Goon Posted February 25, 2002 Share Posted February 25, 2002 I'm looking for opinions on good cable to biwire my front CF-3s. Just spent a week auditioning AudioQuest CV-4. I thought the cable made my speakers actually too harsh and brought out too much high end. Can I take a quick poll and ask what cable you guys use for your mains? Any answers would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Greenway Posted February 25, 2002 Share Posted February 25, 2002 I am using AudioQuest Indigo Bi-wires. I have't played much with other wires because I was missing my jumpers for my KLF-30's. I got them in the mail today so I will try them sometime without them. I have a Yamaha RX-V2200 and it sounds good to me. With some cd's it will shut down at high volume (-25 db). When I turn the receiver back on the display says check speaker wires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted February 26, 2002 Share Posted February 26, 2002 Hey Goon! Try el cheapo 12/14 ga monster type twisted.See if if tames the harshness and,as usual,report back.Please. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justin_tx_16 Posted February 26, 2002 Share Posted February 26, 2002 quote: Originally posted by talktoKeith: Hey Goon! Try el cheapo 12/14 ga monster type twisted.See if if tames the harshness and,as usual,report back.Please. Keith i don't know why i just quoted you... any ways, i use the radio shack monster cable speaker wire, it is in a similar container as monster cable, and i have read that it is the same... it works for me 50 feet of 14 or 16 guage is $39 ------------------ -justin ProMedia 5.1 Tech Help I am an amateur, if it is professional; ProMedia help you want email Amy or call her @ 1-888-554-5665 or for an RA# 800-554-7724 ext 5 Klipsch Home Audio help you want, email support@klipsch.com or call @ 1-800-KLIPSCH RA# Fax Number=317-860-9140 / Parts Department Fax Number=317-860-9150s> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon Posted February 26, 2002 Author Share Posted February 26, 2002 Hmmm. Plain monster type twisted huh? I take it you guys don't necessarily buy into the expensive cable thing. I've heard/read varying opinions on the effectiveness of higher priced cables versus plain twisted monster type stuff. I've run Monster CX2 ($75/pr, not biwired) since I've had my epics, but I'm looking to biwire now. I'll give some plain twisted a try this weekend. Maybee it'll satisfy me, and save the $200-$300 I was budgeting for new cables. Any other thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornEd Posted February 26, 2002 Share Posted February 26, 2002 Goon, the value of cables seems to increase as one approaches the point of diminishing returns and yet is determined to milk every nuance of audio quality of one's audio "investment"... realizing of course that it is an investment in one's happiness and not one of financial concerns. Two basic facts seem to stand out in my experience with speaker runs. Large diameter stranded copper to minimize resistance and gold contacts to minimize oxidation. Both those concerns can be faced cost effectively at Radio Shack. I have to admit that I reach a bit higher... particularly on interconnects where nuances have a much greater impact on the result. Hope you're a wire-to-wire winner... HornEd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowooo Posted February 26, 2002 Share Posted February 26, 2002 I have to agree with HornEd here....Decent quality speaker wire should do you good. If your going to spend some bucks spend it on interconnects, they can really work wonders. I have Epic CF-2's and I replaced some early nineties Esoteric audio cables with some new Transparent Audio interconnects and it was just jaw dropping. I couldn't believe how much difference a couple pair of interconnects could make. I also was loaned a pair of 800.00 speaker cable from Transparent and to tell you the truth I really wasn't able to tell much difference besides the Transparents did lower noise a tad, but you could only tell on certain discs. The cable they were being compared to our Esoteric Audios, probably around 80.00 for the pair, can't remember exactely...good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted February 26, 2002 Share Posted February 26, 2002 Goon,do yourself a search for part # 100-155 at www.partsexpress.com .That is 100' of 12ga. Sound King speaker wire.Good wire for the price(35.90).It should cover the clarity and beautiful hi's that your Epics are capable of producing nicely.And let us know what you find.Please. Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted February 26, 2002 Share Posted February 26, 2002 12 gauge twisted pair architectural cable in the walls. 12 gauge zip cord from the walls to the speakers. FWIW judicious use of tone controls can tame your high end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack be Knimble Posted February 27, 2002 Share Posted February 27, 2002 quote: Originally posted by talktoKeith: Hey Goon! Try el cheapo 12/14 ga monster type twisted.See if it tames the harshness and,as usual,report back.Please. Keith I used the 10 guage Monster cables to bi-wire my Klipsch Reference and I noticed an improvement in the tightness and clarity of the sound. The high frequencies midrange were clearer at lower volumes the bass was more defined. There was no harshness prior to bi-wiring so I wasn't looking for an improvement in that area. This message has been edited by Jack be Knimble on 02-27-2002 at 11:12 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon Posted March 5, 2002 Author Share Posted March 5, 2002 Well someone asked me to report back on this, so I figured I should. At the moment, what I've done is the reverse of what most of you recommended, although I am still not done with this cable experiment. Instead of going with plain 12/14 gauge monster type twisted, I bought the much more expensive monster 1.4 biwire cable ($225 for a 10' pair) I had been looking at. I figured I could just return them if I didn't like them. The difference is incredible over my previous non-biwired monster cvx 2. Everything improved A LOT. Highs are not as harsh, midrange is MUCH more defined and dynamic, and bass response is tighter. All in all, in my opinion, an improvement drastic enough to justify the expense. Just for comparisons sake, I am still planning on picking up a spool of 12/14 gauge plain monster twisted, and biwiring with that to compare the expensive versus cheaper cable. I'll report back on that later. Just keeping anyone who is interested (is anybody?) informed. ------------------ Klipsch Epic CF-3s Klipsch KLF-C7 Center Klipsch RS-3 II Surrounds Sunfire MKIV True Sub Integra 8.2 Receiver Pioneer DVD player Monster Cable Interconnects and Speaker Cable JVC 32' TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted March 5, 2002 Share Posted March 5, 2002 Try biwiring with the cheap twisted to the lows and your old AQ CV-4 to the hi's.And let us know what you hear.Think of how much time and trouble you're saving the rest of us. :^) Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farmerkid Posted March 5, 2002 Share Posted March 5, 2002 Just a simple guy, but I seem to remember that current squared times the cable resistance is the voltage drop across the length of a wire. I found "Monster like", clear 14 gauge twisted pair, at the local Home Depot for $.32/ft (along with some misc. 2x4's). Granted we are dealing with AC and it's not really that simple, however, the audio frequencies are fairly low and capacitance and inductance should not be much of an concern (unless you coil up a several dozen feet). I'm not an expert, however, I would be real surprized if you could measure a difference much less hear it. I think this topic becomes more important when you spend 5 firgures for speakers and must compensate with the most expensive cable. Don't confuse cost with value and don't forget Ohm's law!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beday00 Posted March 5, 2002 Share Posted March 5, 2002 I ended up making the chris venhaus diy speaker cables ( http://www.geocities.com/venhaus1/diycatfivecables.html ) and then put my own insulation and protection layer around them and finished it off with some WBT banana and spade connectors (overkill but it was fun). I found that made a significant difference. Whether or not it was worth the hours of labor is debatable but it did the following things... Sound is more open Bass is clearer (the cheap monster cable i used before made things punchy) More transparent Just my two cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T2K Posted March 6, 2002 Share Posted March 6, 2002 FarmerKid, I'm no expert either.I do know that if I hit my thumb with a 3 pound hammer it will hurt.I don't need a calculator or sliderule to tell me. I also know the sound that the Epic's give and when using a wire such as the AQ that Goon tried you will generally get much better clarity and better definition,especially with speakers such as the Epics or Reference.Sometimes too much,as Goon found. Everyone keeps comparing $.32 cent/ft. wire with wire costing thousands.Good wire can make a considerable difference(ask Goon)without spending much money.One must find the right wire for their set-up. BTW, be careful with that cheap HD wire.The plastic cover will split easily and possibly cause a short.Best to use protection such as heatshrink tubing. Good luck to all in the quest.(the audioquest,that is) Keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goon Posted March 6, 2002 Author Share Posted March 6, 2002 Keith, unfortunately I don't have the AudioQuest CV4 anymore to try that out. Had to return it to the store. I'll still try the 12/14 gauge monster when I get a chance though. Famerkid, I'd have to say I always let my ears do the decision making when it comes to audio. On the technical side, you may be right. I don't know and don't claim to know about the specifics of signal transfer over cables. For me its just about what I hear. The more expensive cable made an audible difference worth $225 - to me. They'll go back if the 12/14 gauge monster accomplishes the same or very near the same. We'll soon see. ------------------ Klipsch Epic CF-3s Klipsch KLF-C7 Center Klipsch RS-3 II Surrounds Sunfire MKIV True Sub Integra 8.2 Receiver Pioneer DVD player Monster Cable Interconnects and Speaker Cable JVC 32' TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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