Newly retired, new house, rekindling an old flame (music)

For cables, have a look at the Amazon Basics, Van Damme, Blue Jeans, Designacable or Mark Grant to name a few.
I make my own interconnects (out of OCC cable and decent plugs) and bought some OCC speaker cable from AliExpress

There is a general rule of thumb that one should spend 10 - 20% of the total system cost on cables. This covers both the low level signal cables as well as the loudspeaker cables.

I am reluctant to name any specific brands, save to say that most cables used in the music business , such as those made by Van Damme, Klotz, or Mogami will not disappoint. If you are especially keen to use a British made cable then there is Mark Grant, and Chord, but the latter are expensive and would use up more of your budget than is necessary.

I use these (note- price is for one cable so it's £35 for a pair).

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/155880758...r=456269744111

If you want a run longer than about 20 foot I'd advise getting a thicker cable (12 AWG or more) or you might get some small losses from high resistance.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maelstrom

Morning all,

First, a thank you. The advice on my system-building journey has been genuinely helpful – especially the repeated reminder that I need to think of the whole chain (room, speakers, amp, source) as one system, not a collection of shiny boxes. I'm trying to keep that in mind.

So here's where I am: I've narrowed down some speaker and amp options, I'm getting a handle on streaming sources, and I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that my new room will need a rug or two.

But one thing keeps nagging at me. Cables.

I know. I know. Mentioning cables on a hi-fi forum is like mentioning politics at a family dinner. Everyone has an opinion, and someone's going to get upset.

But I genuinely don't know the sensible approach for someone at my level. I'm not building a reference system. I'm not trying to hear the difference between power cords made from unicorn hair and virgin copper. I just want to connect my amplifier to my speakers without accidentally choking the life out of the music – or spending money I could have put into better speakers.

So, with the understanding that I'm asking for practical, experienced-based advice rather than starting a flame war:

When in the system-building process should I think about cables? Do I treat them as an afterthought, or should I budget for them from the start?

What's the "diminishing returns" point for someone with a £3-4k system? £20 for a basic OFC speaker cable? £100? £500? Where do I stop being sensible and start being a fool?

Is there a consensus on one or two genuinely good-value brands (UK-available) that won't embarrass my system but won't bankrupt me?

I'm not asking for a debate about whether cables sound different. I'm just asking what works without being stupid. If that's still too hot a topic, I'll accept a collective "go away and come back when you've bought the amp" as an answer.

Thanks for indulging me.

Alistair

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Which speaker and amp have you narrowed down to ?

The highest markups are on certain cables, often 100s of %. Cable cost, say, £5 but retail cost might easily be £500, so don't go overboard. They do make a difference but costs can be ridiculous.

Hello again.

I wanted to share a bit of positive news, and also thank everyone who's steered me this far.

Following the advice I've received so far, I've gone and done something about it. I've booked a demo at Richer Sounds in Belfast for this coming Sunday morning.

I spoke to a chap called George on the phone – I believe he's a senior sales manager there. What a difference from my last retail experience. He listened properly, asked about my room (5x4m, bare floors, the lot), my taste (warm, engaging, not clinical), and my budget (£3-4k). Didn't rush me. Didn't sigh when I mentioned the figure. Actually seemed interested.

I sent over all my details – room dimensions, listening preferences, the shortlist you've all helped me put together. I asked him to propose two different complete systems within budget, so I can compare approaches. He said he'd have them set up and waiting.

So Sunday morning, I'll be sitting in a demo room, finally hearing some actual music through actual speakers. It feels like the first real step toward falling back in love with this hobby.

And here's the best part: I'm turning it into a little getaway. I'm heading over to Belfast on Saturday afternoon, checking into a hotel, and having a proper night out – a good meal, a few pints, maybe some live music if I can find it. Then Sunday morning, fresh ears and a clear head, off to Richer Sounds.

I'm trying not to put too much pressure on myself. I know I won't buy on the spot. But I'm hoping to come away with a clear sense of what works for me – not just what looks good on paper.

If anyone has tips for Belfast (restaurants, pubs, or things to avoid), I'm all ears. And if anyone's had experience with George at Richer Sounds Belfast, I'd love to hear it – so far, he seems like a rare gem.

Wish me luck. And thanks again for all the hand-holding so far.

Alistair

I've no doubt George at RS will look after you, just as he and his colleagues are looked after by his boss. Have a read of this:

http://https://www.eachperson.com/bl...oyee-ownership

Good idea, making your visit part of a weekend away, just don't be too hungover on the Sunday morning :)

Good luck for the demo, Alistair.

The link isn't working for me, Steve, but Richer Sounds and specifically Julian Richer (now "retired" I believe) is one of my business idols (his book "The Richer Way" originally released in 1996 is still the best "business" book I have ever read. The fact that they are virtually the "last man standing" in the world of national hi-fi chains is testament to his ethos, and I am sure there are many "Georges" around the branches. I have bought stuff from them over the years, including the Triangle powered speakers I use most of the time earlier this year and they have always been super helpful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alex_UK

Good luck for the demo, Alistair.

The link isn't working for me, Steve, but Richer Sounds and specifically Julian Richer (now "retired" I believe) is one of my business idols (his book "The Richer Way" originally released in 1996 is still the best "business" book I have ever read. The fact that they are virtually the "last man standing" in the world of national hi-fi chains is testament to his ethos, and I am sure there are many "Georges" around the branches. I have bought stuff from them over the years, including the Triangle powered speakers I use most of the time earlier this year and they have always been super helpful.

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Yes Alex, the link I put in was about Julian Richer and what he had done for his employees, which I'm sure goes a long way to explaining why visiting his stores is such a positive experience. Other retail chains, regardless of whatever products they sell, should consider operating this way :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Maelstrom

Morning all,

First, a thank you. The advice on my system-building journey has been genuinely helpful – especially the repeated reminder that I need to think of the whole chain (room, speakers, amp, source) as one system, not a collection of shiny boxes. I'm trying to keep that in mind.

So here's where I am: I've narrowed down some speaker and amp options, I'm getting a handle on streaming sources, and I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that my new room will need a rug or two.

But one thing keeps nagging at me. Cables.

I know. I know. Mentioning cables on a hi-fi forum is like mentioning politics at a family dinner. Everyone has an opinion, and someone's going to get upset.

But I genuinely don't know the sensible approach for someone at my level. I'm not building a reference system. I'm not trying to hear the difference between power cords made from unicorn hair and virgin copper. I just want to connect my amplifier to my speakers without accidentally choking the life out of the music – or spending money I could have put into better speakers.

So, with the understanding that I'm asking for practical, experienced-based advice rather than starting a flame war:

When in the system-building process should I think about cables? Do I treat them as an afterthought, or should I budget for them from the start?

What's the "diminishing returns" point for someone with a £3-4k system? £20 for a basic OFC speaker cable? £100? £500? Where do I stop being sensible and start being a fool?

Is there a consensus on one or two genuinely good-value brands (UK-available) that won't embarrass my system but won't bankrupt me?

I'm not asking for a debate about whether cables sound different. I'm just asking what works without being stupid. If that's still too hot a topic, I'll accept a collective "go away and come back when you've bought the amp" as an answer.

Thanks for indulging me.

Alistair

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Alistair,

Cables

1. They need to be of a sufficient length.
2. Dont believe the hype or bullshit.
3. They need to be able to conduct an electrical current

2mm Solid core electrical cable from Wickes can produce you some very nice power and speaker cables. I use silver, but that's just my quirk.

Cables are, to a greater or lesser extent, a 'belief' thing. The 10% rule seems normal, but I spend quite a bit more than that.

One thing I did notice though, was that earthing, and a consistent earthing strategy is pretty important. So if you're buying cables, I'd strongly suggest buying them all from one manufacturer. My current place was once within line of sight of one of the far-field monitor radar systems for Heathrow airport, until it was decommissioned a few years ago (the radar, not my home!). My cable selection was therefore largely based upon those which had effective screening and earthing in a pretty harsh environment - the effects weren't subtle and several manufacturers I had tried plainly didn't know what they were doing.

Steph