View Full Version : Looking For Seriously Good Cheap/Reasonably Priced Speaker Cable
winstonmalcolm
18-06-2016, 08:07
Hi All,
I have a Cyrus 2 and PSX , a Cambridge Audio Streammagic v2 and IMF TLS50 speakers.
I had 3 sets of interconnects and my system can easily resolve the differences between them.
1 Cambridge Audio Reference... Dull Dull Dull, they sound as though they were designed to mitigate the sins of early cd players and mask the harshness.
2 Linn Black (thin old ones) ... Thought they were okay but have since found are missing a lot of detail.
3 Goldring... Now my system is sorted , when I swapped these back in (had them for years) couldn't believe the level detail coming through but they sounded a little grainy and splashy .
This got me thinking that maybe I can have the Goldring's detail and loose the roughness, anyway for £35 I thought I'd give the Chord C lines a try.
Horrible looking compared to all my other interconnects but the sound is fantastic , as i hoped all the detail of the Goldring's but lovely focus and clarity , an absolute bargain and highly recommended!!
So on to the speaker cable, I'm using a Linn K20 look-alike (un branded), very pleased with them although the only other cable I have heard on my system is QED Silver anniversary which just sounds fine in isolation but really boxed in by comparison.
As my final system tweak I'm looking for a speaker cable that can further add to the Chord C Line's improvements without spending silly money.
Can anyone recommended a really great cable for sensible money, to be honest I an so impressed with the Chord interconnects I'm tempted to try their's
P:S if you have old gear and banana plugs (non gold ) , try gently cleaning the sockets with wire wool and applying dioxit gold :).
Thanks in advance
Van damme without question.
winstonmalcolm
18-06-2016, 08:15
Hi oldius,
I've read good things about the van damme Hi Fi .
It's on my list of possibles.
Thanks
The linn stuff is pretty decent at pricepoint. Ive got some of same but not linn branded.. Made by same people with their own name which i cant remember lol. Van damme blue is good although you might need the thick stuff.
Think martin (macca) has a set of those big speakers. You could drop him a pm and ask him what he was using
I use Chord Odyssey 2 bought in a moment of madness a few years ago, which seems fine with all my speakers. My TLS 50s need recapping, though so can't really be definitive on that match.
Wakefield Turntables
18-06-2016, 11:24
Van damme 6mm blue should sort you out. ;)
winstonmalcolm
23-06-2016, 05:24
I use Chord Odyssey 2 bought in a moment of madness a few years ago, which seems fine with all my speakers. My TLS 50s need recapping, though so can't really be definitive on that match.
Thanks for your reply
I will give some Chord a go I think for the price.
Yes I was hoping to hear the results of your recap.Mine transformed the sound which had lost it's high frequencies and voicing.
None of my caps were split like I've seen on some forums so they appeared to be in good condition.
winstonmalcolm
23-06-2016, 05:27
Thanks everyone.
When I try an alternative to the stuff I have (which I do think is pretty good) I'll let you know my findings.
Thanks for your reply
I will give some Chord a go I think for the price.
Yes I was hoping to hear the results of your recap.Mine transformed the sound which had lost it's high frequencies and voicing.
None of my caps were split like I've seen on some forums so they appeared to be in good condition.
Mine look fine also. Problem I have is that my mate who is doing the recap works different hours to me so very hard to find a time when we are both not working and not either sleeping or drunk ;). But I will report when it is finally done.
icehockeyboy
23-06-2016, 15:45
I've had some fairly costly ic's and speaker cable in my system over the last couple of years.
Thanks to certain folk here, I'm now using Klotz ic's c£30, and Cable Talk 3.1 speaker cable c£5 a metre.
I don't miss the expensive stuff at all!
I have been given a set of Chord Rumour 2 had cable talk 3.1
The Chord cable is stunning to me any way first time I've been stunned by a cable upgrade
If you are interested you can have a set of talk 3.1 just cover postage
PaulStewart
22-08-2016, 20:08
Fisual make a screened cable called Hollywood Dark Twist that I'm currently using at £6.00 a metre in was a bargain, at the moment it's £1.99 a meter, which is a F*c&ing steal https://www.audiovisualonline.co.uk/product/2341/fisual-hollywood-dark-twist-screened-speaker-cable/ I have compared it to several cables cost up two £100 P/M and it blows the away.
wee tee cee
26-09-2016, 08:37
Pulled the trigger on 10m of this stuff to give it a go. Its not too often you see shielding on speaker cable.
The Docs glass optical recommendations were spot on, so I will give this a try.....at £2 a meter it would be rude not to.
At the price, why not?
Taking a punt on it me'self.
Interesting to see how it compares to what I have just now, not too spendy to try it.
Can always give it away to someone who needs it.
5 metres for a tenner delivered.. cant be bad
Doc can't have spent all those years in a studio and not know wots what.
5m duly ordered, if it's worse than what I've got It'l do nicely for surround duties. Cheap enough to wire up the full surround rig.
How are we connecting the shield lads? In with the negative at the amp end only, a la Brians Klotz 5000 stylee?
Also anyone got a recommendation for some good cheapish 4mm bananas to go with it? Please
Jeff Wood
26-09-2016, 13:44
I use the speaker cable that TNT Audio explain how to make, using Cat5 cable,
I think its pretty good, and not expensive to make...FFRC they call it..
Worth a read...
http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/spkcbl_e.html
wee tee cee
26-09-2016, 13:44
Hadnt thought about the shield connection TBH might ask Brian to terminate mine for me. I have some of Mark Grants bannana plugs at the moment, they are very good but just struggle a bit to contain all the copper in the 6mm no name stuff im running just now.
Nice solid plug with good quality screws.
Hadnt thought about the shield connection TBH might ask Brian to terminate mine for me. I have some of Mark Grants bannana plugs at the moment, they are very good but just struggle a bit to contain all the copper in the 6mm no name stuff im running just now.
Nice solid plug with good quality screws.
Cheers for that Tony, haven't been on Mark Grants site for ages, off for a browse.
I'll wait 'til the mafia 'Cable Guy' comes on for termination advice.
Trouble with shielding speaker cable is one of capacitence increase. Also the chances of shorts. Will be interesting to see how the guys including Paul get round these. Output impedence of an amp is usually very low as well... i will read on with interest :)
Theory claims that Only resistance is critical in a Speaker wire, which is a power delivery wire after all.
Minimum resistance is the Goal in speaker wires, as Amps and Voice coils interact reactively through the speaker wires.
Possibly shielding might be useful if running the Speaker wires thru a Microwave or equivalent environment ?
Possibly shielding might be useful if running the Speaker wires thru a Microwave or equivalent environment ?
:D
That shielded cable looks interesting. My Tannoys have a fifth terminal 'ground' connection, which is wired to the driver chassis / frame. I've never heard any difference whenever I have connected it, whether to an amplifier ground terminal, or directly to the mains earth, but otoh I've never used shielded speaker cables. Maybe connecting the cable shield to that terminal, and a system ground might be beneficial? I've always thought that hanging 5 metres of aeriel off the end of an amplifier was probably not a good idea ... I guess the shielding might help with that.
Covenant
27-09-2016, 14:47
I have ordered 11 metres of the Hollywood Twist cable to see how it compares to the blue Van Damme stuff I am using atm.
Initial impressions of this cable are very favorable indeed, blows my current £300ish cable right out of the ball park.
Nicely balanced across the audio spectrum with an excellent silky top end and solid bottom end, soundstage that just draws you in.
Inner cores look very similar to some nasty stuff (think 25 years of wedlock) I bought after being duped by a recommendation in a popular mag, but luckily that's where the similarities end, the more I listen as this beds in the more IMO I can't believe how good this cable truly is.
Big thank you to the Doc:youtheman: for the heads up on this cable, for the princely sum of £10 for the cable and £7.80 for these plugs http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231077010548?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT for a 2.5m pair, my ears are truly happy.
Another excellent AOS bargain to sit alongside the likes of the Klotz/MS audio i/cs? Watch this space.
For those that are wondering I just left the screen unconnected.
Initial impressions of this cable are very favorable indeed, blows my current £300ish cable right out of the ball park.
Nicely balanced across the audio spectrum with an excellent silky top end and solid bottom end, soundstage that just draws you in.
Inner cores look very similar to some nasty stuff (think 25 years of wedlock) I bought after being duped by a recommendation in a popular mag, but luckily that's where the similarities end, the more I listen as this beds in the more I can't believe how good this cable truly is.
Big thank you to the Doc:youtheman: for the heads up on this cable, for the princely sum of £10 for the cable and £7.80 for these plugs http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231077010548?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT for a 2.5m pair, my ears are truly happy.
Another excellent AOS bargain to sit alongside the likes of the Klotz/MS audio i/cs? Watch this space.
How did you connect it up
How did you connect it up
Just left the screen/shield floating
Ok, ta. Glad its working well. A few folk got some. Although it will affect capacitence, i would think it safer not to earth the screen.
My thoughts exactly, be interesting to see if anyone better qualified tries it with the screen earthed.
Ok, ta. Glad its working well. A few folk got some. Although it will affect capacitence, i would think it safer not to earth the screen.
My thoughts exactly, be interesting to see if anyone better qualified tries it with the screen earthed.
It would be fine as long as you dont get a accidental short. Im with you on this although you may find in some cases the capacitance causing a problem depending on your amp.
Ive got some of that in shed. Will need to find some plugs. Bound to have some, although it will have to do well to beat what ive got..ie my current home made ones
wee tee cee
28-09-2016, 18:03
Just got mine plumbed in....didnt do anything with the shield just left it floating.
Initial impressions are favourable, just letting the statics and amps come on song.
I was reticent about the silver coated copper construction but it seems to be very clean on treble with a nice articulate bass. Soundstage is spot on. The most noticeable difference is the effect on voices-very revealing-granular nature. (closer to listening to cans!!)
No nasties so far.....£20 well spent IMHO.
Covenant
01-10-2016, 15:42
I have had the Hollywood Twist connected up for a few days and agree with Grant, possibly the bass is not as pronounced as the Van Damme but it could be that it's more more accurately presented. Soundstage/separation of instruments definitely better. The plastic core to the positive and negative inner cables is great for screw fixed connectors.
wee tee cee
06-10-2016, 17:33
The Hollywood twist is staying put in my system. Seems to be an honest cable with very little colouration. My bass was a little wooly and overblown artificially-the Hollywood is tighter and more exact.
Well worth a try if you dont like cables having an influence (tone control).
Another plus vote. Its all been positive :). Ive lost my side snips cutters ive always used .. went to terminate the cable ive got and cant find them. Might have to buy more... any votes on best ones out these days. Ive never really bothered with the fancy ones as when they came out they were rubbish lol. Had a quick look on amazon and there is a bewildering array, many look damn similar too.
Despite it being ugly as sin and perhaps the most unwieldy cable I've ever handled, my LS5 from NVA remains the best and most natural sounding cable I've ever used in any configuration of my system.
This is one of their midrange cables which beat offerings from Tellurium Q, Black Rhodium, Rega, Vandamme and Chord in various systems.
Another plus vote. Its all been positive :). Ive lost my side snips cutters ive always used .. went to terminate the cable ive got and cant find them. Might have to buy more... any votes on best ones out these days. Ive never really bothered with the fancy ones as when they came out they were rubbish lol. Had a quick look on amazon and there is a bewildering array, many look damn similar too.
Go to a shop and handle the things. Instantly obvious as to what is dross and what isn't.
Besides, Side cutters are fairly affordable.. not a big ticket item needing long consideration.
There's NO buying necessary Tools via a brochure babble Photo...that's just silly imo.
Got a couple of lengths to try, terminated with screw on bananas.
Sounds pretty great have to say, compared (from memory) its as good as the new Cable Talk 3 me old mucker Brian brought over before. Not as good as what I have in at the moment though, so being passed on to someone else.
Crackin' sounding cable though and anyone looking for new speaker cable shoukd snap this up when its being offered cheap.
Covenant
09-10-2016, 12:05
Got a couple of lengths to try, terminated with screw on bananas.
Sounds pretty great have to say, compared (from memory) its as good as the new Cable Talk 3 me old mucker Brian brought over before. Not as good as what I have in at the moment though, so being passed on to someone else.
Crackin' sounding cable though and anyone looking for new speaker cable shoukd snap this up when its being offered cheap.
Which cable is that Gaz?
Hi Jerry :)
Its TQ Ultra Black.
wee tee cee
09-10-2016, 15:33
Synergy thang.....
TQ ultra worked really well with my Frugels but just didnt gel with the 63S/57S.
As an affordable cable the Fisual is very good indeed.
I have all my TQ cables blue and black gainfully employed in other systems-they are keepers. Mr Wonfor builds some very special hi fi that takes some beating.
Defo a thang...
No absolutes in this game, thats why I wanted to try it.
Given the price, the Fisuals maybe one of the bigger bargains kicking around.
dave2010
10-10-2016, 13:55
I spotted this a few days ago, too, as with the spudger recommendation. At first I thought the Van Damme cables were going to come out tops, and I found several on eBay at reasonable prices. Then, with Paul's suggestion, which seems to have been followed up by others who concur, I have decided, like others, that it might be rude not to partake. 12 metres ordered.
I have for a long while been a lot more sceptical about speaker cable than interconnects. Interconnects can make a very big difference - something which I didn't believe for a long while, but a change of interconnects years ago when I was experimenting brought a highly recommended CD to life - Colin Davis - Cosi fan Tutte with Janet Baker and others. Before that it sounded relatively dull and I couldn't hear what the fuss was about, so yes, interconnects do make a difference - though I think that they're a mix and match exercise. What's good in one system might not work in another.
I'm not holding my breath that I'll notice a big difference with speaker cable, though - but it's not a huge outlay.
One other curiosity - having just bought the spudgers. To get that order to work I had to reset passwords for eBay and log in to change and update details on Paypal.
After that I went to the Audio Visual site, and ordered the cable, and to my surprise the order went through with Paypal (correct address etc.) without me having to do any more checking. I don't usually use Chrome as my regular browser, but I was doing so on this occasion. I reckon Google stashes away lots of info ..... Once I heard a security expert on the radio saying that mostly "they" don't need passwords, because the companies have already checked out your computer, and everything else, and the password is just really a form of icing on the cake - but not needed. I find this a bit scary - and Google have clearly stored away enough of my details for me to make the new purchase without any new verification of credentials. Hopefully it won't lead to tears in the future.
RobbieGong
10-10-2016, 14:37
I spotted this a few days ago, too, as with the spudger recommendation. At first I thought the Van Damme cables were going to come out tops, and I found several on eBay at reasonable prices. Then, with Paul's suggestion, which seems to have been followed up by others who concur, I have decided, like others, that it might be rude not to partake. 12 metres ordered.
I have for a long while been a lot more sceptical about speaker cable than interconnects. Interconnects can make a very big difference - something which I didn't believe for a long while, but a change of interconnects years ago when I was experimenting brought a highly recommended CD to life - Colin Davis - Cosi fan Tutte with Janet Baker and others. Before that it sounded relatively dull and I couldn't hear what the fuss was about, so yes, interconnects do make a difference - though I think that they're a mix and match exercise. What's good in one system might not work in another.
I'm not holding my breath that I'll notice a big difference with speaker cable, though - but it's not a huge outlay.
One other curiosity - having just bought the spudgers. To get that order to work I had to reset passwords for eBay and log in to change and update details on Paypal.
After that I went to the Audio Visual site, and ordered the cable, and to my surprise the order went through with Paypal (correct address etc.) without me having to do any more checking. I don't usually use Chrome as my regular browser, but I was doing so on this occasion. I reckon Google stashes away lots of info ..... Once I heard a security expert on the radio saying that mostly "they" don't need passwords, because the companies have already checked out your computer, and everything else, and the password is just really a form of icing on the cake - but not needed. I find this a bit scary - and Google have clearly stored away enough of my details for me to make the new purchase without any new verification of credentials. Hopefully it won't lead to tears in the future.
It is a bit scary Dave but unfortunately it's the way it's gone now. I'd copy and paste this into the 'Computer Disaster Corner' thread that quite a few of the guys post to as computers and security often gets discussed there.
walpurgis
10-10-2016, 14:43
That's normal for PayPal verifed account users. All my payments go through without questions or hassle no matter who I'm paying.
RobbieGong
10-10-2016, 14:50
That's normal for PayPal verified account users. All my payments go through without questions or hassle no matter who I'm paying.
Yeah, Been that way a while now, convenience, systems and process linking etc etc. Some are very happy about the way things have gone, some not so happy. Hard to stop now though, cause it's already well established going forward and embedded.
dave2010
10-10-2016, 15:02
Yeah, Been that way a while now, convenience, systems and process linking etc etc. Some are very happy about the way things have gone, some not so happy. Hard to stop now though, cause it's already well established going forward and embedded.Yeah, but normally on other sites things don't just happen. Some sites insist on a password for every transaction, and some will time out after a while, and then ask for passwords again. I've not come across many sites which "just do it" anyway. I do wonder if it's a Google Chrome issue. Some sites have an option to stay on, or time out - but I'm not sure that Paypal (or the sites which use Paypal) even has/have that.
Convenience is all very well, but couple an account with a lot of money in .... and hope for the best ...... Nah!
No wonder some people get other credit cards, or preloaded cards for security reasons.
Paypal can be linked to ebay, it can also be switched to always signed in. I dont take the option and always sign in and out
After that I went to the Audio Visual site, and ordered the cable, and to my surprise the order went through with Paypal (correct address etc.) without me having to do any more checking. I don't usually use Chrome as my regular browser, but I was doing so on this occasion. I reckon Google stashes away lots of info ..... Once I heard a security expert on the radio saying that mostly "they" don't need passwords, because the companies have already checked out your computer, and everything else, and the password is just really a form of icing on the cake - but not needed. I find this a bit scary - and Google have clearly stored away enough of my details for me to make the new purchase without any new verification of credentials. Hopefully it won't lead to tears in the future.
It's ALL user configurable.
If you Do Nothing then you get the above default action / situation.. for many Convenience trumps.
IF privacy / $ security Matters?
Then it's up to to the user to self educate/ figure it it all out and subsequently set the conditions one prefers/requires..
Easy actually :-) just ask the 'question' in Chrome's Search bar.
dave2010
15-10-2016, 12:11
It's ALL user configurable.
If you Do Nothing then you get the above default action / situation.. for many Convenience trumps.:yikes:
IF privacy / $ security Matters?
Then it's up to to the user to self educate/ figure it it all out and subsequently set the conditions one prefers/requires..
Easy actually :-) just ask the 'question' in Chrome's Search bar.Sure - that's why I always leave the keys in my cars, the front door open, a sign outside saying "Help Yourself" and put notices in the newspapers telling people when I'm not going to be around!
Regarding the cable, it's seriously weird. Much chunkier than I expected, and rather tough. Definitely not one which can go under a carpet easily.
There is thin foil screening, but also a couple of white plastic "spacers", and as far as I can see, the actual conductors are what in other cables look like braid screening. There isn't seemingly any inner core to the actual conductors to the speakers. Not quite got round to plugging these in for a test run yet. The thickness may prove to be a problem for one run, as difficult to run behind bookcases, and taking everything off to get the cable in, and then putting everyting back afterwards will have to wait until decorating time - which is almost certainly not going to be anytime soon. Indeed, when I want to move the speakers, I usually cut the cable, and rejoin when I bring them back - even the current cable is difficult to shift.
Have we had a photo of the cable yet? I'll see if I can get one shortly.
dave2010
15-10-2016, 12:59
Images of the cable ... Hollywood Twist - currently £1.99 per metre.
Top shows the end of the cable, and maybe you can see that it's not round - sort ot squared off - not quite hexagonal - in a spiral.
Bottom left shows some trimmings - the metal foil screen, and the plastic spacers.
Bottom Right shows what it looks like from the end - with the spacers in position.
I think the conductors are what actually look like outer braid in other cables, surrounding the plastic cores - red and white.
Shoot me down if this is what most speaker cables are like these days, but I've never seen anything quite like this before.
http://i.imgur.com/bRE8Ne9.png
Images of the cable ... Hollywood Twist - currently £1.99 per metre.
Top shows the end of the cable, and maybe you can see that it's not round - sort ot squared off - not quite hexagonal - in a spiral.
Bottom left shows some trimmings - the metal foil screen, and the plastic spacers.
Bottom Right shows what it looks like from the end - with the spacers in position.
I think the conductors are what actually look like outer braid in other cables, surrounding the plastic cores - red and white.
Shoot me down if this is what most speaker cables are like these days, but I've never seen anything quite like this before.
http://i.imgur.com/bRE8Ne9.png
]
There's a few cables using the same geometry. The theory is that the spacer allows for controlled capacitance and inductance by managing conductor spacing. The twist is for reducing risk of RFI and the cores are foil screened as a further RFI rejection measure. The strands formed around a central former are from the POV of reducing skin effect but as this simply isn't much of an issue at audio frequencies, it seems a little pointless. For the money, It's not bad at all but not intended for anything power hungry. For a nominal 8 Ohm load with up to 4 metres each side, it's perfectly adequate. I have 6m or so here new and unused that I have no plans on using, and if anyone wants it just drop me a PM.
dave2010
17-10-2016, 19:48
i haven't made up my mind about this cable yet. One thing I will say is that unless someone wants really, really, cheap cable - nah - nobody round here wants that stuff - this is really good value at £1.99 per metre. There are some physical issues that some might worry about. It's fairly chunky, and although it bends a bit it might not go round tight corners, or at least not without some possibly helpful tricks. Also pulling it behind existing installations could present problems for some.
Currently I'm running a lop sided system with original cable to the right hand side, and the Hollywood Twist to the left. I think there is a difference, and that it does sound better, but I can't be sure until I've got the other speaker wired in, and then I might be able to make more comparisons.
Also, I probably need to use some better source material than I've been using for the last week, though some has been quite good. I've been working (mostly) through the Living Stereo Box volume 2, which has quite a number of recordings which are 50+ years old, though some are good despite that. {Some people might say because of that ...)
I do wonder, having seen some of the comments about other cables round here which I've read up about whether I should keep testing this cable for a few weeks, then sell it on at £20 per metre as "burnt in", and buy another 12 or more metres for myself. I'd charge another £10 for a cable with Fisual connectors on one end, or £15 for double ended cables!!!!
That way I'd probably be getting paid for listening - about £150 or more per week, and presumably with no tax to pay, or does used cable count as "new burnt in", and hence attact the attentions of HMRC?
They don't call me sceptical for nothing.
hughandella
13-11-2016, 08:29
Despite it being ugly as sin and perhaps the most unwieldy cable I've ever handled, my LS5 from NVA remains the best and most natural sounding cable I've ever used in any configuration of my system.
This is one of their midrange cables which beat offerings from Tellurium Q, Black Rhodium, Rega, Vandamme and Chord in various systems.
Must admit I'm a convert to NVA too --- just ordered a pair of LS5 too - looking fwd to see if I can hear improvements over the more basic line........ also just because it came up at a good cheap price I am awaiting delivery of some 47 Labs Stratos cable http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/47labs6/cables_2.html --- I only paid £40 for a 2.5m pair so can't complain --- I do like less is more approach in general ....... will let you know
Zoidburg
07-12-2016, 11:30
After a slight reorganisation of my equipment I found I now need a slightly longer length of speaker cable on one side so I have just stuck an order in for the Fisual Hollywood Twist at £1.99/m. I'm running TQ blue at the mo which I have no issues with but will be interesting to see if I notice any changes with the fisual plumbed in.
After a slight reorganisation of my equipment I found I now need a slightly longer length of speaker cable on one side so I have just stuck an order in for the Fisual Hollywood Twist at £1.99/m. I'm running TQ blue at the mo which I have no issues with but will be interesting to see if I notice any changes with the fisual plumbed in.
Funny but for first time i just did same, and used fisual too. 3.5 and 1.5 runs. Not really noticed and difference the changed lengths made ... its first time ive ran amp at side of one speaker instead of in middle. Good enough cable and a snip at price
Zoidburg
07-12-2016, 11:47
Funny but for first time i just did same, and used fisual too. 3.5 and 1.5 runs. Not really noticed and difference the changed lengths made ... its first time ive ran amp at side of one speaker instead of in middle. Good enough cable and a snip at price
By the looks of it I will end up using a 1.5m length on one side and a 2.5m length on the other side. I'm currently using a 2m pair but one side is very very tight and not giving me any room to fine tune my speaker placement. I doubt il notice a difference of 1m between the sides.
wee tee cee
07-12-2016, 18:18
Ive tried quite a few speaker cables over the years from bum basic to the exotic-the fisual stuff hasnt put a foot wrong. It has remained plumbed in since I terminated it (6m a side) probably the most neutral I have tried.
Zoidburg
06-01-2017, 20:56
So finally i got the fisual cable installed tonight. I actually cut it to length and terminated it with some nakamichi plugs over Xmas but never got round to plumbing it in for various reasons. Anyway I had about an hour listening to various stuff with my previous TQ Blue and then swopped over to the fisual. Initial impressions are not great, it seems to have robbed a good deal of the weight from the sound if that makes sense. Deffinately sounds a lot leaner. Il give it a day or two to see if it changes but I can see me going back to the TQ fairly quickly if this is all the fisual has to offer.
Bigman80
07-01-2017, 00:43
I bought 8m of Fisual cable.
All plumbed in for a week or more now.
I used 4mm low capacitance copper cable previously and was very happy with it.
I left the plastic space in and terminated with banana plugs
The Fisual definitely sound different. There is a clinical precision to the sound. It's uncolored and very clean. I don't know is if it's lost weight from the sound but it sounds to me like mud has been washed off. Ive got deep, clean accurate BASS, shimmering treble and rasping trumpet notes that sound so real it's scary. I admit, I don't have a lot of experience with expensive speaker cable but this stuff for £1.99 per meter must be unbeatable value.
It's not the easiest to manoeuvre though.
Very pleased with mine but I'd like to experiment with other cable to gain experience.
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
Bigman80
07-01-2017, 00:43
PS, mine are getting better the more I use them. Sounding a bit warmer/smoother than when I first installed them.
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
Strange Ben. Ive not used mine much but never felt from off there was anything major wrong. did you leave screen floating as everyone else did? I used to use van damme blue in this system before and would say this was, even after a few tunes, better. Keep us posted.:)
icehockeyboy
12-01-2017, 23:45
Earlier in this thread I recommended Cable Talk 3.1
I believe I should have been recommending Talk Cable 3, a totally different brand.
Colin Wonfor
14-01-2017, 09:30
Synergy thang.....
TQ ultra worked really well with my Frugels but just didnt gel with the 63S/57S.
As an affordable cable the Fisual is very good indeed.
I have all my TQ cables blue and black gainfully employed in other systems-they are keepers. Mr Wonfor builds some very special hi fi that takes some beating.
The Sad thing is I am no longer with TQ so there product range will and has changed, but the good new is EWA Ltd are doing a new range of cable I designed, which perform IMHO much much better.
wee tee cee
14-01-2017, 16:04
Colin,
Had a look at the EWA site the cables look good never mind all the gorgeous amps. Im a big fan of the TQ stuff you designed and as mentioned have kept all the stuff I bought and still use it to great effect.
I read one of the cables you designed for EWA in your own reckoning surpasses the performance of TQ ultra black....I know Gary uses it and rates it as the best by some margin tried in his system. I ran close coupled power amps with TQUB and from my own experience it was something special.
Whats your thoughts on the more budget friendly EWA cables (and a wee steer for me of which one to run between your TQ Claymore and 57s)?
Covenant
14-01-2017, 16:53
I think the consensus is that the Fisual is either bass light or accurate-it certainly doesn't make it more pronounced. If, like me you use speakers capable of reaching those deep bass notes you will probably appreciate the accuracy but the Fisual may not suit smaller stand mounted speakers.
Bigman80
14-01-2017, 18:35
Fisual don't sound light on my system at all. I use mission 780Se on stands. If anything it's very tight bass. No boom. Accurate and taught. Definitely not light or thin.
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
farflungstar
14-01-2017, 19:40
For an honest, musical, transparent cable at a very good price try DNM. It would be very well suited to a slightly bright/forward system though it was fine with my valve set up.
If your amp can handle it someone was selling a pair of isolda cables on here a week or so back at a very good £200 - but be sure they are perfect and haven't been repaired in any way. The cables are cryogenically treated after being soldered up - later soldering can destroy the sound.
Adey
In perpetual pursuit.
Zoidburg
21-01-2017, 11:37
I've now gone back to the TQ Blue I was using before as I just feel happier with it. If anyone want 2 lengths of the fisual to play about with their welcome to mine for the cost of postage. Or free collection of course. Cables are approx 1.5m and 2.5 m and unterminated.
For an honest, musical, transparent cable at a very good price try DNM. It would be very well suited to a slightly bright/forward system though it was fine with my valve set up.
If your amp can handle it someone was selling a pair of isolda cables on here a week or so back at a very good £200 - but be sure they are perfect and haven't been repaired in any way. The cables are cryogenically treated after being soldered up - later soldering can destroy the sound.
Adey
In perpetual pursuit.
+1 on DNM
Had it in my system a couple of times with different speakers and found it to be very good.
Maybe not one for someone who takes cable in and out all the time, due to its construction connectors can be quite fragile.
Ninanina
22-01-2017, 20:54
Hi Jerry :)
Its TQ Ultra Black.
Ultra Black is what I am using and it is fantastic
However if I had to choose a real bargain great sounding speaker cable it would have to be Mark Grants Van Damme 4mm Hi-Fi Speaker Cable, this one: https://markgrant.co.uk/terminated-cables/135-van-damme-2-x-4mm-hi-fi-speaker-cable-up-lcofc-terminated.html
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