Speaker cable for beginner/budget system

[MickB]

Hello folks, hope you are all well and don’t mind me asking the following question.

I’m looking for an unterminated speaker cable for a Denon Ceol N11 and Elac Debut 5.2 speakers. They will be situated in an alcove in the corner of a small room 3m x 4m and therefore do you think a higher quality cable will be required considering the speakers will be situated only approx 0.5m either side of the Ceol?

 

[podknocker]

Welcome to the forum.

QED 79 strand.

All you need.

 

[MickB]

Hello folks, hope you are all well and don’t mind me asking the following question.

I’m looking for an unterminated speaker cable for a Denon Ceol N11 and Elac Debut 5.2 speakers. They will be situated in an alcove in the corner of a small room 3m x 4m and therefore do you think a higher quality cable will be required considering the speakers will be situated only approx 0.5m either side of the Ceol?

Welcome to the forum.

QED 79 strand.

All you need.

Hi Podknocker, thanks for the welcome and extremely quick response! I accidentally clicked ‘Post’ before I had finished. I forgot to mention that a QED ‘Performance’ cable was thrown in for good measure with the Elac speakers and, given the debate around speaker cables and their ability to improve a system, wondered whether or not to upgrade. Given the size of the room the system will be situated in, along with the fact that it’s not a ‘high-end’ setup, I didn’t want to overspend on cables if it didn’t make sense based on the Ceol N11/Elac speakers. I’ll have a look at the QED 79. Again, much appreciated for taking the time to get in touch.

 

[jetblack9090]

As an American i can only recommend the kimber carbon 18xl speaker cable, its $3000 a meter but will truly elevate your budget system to new levels.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

If they have given you some QED speaker cable (of any kind) I would suggest plugging it all in, listening for six months ... and then see how you feel.

 

[MickB]

If they have given you some QED speaker cable (of any kind) I would suggest plugging it all in, listening for six months ... and then see how you feel.

Thanks for your reply Juzzie, sounds like a common sense solution. Maybe that’s the way forward and have the QED79 in reserve.

 

[MickB]

As an American i can only recommend the kimber carbon 18xl speaker cable, its $3000 a meter but will truly elevate your budget system to new levels.

Cheers Jetblack, I’ll definitely keep this in mind should the occasion arise!

 

[Dom]

I'm gonna play devils advocate here and say Audioquest, they sound correct to me.

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

See how you go into the new year and go from there. If you're still sceptical or have an itch to scratch, I'll send you c.1m of Van Damme 6mm blue and c.1m of in-wall installation speaker cable for you to try out. If you can tell the difference, it's on me. If you can't tell the difference ... donate £10 to the RSPCA.

 

[Dom]

As an American i can only recommend the kimber carbon 18xl speaker cable, its $3000 a meter but will truly elevate your budget system to new levels.

You must be joking, surely its meant for the highest ultra hi-end systems?

 

[podknocker]

As an American i can only recommend the kimber carbon 18xl speaker cable, its $3000 a meter but will truly elevate your budget system to new levels.

No it won't. It's a complete waste of money and QED 79 strand will do the job nicely.

 

[matthewpianist]

You need to be aware that the spring connectors on the Denon are limited as to the thickness of cable they can accept. QED 79-strand works fine for me, though I add to twist the strands quite tight to make it fit. If you've been given some basic QED cable with the system and it fits OK, I'd stick with that and see how it goes.

 

[Deleted member 201267]

As an American i can only recommend the kimber carbon 18xl speaker cable, its $3000 a meter but will truly elevate your budget system to new levels.

THIS ?

YOU MUST BE JOKING...

Russ Andrews - Hi-Fi mains and cable specialist

Leading manufacturer and retailer of Hi-Fi mains cables, mains conditioning products and Kimber Kable interconnects and speaker cable. Est 1986.

www.russandrews.com

 

[MickB]

See how you go into the new year and go from there. If you're still sceptical or have an itch to scratch, I'll send you c.1m of Van Damme 6mm blue and c.1m of in-wall installation speaker cable for you to try out. If you can tell the difference, it's on me. If you can't tell the difference ... donate £10 to the

That’s a very kind offer, and much appreciated Juzzie.

 

[Dom]

Oh, I use Rocket 11 so I guess that series.

 

[MickB]

You need to be aware that the spring connectors on the Denon are limited as to the thickness of cable they can accept. QED 79-strand works fine for me, though I add to twist the strands quite tight to make it fit. If you've been given some basic QED cable with the system and it fits OK, I'd stick with that and see how it goes.

Thanks Matthewpianist, a good point and one I was concerned about as well. I contacted Denon Support today and they said 4mm thickness should be fine - but I have to admit it looks tight.

 

[MickB]

Oh, I use Rocket 11 so I guess that series.

Cheers Dom

 

[matthewpianist]

Thanks Matthewpianist, a good point and one I was concerned about as well. I contacted Denon Support today and they said 4mm thickness should be fine - but I have to admit it looks tight.

I don't understand their rationale for putting these terminals on the N10 and N11 (essentially the same thing but the N11 adds DAB). I see they have put proper binding posts with banana sockets on the new N12. The only weakness on a superb system.

 

[abacus]

Don't believe the hype, the cable you have been given will be fine for your system.

Bill

 

[DiggyGun]

You need to be aware that the spring connectors on the Denon are limited as to the thickness of cable they can accept. QED 79-strand works fine for me, though I add to twist the strands quite tight to make it fit. If you've been given some basic QED cable with the system and it fits OK, I'd stick with that and see how it goes.

You can get adapters for this type of speaker terminal.

Won’t allow me to load photos buts here’s the link.

Amazon.co.uk

DG…

 

[Deleted member 201267]

You can get adapters for this type of speaker terminal.

Won’t allow me to load photos buts here’s the link.

Amazon.co.uk

DG…

 

[Roger_A]

Those are a bit expensive if you only want 4. There are others listed which are cheaper:

Amazon.co.uk

 

[Deleted member 201267]

Those are a bit expensive if you only want 4. There are others listed which are cheaper:

Amazon.co.uk

You want expensive ?

Russ Andrews - Hi-Fi mains and cable specialist

Leading manufacturer and retailer of Hi-Fi mains cables, mains conditioning products and Kimber Kable interconnects and speaker cable. Est 1986.

www.russandrews.com

 

[podknocker]

There is no point in spending more than £10 per metre on speaker leads.

 

[matthewpianist]

You can get adapters for this type of speaker terminal.

Won’t allow me to load photos buts here’s the link.

Amazon.co.uk

DG…

Thanks - I've just ordered some similar ones in a set of 4. I didn't know these existed.