Question Cable advice

D8ve4

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I’ve got a Yam Rx-a1040 linked up to a Rotel RB-1582mkII which powers my CM 10 mains.

Any suggestions on what cables would work well?

Currently I’m using qed xt40 and bi-wiring.
The analogue connection between AVR and the Rotel is a set of QED performance cables.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Dave
 
What do you need that you don't already have? What is missing?

Sounds like you already have good cable.

Steve/bluewizad
 
Thanks Steve. I don’t feel I’m missing anything in particular except for the experience of using other cables to see if they have any different characteristics. These forums are good as well because it’s nice to get feedback from peers in the industry. What cables have you had experience with?
 
.... What cables have you had experience with?

I'm a proponent of having cables in reasonable proportion to your system. In my case, that is about 4% of the total system cost. A vast majority of people pay less than 5% for all wire and cable on their system.

The cables I most often recommend are -

Van Damme Studio Blue 2.5mm² - £2.43/meter -


Van Damme Blue Series Passive Speaker Cable

Fisual S-FLEX Studio 2.5mm² - £2.35/meter -


Fisual S-Flex Studio Grade White Speaker Cable 2 x 2.5mm - Fisual - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

Fisual S-Flex Studio Grade Black Speaker Cable 2 x 2.5mm - Fisual - AudioVisual Online - UK Home Cinema and Hifi Specialists

All these are 99.99% Oxygen Free Copper, I'm not sure what a cable can do to be better than that. Sure, there are plenty of gimmick, but the electrons can't see that you have fancy jacket and fancy pants on the wire.

Myself, I use very common straight forward 12ga (3.31mm²) speaker wire. Very basic.

Steve/bluewizard
 
I followed blue wizards advise and purchased some van damme blue.
Yesterday i done a side by side comparison with the VD blue and QED XT40 at £13m.Both on Dali Zensor 7s from a Cambridge 851A.The Van Damme was so much better, vocals were clearer, clarity was so much better.The QED did have a lot more bass but sounded muddy.
After years of using QED cables i am now using VD Blue.
Thanks for the recommendations.
 
Ok awesome and many thanks gents. I appreciate the time taken. It’s really good to get insight from other people with their own experiences. The Van Dammes keep popping up in conversations so I will seriously consider them. Scol78, What speakers and amp do you use them with?
Dave
 
Cambridge 851A
Dali Zensor 7
QED cables now packed away not a patch on the Van Damms
 
I personally like Chord Co. A nicely finished and good quality product.
However, it depends on your equipment. My conservatory setup is my post upgrade dumping ground, it has gone from QED Silver Anniversary to Chord Rumour to Chord Oddysey with matched interconnects at each upgrade.
I think the system is performing beyond expectations at the moment. But, the interconnects and speaker wires are probably worth as much as the actual HiFi!... Marantz 6010 OSE and Celestion F2’s.
Though, my main System is Linn and when I replaced the Chord Oddysey with cheaper Linn K400 it all sounded very nice... But, this system is now Linn throughout. Sometimes a match up just works as everything is complementary.
If you want to try different speaker cables and interconnects I’d stalk eBay. At least you can sell them on for a similar price if no difference is made, or it isn’t to your tastes.
 
Can I add to this discussion and ask if it is really necessary for the speaker cable runs to be the same length as for me the speakers are 1m and 4m from the amp? I can't imagine that the speed of light is going to make much difference but the extra impedance might (or might not).
 
The only real reason to keep cables the same length is for resale.

Most people have no problem with 3M of excess cables coiled in a corner doing precisely nothing yet baulk at the notion of unequal lengths.
It can cause an issue in poorly designed amplifiers and/or lengths in excess of around 26 miles. In the real world? Nope.
 
Having the same lengths for resale is a very good point.
It’s also nice to have the scope to move things around if you ever move your setup. I’ve sprung for symmetrical lengths as I’m just a little bit obsessive about it. Holler if you need anything else [emoji106]
 
+1 for Van Damme studio blue 2.5mm.

My only complaint about it is the colour, sound wise it probably as good as your reasonably going to get for most systems in most reasonable environments.
 
I’ve sprung for symmetrical lengths as I’m just a little bit obsessive about it. Holler if you need anything else

I must admit I tend to keep L/R the same length partly down to a bit of OCD but more due to keeping freedom to move stuff around.
 
With my physics A level hat on (but it is a very old hat) would coiling it up not turn it into an aerial to pick up interference;? Better to fold it back on itself in a Walls Vienetta stylee.
 
Hmmm - I would have thought the opposite. The coils in theory may form an inductor which would tend to block HF signals (though with both conductors together that probably cancels anyway). In either case, unless you in the habit of placing your mobile phone next to cables or have a powerful HAM or CB radio, I don't think its an issue.
(On subject of mobile phones, I havnt noticed a mobile phone interfering with anything for several years now - I guess the tech inside them has changed to prevent that?).

OTOH the Walls Vienetta style may result in the cables effectively having a long parallel run with other cables (for eg mains), but again I havn't had an issue with that either.

Could always get a little tin foil hat for your speaker cables I guess ;)
 
Figure of 8 is the best way to coil wire. It cancels out any electrical effects.

However, this is rarely practical. The best you can often do is keep power and signal as separated as practicable. I’ve got plastic conduit as high as I can on deep skirting lifting signal wires away from the electrical wires and blocks. I’ve also got a big red hook in the wall behind by HiFi to loop surplus wire off and keep it away from the power bits on the floor.
 
Luckily the old hat sits on old ears so I suspect any negative nuances would be missed by them, particularly after 8 years in the Royal Artillery.

"Just play it loud...."
 
Luckily the old hat sits on old ears so I suspect any negative nuances would be missed by them, particularly after 10 years in the Royal Artillery.

"Just play it loud...."

10 years in Dj booths has about the same effect...
 

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