Cables for PMC/Bryston setup?

[admin_exported]

Hey All,

I have only recently started getting into Hi-Fi... plenty to research/demo and so many options!

Been following this forum for a little while now, found it very informative... thought I might join the conversation 🙂

Just wanted some advice on speaker cable & interconnect recommendations for my setup below:

- PMC TB2i Signature
- Bryston B100 amp
- Rega Saturn CD Player

Thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you have something now that you use? If so, is there any problem with what you hear? If not, ignore what anyone else says and just enjoy the music....

For reocmmendations, others will no doubt comment. I would suggest you take your kit down to a store, try out various combinations and go with what sounds best to you irrespective of price, brand etc.

 

[Dave_]

To quote PMC,

8. What speaker cable should I use?

"PMC recommend using a high quality think multi-strand Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) cable between the amplifier and speakers. The use of ‘exotic” cables has limited improvement on sound quality, so we would not advocate spending great quantities of money. However, if you are prepared to spend a great deal of money in this area, we would strongly advice you listen first to determine whether the outlay is worth the improvement"

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/contact/index.php?mode=viewFaq#faq12

 

[chebby]

Why not use what PMC recommend in their FAQ section?

Quote...

"PMC recommend using a high quality think multi-strand Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) cable between the amplifier and speakers. The use of ‘exotic” cables has limited improvement on sound quality, so we would not advocate spending great quantities of money."

They even illustrate with a picture of the sort of cable recommended...

And also - given that PMC use, recommend and distribute Bryston amps - the advice applies to Bryston too.

 

[CnoEvil]

That's a nice looking system you've got there.

You will receive strong advice from both sides of the whole "cable debate". The only way you can find out what suits you, is to get some cables, at various prices, and do a home demo.

I'm in the camp that believes that it is worth spending a reasonable amount on cables, and would urge you to consider Telurium Q (see website) or Atlas.

If you can't hear a difference, it can save you a lot of money, and just go with some good copper stuff (eg. Van Damme)

 

[CustomCable]

All very good advice and PMC is all balanced on multi stranded ofc copper. We mainly use the VanDamme with success however there are still differences that are possible by using AudioQuest cables and the like. Bryston themselves in CA actually do their own cables that have a unique geometry that they feel offers the best resolution for their systems. This isn't available in the uk however.

 

[Anonymous]

I use Van Damme classic microphone cable between my Bryston Bp-25 and PMC AML1's. inexpensive and well made. mogami 2459 interconnects good too.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions. I am currently using very basic speaker wire; I had borrowed Chord Rumour cable previously from a mate and noticed a difference. Also read great things about the Chord Odyessy cable, but haven't tried it yet. Don't really have any basis for comparison to any of other brands at this stage. Based in Australia so don't think can get the Bryston cable here.

 

[jaxwired]

Do you have something now that you use? If so, is there any problem with what you hear? If not, ignore what anyone else says and just enjoy the music

Bad advice IMO. Plenty of people enjoy music on cheap highly distorted gear, they should never upgrade? It's like saying, why buy BMW, isn't your kia getting you to work?

A person that buys nice high end gear like the OP is interested in squeezing all the sound possible out of his system. That means investing in cables. Cables sound different, it's worth experimenting. Do they matter as much as your speakers? Nope, but cables do matter.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you have something now that you use? If so, is there any problem with what you hear? If not, ignore what anyone else says and just enjoy the music

Bad advice IMO. Plenty of people enjoy music on cheap highly distorted gear, they should never upgrade? It's like saying, why buy BMW, isn't your kia getting you to work? A person that buys nice high end gear like the OP is interested in squeezing all the sound possible out of his system. That means investing in cables. Cables sound different, it's worth experimenting. Do they matter as much as your speakers? Nope, but cables do matter.

This rather contradicts the advice given by PMC, and that given by Bryston if you look at their newsletters. Their take is more about minimizing the losses rather than 'improving' the sound.

Given they are the manufacturers in question, do you not think their views should be taken into account?

 

[Anonymous]

Do you have something now that you use? If so, is there any problem with what you hear? If not, ignore what anyone else says and just enjoy the music

Bad advice IMO. Plenty of people enjoy music on cheap highly distorted gear, they should never upgrade? It's like saying, why buy BMW, isn't your kia getting you to work? A person that buys nice high end gear like the OP is interested in squeezing all the sound possible out of his system. That means investing in cables. Cables sound different, it's worth experimenting. Do they matter as much as your speakers? Nope, but cables do matter.

This rather contradicts the advice given by PMC, and that given by Bryston if you look at their newsletters. Their take is more about minimizing the losses rather than 'improving' the sound. Given they are the manufacturers in question, do you not think their views should be taken into account?

I'm not going to join the cable debate, all I know is that moving from some stuff given to me by the guy who sold the speakers (second hand) to some QED wire at a whoppping £3 a metre made a big difference which everyone I checked with agreed with (blindfold testing was done). It may well be that the old cable was so old that even the middle was slightly oxygenated I don't know.

One part I disagree with here is "maximising the system" vs minimising the losses. A predicate of a "maximised system" is to have minimal losses within that system. My personal belief is that a system is only as good as its weakest link. If the cable from the crossover to the tweeter costs £1 a metre then there is no point spending more than £1 a metre on the cable you put in the system. TO this end you have to distinguish where this point is, or where you can no longer hear a difference. So take everything to a shop and ask to blind test every cable you want to demo and pick the one that sounds best to you. If its within your price range, go with that.

The fact the company state not to go with exotic cables strongly implies there is no point in paying over the odds. If the solder they used everywhere was pure gold alongside every component, then there would be merit in matching this quality. If, as I suspect they use cheap stuff then just match what they use. You cant regain signal your already going to lose through the system with a magic cable, all you can do is make sure the loss through the cable you install is at a level which is less than or equal to that which will be lost anyway.

 

[Anonymous]

Seems I have re-opened the debate on whether to spend or not to spend on cables.

I will make it easier... I will be spending some money on cables.

Was just after opinions on cable brands/models some of you, especially the stores out there, have experienced success with on a PMC or Bryston setup, appreciate the feedback so far CustomCable & others.

@ FrankHarveyHiFi... still hoping to hear your feedback.

 

[Anonymous]

If you look at the Bryston website, the newsletter section, you'll find plenty of information from them as to what they recommend - search on 'cable'. Given Bryston's big involvement in the professional studio environment, I'd certainly accept what they have to say for their own products.

Bryston also manufacture cables themselves. They'd be the perfect match, although I don't know if their readily available outside North America.

Failing that, I'd go with Alienrik's Van Damme suggestions in other posts.

 

[Frank Harvey]

PMC are saying to use 'quality cables'. They don't make it clear exactly what they're referring to, as 'quality' to one person can be the opposite end of the scale for someone else. They're also not saying that cables make no difference. They're saying that the law of diminishing returns kicks in, and it's then best to test out cables before paying out for them.

 

[plastic penguin]

Hey All,

I have only recently started getting into Hi-Fi... plenty to research/demo and so many options!

Been following this forum for a little while now, found it very informative... thought I might join the conversation 🙂

Just wanted some advice on speaker cable & interconnect recommendations for my setup below:

- PMC TB2i Signature
- Bryston B100 amp
- Rega Saturn CD Player

Thanks in advance.

I don't believe in 'over spend' on cables. The best advice is WHFI S&V...allow approx 10% of your total system cost. See if your local dealer can advise you on the most practical solution.

 

[chebby]

PMC are saying to use 'quality cables'. They don't make it clear exactly what they're referring to, as 'quality' to one person can be the opposite end of the scale for someone else.

They are also saying...

"PMC recommend using a high quality think multi-strand Oxygen Free Copper (OFC) cable between the amplifier and speakers. The use of ‘exotic” cables has limited improvement on sound quality, so we would not advocate spending great quantities of money."

...along with the picture - in their FAQ - of the cable* they suggest...

Short of naming a brand, it's pretty specific advice and not much room there for a re-interpretation that says... "See your dealer for advice on really expensive boutique cables".

*Looks like the stuff that Rick from Musicraft calls 'generic multi-strand' OFC cable and frequently recommends even for expensive ATC gear. (I wish he would put a specific name to the 'generic' cable he uses.)

 

[Frank Harvey]

Again, define "great quantities of money". Are they talking about everything above £1pm? £5pm? £20pm? £100pm? We don't know.

Is the picture a generic picture? Or a pic some specific cables they recommend?

 

[chebby]

Again, define "great quantities of money". Are they talking about everything above £1pm? £5pm? £20pm? £100pm? We don't know.

Is the picture a generic picture? Or a pic some specific cables they recommend?

I would have thought -as a PMC stockist - you would know the answer and be able to tell customers what the company themselves suggest (and have some in stock.)

 

[chebby]

Interesting to note that a friend's ATC SCM11 user manual shows that ATC recommend a good quality 79 strand speaker cable with 2.5mm2 cross sectional area. (For runs up to 10 metres in length.)

 

[Dan Turner]

Others have mentioned it, but I'll repeat - the 'high quality thick OFC cable' that PMC themselves use is Van Damme. I used this with my old TB2+s to good effect. I did upgrade to Atlas Hyper 2.0 later on which gave a small but worthwhile (to me) improvement. Whether that improvement was worth the cash outlay is probably very much a matter of opinion and cash flow.

I think the point about diminishing returns is the key here - and that's clearly where PMC are coming from. The Van Damme is a great, affordable, 'fit and forget' option, which you can be confident is doing justice to your gear and you would have to spend a great deal of money to significantly improve upon.

 

[SonofSun]

It is obvious what PMC mean. As long as it is a reasonable gauge copper cable, and it doesn't need some fancy name or esoteric engineering principle. That means it isn't going to cost more than £2.50 a metre, probably less.

I trust PMC, they make speakers and they are telling people not to waste their money.

 

[SonofSun]

It is obvious what PMC mean. As long as it is a reasonable gauge copper cable, and it doesn't need some fancy name or esoteric engineering principle. That means it isn't going to cost more than £2.50 a metre, probably less.

I trust PMC, they make speakers and they are telling people not to waste their money.

 

[Anonymous]

Over the past 35 years I've tried all sorts of speaker cables and inteconnects, at all price levels. Now, having finally achieved my ultimate amp/speaker combo of Bryston pre/power amp's & PMC speakers, it made sense to follow PMC's recommendations. So I bought Van Damme 6mm stranded copper speaker cables (bi-wired) and Van Damme balanced interconnects, all of which are very reasonably priced. Both were fine from the day I installed them and I feel no need to look any further. PMC are very sceptical about the worth of fancy, high priced, specialist cables and I can hear why. Don't bother spending more until you've lived with Van Damme cables for at least a few months. Anything costlier may well be a waste of money. The speaker cable is available via amazon and the i/c's are available from proaudioshop (though you may have to look elsewhere for single-ended i/c's).