B&W 805D : what speaker cables????

[admin_exported]

My system:

Receiver: Pioneer SC-LX82

Blu-Ray / Cd player: Marantz UD8004 plus Sony PlayStation 3

Speakers : B&W 805d / B&W ASW610 / B&W DS3

Recently upgraded to my 805D and I need to upgrade my cables, currently using my old Straight Wire Octave II.

The dealer who sold me the B&W 805 is recommending the XLO Ultra 12 biwire, I was planning to listen to them but I find the price a bit too steep, about US$790 or Euro610, for a 2.4 meter cable. Another dealer was recommending to me to use separate cables, one for high and one for low frequency, both by Van Der Hul, dont remember which types.

I am trying to get the guy I bought the speakers from to come to my house to make me listen to the XLO cables , always easy on paper very difficult to do it in real life. If they were really the best (always subjective and debatable), I would splurge on the Xlo, but ideally I am setting a max. ceiling of about US$500 - €400 for a 2.5 meter biwireable cable.

Any recommendations on some speakers cables? Even thoughts to share on using separate cables?

Thanks !!!!!!

 

[chudleighpaul]

Any 72 strand oxygen free cable will be fine.

Don't get sucked into the esoteric brands, just make sure you have good gold plated connectors.

 

[stephennic]

Hi,

I would recommend Kimber 8tc or 4tc, I found them a good balance for B&W speakers. They have a very natural open detailed sound, I have tried chord, QED, Supra, Ixos etc.

Cheers

Steve.

 

[stephennic]

Hi,

I would recommend Kimber 8tc or 4tc, I found them a good balance for B&W speakers. They have a very natural open detailed sound, I have tried chord, QED, Supra, Ixos etc.

Cheers

Steve.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the feedback. Any brand you would recommend? Or are they all the same with this type of cable?

 

[Anonymous]

Stephen

I will audition the Kimber cables as per your suggestion. What you describe is exaclty the sound I am going after.

Cheers!

 

[stephennic]

Hi,

There is a few reviews in the US mags and about 12-18 months ago there was a review in what hifi mag. They tend to be very good in the mids ( natural/warmth yet detailed) where most of the instruments and voices are - very natural and musical. They have a full bass not bloated though, and the top end is fairly open and they have a good deep soundstage. The old kimber tc series were blue and black I think the new ones have a clear jacket. If there was a weakness they dont have the cleanest/smoothest top, but the top end is nice and open and detailed. They probably just slightly on the warmer side of neutral yet not colored.

All the best - let me know how you go.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stephennic]

Hi,

There is a few reviews in the US mags and about 12-18 months ago there was a review in what hifi mag. They tend to be very good in the mids ( natural/warmth yet detailed) where most of the instruments and voices are - very natural and musical. They have a full bass not bloated though, and the top end is fairly open and they have a good deep soundstage. The old kimber tc series were blue and black I think the new ones have a clear jacket. If there was a weakness they dont have the cleanest/smoothest top, but the top end is nice and open and detailed. They probably just slightly on the warmer side of neutral yet not colored.

All the best - let me know how you go.

Cheers

Steve

 

[stephennic]

Hi,

I know in Australia one of the hifi shops use to sell eichmann express cables with pioneer amps. Eichmann tend to be fairly warm sounding with a slightly rolled off top. Not as detailed as the kimber. Eichann have a very fluid natural. Has a fuller bass than kimber but not quite as tight and punchy.

Cheers

Steve.