View Full Version : Speaker wire suggestions?
s0meJERK
11-23-2005, 02:17 PM
I have Polk LSi15 towers, LSiC center, LSiFx rears, and a PSW505 sub.. i was wondering what would be the best speaker wire to purchase.. i would like a few more options..
-Tommy
Willow
11-23-2005, 02:43 PM
Welcome to SomeJerk.....
What are you using now? what AWG ? if it's over 16awg then keep what you have.
I use Kimber, for my mains, AR for my rears and monster for my bedroom system.
beardog03
11-23-2005, 02:51 PM
www.signalcable.com
mention your a Polk Forum member and get a 5% discount..
AQ type 4 is also a good cable in the lower price range
Oh, and Welcome to the Jungle... :cool:
Willow
11-23-2005, 03:10 PM
Forgot about signal good suggestion as it seems many use it !!
Fallen Kell
11-23-2005, 04:02 PM
All I can say is wow. I mean I am sure signal cable is decent stuff, but if you don't mind putting some time and a little effort, you can make your own for less, its all about how much you value your time. I think I spent about 5 hours making all the cables for my room (2x10', 1x8', 2x22', 2x42'). I picked up a shrink wrap, tekflex, cotton, bannana plugs, and stranded six 9, 10 AWG OFC copper wire. I think I spent $200 total, and I still have leftover wire for other uses (250' spool). And that included color coding the wires as well since I could do that (I have the ends srink wrapped in red and black for the phase, and have the tekflex connection shrink wrapped in white (for the center), blue (mains), orange (side surrounds), green (rears), with a white stripe added to the left speaker of each pair so it is very easy to know which wire goes to which speaker if/when I disconnect the amplifier.
So to me it was easily worth the 5 hours time since no place I saw that was reasonably priced had offerings like that... But I am also of the school of thought (since I had too many electronic courses at college), that the best cables can be easily tested for LCR characteristics. The base wire I used had some very good test results in those aspects (beating many high priced cables in 2 or all 3 measurements).
See for some comparisons, others support data, since it is a scientific measurement, the results are repeatible...
http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/interconnects/DIYSpeakerCablesp2.html
This is what I'm using BJC (http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm) I bought the Ten White and soldered on some banana plugs I got on ebay. Total cost of 18' pair terminated was about $54. Welcome to the forum BTW!
McLoki
11-23-2005, 06:36 PM
This is what I'm using BJC (http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm) I bought the Ten White and soldered on some banana plugs I got on ebay. Total cost of 18' pair terminated was about $54. Welcome to the forum BTW!
I use the same wire with very good results.
Michael
MrNightly
11-26-2005, 12:03 AM
If one doesn't feel like making their own cables, what are your recommendations for RTi8's, CSi5, and SVS sub? And how much is one realistically going to spend on these cables?
aaharvel
11-26-2005, 12:14 AM
get some cheap 14awg stuff from Lowes or The Depot, be done with it.
I use 14 Rat Shack Megacable. It's great, it's cheap. Cable's freakin' cable.
MrNightly
11-26-2005, 12:18 AM
get some cheap 14awg stuff from Lowes or The Depot, be done with it.
I use 14 Rat Shack Megacable. It's great, it's cheap. Cable's freakin' cable.
Nice. Do i need to like build on the ends and all that good jazz or do they just sell them ready to plug in? *sorry i dont know much about cables. *
aaharvel
11-26-2005, 12:32 AM
Nice. Do i need to like build on the ends and all that good jazz or do they just sell them ready to plug in? *sorry i dont know much about cables. *
as far as the megacable goes, you'll have to splice. The copper is enclosed in the jacket of the cable all the way to it's end.
As long as it's a fair comparison between guages (the jacket quality isn't crap and they actually do contain copper strands) then you're not going to hear an actual acoustic difference. If you hear any differences, it's psychological and placebo's fn' with your head~ much like the idiotic staff at Circuit City saying to any consumer dumb enough to listen: "But it's Bose!" "But it's THX certified!" Baloney.
If I'm wrong. Great. My ears tell me i'm not~ and in the process I just saved a $hit load of money. :D
beardog03
11-26-2005, 01:14 AM
www.signalcable.com
mention your a Polk Forum member and get a 5% discount..
AQ type 4 is also a good cable in the lower price range..
Or did I already mention that..!!
dorokusai
11-26-2005, 01:21 AM
I suggest you buy some Home Depot or similar generic speaker wire and then order some higher quality wire from e.g. Signal Cable or Blue Jeans Cable. Conduct a simple double blind, if possible, demo of both manufacturers' product, on your system and decide for yourself.
Either way you win, either way it's a money back guarantee. Signal and BJC both carry a 30 Day return policy and Home Depot gives you a receipt of purchase.
You may actually be able to laugh at some folks when you're done.
The Blue Jeans Cable (http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm) I mentioned earlier isn't expensive. You don't have to purchase banana or spade terminations to use them. That was just my personal prefrence. Strip 1/4 - 1/2 inch off the end (you have to do this with any unterminated cable) twist it and you're all set.
If aaharvel doesn't hear a difference that's his opinion. I went from 16AWG RatShack wire to the BJC Ten White and I do hear a difference. It's subtle but it's there.
It all comes down to what type of gear you have. GIGO. The better your rig the more able you'll be to hear a difference between speaker cables and interconnects. I was one of those people who thought it was all nonsense until I got better equipment. Since then I've upgraded IC's and cables. Each time I noticed a difference. YMMV.
Have fun - that's what this hobby is all about. :) +1 on what doro said while I was typing this. :D
reeltrouble1
11-26-2005, 11:46 AM
You may actually be able to laugh at some folks when you're done.
:D Or Yourself.
Congrats on your speakers.
Please let me add my welcome to the others.
RT1
MrNightly
11-26-2005, 12:02 PM
as far as the megacable goes, you'll have to splice. The copper is enclosed in the jacket of the cable all the way to it's end.
As long as it's a fair comparison between guages (the jacket quality isn't crap and they actually do contain copper strands) then you're not going to hear an actual acoustic difference. If you hear any differences, it's psychological and placebo's fn' with your head~ much like the idiotic staff at Circuit City saying to any consumer dumb enough to listen: "But it's Bose!" "But it's THX certified!" Baloney.
If I'm wrong. Great. My ears tell me i'm not~ and in the process I just saved a $hit load of money. :D
I'll be picking up some today to try and see how it works... I like the advise to do a double blind. Once i get used to how the cheapo wires sound, i'll order some "Quality" wires :) and give it a run for the money. Thanks everybody for the advise. I was kinda worried about the wires, as i've read that people are spending $300 dollars and above on them... Too much for me.. at least for starters that is.
Happy hunting!! (To me that is :D)
aaharvel
11-26-2005, 04:17 PM
I'll be picking up some today to try and see how it works... I like the advise to do a double blind. Once i get used to how the cheapo wires sound, i'll order some "Quality" wires :) and give it a run for the money. Thanks everybody for the advise. I was kinda worried about the wires, as i've read that people are spending $300 dollars and above on them... Too much for me.. at least for starters that is.
Happy hunting!! (To me that is :D)
Peersol makes a good point about the quality rig you have making a difference. My setup is no where close to high-fi but more like mid-fi (at least compared to other members) ~ and i prob. don't have the ears that either he or Doro or some others have~ so to me, it just doesn't make any sense. Everybody's different. I would love to see your results from a double blind listening test.
(edit) in my last post I meant to say 'in my own experience'.
PoweredByDodge
12-01-2005, 04:17 PM
... i can't believe what you guys spend on wire... jesus.
it doesn't matter where it comes from, but what its made of that holds the key.
www.mitekfactoryoutlet.
esoteric audio / streetwires 12 gauge 50 foot rolls for about 5 bucks last time i checked. that's true OFC copper, about 100 strands to 150 strands per conductor, and durable as hell. resistant to many caustic substances. clear jacket, copper colored conductors.
you can get similar quality 10 gauge on 500 foot spools for about 50 bucks single conductor though... which sucks. it's "power wire" but its made better than a lot of speaker wire. 500 strands per conductor, OFC copper.
dorokusai
12-01-2005, 04:36 PM
Yawn...it's amusing to see this happen every 2 weeks.
PoweredByDodge
12-01-2005, 06:16 PM
they go through the "magic wire" shit every few weeks? geez.
i've got a bridge in sanfrancisco i can sell 'em too if they're interested.
i've got a bridge in sanfrancisco i can sell 'em too if they're interested.
What are you asking for it? :p :p :p
McLoki
12-01-2005, 08:13 PM
they go through the "magic wire" shit every few weeks? geez.
i've got a bridge in sanfrancisco i can sell 'em too if they're interested.
You haven't heard bass till you put a girder between your amp and speaker. "SoundStage and imaging the size of your cable......"
Michael
F1nut
12-01-2005, 08:44 PM
Just use some lamp cord. After all, cable is just cable. :rolleyes:
MacLeod
12-01-2005, 11:23 PM
Just use some lamp cord. After all, cable is just cable.
Exactly!
Saves you a bunch of money to and you dont have to later justify to everybody why you spent $2000 on RCA's.
PolkThug
12-02-2005, 12:14 AM
You haven't heard bass, till you hear it through a jumper cable.
RuSsMaN
12-02-2005, 12:18 AM
..i was wondering what would be the best speaker wire to purchase..
Buy good ones.
Cheers,
Rooster
(if you want some suggestions, affordable to esoteric, email/pm me)
PoweredByDodge
12-02-2005, 12:21 AM
hahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
man i gotta start drinking earlier in the day.
it's all about balance. know what your buying. want the best? fine - spend 10 - 20 grand on your home audio (maybe more - i have no idea), and dump a ton into cable, but not on "snake oil" cable. i'm sure you guys get the idea.
TroyD
12-02-2005, 12:31 AM
It kills me how people on both sides of an issue (any issue) refuse to recognize that not all people see/hear/interpret things in different ways.
Again, it's all subjective here and all the kibitzing back and forth isn't likely to change anyones mind.
BDT
Well put Troy. Different strokes for different folks. Do whatcha wanna do - its your money - you earned it - spend it on whatever you want.
RuSsMaN
12-02-2005, 12:52 AM
Except for the wire debate Troy (in general). The guys that suggest something more than stock, aren't getting any kickbacks, free cables - nothing. For the most part, they are just trying to help people reap the benefits that they have.
On the other, the majority (note, not ALL) of the naysayers, have little to no experience, and feel the need to 'defend the faith', and borderline on fanaticism in their beliefs. If it can't be shown a chart or graph, it simply can't be. Reminds me of the hardcore abortion protestors, honestly - right or wrong, a scary bunch.
Cheers,
Rooster
(no further input, rebuttle, or even reading of this thread)
TroyD
12-02-2005, 01:30 AM
I hear you broham....and I'm not being critical of anyone in general, just a statement about people in general about any subjective issue.
BDT
beardog03
12-02-2005, 02:24 AM
poo nuggets
dorokusai
12-02-2005, 03:16 AM
I also find it interesting that when I ran the Cable Swap Program, only 1 vocal cable non-believer signed up....everyone else that participated had enough open mind to find out for themselves. The saviors of audio truth didn't care to offer their opinion in regards to 13 different cables.
The open mind idea was the whole point of the program, not to sell anything.
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