Stereo system

[Jammrock]

Originally posted by az
This Guy seems to think otherwise. (read the whole page LS, it's very interesting!)

AZ

Ahem ... yes well ... I disagree. I won't argue about it, but cables can and do make a difference on sufficiently accurate sound systems ... to a point. I know because I have tested it before with various cables in my own hi-fi system, and no little gimmicky website will convince me otherwise. I hear it with my own two ears everyday.

However, some people cannot hear differences between an $80, plastic Sanyo boombox and an $8000 high-end stereo. The ability of one's ears to hear is just as variable between people as their ability to see.

Jammrock

[MultimediaMan]

No, no cape and tights...Mask, Leather and Chains, sure...but I digress....

I prefer M^3, but MMM also works....The "other" MMM and myself may have to work who goes by what, as our seniority looks to be nearly the same. I nowhere near his post count, though I browse this forum everyday.

[CHHAS]

Cables can't make a crap system sound good, but bad cables can make a good system sound mediocre and the right cables can bring new life to your system.
Note that I say the right cables, there's no one best cable, it all depends on your system, room and taste in sound.

[ALBPM]

CHHAS beat me to it....LOL

I used to believe that 12 gauge wire was good enough until I was able to try out some real speaker cables. The difference was like playing the speakers in the cardboard shipping boxes vs taking them out of the box.

So, now my 12 gauge "wire" rhymes with "far" is collecting dust in the garage and I have real "cable" connecting the Amp to the Speakers...LOL


Upgrading the interconnects had more of an effect on the geometry of the soundstage than anything else.
I was basically using "wire" rhymes with "far", for these too. With the cheaper "wire" interconnects the music came directly from the speakers. I would close my eyes while listening and point to each instrument. I would open my eyes and be pointing directly at a speaker.

With the AudioQuest Coral and the Purist interconnects the sound stage expanded both horizontally and vertically. I now end up pointing well to the outside of my left and right front speakers and I noticed that the mid and high range seem to come from above my center speaker. Essentially the soundstage has now filled the 19 ft long wall and 15 ft high ceiling in my living room. And, I am wearing out a spot in middle of our sofa which is the sweetspot

Check this old thread out:

http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30677

[Jammrock]

Man that's an old thread, ALBPM.

I've come to realize that you either do or don't hear the the difference, period.

People that don't will always think people that do are crazy, nutzoids out to spend their cash of worthless snake oil produces.

People who do hear it, see better cabling and other upgrades as one more step taken to turn their listening room into a live concert hall. Not that that's technically possible yet, mind you, but audiophiles don't care

So I find that arguing about cables is pretty useless.

Jammrock

[Brian Ellis]

This is utter and complete bullshit.

I've seen a power cable for a hifi system advertised at $2,250. You plug it nto the wall outlet and what do you have on the other side? 2.5 mm2 solid wire with PVC insulation. Same applies to speaker cables. Do you really think that the LS manufacturers use anything but cheap copper wire? Not on your nelly.

What is important is that the ohmic drop of your speaker cable run does not exceed ~0.25 ohm, no matter its length. That means a heavier gauge for long runs. Pay more than $0.15 c/metre and you are simply wasting your money. Cheap screened input cables are OK.

I worked in the professional (and I mean professional, read Nagra) audio manufacturing business from 1964 to 1974 and we ran many double-blind tests with top pro equipment and very expert ears. None showed differences with cables.

[Jammrock]

*sigh*

[ALBPM]

So I find that arguing about cables is pretty useless.

eYUP!!

But it sure seems to get some worked up.....LOL

[agallag]

People who say "I can hear a difference on my system" do nothing to convince me of anything.

Any time someone does a real double-blind test, the results come back that about 50% of people choose the expensive stuff, and 50% choose the cheap stuff. It's completely random, because they both sound the same. Provided of course that you have no damage to the cables or oxidation, etc. As long as the ohmic drop (as Brian said) is within spec, it's not going to make a whiff of difference.

I even heard a salesman tell my brother, with a straight face, that a copper SPDIF cable sounds "warmer" than an optical SPDIF cable. It's frickin' digital man! Unless one cable or the other starts dropping bits here and there, it's the same signal.

[ALBPM]

Here are a couple more of those old HT threads...

http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29686

http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29033

http://forums.murc.ws/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31790

[Liquid Snake]

Guys, PLEASE don't argue about cables in here!! I came back to this thread thinking I'd see a bunch of useful replies, but instead I see silly and pointless arguements

At this pricepoint, I am not going to worry about cables. Cables can make a difference with a high-end system, but unless I was ridiculously rich I would rather upgrade my speakers or my amp instead of my cables.

If anyone else has suggestions for system components or room arrangements, feel free to post. Just keep the cable debates out.

[CHHAS]

It's almost a religious discussion, but when all comes to all, regardless of whether or not anyone else can hear the difference, if I feel that my enjoyment of the music is improved by changing cables it's well worth the investment in my opinion.

[Fluff]

I'd get a pair of B&W 601S3 or 602S3 speakers depending on room size.

Probably an NAD amp, i have the C350 , it's ok, but remote is a bit pants. Second hand AudioLab 8000 series amps are meant to be good. (Tag Mclaren bought the company, and started re selling em)

For cd player Rotel is quite a good make.

Speaker cable does make a difference, interconnects seem to make more of a difference though. I got QED cable tis quite cheap and does the job.

The impression i get from Hi-Fi is the price rage you set is more than reasonable to get something decent. Look second hand market. Amps havent changed much over the years.

Speakers i am currently saving for are Dynaudio Audience 52's £600 quid a pair. ouch.

I have one question, is XLR connectors much better than c-inch, becaise they are balanced, all pro sound systems for speakers etc use em, or is that just because it is a more robust connector, and cable can be ran for a longer distance?

[agallag]

LS, sorry about the cable stuff, just gets under my skin a bit. Anyway, back on topic...

I have B&W 601S2 speakers hooked to my stereo, and they're quite nice. For a room as small as yours, they'd be more than enough. I even find that they produce an acceptable amount of bass without a sub. The 602s would be similar, but with even more bass response.

I've heard people complain that B&W speakers can sound a little plain, but that's mostly because they reproduce the original recording too well. They don't add any colour or fluff to the sound. That's why they're so often used as studio monitors. If you want to hear it like the sound engineer heard it, get B&W. If you want to add a bunch of extra bass or boominess, go elsewhere (or add a 15" sub ).

[ALBPM]

For a more full (Bass) response bi-wiring with good old Home Depot 12 or 14 gauge speaker wire will make a difference.