WTB any decent pair of speaker cables 8 meters+

[sov]

WTB any decent pair of speaker cables 8 meters+ prefer bi-wire but not critical. The setup of my room dictates amp/source at one end and my speakers at the other, I'm running some el-cheapo $3 a meter cables under the house and have recently up-graded most of my system and the cables are all that's letting me down. Please let me know if anyone has any laying around un-used, thanks! Melboune preffered.

[andyr]

WTB any decent pair of speaker cables 8 meters+ prefer bi-wire but not critical. The setup of my room dictates amp/source at one end and my speakers at the other, I'm running some el-cheapo $3 a meter cables under the house and have recently up-graded most of my system and the cables are all that's letting me down. Please let me know if anyone has any laying around un-used, thanks! Melboune preffered.

 

8m is quite a lot ... but why do you think the "el cheapos" are letting your system down?  I would suggest, at that price, they are multi-stranded with the bundle of strands at least 3mm thick?

 

I'm a solid-core man, myself.  You can get excellent-sounding speaker cable by using solid-core Cat5 or Cat6 cable.  Try first, having a separate jacket for '+' and for '-', for each speaker.  This gives the lowest capacitance - which your amp will like.    But the penalty is ... it gives the highest inductance - which is undesirable in speaker cables.

 

If your amp can take a few nF of capacitance (without getting hot or blowing up), you could try using the same 2 jackets-worth of cable to each speaker ... but re-arrange the connections so that 2 pairs in each jacket go to '+' and the other 2 pairs go to '-'.  This increases the capacitance - but decreases the inductance - so (if your amp can cope with the extra capacitance) it will sound better.

 

Try it out with basic - cheap - solid-core Cat5/6 (which will have PVC insulation).  If you like it, search out Teflon-insulated Cat5/6 eg. Belden 1585a.

 

Good luck,

 

Andy

Edited October 27, 2013 by andyr

[sov]

Well they're extremely thin, twisted white pvc (i think) and have no banana plugs or anything just bare metal strands. They've been under the house for probably 15 years and were used by my dad but I dont know what they are. Since I've just invested in some nice gear I figured the cables would be the next logical thing to change in trying to improve the sound.

 

Thanks heaps for your advice, I have no idea about cables and zero technical knowledge full stop but you've enlightened me a bit so I'l look into solid core cat5s because they're better for longer lengths of cable right?

 

Thanks Andy!

[Willco]

Sounds as if you are sorted-Good One!

 

Willco

Edited October 28, 2013 by Willco

[djb]

Straightbti BELDEN 1585a if it were me

[djb]

eBay us seller has 1000' for $125'

too much I suppose?

Oh and I'll risk Andy's wrath and say if you have easy access to the rear of your gear, as he did to mine yesterday, the best connection for speaker cable is bare wire

Edited October 28, 2013 by djb

[adamg]

I use BJCs Belden 5000 speaker cable as I run 6 m lengths and it was affordable and I've been happy with other BJC cables

 

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/

[sov]

Thanks chaps yeah I'm struggling to source belden 1585a, less then 1000' that is. BJC is an option, would it be worth spending more on Chord Carnival Silver Screen? I've read good things about this cable would it be suitable at 8 meter lengths? I know not to take those reviews as gospel but don't have much else to go on. I've got a Topaz KT120 running Proac studio 140s if that holds any relevance.

[sov]

I ended up getting a great price on some Canare 4s11 from a fellow sna member and am very happy with it. Noticeable improvement in every way! Thanks for the helpful advice!