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No debates: what speaker wires, cables or interconnects do you prefer and use?

Since my interconnects are kept short, I too use the cheap ratshack cables..... with the exception of my main rig where I use monster.

Speaker wires? Just some 14awg GE (made in China) multicolored crap, sounds GREAT.
 
Harmonic Tech the truth ic's, and there 10 and 11 power chords. There stuff while not cheap....well it is compared to some, is light years better then anything in it's price range. I was a audio salesman for over 20 years and have heard or owned just about everything out there. Being a charter member of the componet of the month club i've yet to find cables this good. I really feel there a awesome value and look forward to upgrading as funds allow.
 
Did some changes in my cables since I added a DIY passive preamp:

Speaker Wire:

10 foot pair, 12awg Beldon 5000 (from BJC).

Interconnects:

Tuner-to-passive preamp: 1 meter pair, Heartland Cable Canare's.
CD player-to-passive preamp: 1 meter pair, Tara Labs Prism 22s.
Passive preamp-to-power amplifier: 2 foot pair, Blue Jean Cable LC-1 (Beldon).

Steve
 
rat shack flat wire for speakers now
previous: Rat shack solid core hook up wire quad wrapped for biwiring,original monster,wireworld atlantis
interconnect mostly monster ilink 400,some rat shack
 
Rcl

For the most part it's just a conductor for the electrons to their little giggle. In a home environment, zip cord is good enough for me.

Industrial environments can cause significant problems with motors, relays and other goodies being part of the party. Signal quality isn't something to be ignored when you get crap at your controlling device.

Since I don't listen to my systems next to the clothes washing machine while it's running, I don't need super duper/ shielded/ co-ax/ BS cable.
 
I've got a variety of interconnects: Blue Jeans Cables, Audioquest Sidewinders and some AR-branded interconnects are what I'm using now.

Speaker cable: Mapleshade speaker wire, Blue Jeans Cables 12 gauge and some cheapo 12 gauge that I got from "You-do-It Electronics".
 
Not to get too picky here, but I've seen cables referred to as wires. There actually is an important difference (unlike the non-existent difference between interconnects and patch cords). A cable (or cord) consists of multiple strands of wire. A wire is a single wire.

Here's what i use:
Interconnects:
CD to Amp - Siltech New York
Phono to amp - Siltech ST-18 G3.

AC Cords
CDP: Audioquest NRG-2
Amp: Signal Cables Magic Power

Speaker cable:
Bulk 0.60/ft speaker cable from my local hifi shop.
Run shotgun (like bi-wire, but two separate cables per side)
Bare on speaker ends, compression ends on amp end (bananas on one set,and spades on the other)
 
Brett a said:
Not to get too picky here, but I've seen cables referred to as wires. There actually is an important difference (unlike the non-existent difference between interconnects and patch cords). A cable (or cord) consists of multiple strands of wire. A wire is a single wire.
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Indeed. The Mapleshade speaker wires are, in fact, wires and not cables.
 
My Soundlab A1s are connected to 2 Crown Studio reference 2 studio amps with lamp cord. The amps put out 2kw each and it sounds great.
I use the zip,lamp cord with all my speakers, this is just the most dramatic setup.
Interconnects from Radio shack and the cheapest I could find. These tend to become intermittant at the connectors to I switched to profesional patch cords like they use in recording studios and in concert soundreinforcement rigs. These are super flexible cords with high quality conductors and very reasonably priced. Sound is good. Patch cords dont break anymore.

Update the Crown amps are connected to the preamp using a balanced connection with cheap pa mic cable. Digital connections are with Apoggee cable and the above mentioned pro patch cords (XLR cords for AES EBU)
 
PE Video grade patch cables (inter-connects) for the low capacitance - general use. For critical runs like TT to phono section I use Python OFC video grade cables.

Speakers - depends on amp and load. Bookshelf 2-ways with modest amp get 12 gage Beldon lamp wire. Floor standers and 3-ways running above 50 watts get Anchor brand tinned marine grade cable at 10 gage or bigger.
 
majoco said:
Here's a thought. People use big fat low resistance speaker cable so that the signal that comes out of the amp suffers no degradation on its way and also the damping factor of the amp low output impedance has its full effect on speaker cone movement.
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I agree to this approach to the woofers, particularly with most tube amps where damping factor may be relatively low. I use 8/4 welding cable for 15 ft runs. Rat Shack gold banana clip ends fit the 8ga stranded wire. Line loss, not a problem. I have used 10 ga/600v solid core wire for the tweets, knowing that the current is only being carried by along the perimeter of a wire. This would be very good for in wall, permanent bi-wire installation, but much too stiff be practical for most apts. I have now made a set of bi-wires consisting of braided(RF rejection) 14ga/600v soldered to end cap of ganged Rat Shack gold banana clip. The 8ga. stranded wire is also secured in a hole of suffcient size on these ganged posts, then plugged directly into preamp. At the speaker end the two pair of wires wires are kept seperated by terminating one pair several inches shorter than the other. This causes an arc in the curvature of the leads of the 8ga leads, upon hook up. The theory is; stranded wire builds inductance(as in transformer windings. By seperating that last foot, I believe it helps aliviate transfer of stranded wire inductance to single core wire used for tweeters. I think the finished result, followed the theory very well. I do have a set of Monster cable Z2 15ft bi-wires, and they are not as open or clear. I know now why they have a reputation as being "dark sounding". I would say bass is more controlled with the DIY version. The Z2's are more flexible and portable and a solid build. The case and adaptability with screw on spades, lugs, makes them versatile and worthwhile...and of course the case they come in works for either set. I would say AR interconnects are good performers, at a real nice price. at least they used to be. I also agree low capacitance is what's needed for interconnects Hope this helps.
 
AQ king cobra or jaguar interconnects, all rca's except 1 pair of xlr's to one amp.
Romex 10 ga solid core single strand copper electrical wire for all my speaker cables, bare wire leads to the amp and the speakers.
 
I got a pair of the Spelz Anti Cable speaker wire a few weeks back and I really like it. It seems much more revealing than the 4TC I was using before, definitely an improvement. I paid $45 for 4ft of the stuff, bare ended - amazing value.

I've also recently acquired a pair of AQ Colorado, used since I can't possibly afford them new, and they're the best I've heard so far. Many would probably accuse me of saying that just because they're so pricey, but they really do make an immediate and huge difference.

Another fairly recent acquisition are the Tara Labs RSC (rectangular solid core) Vector 1, which, aside from the Colorados are the best I've ever heard.
 
What I use:

some cheap monster wire?
Naim nac a5 speaker wire (a beast to work with)
Cardas din-rca for phono
Naim SNAIC interconnects
some generic din to rca cable I believe (it has no markings on it, but works fine)
Zu Cable Julian I just got, have to wait to try out, though
Also, a Zu Cable Birth power cord, if it ever comes in...
 
I've got a local supply place that gets generic, oxy free copper cable in pretty much any gauge I need. No inflated prices and great quality. Gold bananas on the ends and I'm good to go for a LOT less than the typical brands that are out there.
 
OvenMaster said:
Speaker wire: 12ga. low-voltage landscape lighting cable, bare wire at the amp, RatShack gold banana plugs at the speakers.
Interconnects: generic cheapies except for a Monster Interlink 100 from the CD player to the amp.
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I thought I was the only person to use 12 ga lighting cable...LOL Hey...its inexpensive and works beautifully. Soldered bare ends at the amp...Radio shock gold banana plugs at the speakers.

All my interconnects are monster 400mkII.
 
I just made up a set of cables on Sunday using 12 ga. Belden 5000ue that I picked up from Blue Jeans Cable for 57 cents a foot. I used Gold Banana plugs on both ends. All of my interconnects are AudioMagic Excaliber II's
Regards,
Jim
 
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