Speaker Cables

[admin_exported]

Hi

Will I notice a difference upgrading my standard speaker cables to one of these seemingly very expensive options such as Chord Odyssey, QED XT400 etc?

I am running a very basic system of Denon M35DAB (CD Source) to my old Mission Cyrus 1 amp and a pair of Mission 762's. I just upgraded the interconnect to an Atlas Equator and just wonder what cables if any would make a difference and what is recommended for my low end system. Eventually I may upgrade but again would only be to modest budget items such as Marantz CD6002/PM6002

Thanks for your help.

Paul

 

[fatboyslimfast]

What cables are you using at present? If it's the bell wire-type then something like Chord Carnival Silverscreen would make quite a worthwhile difference for around £6 a metre.

There are quite a few on here who really rate Van Damme cable (from £2ish a metre) so if you don't want to spend too much, that may be the place to start...Try here

 

[d_a_n1979]

I think you'd be best going with the Chord Carnival as mentioned above.

Decent speaker cable will help to improve the soundstage but dont expect miracles as the amp and source as well as the speakers could be causing issues of their own!

 

[Anonymous]

you dont say what cables youre using, but u would suggest either a minimum of oddyssey or rumour. Main reason being, you want your cables to survive any upgrades you make with your kit. Carnival, a brilliant cable though it is, may mask the performance of any potentail upgrades you may make in the future.

 

[Anonymous]

You know I always have to (as WHF do) think in terms of performance vs. price...... now WHF greatly affects market prices, basically you can expect to pay more for something that is a WHF 5 star product and to pay a slight premium for class winning WHF 5 star product... this is because WHF are incredibly good at their jobs and people can just go and reference them for what is the best cable/accessory/unit that exists today.......

If I were you I would shop around.... I went with some very reasonably priced QED QDOS bi-wire that I found for next to nothing.... if I were currently looking at speaker cable I would not be looking at Chord Carnival (which is enjoying its time in the sun) I would be looking at QED Silver Anniversary XT cable which was the winner up until this year.... since its fall from its exalted position I am sure that there are many dealers out there left with an excess of cable and a dirth of interest, so I am fairly certain that that would be where the bargains are to be had......

 

[Anonymous]

In my (very non-budget) system, Chord Odyssey spaeker cables sound exactly the same as some I made myself out of 3-phase mains flex.

So I wouldn't waste the money, If I were you. Put it towards better speakers, that's where the biggest bang for the buck is to be found.

 

[Olli1324]

It is all about DIY cables

If anything, my current cat 5 based cable is better than the Chord Carnival Silver Screen, although there isn't much in it. Except the price, of course. Mind you, when i first put my DIY cable in, the amp kept cutting out, so I cut them down so there was less slack (both lengths the same), and that seemed to fix the problem. To do with high inductance or capacitance (one or t'other!)!

ÿ

Mind you my current set up does not justify expensive cabling, so perhaps when I have my speakers built (yep, I am DIYing them too!), I will be able to better hear the differences between cables.

ÿ

I just find the VALUE of DIY stuff to be so good; and not just in hi fi. Not to mention the satisfaction. Of course, you have to have time/patience/tools/skills to be able to do it.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't listen to either for or against - try for yourself and make your own mind up.

 

[Diamond Joe]

Olli1324:
It is all about DIY cables

If anything, my current cat 5 based cable is better than the Chord Carnival Silver Screen, although there isn't much in it. Except the price, of course. Mind you, when i first put my DIY cable in, the amp kept cutting out, so I cut them down so there was less slack (both lengths the same), and that seemed to fix the problem. To do with high inductance or capacitance (one or t'other!)!

ÿ

Mind you my current set up does not justify expensive cabling, so perhaps when I have my speakers built (yep, I am DIYing them too!), I will be able to better hear the differences between cables.

ÿ

I just find the VALUE of DIY stuff to be so good; and not just in hi fi. Not to mention the satisfaction. Of course, you have to have time/patience/tools/skills to be able to do it.
I confess I still find it hard to believe that Cat5 cable is any good as speaker cable, the amount of copper is negligible. I am, however, open minded enough to give it a try. I'll borrow some from work and give it a go at the weekend.