likes gold and if you have an extra couple hundred feet, to please send it to him. ;)

The cable must be OFC to prevent oxidization of the wire which can happen rapidly over time and degrade the signal path of the wire by increasing the resistance and changing the capacitance and inductance characteristics of the cable. Beware of using cheap zip cords or Home Depot type of wire. These wires are usually not OFC.

Secondly, terminations of the cable must be tight. Loose connections, may it be banana plugs or any other termination method isn’t good unless it is a solid connection. A poor connection can increase the resistance, thereby changing the impedance of the cable and thus load. You see this a lot with intermittent amplifier shut-downs.

Being an electrical engineer myself, I am using 12 awg Sound King speaker cable (see link from Parts expree) for my SDA SRS system and the HT system. Parts Express carries this line however, I was able to get the wire at half the price elsewhere.

www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=100-150

Here are other good sites to enlighten your hunger for cable information:

http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/cables.htm

http://www.venhaus1.com/diycatfivecables.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/spkcbl_e.html

http://home.earthlink.net/~rogerr7/wire.htm

http://www.avahifi.com/root/audio_basics/

www.avahifi.com/root/audio_basics/1990-02_wire_challenge.htm

Now, interconnect cables are another story. More of that later.

[PhantomOG]

Originally posted by Brianomatic
...Parts Express carries this line however, I was able to get the wire at half the price elsewhere.

www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=100-150


I'm about to move and want to buy some new wire. This seems like good wire. Can you shed a little more light on the "half price" vendor? Feel free to PM me as well :D

[Brianomatic]

<<I'm about to move and want to buy some new wire. This seems like good wire. Can you shed a little more light on the "half price" vendor? Feel free to PM me as well >>

Absolutely. I got it from Stark Electronics:

http://www.starkelectronic.com/

I got 250 feet for $79.95 p/n sk12-250. Be sure to ask for Sound King since they offer other types. The wire will have Sound King marked in the insulation.

Also, they have other sizes too:

http://www.starkelectronic.com/supwire.htm

[Frank Z]

FYI, the SuperFlex cable is also available at Home Depot. I paid $.44 per ft.