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Thread: Silver plated copper vs copper speaker wires ? What's better ? Help !!!

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2020

    Location: Goa, India

    Posts: 143
    I'm Denzil.

    Default Silver plated copper vs copper speaker wires ? What's better ? Help !!!

    There's a long standing debate and I'm really confused.

    Some say speaker wire makes no difference at all and any wire will work well, even if it's a decent bell switch wire. Others say copper is better. And many say silver plated copper wire brings out the highs and makes the bass tighter.

    Please help, I'm confused !!!

    Regards,

    Denzil
    https://www.instagram.com/elsewheregoa

  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,651
    I'm Gary.

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    Have owned silver plated copper and copper speaker cables, no real hard n fast rule one over the other imo.
    Pure silver cables are another league altogether though, but be prepared to sell a kidney!
    AC POWER
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    All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables

  3. #3
    Join Date: May 2020

    Location: Goa, India

    Posts: 143
    I'm Denzil.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Gazjam View Post
    Have owned silver plated copper and copper speaker cables, no real hard n fast rule one over the other imo.
    Pure silver cables are another league altogether though, but be prepared to sell a kidney!
    I've heard of pure silver being used from crossovers to the drivers. But not seen any commercially available pure silver speaker cables. Do you have any links ?

    Regards,

    Denzil
    https://www.instagram.com/elsewheregoa

  4. #4
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

    Posts: 6,088
    I'm Alan.

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    Go with PC-OCC copper and you can't go wrong.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: Southall, West London

    Posts: 51,621
    I'm Geoff.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Firebottle View Post
    Go with PC-OCC copper and you can't go wrong.
    Yup.

    Silver plated wires can sound brash and pure silver can seem bright.
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  6. #6
    Join Date: May 2020

    Location: Goa, India

    Posts: 143
    I'm Denzil.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Firebottle View Post
    Go with PC-OCC copper and you can't go wrong.
    So pure copper is better or as good as silver plated copper ?

    Thanks,

    Denzil
    https://www.instagram.com/elsewheregoa

  7. #7
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: Southall, West London

    Posts: 51,621
    I'm Geoff.

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    I've messed about with every type of wire, for speakers and interconnects and found I just don't like silver plated wire. Pure silver can be very good, but is system dependant, good pure copper is a safe bet and what I use.
    It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!

  8. #8
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: Bishops Stortford

    Posts: 1,249
    I'm Chris.

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    Quote Originally Posted by walpurgis View Post
    I've messed about with every type of wire, for speakers and interconnects and found I just don't like silver plated wire. Pure silver can be very good, but is system dependant, good pure copper is a safe bet and what I use.
    I would second this.
    Source
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    Highly modified Endorphin P17 open baffle speakers containing both vintage and modern alnico drivers and paper cones. All silver wired - 8" Cube Audio FC8 full range drivers and vintage 15" Altec VOTT 416 bass drivers. All sat on Townsend Audio Podium seismic isolation platforms.
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    HRT HeadStreamer and SennHeiser HD650 headphones

  9. #9
    Join Date: Apr 2008

    Location: Warrington

    Posts: 3,451
    I'm Neil.

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    Personally, it's silver or copper for me.

    Plating adds something at the top end.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

  10. #10
    Join Date: May 2020

    Location: Goa, India

    Posts: 143
    I'm Denzil.

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    Quote Originally Posted by walpurgis View Post
    I've messed about with every type of wire, for speakers and interconnects and found I just don't like silver plated wire. Pure silver can be very good, but is system dependant, good pure copper is a safe bet and what I use.
    Thanks Geoff,

    You are always so quick to respond. When you say that you don't like it, is there anything specific that you find with silver plated wire which you don't like ? What's the difference that you find between silver plated and copper wire ?

    Thanks,

    Denzil
    https://www.instagram.com/elsewheregoa

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