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12 AWG Vs Audiophile Cables

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Lukey

Lukey

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What do you all use for speaker cable?

I have 2 pairs of Tara Phase II but it's brittle and a pain to connect to some speakers and amps, and I'm always moving my gear around.

I know a guy that has a lot of gear and uses 12 AWG and seems content with it.

Is there really that much difference in sound between 12 AWG and expensive cables like Tara Phase II?
 
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I use 12 awg outdoor lighting wire and really love it.

My daughter made me a set of silver clad copper 10awg speaker cables and they are wonderful but can be a bit bright with certain sources/speakers.

Speaker cables can make a difference but for great detail, accurate transients and a musical listening experience try the low voltage outdoor lighting wire.

Good luck

Eric
 
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Lukey said:
What do you all use for speaker cable?

I have 2 pairs of Tara Phase II but it's brittle and a pain to connect to some speakers and amps, and I'm always moving my gear around.

I know a guy that has a lot of gear and uses 12 AWG and seems content with it.

Is there really that much difference in sound between 12 AWG and expensive cables like Tara Phase II?
Click to expand...

No, cables make almost no difference, provided they are of low resistance. 12ga makes excellent speaker wire.

-k
 
Is that sold at most electronics stores?

Does the low voltage outdoor lighting wire ever get bright?

I got a pair of Tannoy 6o5s yesterday. They have incredible bass for small speakers.
 
Lukey said:
What do you all use for speaker cable?

I have 2 pairs of Tara Phase II but it's brittle and a pain to connect to some speakers and amps, and I'm always moving my gear around.

I know a guy that has a lot of gear and uses 12 AWG and seems content with it.

Is there really that much difference in sound between 12 AWG and expensive cables like Tara Phase II?
Click to expand...
Personally, I don't think so, but since you alrady have the Tara cables, couldn't you spare a few $$ and try it for yourself?
 
I use 10 gauge speaker wire that I got from Parts Express. Probably overkill since my cables are only 6' long. No complaints with my sound.

The Tara Phase II's I heard (terminated with bananas) were excellent cables. Have not tried them in my rig so I can't comment on the sound compared to my 10 gauge cables.
 
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ken kantor said:
No, cables make almost no difference, provided they are of low resistance. 12ga makes excellent speaker wire.

-k
Click to expand...

Interesting. I hooked up some 12 awg I had hanging around to my new Tannoy 6o5s and they seem to sound quite good.

I'm getting kind of fed up with wrestling with that brittle 3 strand wire.
I broke off one of the tighteners on my Sansui G3000 with the brittle Tara Phase II. If I had used regular 12 awg or similar cable, it probably wouldn't have happened.
 
Markw said:
Couldn't you try it for yourself?
Click to expand...

You'd rather I didn't ask the question? Your reply sounds a bit rude.
If my question bothers you that much, couldn't you pass it by and move on to someone else's post?

What are these forums for if I can't ask a question w/o some irate reply like yours?
 
Markw said:
Personally, I don't think so, but since you alrady have the Tara cables, couldn't you spare a few $$ and try it for yourself?
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm going to try some other cables, and maybe the outdoor low voltage lighting cable.

I have a lot of 12 awg around here. I only need a couple of 4' pairs.
 
Lukey said:
You'd rather I didn't ask the question? Your reply sounds a bit rude.
If my question bothers you that much, couldn't you pass it by and move on to someone else's post?

What are these forums for if I can't ask a question w/o some irate reply like yours?
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No, I'm not irate. I just find it incredulous that when one has all the materials to try it for themselves they still find the need t oseek reassurance from others as if they don't trust their own ears and/or judgement.

Do you really need us to tell what what you should hear? Are you incapable of deciding for yourself if there's a difference?

I'm of the school that says "Well, gee. I have both items. Why not try it and see for myself. I don't need anyone else to tell me what I should hear".

Now, if we're talking megabuck items and one doesn't possess both, well, that's a different creature, but how much can a few feet of 12 gauge cost?
 
I think most of the time; shielding on cables is not needed..interconnects is where shielding usually counts more..low capacitance..inductance etc.
 
Belden BJC Ten White 5T00UP white jacket, 10 AWG from Blue Jeans Cables.

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm?PHPSESSID=fcf3a493c642973a4819eecfef282bc3

Women will want to be with you. Men will want to be you. :cool:


IMG_2842_zpsd85c9bd2.jpg
 
Urizen said:
Why not try it and report back? You'll never know the answer to your question until you do. Experience trumps supposition.
Click to expand...

But, his question can be answered without supposition.

Because there are an infinite number of things to try with one's hifi, and I suggest it is best to get answers to questions that are well-defined and generally applicable so that one's time can be spent investigating open questions that are particular to one's own system. Like speaker positioning, amp power requirements, equipment matching, room arrangement and treatment, etc.

-k
 
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