Just bought new speaker cable.

[bretty]

Thought i'd take a punt on this cable:

Van Damme 2x6mm UPOFC Studio Grade Blue Series Speaker Cable

CLICK

it was only £4.60 a metre.

It turned up this morning and the first thing I noticed was that it is one hell of a thick cable! It's about an inch thick and as a result, isn't the most flexible cable. Not a problem for me, though, as I like the chunky look and i'm using it in straight runs.

I've been listening for a couple of hours, now, and it's great! Ive found an increase in bass, for one. Also, the separation of different instruments in complex songs has taken a leap forward. There's more 'snap' to snare drums, as well as more resonance to toms.

I highly recommend.

 

[Anonymous]

Apparently PMC use this, so they told me at Bristol but as its a studio cable I suppose they would, this is used in many studios,but wonder if its the best for domestic use ??

Again when speaking to Spendor in their dem room, they said it was good for the money but one can get better if you paid abit more.

Can we ask bretty what you were using before Van Damme. Thanks

 

[bretty]

Yes, you certainly can ask, young man!

The previous cable was Monster. It had some ludicrously long, techy name, but basically it was three pound a metre. ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

With such a thick cable, did you order it "terminated" or you're doing it yourself? I'm asking 'cos I'm interested to hear what you think of it - and I'd like to bi-wire if I decide to give this one a try.

 

[bretty]

It came unterminated in one length. If I remember rightly, they want silly money to terminate them for you. I stripped the ends myself and attached gold 'screw' type banana plugs. Being so thick, I thought the cable would be hard to strip, but the PVC sheathing was easy to remove.

I listened for a good four hours yesterday and I got more impressed the more I listened. Instruments that were barely audible before have taken a definite step forward in the soundstage. Treble has become more silky, adding more realism to cymbals.

Strings and vocals which were, to be honest, strong points of my system anyway, have improved quite dramatically, with strings sounding much more acoustic, with the small fluctuations as the bow is being drawn across the strings being picked out. Every ounce of emotion is now revealed from the vocals, every intake of breath is clear to hear.

Bass, which my system was short of, has been given a noticeable boost, but without becoming 'flabby'. In fact, the opposite is true, it's tightened, if anything.

'MOMO', I wanted to try these cables out in single runs first, with the view of bi-wiring if I liked them. I will be Bi-wiring in the next month, I'll keep you posted...ÿ

 

[bretty]

robborollover:
Apparently PMC use this, so they told me at Bristol but as its a studio cable Iÿsuppose they would, this is used in many studios,but wonder if its the best for domestic use ??

Again when speaking to Spendor in their dem room, they said it was good for the money but one can get better if you paid abit more.

Can we askÿ bretty what you were using before Van Damme.ÿÿÿÿ Thanks

It's the same, oxygen free copper that is in the domestic cables, but with a thicker sheathing and, excuse my ignorance because i've no idea what they are, two slim black cables running down the length, containing a material like cotton. so, my little brain thought it would be at least as good if not better, than the domestic stuff. I have been known to be wrong, though! If the domestic stuff is better, it's gonna be amazing, especially as it's about a quid a metre cheaper!

 

[Anonymous]

Bretty, how's it all coming along sound-wise?

 

[The_Lhc]

Guh! you must be some kind of idiot, don't you know there isn't a cable in the world that makes any difference to the sound at all, anywhere, ever! speaker cables, power cables, interconnects, none of them make any difference because the records are all produced on 1940s equipment that sounds rubbish anyway! I know, a recording engineer said so, so it must be true! Save your money man, use string instead it's just as good then you can spend the money on more wax cylinders as they still sound just as good as CD! I don't even do that I make my own from what I scrape out of my ears and old bog rolls, works just as well, and I don't even like music, saves me a fortune!

What does hi-fi stand for anyway? I don't get it...

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:
Guh! you must be some kind of idiot, don't you know there isn't a cable in the world that makes any difference to the sound at all, anywhere, ever! speaker cables, power cables, interconnects, none of them make any difference because the records are all produced on 1940s equipment that sounds rubbish anyway! I know, a recording engineer said so, so it must be true! Save your money man, use string instead it's just as good then you can spend the money on more wax cylinders as they still sound just as good as CD! I don't even do that I make my own from what I scrape out of my ears and old bog rolls, works just as well, and I don't even like music, saves me a fortune!

What does hi-fi stand for anyway? I don't get it...

There are one or two nuggets of truth in that. Best remove them.

 

[Anonymous]

Can I have a go?

Guh! you must be some ..........., don't you know there isn't a cable in the world that makes any difference to the sound at all, anywhere, ever! speaker cables, power cables, interconnects, none of them make any difference because the records are all produced on 1940s equipment that sounds rubbish anyway! I know, a ......... ........ said so, so it must be true! Save your money man, use string instead it's just as good then you can spend the money on more wax cylinders as they still sound just as good as CD! I don't even do that I make my own from what I scrape out of my ears and old bog rolls, works just as well, and I don't even like music, saves me a fortune!

What does hi-fi stand for anyway? I don't get it...

He He

 

[bretty]

momo72:
Bretty, how's it all coming along sound-wise?

Hey momo,

I'm really, really happy with them. The strengths I noted in the original posts have improved more over the last two weeks, so I guess there must be something to the 'burn in' time, thing.

The one attribute of the sound which has pleased me more than any other is the treble. It is now so clear and smooth. At high volumes, my system had a tendency to harden up the treble and made some albums unlistenable. Not any more. Just silky, silky treble. Im a bit of a drummer, so i'm always listening out for them and i've never heard cymbols sound like it, they are amazingly life-like, with each hit of, say, a ride being picked out beautifully and gradually fading out. Not cutting out early like I am used to hearing.

I'm definitely going to bi-wire these. I know it's hotly debated, whether it has any merit, but my speakers recommend it and for fifty quid, I can't go wrong.

Hope you find this helpful. momo.

Bretty.

 

[bretty]

the_lhc:
Guh! you must be some kind of idiot, don't you know there isn't a cable in the world that makes any difference to the sound at all, anywhere, ever! speaker cables, power cables, interconnects, none of them make any difference because the records are all produced on 1940s equipment that sounds rubbish anyway! I know, a recording engineer said so, so it must be true! Save your money man, use string instead it's just as good then you can spend the money on more wax cylinders as they still sound just as good as CD! I don't even do that I make my own from what I scrape out of my ears and old bog rolls, works just as well, and I don't even like music, saves me a fortune!

What does hi-fi stand for anyway? I don't get it...

So, what have I missed?

 

[The_Lhc]

bretty: So, what have I missed?

Probably about the half dozen most popular threads from the last week I guess?

 

[Anonymous]

bretty:So, what have I missed?

ÿ

Don't mind them kids. Must be half-term already/again/...ÿ

 

[bretty]

the_lhc:
bretty: So, what have I missed?

Probably about the half dozen most popular threads from the last week I guess?

True. This bloody sites like facebook. it draws you in while you're not paying attention and before you realise, you're spending 2 hours every day staring at the screen, dribbling. So, Facebook is no more and i'm scarcely on here anymore, either. So, I take it there's been some idiots on here, then?

 

[The_Lhc]

bretty:the_lhc:
bretty: So, what have I missed?

Probably about the half dozen most popular threads from the last week I guess?

True. This bloody sites like facebook. it draws you in while you're not paying attention and before you realise, you're spending 2 hours every day staring at the screen, dribbling. So, Facebook is no more and i'm scarcely on here anymore, either. So, I take it there's been some idiots on here, then?

I wouldn't go that far, there's been some heated discussion as to whether cables make any difference (speaker, power) and whether CD still sounds better than lossless PC audio, very little of which on either side has been backed up by solid fact (myself included I have to admit!).

It's been mainly lots of people stating that certain "facts" are right, largely because they "can't see how it would make any difference so it must be true".

As for time-wasting, I'm at work, got nothing better to do!*

*This is a joke, just in case anyone's watching...

 

[Anonymous]

bretty:the_lhc:
bretty: So, what have I missed?

Probably about the half dozen most popular threads from the last week I guess?

True. This bloody sites like facebook. it draws you in while you're not paying attention and before you realise, you're spending 2 hours every day staring at the screen, dribbling. So, Facebook is no more and i'm scarcely on here anymore, either. So, I take it there's been some idiots on here, then?

We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.

 

[The_Lhc]

Octopo: We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.

HALLO SHAWN THIS IS A PENCIL!!1!

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:
Octopo: We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.

HALLO SHAWN THIS IS A PENCIL!!1!

Sorry, I must be an idiot.

 

[The_Lhc]

Octopo:the_lhc: Octopo: We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.
HALLO SHAWN THIS IS A PENCIL!!1!

Sorry, I must be an idiot.

Welcome Brother!

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:Octopo:the_lhc: Octopo: We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.
HALLO SHAWN THIS IS A PENCIL!!1!

Sorry, I must be an idiot.

Welcome Brother!

Thankyou. Now then, I have a question about DACs. Do they return an income equivalent to the investment?

 

[The_Lhc]

Octopo:the_lhc:Octopo:the_lhc: Octopo: We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.
HALLO SHAWN THIS IS A PENCIL!!1!

Sorry, I must be an idiot.

Welcome Brother!

Thankyou. Now then, I have a question about DACs. Do they return an income equivalent to the investment?

Does anything these days?

 

[Anonymous]

the_lhc:Octopo:the_lhc:Octopo:the_lhc: Octopo: We are all idiots. But there are some new idiots too.
HALLO SHAWN THIS IS A PENCIL!!1!

Sorry, I must be an idiot.

Welcome Brother!

Thankyou. Now then, I have a question about DACs. Do they return an income equivalent to the investment?

Does anything these days?

What a cynical view on life you have. My brother gave all his original (almost complete) Star Wars toy collection to me. Thirty years later it's worth over £15 000. Should I sell it and keep the money or hang on to it for my children?

 

[Anonymous]

robborollover:
Apparently PMC use this, so they told me at Bristol but as its a studio cable I suppose they would, this is used in many studios,but wonder if its the best for domestic use ??

Again when speaking to Spendor in their dem room, they said it was good for the money but one can get better if you paid abit more.

Can we ask bretty what you were using before Van Damme. Thanks

So what did Spendor recommend then ?

 

[Anonymous]

Re. cables read the scientific papers. I suppose next you will be buying top end cables to increase the brown level on your toast.