Tweet
Using Good Speaker Cable
For a while now, I've been using some cheaply made (and cheaply purchased) 12awg speaker cables that were pre-terminated. They were 15ft in length. And they worked JUST FINE. IN fact, if I weren't OCD, they would probably still be working just fine.
But I do have OCD, and curiosity killed them. I have been reading about the Blue Jeans Cable 10awg cable using Belden cable stock and ultrasonically welded locking banana connectors.
Here is some more info on the ultrasonic welding process:
Well, I anti'd up for a 10ft pair of the 'Ten White' cables with the ultrasonically welded connectors. They came in a few days ago and I wish I could say they made no difference, but that would be a lie.
Now, here's your caveat: I'm not saying that any of the improvements that I'm about to list would not also be enjoyed using naked un-terminated ten gauge speaker wire.
I heard an enhancement of detail in the midrange, with the soundstage seeming deeper and more transparent. Pin drops and other movie sound effects sound more pronounced and crisp. Bass seems a little deeper.
Clarification: I ran test tones at 50hz and 40hz and the BJC cables seemed to allow more current to the speakers as they seemed slightly louder at these frequencies than the outgoing cables.
So, my entire point is not that these cables (or any others) have mythical properties, but that running quality copper cable in the largest wire gauge that you can support (due to connection limitations) and afford is an important factor in overall system performance.
Unterminated BJC 10awg speaker cable is much less expensive...and I'd imagine that it would sound so similar to my pre-terminated cables as to make no difference. I'm just OCD. However, I should say that I'm happy with the $$$ I spent. The welds are complete and clean. It literally crushes/smooshes the individual cable strands in the cable into one solid mass...and then welds that to the connector. It can't hurt, that's all I'm saying.
There are plenty of cables from Monoprice and Parts Express (who have always treated me with exceptional CS as well) that I'm sure will perform just as well. So go as big as you can afford...there is more clarity to be had for very reasonable prices.
My little brother used 16ga no-name cables for the longest time. He recently upgraded to the PE brand (Dayton?) 14awg cable (he got the 50ft spool). He immediately noticed a difference in midrange and treble clarity (He uses, among other boxes, some Cambridge Soundworks M80 bookshelf speakers).
I've got him coming over in the next few weeks to see if he can tell a difference with these new cables in my setup. I'll advise once he listens. I honestly doubt he will be able to tell a difference in my system, but it's a great excuse for a guys night. :D
So, go big to start.
But I do have OCD, and curiosity killed them. I have been reading about the Blue Jeans Cable 10awg cable using Belden cable stock and ultrasonically welded locking banana connectors.
Here is some more info on the ultrasonic welding process:
Well, I anti'd up for a 10ft pair of the 'Ten White' cables with the ultrasonically welded connectors. They came in a few days ago and I wish I could say they made no difference, but that would be a lie.
Now, here's your caveat: I'm not saying that any of the improvements that I'm about to list would not also be enjoyed using naked un-terminated ten gauge speaker wire.
I heard an enhancement of detail in the midrange, with the soundstage seeming deeper and more transparent. Pin drops and other movie sound effects sound more pronounced and crisp. Bass seems a little deeper.
Clarification: I ran test tones at 50hz and 40hz and the BJC cables seemed to allow more current to the speakers as they seemed slightly louder at these frequencies than the outgoing cables.
So, my entire point is not that these cables (or any others) have mythical properties, but that running quality copper cable in the largest wire gauge that you can support (due to connection limitations) and afford is an important factor in overall system performance.
Unterminated BJC 10awg speaker cable is much less expensive...and I'd imagine that it would sound so similar to my pre-terminated cables as to make no difference. I'm just OCD. However, I should say that I'm happy with the $$$ I spent. The welds are complete and clean. It literally crushes/smooshes the individual cable strands in the cable into one solid mass...and then welds that to the connector. It can't hurt, that's all I'm saying.
There are plenty of cables from Monoprice and Parts Express (who have always treated me with exceptional CS as well) that I'm sure will perform just as well. So go as big as you can afford...there is more clarity to be had for very reasonable prices.
My little brother used 16ga no-name cables for the longest time. He recently upgraded to the PE brand (Dayton?) 14awg cable (he got the 50ft spool). He immediately noticed a difference in midrange and treble clarity (He uses, among other boxes, some Cambridge Soundworks M80 bookshelf speakers).
I've got him coming over in the next few weeks to see if he can tell a difference with these new cables in my setup. I'll advise once he listens. I honestly doubt he will be able to tell a difference in my system, but it's a great excuse for a guys night. :D
So, go big to start.
Comment