Speaker cable - what do you use?

[Howard]

I can't see how some people find it so difficult to choose between more "expensive" interconnects... I agree there's a difference between some solid £30/metre stuff and some piece of mains cable or something, but I've seen cables for obscene prices!

I'm happy with my Cat5!

[BlueBot]

Plus it's silly spending £50 on a gold platted interconnect when the actual connection from your output on the amp/dvd/cd etc is likely to be connected internally (inside the cover) to the circuit board with something a lot less conductive than gold.

Steve

[floppybootstomp]

I'm using twin core black 2mm perm mains cable, it's the stuff that's used for mains appliances, rounded. using banana plugs into the speakers, Kefs, bi-wired.

I've used mains twin & earth before, when I ran the cables under the floorboards and within the wall to a pair of recessed canon sockets.

Sounds good to me cat 5 eh? Never heard of that one before, sounds interesting.

[Aaron]

To expand this thread...

What plugs do people use? How much? Where can they be bought?

[floppybootstomp]

If your loudspeakers take banana plugs, they're good and can be purchased cheaply from any good electronic parts retailer - RS; Farnell; Maplins, they all stock them.

One other thought just occurred to me here, have you ever opened up your loudspeakers and seen what connects the back plate to the crossover and then from the crossover to the drivers?

It's usually really thin and nasty cable. All that money spent on decent connects from amp to loudspeaker, only to be foiled at the last hurdle.

It's often worth replacing the loudspeaker internal cable with something a little chunkier.

[Howard]

I'd rather not void my warranty.

Besides my speakers aren't exactly cheap and nasty mini-system-esque are they..

[floppybootstomp]

Howard: I'm assuming you mean the speakers listed in your sig when you say you don't want to void your warranty?

No, probably not, I'd agree with you. I was more sort of thinking about a bog standard pair of stereo speakers, used in some of them old fashioned Hi Fi stereo setups.

Replacing inner cables in those type of speakers does make a difference.

[unrealrocks]

Plug wise I simply use screw terminals but allways splay the cables well over the whole thing, also make sure they stay clean ... Alot of people buy good quality cable and do a test by swapping things over, its not the cable that makes the difference but the moving takes some of the corrosion off!

[Howard]

Floppybootstomp:

Speakers aren't in my sig Lol

I expect you remember the ones I posted in the "show us your entertainment system" thread a couple of days ago.

And yeah the sort of speakers you get with mini systems and old all-in-one systems might want a cable upgrade

[tillyoubreakit]

Hi there,

2 Channel Setup
--------------------
Wireworld TerraIII from Pre AMP to Power AMP
Wireworld TerraIII from Power Amp to Maggies (Bannanas and straights)
Woreworld Solstice from Rega to Pre Amp

HT
------------------
Monitor Audio to all Speakers
Kimber Digital cable
Monitor Audio Video signal

-Florian

[KBeee]

Plus it's silly spending £50 on a gold platted interconnect when the actual connection from your output on the amp/dvd/cd etc is likely to be connected internally (inside the cover) to the circuit board with something a lot less conductive than gold.

Steve

The gold plating isn't there for it's conductivity (silver is much better), but because gold doesn't tarnish, theoretically giving a "cleaner" connection.

[Butuz]

QED Silver anniversary biwire for mesen.

I'm thinking of upgrading to some mains cable - far better clarity.

Butuz

[TeePee]

I use cat5 but in a nice plait a la http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/triple_t_e.html

I know exactly what wire is used inside my amplifiers because I built them!

[Howard]

Ooh tell me more TeePee! Pics? Specs?

[floppybootstomp]

Yes, TeePee, pray tell us more I made a couple of Valve amps years ago, still have them, never been able to find a good pre-amp that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. They do sound good though, have used them with a NAD amp where you split the pre-amp off, and also a Disco mixer, got the design from one of those Electronics magazines, had most of the parts, so....

[TeePee]

Well, no pics of mine, but they are based on the 47 Labs gaincard design: http://www.tnt-audio.com/ampli/47gaincard_e.html
It's a very simple design, and lots of people are making copies or 'Gainclones':
http://www.mhennessy.f9.co.uk/gainclone/
Mine give me 50W ish per channel, of which I have a total of five (For a HT set-up). I've just started building new cases for them and I'm sure I'll get some pics on here when they're done. Of course, I still have the latest generation of my HTPC to finish as well, and my broken/healing arm isn't helping!