Just Pondering.......

[icehockeyboy]

If maybe like me, you have dropped the fancy high priced, sexy boxed, marketed and advertised cable in favour of a 'studio' brand, or similar, possible home made.

A couple or so years back I had a Black Rhodium Oratorio ic that had an RRP of £600 a metre, and Chord speaker cables at £1200, now replaced by wires by Van Damme at a mere fraction of that.

And if you want to know why I'm asking......I've got nothing better to do at the minute, yes I'm on air, but I've sorted the show, so I can just open the mic every few minutes and spout about nowt!

[Puffin]

I grew cynical of high priced wires years ago. I have in fact never spent more that £60 on an interconnect and about the same on speaker cables (I must have some scot in me as I thought they were expensive enough). For some years, if I need another interconnect for a particular component I just take the nearest thing to hand. This could be a JVC branded £9.99 jobbie, Belkin (the white stuff that is raved about), Tandy, or the stuff that you get free with say a CD player (commonly referred to as spaghetti I think). If the signal passes it is good enough for me.

[CageyH]

My recent dabbling with cables has proven to me (and others) that cables do make a difference.
You don't need to spend stupid money, as you can get a decent cable for a reasonable price.

The most important thing I have learntecently is that everybody has a different taste, and what works for one person may not work for somebody else. There also seems to be minor differences based on the system they are being used in too.

[Gordon Steadman]

Indeed. I am still using some interconnects I got in Tandy about 20 years ago. Quite chunky, with decent enough plugs on. At the time they were £10 a metre lead. I've heard a few expensive leads since but have never felt the need to change. I got tired of salesmen giving me the "wow!! Can you hear the H U G E difference that makes" I always enjoyed saying "no".

Speaker leads I'm going to change as in the new lounge, I need 10 metre lengths so the old leads are going to be replaced with some 6mm, 762 conductor stuff at £11.99 for 10 metres on eBay. More than adequate for passing a current down without much loss I reckon. Peter Walker would be proud of me though I have to apologise to him for not using some nice orange mains cable.

[Tarzan]

Cheapo speaker cable user here- Microphonics in actual fact which cost me the princely sum of £10 for truck loads of meters, smooth and incredibly musical.


Also bust out my expensive speaker cables on the odd occasion.

[Spectral Morn]

If maybe like me, you have dropped the fancy high priced, sexy boxed, marketed and advertised cable in favour of a 'studio' brand, or similar, possible home made.

No, I haven't.


Regards Neil

[DSJR]

I'm still enjoying the SC you sold me on your way down Craig.

[bronzeage]

I tried..I really tried. I forced myself to use the cheapest cables I had for several weeks.

When I went back to the 'expensive' ones (at least relatively), it was a blessed relief.

However, I don't think it's a matter of price - just quality. My favourite cables are not the most expensive ones I have tested.

The balance of a system can be easily adversly altered by having the wrong combinations - so what is great cable in one setup, suddenly is not so great in another.

Drives you mad at the end of the day - once you get to a satisfactory level, spend the money on music instead.

[RichB]

Been Klotz AC110 since I went all Rega a couple of years ago.

Haven't heard owt I fancied since.

[walpurgis]

Cables that let your system sound good don't have to be ludicrously dear. I've bought many second hand interconnects or made my own. Belden and Van Damme are very good for home fashioned items. Spend a little more on Cardas off the roll and you wouldn't be disappointed. I often use a pair of copper cored Audio Note ICs that I picked up on eBay cheaply and reterminated, they are excellent. My current speaker cables are scrawny looking Transparent Audio items that look like cheap two core mains cable, but sound superb.

[icehockeyboy]

Ta for the replies guys!

[MikeMusic]

I upgraded quite lot and ended up with Yannis

High end performance, low end price (well bonkers actually)

[jandl100]

I tried some of the cheapo "studio" cables that have been receiving so much attention here.

Initially one was quite appealing, others were an immediate omg-yuk, but in the longer term it was a musical relief to go back to decent stuff! :)

[icehockeyboy]

I tried some of the cheapo "studio" cables that have been receiving so much attention here.

Initially one was quite appealing, others were an immediate omg-yuk, but in the longer term it was a musical relief to go back to decent stuff! :)

It appears you still have a pair of VD Ultras, according to your signature! :)

[jandl100]

It appears you still have a pair of VD Ultras, according to your signature! :)

Yeah, 2ndary system - a lot lower rez than my main rig. They are fine for mid-fi.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Nordost out Yannis and Mark Grant in. Says it all.