CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

scoobydoo · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Victoria BC

ok
I've got half decent cables and speaker wires for my ht but i'm looking at stuff for my audio system upstairs.

My local audio store has always given me wicked deals on equipment the past years. I've recently picked up a pair of B&W CM1 speakers and stands as well as a creek 5450SE integrated amp.
I got a pair of Nordost Blue Heaven speakers cables (3m) half price. they have now give me a deal on some Nordost Blue Heaven RCA cables.

What do people think of these cables? I was running (cough) monster before. I do notice a difference over the monster.

Zebu Fellenz · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 2567

If you notice a difference than go for it; personally I didn't hear any difference when I went from monster cable to 12 gauge romex house wiring. Do an experiment, go to your nearest home improvement store and buy enough romex to wire in one speaker, than use the system and see if you can really hear a difference. To make the test fair you should really have another person set it up and them not tell you what is what.

I don't believe that the cables make any difference but do whatever makes you happy:D,

Erik

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 1:17 am Post subject:

I did a test about 10 years ago with different RCA cables. I found they all had different 'sounds' to them. I tested the cheap ones that came with all the components and some monster cables, tributaries and other brands I no longer remember. What it came down to for me was the tributaries sounded the cleanest with vocals, the monster had muddy vocals but cleaner base and the cheap cables that come with everything sounded 'tinney'.

Shortly after I changed my speaker cables because I needed longer cables. Going from 18AWG to 12 AWG flat OFC ABCDEFG cables didn't make a huge difference except the 12 AWG could handle the power from the amps without over heating.

Dito for what Zubu said. If they sound good to you use them. Your ears are the ultimate judge.

scoobydoo · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Victoria BC

the B&W speakers are bi-wired and I did notice a huge difference is range when I went from just ordinary speaker cables with jumper bars to real bi-wired speakers.

The interconnect cables i've been listening to a range of music and yeah I do notice a difference. I guess my dog will be starving for the next few weeks while I enjoy my stereo. Laughing

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 2:56 am Post subject:

scoobydoo · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Victoria BC

true...dog gets food. I starve but happy with my new toys.

emdawgz1 · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 7949

oliverg · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 3:17 pm Post subject:

Do double blind A/B testing with you and a friend. Be honest.

Then go buy some good quality cables without spending too much. Good quality means 'built' well, made well - using reasonable quality components. Some people say spend more money on speaker wire than interconnects.

It all comes down to your ears. See if your dealer will let you audition some.

Good luck

Tom.W · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 6637

One of my favorite amps is the Pass Labs Aleph 5 along with the Pass Labs Aleph P preamp. 60 watts of clear class A. Tried several cables but ended up using Kimber balanced silver cross connects. But when it came to speaker cables #6 or #10 twisted but insulated solid copper sounded great !

Pass Aleph 5 specs

http://cygnus.ipal.org/mirror/www.passlabs.com/a5lit.htm

Pass Aleph P preamp

http://cygnus.ipal.org/mirror/www.passlabs.com/apstphle.htm

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2007 10:15 pm Post subject:

There's been massive fights/dsicussions on the high end avs area.

I say you're all nuts if you hear a difference. Mind you, I haven't tried it, but to me in order to hear cable differences, you need to be able to switch instantaneously between interconnects or speaker cables. I therefore suggested over at avs to build a relay/switch AB box.

The argument was that the switch box inserts coloration in the system, so you won't hear the cables. I say that the coloration that massive 10 amp contacts would add would be the same for both cables, so that you'd still hear the cable 'signature' itself if there is any.

No one has shown me yet scientifically with measurements how a cable can make a difference. Most white papers that cable manufacturers put out are pure hocus pocus, ie: sh*t, and that convinces me more than ever that they are only after your money.

rod · Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:58 am Post subject:

There are some good links in the CRT section of AVS. When doing the research I made the conclusion that even if it made a difference it wouldn't necessarily make the cheaper cables sound worse. If you like what you hear then that is what you should get. I have used both cat 5 wiring and 10gauge speaker wire and I did not hear a distinct difference, good or bad. Scientifially there are characteristics that change with wiring types but most of if your ear can't discern.
The way I look at it is if a pictureframe that is levelled with a level still looks crooked are you going to leave it that way?

scoobydoo · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Victoria BC

Well I spent the weekend listening to music on my system and I think I'll get the cables. Hey at almost half off...you can't go wrong.
I personally wouldn't spend the $$ and get these cables for my home system unless I had a ton of extra $$. My system upstairs is a dedicated music system and I do notice a bigger range and base from the cables.

For a HT system where the range isn't so large half decent ones will work fine as do half decent speaker wires. IMO

draganm · Joined: 08 Mar 2006 Posts: 8990 Location: Colorado

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10273

I agree on the blind/double-blind test when talking something like cables. What good is it in buying something you may not be able to appreciate, whether or not that is in seeing or hearing?

And even if it does 'make a difference' can you see/hear that difference?

scoobydoo · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Victoria BC

I agree with draganm, I think interconnects make a bigger difference (noticeable hearing wise) over speaker cables.
I have played with different gauge speaker cables and have heard a difference in range and especially base. I heard a major difference between normal speaker cables with the jumper bars on my B&W to the proper bi-wiring. HUGE range difference and definitely in the base. The Creek 5350SE doesn't have a treble or base adjustment so it was nice to hear I got the same sound out of my system as I hear in the stereo store without he nice Moone cd player and using my 10yr Denon.

the Interconnection cables I did hear a dfference and my roommate did as well. I didn't say anything to him he just said..Wow the system is sounding really good today.

Well with the cables being half price basically it makes them even more attractive.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:08 pm Post subject:

scoobydoo · Joined: 06 Apr 2006 Posts: 358 Location: Victoria BC

sure...but you have to come over to the island hahahhahaha and while you are here you can take a look at my PJ setup.

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:53 pm Post subject:

That might work out. Email me your phone number to my home emails (604) 514-1751 and I'll give you a shout when I come over.

Xeus · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 111 Location: N.E. Wisconsin

Here is a link to an interesting read on speaker wire.

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

Matt

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:27 pm Post subject:

I read the part about the wire comparison. Even the writer is missing the big problem with those 50' rolls of wire. A roll of wire turns into a big inductor, so both rolls will actually negatively affect the signal going to the speakers. With an 8 ohm speaker, you'd need 8 ohms of wire resistance to create 1/2 volume in the thinner roll, so at 2.something ohms of the smaller wire gauge, it should hardly yield a lower volume. Something is very fishy about that a/b test. Methinks there's some resistors behind the board somewhere.. Smile