I'm using some old Audio Quest 4 conductor cables between my Levinson 336 and my Aerial 10T's (bi-wired)- and have thought about trying some new ones out.

Any recomendations?

I'm using Audio-Magic from my pre to the amp and am very happy with them. I will probably audition some of their cables - but figured you guys would have some more ideas of what I may try out.

My budget is prob $500.

TIA
Jim

Well it's the New year and it won't take long to fuel the fire on this great debate once again.

Let me pull up a chair, open a bottle of wine and smoke a cigar because the fun is about to begin.

Sorry Jim but get ready for the music.

Actually, the $500 budget constraint limits the debate quite a bit around here ;)

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/speakercablefaceoff01.php
http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/speakercablereviewsfaceoff.php
http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/speakerfaceoff2feedback.php

Well it's the New year and it won't take long to fuel the fire on this great debate once again.

Let me pull up a chair, open a bottle of wine and smoke a cigar because the fun is about to begin.

Sorry Jim but get ready for the music.


I will not listen to you OB :(

I will offer a piece of advice based on an expereince I recently had with the Paul Spetz anti-cable $80 for a stereo set and a surprise to me, one extremely good cable...
www.anticable.com could cables....

Hello Jim,

Unfortunately you are in the worst place to ask a cable question, because somehow for the most people here there is no difference between a zip cord and a high end cord. Therefore I strongly suggest that you ask your high-end audio questions, especially cable questions on Audiogon or Audio Asylum forums.

Hello Jim,

Unfortunately you are in the worst place to ask a cable question, because somehow for the most people here there is no difference between a zip cord and a high end cord. Therefore I strongly suggest that you ask your high-end audio questions, especially cable questions on Audiogon or Audio Asylum forums.


Yes go ask there because here this is the AV Science forum. Those places are the snake oil pits. There is no difference in cable as long as you use the correct gauge, and no filters have been put in the cable.

Lets step back and think about it for one sec. What exactly about that 100 dollar cable, thats passive , makes magic? Nothing just the adverts behind it.

Haha - I did expect some of this so I am happy to sit back and enjoy the comments.

But I was also hoping that some of you non "snake oil" types might throw some recommendations out.

I too use to be more of a snake oil guy myself - until I auditioned some new IC's.
I am a believer... but only after I've plugged it into my system and heard the results -
as I did with my Audio-Magic IC's.

If lamp cord sounds great - which brands should I try? Home Depot? Lowes? Red or black? :D

I will try anything if it sounds good.

Hey now, make sure to go back and check out my links. The Audioholics folks are partners with this forum and while they don't believe the snake-oil hype they do real tests to make sure that the cables don't have undue influence on the signal. If you go with their more highly-rated cables I don't think you can go wrong.

Nope, I won't get into the debate. Jim, I'm one of the guys that doesn't believe the hype, and think that 14 gauge zip cord or PVC jacketed cord will sound EXACTLY the same as the $100 per foot cables.

The problem I have with people here that do believe in the differences of cables and tweaks is that there's no one that can seem to agree on how to do a double blind test. I submit that the only way you can tell is to instantaneouly switch between speaker cables with an A/B box. Build that box with as high a level of components that you want, but you need to switch between cables with the flick of a switch IMHO. Two years ago(?) there was a very long thread about double blind testing, and big $$ bets were thrown around. No one could agree on HOW to implement the test, so all bets were off.

but I do offer this as well:

If speaker and interconnect cables make such a HUGE noticable difference, why don't recording studios and pro installations use esoteric cables? After all, they create the SOURCE for everyone that owns a reproduction system.

In the few recording studios I've toured and sat in behind the scenes, Belden cable and Switchcraft/Neutrik connectors were as high end as it got. And that's exactly what I use at home.

Nope, I won't get into the debate. Jim, I'm one of the guys that doesn't believe the hype, and think that 14 gauge zip cord or PVC jacketed cord will sound EXACTLY the same as the $100 per foot cables.

The problem I have with people here that do believe in the differences of cables and tweaks is that there's no one that can seem to agree on how to do a double blind test. I submit that the only way you can tell is to instantaneouly switch between speaker cables with an A/B box. Build that box with as high a level of components that you want, but you need to switch between cables with the flick of a switch IMHO. Two years ago(?) there was a very long thread about double blind testing, and big $$ bets were thrown around. No one could agree on HOW to implement the test, so all bets were off.

but I do offer this as well:

If speaker and interconnect cables make such a HUGE noticable difference, why don't recording studios and pro installations use esoteric cables? After all, they create the SOURCE for everyone that owns a reproduction system.

In the few recording studios I've toured and sat in behind the scenes, Belden cable and Switchcraft/Neutrik connectors were as high end as it got. And that's exactly what I use at home.


Well said Curt and we use Canare and Mogami as well. And sometimes Home Depot.

Well said Curt and we use Canare and Mogami as well. And sometimes Home Depot.

Home Depot sells Canare and MOgami? That must be in the 'cablevision' section, I must have missed it..;)

As a complete aside, there's a commercial running for Magnolia Hifi that spoofs about the 'all in one stores' selling HT systems in a box. The guy tells the woman in the ad that this screen has '1080 peas, that must be different than the ones found in Aisle 4"...

Cracked me up the first and second times I heard it....;)

Hello Jim,

Unfortunately you are in the worst place to ask a cable question, because somehow for the most people here there is no difference between a zip cord and a high end cord. Therefore I strongly suggest that you ask your high-end audio questions, especially cable questions on Audiogon or Audio Asylum forums.

Murat

I do not see why he should not. Just filter the noise and concentrate on constructive posts... I must however say that the amount of BS concerning cables and audiophile accessories is rather high... There exist however many products whose inclusion in a system produce positive, repeatable effects, among them the Paul Spetz Anti-cables..

I am gonna put a name in, I have had GREAT results on my system with Virtual Dynamics, haven't been steered wrong by Rick or his reccomendations.
I have a Power3, Audition Digital on my RP91, am going to purchase more of the master system.

I am not sure what Rick's Engineering background is but design by columb's law of vibration is an interesting concept.

Hi

I am far from the objectivist camp. Perhaps the Virtual Dynamics cable are good but their resonators.. https://www.virtualdynamics.ca/content.php?id=115 remind too much of the M.pingo or the Harmonix dots...

hi frantz

do you suggest anticables worth a try?

Hi

I am far from the objectivist camp. Perhaps the Virtual Dynamics cable are good but their resonators.. https://www.virtualdynamics.ca/content.php?id=115 remind too much of the M.pingo or the Harmonix dots...

I see they are made in Canada. They therefore HAVE to work...

At least there's one Canadian that has the sense to take money from people that have too much of it and not enough common sense.

Hey ValhallaPC, I have a bunch of back bacon that I can sell to you at $400 per Kg. Wrap it around your cables and you'll hear a big difference. As an added benefit, the internal heat sensor of the bacon will tell you when your equipment is overheating. Just listen for the sizzle. :eek:

CPU

A friend of mine brought the Anti Cable speaker wire and we used on my system. results were quite surprising.

I like the sound that comes from mine. I'm using TMC cables. I don't think they are brought up here much. I use them everywhere in my 2 channel setup.

http://www.the-music-cable.com/

With their guarantee it won't hurt at all to try.

As an added benefit, the internal heat sensor of the bacon will tell you when your equipment is overheating. Just listen for the sizzle.

Funny and clever! 5 stars! :D

Just installed Anti Cables yesterday in place of my Analysis Plus Big Silver Ovals. The Ovals are now for sale. More detail, no fatigue, slightly wider soundstage, but overall beefier sound, the kind you can sink your teeth into. Granted this is a silver versus copper comparison in some respects, but they match very well with my system.

http://alhull.com/room7/