Cables

[grdunn123]

Got new Monitor Audio FS 5's and a Gold Series LCR centre driven by an Onkyo 806 receiver. Currently using a bit of a mish mash of speaker cables - Chord Odyssey 2 (single wire) in to the centre channel, bi amping the FS 5's with runs of Chord Carnival Silver plus to the HF and a 'home made' pair of silver cables to the LF. I want to try bi wiring the centre and keep bi amping the fronts....is it worth using Chord Odyssey throughout ( 2-4 for centre) and 4-4 configuration for fronts?

I'm hearing some flabbiness in the bass at the moment ( even having turned off my sub) . I mainly use the system for home cinema but occasionally use it for music, fronts only configuration. Is it worth spending this much on Chord cables (bearing in mind that I already have a 2m run of single wire Odyssey which I can re deploy to one of the fronts).

I've read lots about some of the Van Damme cables on this site which some really recommend but there are no 'professional' reviews to go on.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I think you already know what I think, but just to recap, we've always had Odyssey in our demo room, and we recently added some Carnival Silver Screen, and you can definitely tell the difference.

 

[grdunn123]

David, I'm torn at the moment as I want to add some MA rears or maybe a MA sub, but I'm aware that my new front 3 can sound better. You've said that you wouldn't bi wire the centre? In which case I should go with Odyssey 4 in a 4-4 config for the RS5's???

 

[fayeanddavid]

grdunn123:David, I'm torn at the moment as I want to add some MA rears or maybe a MA sub, but I'm aware that my new front 3 can sound better. You've said that you wouldn't bi wire the centre? In which case I should go with Odyssey 4 in a 4-4 config for the RS5's???

If it it helps, my front left and right speakers are biamped and connected with Odyssey 4, my centre is Odyssey 2 (no bi-wiring).

Result..............really top notch, streets ahead of the Carnival I had previously, sound stage completely opens up, Centre speaker comes alive and the tonal balance and movement across the front three is something to listen too.

Odyssey 4 for left and right is the way forward

 

[grdunn123]

Thanks guys...that'll cost me a small fortune but hopefully give a big return! Any reason to stay away from biwirung the centre? I only have ahort run (1m) from speaker to amp so would save some on an expensive cable, however, experimenting to upgrade from Odyssey 2 to Odyssey 4 is a bg gamble price wise. Have only had the centre for a week and have only used it with the Odyssey 2 so don't know if it's worth going the extra mile

 

[Anonymous]

grdunn123:Thanks guys...that'll cost me a small fortune but hopefully give a big return! Any reason to stay away from biwirung the centre? I only have ahort run (1m) from speaker to amp so would save some on an expensive cable, however, experimenting to upgrade from Odyssey 2 to Odyssey 4 is a bg gamble price wise. Have only had the centre for a week and have only used it with the Odyssey 2 so don't know if it's worth going the extra mile

Well if you go for Odyssey 4 for L/R you could then experiment with the centre and see how it sounds , then upgrade that if you feel its worth it.

Also as the centre is only 1 week old it won't have run in yet

 

[grdunn123]

Lesmor, you're right. Just another point.....if I buy unterminated cable, strip it and screw on plugs myself, how much is quality going to be compromised over buying them terminated??

 

[Anonymous]

Personally if buying expensive cables I wouldn't skimp on the termination unless I was going to run the cables in conduit or trunking and the plugs were going to cause problems.

So I would pay for the termination

 

[grdunn123]

I've just paid £50 for a 4 metre run of Odyssey 4 which is terminated both ends with 4 plugs....planning to cut it in to 3 ( 2 x 1.5m for fronts and 1m for centre) and put plugs on the bare ends. I would have paid upwards of £200 for 3 terminated runs so this seems to make financial sense. Will buy some decent plugs (Thatcable 8 for £9 on Ebay x 2) an ensure that terminations are as good as I can get albeit without soldering.