Is their any speaker wires that give better sound?

K

kicko

Guest
I have my system connected I would like to know if there are better wires to connect to my speakers?
 
the short answer is yes

but you need to give some info about your system and what you're using for speaker cable at the moment...
 
I have a sony dav s500. Im using just regular thin wires. they came with the system.
 
Just get Van Damme "Blue" from Maplins (or elsewhere) at £2/m for 2.5mm2, or even cheaper is the 1.5mm2 if you only have short runs.

You do not need to spend any more.
 
I agree with GW43. Don’t spend much on speaker cable. Its mostly a hi fi shop gimmick.
 
MrScruff said:
I agree with GW43. Don’t spend much on speaker cable. Its mostly a hi fi shop gimmick.
Opinions vary, of course. ;)

To my ears, the difference between £20/m cable and £5/m cable is all but negligible unless you're using kit so expensive that the extra cost isn't a concern.

However, the difference between £5/m cable and the 'bottom of the line' stuff is very noticeable. Hell, even the difference between something like QED 'Micro' (less than £2/m in most places) and 'free' cable is well worth it.
 
AndyBBB said:
However, the difference between £5/m cable and the 'bottom of the line' stuff is very noticeable. Hell, even the difference between something like QED 'Micro' (less than £2/m in most places)

I don't believe you can tell the deference in 'bottom of the line' a blind test (maybe the free cables you get with lifestyle hifi's that are not copper but even this may just give you a reduction in volume over "quality").

Here is a blind test:
http://www.provide.net/~djcarlst/abx_wire.htm

More information here:
http://sound.westhost.com/cables.htm

There are more studies available but NOTHING to prove that "extravagance will get you genuine performance".
 
I upgraded from £20 Cambridge Audio interconects to £30 ones on my CD player about 8 years ago, and whilst just sitting reading I instantly heard the difference whilst listening to Enya, the piano was much more realistic. And that was just reading not a sit down test.

I believe you can here a difference but it's relevant to kit value. No point using £500 cables on a £300 system.

Now the Nordost crazy price stuff... I'm just not buying that, that just audiophile nonsense IMO.
 
I would recommend QED Micro for A Sony DAVS system, anything more will be a waste.
 
Helicon said:
I would recommend QED Micro for A Sony DAVS system, anything more will be a waste.

I agree, the really simple rule is to not spend more in total on cables that the main hardware is worth. With a Sony DAV-XXXX system QED Micro would be as good as I would recommend.
 
you don't really want to be buying it by the meter. Have a look on ebay etc and see if you can get a big reel of decent quality stuff, should work out a lot cheaper.
 
Given that QED Micro comes on 200 metre reels, i don't think you'll get it cheap enough to warrant buying a reel. As the average AV system needs about 30 metres, it'll cost £60.

Most reels of cable on Ebay are going to be very cheap stuff advertised as expensive stuff to seem as thugh it's a bargain.
 
Kicko, I have about 58 metres of QED micro available.
If you are interested I will need a mod to confirm I can just go straight to PM or how to proceed.

Looking about £1/metre, but must get a mod to ok a sale via this route if you're interested though.

Let me know.

Dan.
 
Helicon said:
Given that QED Micro comes on 200 metre reels, i don't think you'll get it cheap enough to warrant buying a reel. As the average AV system needs about 30 metres, it'll cost £60.

Most reels of cable on Ebay are going to be very cheap stuff advertised as expensive stuff to seem as thugh it's a bargain.
I've seen a lot of part reels before now. Left over from installs etc.

But yeah you do have to be careful of people selling 2 core electrical flex as 'Heavy Gauge 48 Strand Audiophile Speaker Cable' :p
 
Have to say I've got one of these DAVS500 systems upstairs in a spare room and didnt think you could change the cable - its got funny coloured connectors at the end of each cable.

I've never tried to prise these connectors off but in my case I'm not interested as the real hifi kit is downstairs - its only something to use when the one downstairs is being used for something else or I want to use the PS2.
 
Dankeech said:
Kicko, I have about 58 metres of QED micro available.
If you are interested I will need a mod to confirm I can just go straight to PM or how to proceed.

Looking about £1/metre, but must get a mod to ok a sale via this route if you're interested though.

Let me know.

Dan.


post an add in the fopr sale section mate. someone will snap that up ;)

i would of last month lol
 
Dankeech

I would be more than happy to pay £1/m for it if you want to put a proper for sale thread on here

Thanks

PS. sorry to butt in this thread but for what its worth this cable is more than satisfactory for all needs ive ever had
 
MrScruff said:
I don't believe you can tell the deference in 'bottom of the line' a blind test (maybe the free cables you get with lifestyle hifi's that are not copper but even this may just give you a reduction in volume over "quality").

Here is a blind test:
http://www.provide.net/~djcarlst/abx_wire.htm

More information here:
http://sound.westhost.com/cables.htm

There are more studies available but NOTHING to prove that "extravagance will get you genuine performance".

That second link is great.
Yes, I actually read it :rolleyes:
As a radio ham, I can vouch for a fair amount of what he says.
I was about to rip him to pieces though, when he was talking about valves being rubbish.
Until he admitted they do sound better.
That link will appear quite often from now on ;)
 
Well, rather than believing someone i don't know about, i'll continue to believe my own ears.

Agreed, not all 'specialist' cables either sound good or make much of a difference, but there are cable manufacturers out there who are genuinely researching and making good quality cables that are worth purchasing.
 
Of course and that's your prerogative mate :smashin:
Most interesting bit to me was the mark-up, though.
 
MrScruff said:
I don’t believe you can tell the deference in 'bottom of the line' a blind test (maybe the free cables you get with lifestyle hifi's that are not copper but even this may just give you a reduction in volume over "quality").

Here is a blind test:
http://www.provide.net/~djcarlst/abx_wire.htm

More information here:
http://sound.westhost.com/cables.htm

There are more studies available but NOTHING to prove that "extravagance will get you genuine performance".

Interesting reading especially the ESP site but it is essentially one persons view. The ABX is also interesting reading however it seems to lack details about the testing methodology and the panel numbers seem to be to low to generate meaningful statistics which would significantly advance the cable debate
 
I could just make up my own crap about a controversial subject and publish it on the net...who's to know?!!!!
 
I could turn that around and say "why don't the manufacturers prove their argument" ?

Like the bloke said can you find any independent proof to back up the manufacturer's claims?
I've never seen any.
I think they play on subjectivity and the fact that if you tell people something constantly, they'll eventually believe it.
But don't worry, I don't have a problem with you spending whatever you like on cables, it's your money :smashin:
 
If a cable sounds better, i'll buy it. If others out their dismiss the differences, then they're not getting everything they can out of their system.

Messing about with mains cables and conditioners, now there's something i really can't hear big differences with. But cables can make a big difference.
 
Badger0-0 said:
I could turn that around and say "why don't the manufacturers prove their argument" ?

Like the bloke said can you find any independent proof to back up the manufacturer's claims?
:

Good point, but as far as I can tell neither side has sufficient evidence for anything near to ‘proof’
 

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