Original Chord Carnival..................time for an upgrade?

[fayeanddavid]

My system has orginal Chord Carnival speaker cable installed, approx 8 years old I guess, and as always maybe questioning if it is time for an upgrade

Very happy (sic. am I?) with the overall sound, bi amped at the Fronts off of the Yamaha, and single pair to Front Centre and Surrounds

I have read recently of Chord Odyssey 2 being the way forward as a cable upgrade (just for the Fronts and Centre), but also read they can be a little bright...................although the Yamaha may calm them down due to it's inherent sonic signature?

Would these be a good choice, are there others to consider at around the same price point?

 

[b33k34]

Yes, after 8 years it's highly likely that the directionality of the cable will have become weaker. If any of the arrows have worn off the outer casing of the cable the electrons will not know which way to go and their indecisiveness will result in the sound feeling 'slower' and 'poorly directed'. I'd recommend obtaining some "serpens lipophilic" and treating your existing cables. This should restore the original finish and make them much brighter.

 

[fayeanddavid]

b33k34:Yes, after 8 years it's highly likely that the directionality of the cable will have become weaker. If any of the arrows have worn off the outer casing of the cable the electrons will not know which way to go and their indecisiveness will result in the sound feeling 'slower' and 'poorly directed'. I'd recommend obtaining some "serpens lipophilic" and treating your existing cables. This should restore the original finish and make them much brighter.

b33k34

Many thanks for the insightful diagnosis ...............I shall take it with the required pinch of salt!!

Any other less ascerbic offerings?

 

[chudleighpaul]

If you are very happy with the sound, why spend money which may or may not be effective?

 

[fayeanddavid]

Yep, I agree, it's just in the search for Nirvana (should it exist) should there be a next step?

 

[AlmaataKZ]

Forget about fancy cables. Copper conductor is a copper conductor. if it is properly sized, made and connected it works perfectly good.

If you want beter sound, expore hi-res music formats (24/96, 24/192), go into streaming or something. Spend time (not money) on understanding the options, listening tests, optimising configuration of your future system. that will bring you same if not more pleasure as periodically spending small amounts on questinable cable upgrades. Save for longer if requried and make bigger, or more importantly, more sensible steps.

I am a bit too direct here, but I think you are looking in the wrong direction.

 

[chudleighpaul]

I only spend money when I can see or hear an improvement, such as DVD to Bluray, SD Sky to HD Sky.

My main speakers are 20 year old Kef floorstanders which are awesome. I would only change them if I blew a driver and could not get a replacement. I changed my 32" Sony CRT tv 3 years ago for a 40" Sony LCD Full HD speck. It does not have 24fps ability, but so what? I am very happy with the pictures from all sources.

Constant upgrading can be like an addictive drug, and hits the wallet hard!

 

[chebby]

The original Chord Carnival Silver Plus was in fact a silver plated copper design (in a fig. 8 or 'dumbell' cross section) and the latest Chord Carnival SilverScreen just uses OFC copper (no silver despite really confusing name).

This should (according to received 'wisdom' on these forums) make the Carnival SilverScreen (with no silver) less bright sounding.

At £6 metre I would give it a go. You probably won't need anything more expensive.

If you are using really long lengths of cable (10m + per side) then I would recommend a thicker cross-section multi stranded OFC (4mm or 6mm cross-section as opposed to the 1,8mm of the Carnival.)

It needn't be expensive stuff. Van Damme 4mm or 6mm is often recommended here.