Speaker Cables...

[joshleb]

I know it's a common (and dangerous) question, with different opinions.

But would you bother getting better cable than this off amazon to power a couple of rears I'm adding to my AV system.
For my fronts and centre I'm currently only running the standard cable that came with my Yamaha receiver and speakers back then, have since upgraded speakers there.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaker-Strand-Auline%C2%...

Or should I go stumping up more money for better cable?

[benz0]

no. there's no proven empirical evidence anywhere to suggest that speaker cables make more than an insignificant difference.

a good acid test for hifi/audiophile bullst is to compare with what recording studios use. they definitely don't use fancy cables.

[anonymous-user]

My hifi and AV systems are worth a somewhat significant amount of money, but all the stuff about cables is bks imho.

As long as its decent quality and not bell wire you won't tell any difference, and if it's bell wire you probably won't either

[gizlaroc]

benz0 said:

no. there's no proven empirical evidence anywhere to suggest that speaker cables make more than an insignificant difference.

But they can make all the difference.

Not saying you need to spend money, but different cables can change the sound slightly.

I tend to like solid core mains cables, they calm down the top end a bit.

I also like Chord Rumor as it does the same, but mains cable is much cheaper.

[Howard-]

gizlaroc said:

But they can make all the difference.

Not saying you need to spend money, but different cables can change the sound slightly.

I tend to like solid core mains cables, they calm down the top end a bit.

I also like Chord Rumor as it does the same, but mains cable is much cheaper.

I'm willing to put money on the fact you wouldn't be able to reliably tell the difference between any speaker cables in a proper blind test.


OP, that cable is absolutely fine.

[B17NNS]

Read a while back on here that this is about as good as you ever need to go.

http://www.van-damme.com/23.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-Blue-Series-St...

£2.50 per m

Clue is in the name. It's what they use in recording studios.

[Crackie]

joshleb said:

I know it's a common (and dangerous) question, with different opinions.

But would you bother getting better cable than this off amazon to power a couple of rears I'm adding to my AV system.
For my fronts and centre I'm currently only running the standard cable that came with my Yamaha receiver and speakers back then, have since upgraded speakers there.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Speaker-Strand-Auline%C2%...

Or should I go stumping up more money for better cable?

Please don't stump up anything extra. Just find something with a decent cross sectional area. Approx area. 1.5mm

Have a quick look on Google and search for images of 'Hi-Fi amplifiers inside' and also "speaker crossover inside". On the whole, amp and speaker designers don't use special cable in their products and they rarely even have a speaker cable on their price lists.

You may be interested in some of the links here https://www.head-fi.org/threads/testing-audiophile...

[LeoSayer]

In my experience, different speaker cable gives different sound from a back to back comparison swapping the cables on the same equipment. Not a subtle difference either.

Far more noticeable difference than changing the CD player.

Notice I said difference, not necessarily better.

[B17NNS]

Crackie said:

You may be interested in some of the links here https://www.head-fi.org/threads/testing-audiophile...

It's all very emperors new clothes isn't it . We all have to pretend we can hear differences we really can't so we don't feel stupid for spending fortunes on fancy twin and earth.

Russ Andrews is the biggest snake oil salesman of the lot.

The £25 plug

http://www.russandrews.com/superclamp/

The £25 fuse.
(includes DeoxIT Gold wipe for treating end caps before fitting).
Has 14 reviews no less. "Brings out details and eliminates unwanted noise, to produce a more focused sound. I have fitted a Superfuse to all of my cables and Superclamps. Essential for getting the most out of your Hi-Fi."

Seriously, read the reviews and try and keep a straight face.

http://www.russandrews.com/13a-superfuse-mains-plu...

And the £90 socket

http://www.russandrews.com/dct-ultrasocket-single-...

Edited by B17NNS on Monday 16th October 22:10

[ladderino]

This is my favourite Russ Andrews product - http://www.russandrews.com/what-is-the-clarity-pro... - sadly they no longer list the feature of 'green light on the front to tell you it's on'.

I love the thought of people putting serious hours into setting the field strength just right.

[B17NNS]

ladderino said:

This is my favourite Russ Andrews product

£560 for Coherence Technology. Where do I sign

[legzr1]

B17NNS said:

Read a while back on here that this is about as good as you ever need to go.

http://www.van-damme.com/23.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Van-Damme-Blue-Series-St...

£2.50 per m

Clue is in the name. It's what they use in recording studios.

I use this in 4 core 4mm version - fairly chunky but makes bi-amping a lot neater than separate runs of 2.5mm.
Buggered if I can hear a difference between this and any other copper cable (some at 50 times the price).

I read something years ago along the lines of "if it's made the same and measures the same it will sound the same" - all true in my experience but it's worth mentioning that not all cables are manufactured in the same way or use the same materials - I have a pair of VdH carbon hybrid interconnects which sound different to Nordost red dawn (silver plated copper strands laid out flat).

As you get older and deafer it starts to matter less...

[Crackie]

LeoSayer said:

In my experience, different speaker cable gives different sound from a back to back comparison swapping the cables on the same equipment. Not a subtle difference either.

Far more noticeable difference than changing the CD player.

Notice I said difference, not necessarily better.

If you perceive a difference then there is difference; you can then decide whether or not it is an improvement and whether the cable's offers good value, relative to the cost of a better amp or speakers or source.

I've yet to see any evidence from a, properly conducted, test where listeners can repeatedly identify differences between competently designed cables. Clearly if a cable maker produces a badly engineered cable ( i.e a tone control ) then it should be relatively easy to identify it.

Some may find that a very poorly designed cable is so bad that it fixes a flaw present elsewhere in the system. Using two flawed products together may yield some flattering synergy but imho, when used in isolation, neither can claim to offer high fidelity.

Edited by Crackie on Tuesday 17th October 07:32

[LeoSayer]

Crackie said:

If you perceive a difference then there is difference; you can then decide whether or not it is an improvement and whether the cable's offers good value, relative to the cost of a better amp or speakers or source.

I've yet to see any evidence from a, properly conducted, test where listeners can repeatedly identify differences between competently designed cables. Clearly if a cable maker produces a badly engineered cable ( i.e a tone control ) then it should be relatively easy to identify it.

Some may find that a very poorly designed cable is so bad that it fixes a flaw present elsewhere in the system. Using two flawed products together may yield some flattering synergy but imho, when used in isolation, neither can claim to offer high fidelity.

The differences were noticeable enough for me to believe that I could detect which cable was being used, but I didn't try a blind test. I was sceptical having tried different interconnects and noticed no difference.

My excuse for not doing a blind test is that I was living on my own at the time and had few friends so didn't want to lose any more by asking them to help with the blind test.

[ian996]

Howard- said:

I'm willing to put money on the fact you wouldn't be able to reliably tell the difference between any speaker cables in a proper blind test.

While I admit that I remain slightly baffled at how difficult it is to reliably recognise subtle audible differences via blind tests, I don't think they definitively prove anything.

The approach that "If a difference can't be detected via a blind test, it's not worth having." is wholly valid and sensible in the vast majority of cases.

In contrast, stating that "If an audible difference can't be detected via a double blind test, it doesn't exist." is bks. Failing to "prove" a positive doesn't "prove" a negative.

Having said all that, even as the owner of "Audiophool" cabling throughout my stereo system, I wouldn't think there would be much advantage in using anything other than basic cables for A/V rear speakers.

[anonymous-user]

I must confess that my speakers are wired with err mains cable and sound just fine

[B17NNS]

legzr1 said:

I use this

Which is essentially the same as this. 2.5mm oxygen free copper.

https://www.nexxia.co.uk/product/speaker-cable-2-5...

Just over a quid a metre.

[anonymous-user]

B17NNS said:

It's all very emperors new clothes isn't it . We all have to pretend we can hear differences we really can't so we don't feel stupid for spending fortunes on fancy twin and earth.

Russ Andrews is the biggest snake oil salesman of the lot.

The £25 plug

http://www.russandrews.com/superclamp/

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 16th October 22:10

That's an MK Safety plug copy design. I bet its pirated

[B17NNS]

techiedave said:

That's an MK Safety plug copy design. I bet its pirated

Looks to be the same. Might just be a re-brand with a sticker.

Russ Andrews (£25)



MK (£3.52)



Be interesting to peel that front label off.

Edited by B17NNS on Tuesday 17th October 13:15

[WinstonWolf]

Those that say they can hear a difference probably have better hearing than those that say you can't

http://onlinetonegenerator.com/hearingtest.html