Anticables

Just replaced my Type 4 AudioQuest speaker wires with AntiCables Level 3.1 cables and got a big step up in sonic quality along with much improved clarity. I bought the AQs used about 15 years ago as a step up from Monster cables. I just check retail prices and had no idea how cheap they were. The last time you could buy my Bohlender Graebner Radia 520s they listed for $7,500 a pair. I'm thrilled with these cables. They make my speakers sing. Powered by an Anthem Integrated 225 playing SACDs on OPPO UDP-205.

A bit of perspective is in order here. 

The cables you bought cost $600 for a 1-metre pair of AC's top-of-line interconnects. Had someone suggested that your ICs were the weak link in your system despite having a cheap TEAC as your amplifier?

I mean, I'm not disputing that they might be, but I would have looked a long way before paying $600 for an IC on the off-chance it was the silver bullet I was looking for.

ICs will make a difference, and, if the REST of your system is transparent enough, can make a profound difference! But that's the key.

There ARE specific ICs which will adjust a system which has specific shortcomings, such as bright ICs for a laid back system or laid back ICs for a bright system. AntiCables level 5.2 and 6.2 cables do NOT have this type of correcting sonic signature - AC pride themselves that their cables are fairly neutral and balanced in that regard.

The next IC down from the 6.2 is the 5.2, which uses the same silver/gold alloy in a more conventional geometry. At less than half the price.

Even knowing that my system is exceedingly transparent, I went for the 5.2 in the knowledge that, at worst, it would not satisfy me and I would lose a relatively small amount of money (or send it back). And, at best, I would be satisfied by the sound and not have paid more than I needed to for that satisfaction.

Good luck. I hope you find a combination of components which works for you.

Anticables Level 5 speaker wire (copper spades) combined with Anticables Level 6.2 Absolute Signature RCA/RCA analog interconnects are the best performing cables I've ever heard anywhere, and the only ones that match what I had back in the early 1990s when the Lindsay-Geyer interconnects were available. In fact, the low-level resolution and detail surpasses what I got from the Lindsay-Geyer set-up. My stereo system consists of Acer Aspire E5-576G-5762 running Foobar 2000 software, JSAUX Printer Cable, Pro-Ject Pre Box S2 DAC, Anticables Absolute Signature Level 6.2 analog interconnects, PS Audio Stellar M700 monoblocks, Anticables Signature Level 5 speaker wire (spades), KEF LS50 speakers, Fitueyes 4-tier Media Stand Audio/Video Component Cabinets with Glass Shelves, VTI RF Series Heavy Duty Speaker Stands in Black, and Pangea Audio AC-14 Powercords for amplifiers. Also all cable connections are made using Stabilant 22 contact enhancer. I will pit my system against any other 2-channel system with respect to all parameters except low bass extension and highest db level output. Just a word of warning, 500 hours or more of burn-in will be necessary before these cables sound their best. I suggest using Irrational But Efficacious CD to play continuously when not listening to help with burn-in. 

Love the sound using Anticables speaker cables and ICs. Clean, clear and open. Slightly, very slightly tipped up from neutral in my treated, dedicated room, and in my system. Bi-wired from a Vincent SP-331 to Vandersteen 2Cs. They are more robust than they appear, though not as robust as one might hope for (fracture of the solder joint at the amp end of the bi-wired speaker cable due to being a little too forceful).  Easily remedied. Solid core. I like how they sound, I like the company's policies, Paul Speltz is a great guy to work with. Happy camper.

Tom

Anti's are good cable...made well, perform above their price point.   They are very thin and may look fragile, but they are not.

I have so many funny stories about the topic in this thread but look at it this way. We are all sick, demented passionate fools in search of that 1/10th of a difference that can be made in sound quality or the perception of sound quality (Real or not) gained by changing everything around and experimenting constantly. Who here doesn’t feel excited when something new shows up in that lovely new box or get wide eyed when you read an article on your iPad at 2 am in the dark while listening to Tidal Masters and noticing that it’s literally the 10th time that you played the same track in a row because you hear something new in the background that wasn’t there before. Haters be damned if you can’t justify the cost of what you can’t comprehend because it’s new or unproven, this is a hobby and pioneers make mistakes but when you find new cool stuff that works it makes up for the losers in the mix and that’s what AG is for. LOL

Anti-cables pass the signal. They are fairly dynamic and transparent. Their sound, however, is crude and unrefined.

AntiCables look like they could use a sweater on cold mornings, although they do seem to work fine.

Yuk, yuk! Good one! 🐮

A guy goes down a one way street the wrong way. A cop stops him and tells he was going down a one way street. The guy says, but I was only going one way. 🤗

Yes, you know which way the wire is pointing. It is this way, or it is that way. But at least you know.

SS, right. That means the arrows are there because the wire itself is directional.

Anti's are made with and without shielding.....no shielding sounds more open to me.

GK: Speaker wires don't need shielding. They are high signal and are immune to RF.

I have their Level 2 ICs and speaker cables. They sound fine.

These posts are so much like I hear from those who debate politics.  I've had different levels of AntiCables for perhaps 8 or 9 years.....I have never had any problems with them.  They are not magnet wire, they are drawn with a direction with good copper....or silver for the top level.  They don't look like ordinary cables...they are very thin with a red spiral around them.....but what they look like means less to me than what they sound like.   In truth, I compared the top of the line Anti's to Wireworld top level silver, and Anti's are very, very similar.  If people here don't know truth, they shouldn't post. My system is all Ayre and Vandersteens

I have used anticables for years. They sound great. Look at it this way, at least you know what you are getting. It is just a solid coated copper wire for the most part. I have not bought the more expensive versions. I like the solid copper spades. If you buy the lower models on sale it is just about the same cost as making them yourself. Try to source the copper spades they use. It is difficult. These work great with speakers that have solid copper binding posts such as Devore.

Motorman will you please update me on the powerchord? I want to auditions as well, Paul is a good guy....

Have had the opportunity, and pleasure, of using AntiCable speaker cables. Bottom line, they are a darn good cable, especially at the asking price, highly recommended.

I am running a shotgun biwired pair of Anticables speaker cables between a pair of Theta Citadel 1.5’s and a pair of Vandersteen 5A’s.  Hardly shitty equipment.  I can tell you I have access to all manner of cable as I have friends who own high end shops and have worked at some of them in my free time.  I’ve had Cardas Clear, Audioquest Kilimanjaro, Audioquest Volcano and various other “High end” cables in and out of my system.  We haven’t found any reason to replace them.  When I say we, my friends who also have semi high end gear have listened as well and we all scratch our heads.  I so want to pull them out every time I look at them but when I listen I can’t find any reason to do so.  No bullshit.  

Scam,you sure don’t choose your words very carefully. First your lame system sounds like it’s showing it’s true colors not Paul’s top of the line IC’s.
As with your latest purchase made in China I wonder if you’ll call that one also a scam?

I just received a power cable that looks absolutely AMAZING!  Will post when I have it hooked up and tested.... More to come.

Paul's cables ain't a ripoff.  I've used both his interconnects and speaker cables to good effect over the years and have never felt as though I was taken advantage of nor wasted my money. I like his speaker cables, and I've purchased nothing but his "cheap seats" stuff before moving up a tick here or there. 

One more question. The Anticables speaker wires are unshielded, correct?

Yes, they are directional. There are arrow markings on the cables.

Just curious, are the Anti Cable speaker wires directional?

HI,  I currently run anti cable level 2 speaker wire, yes it's solid copper and I cannot comment on the inters as I do not use them, but the speaker cable/wire is fantastic in my system it's the first time I ever heard a cable make such a positive difference in the sound.I do not and will not spend thousands of dollars on cables but these speaker wires work incredibly well in my system worth every penny for me.Maybe the inters do not work as well as the speaker wire? Sell them try something else if your not happy with them.

I've got three Anticables Level 3 power cables arriving in the next week or two. One with a 20 amp connector to feed a Shunyata Hydra AV and to 15 amp PCs to feed my Bel Canto Refm monoblocks. I hope they work out for me. The 30 day risk free trial is certainly a benefit that brings me peace of mind.

There is no scam, simple as that. Don’t like the cables or the price then don’t use them but it’s about time all these malicious posts stopped, simple as that.

I have the 6.2 and I couldn't be happier. I've stopped critiquing and started listening. I know that sounds cliche but it is what it is,

You are correct, they are very cheap in quanity. Curse this brain tumor. I think it was something like magnet wire, likely wrong!

madavidO said..."I guess what that boils down to was that my system isn't, and still isn't, really capable of showing the difference between interconnects."



I'm sure Anticables will be happy to know that their products aren't a scam afterall. ; With the equipment you were using for evaluation purposes,any ability to discern was highly skewed from the getgo...

+1 Audio sensibility, they use OCC cables. They have their own cables manufactured. I’m using their balanced phono cable with great success. I use AQ wires for everything else. Solid. 

Solid core seems to make sense and a friend of mine loves his anti cables, but they seem fragile. I use mostly AQ solid core in my rig as it seems to work...balanced and unbalanced ICs and Type 8 speaker. 

Okay guys, OP here with an update.

I ended up sending the 6.2s back, which AntiCables honored quickly and without fuss. I had an 845 SET amp coming in from China as I suspected my Emotiva was really letting me down (which, as it turned out, was the case) but my 30 days was up so I had to send them back. Also, these Chane A1.4s are really, really unresolving and seriously lack force/drive. I guess what that boils down to was that my system isn't, and still isn't, really capable of showing the difference between interconnects.

My headphone setup is much more resolving, but the trouble there was that I was feeding a balanced amp (Mjolnir 2) from a balanced DAC (Gustard X20) using single-ended cables, which may have muddled the signal too much to tell a difference between interconnects. Certainly, using my Audio Sensibility XLRs there was a noticable improvement -- which, as I just suggested, might be more due to the balanced topology of my DAC and headphone amp.

BTW, this is the Chinese amp I just bought:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Music-Angel-XDSE-HiFi-845-Vacuum-Tube-Amp-Class-A-Stereo-Integrated-Amplifie...~

The Chanes:
https://www.chanemusiccinema.com/A1.4

The DAC:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GUSTARD-DAC-X20-ES9018-XMOS-Optical-Coaxial-AES-EBU-DAC-384KHz-DSD-DOP-Decod...

I agree. Kinda like Spam. That cheap meat product that's a close relative of dog food.

Chrisr when I bought those cable, I have a choice, regardless if those cables look good or ugly, I am after the sound not looks, also if  I don't like them, I can return them, No question ask.Fortunately I like what his cables does to my system, I kept them and I am still using them. I respect how you feel and your opinion, here at Agon many times our opinions are not the same but we learn from them.

i can’t imagine being ugly when selling these products at those prices. I would be nice too.

Bottom line Paul is a very nice guy, I bought speaker cables to him for $60 they sound amazing, I think I was the one who robbed him. He should charge $200.

I went on the site of Anticables. Looks less impressive than Radio Shack. $600 for a pair? Really? Thanks for letting us know. I'll share this with our local audio club.

Share what, that they need a better website?

I went on the site of Anticables.  Looks less impressive than Radio Shack.  $600 for a pair?  Really?  Thanks for letting us know.  I'll share this with our local audio club.

Paying $600 for interconnects! Of course it's a scam!!  Use the $ 20 ones, they will likely sound the same.

Wrong.  It's people buying super sonic cables who don't know what they're getting.
Bottom line is it's not a scam, it is a robbery. 

some of the posters here just don't know what they talk about when they bash anticables.   Only when you have used them/know them for what they are should you critique them.  They may not be for everyone, but neither are Purist, Cardas, Audioquest, etc.

You would be triply happy with same gauge cables sounding as good and costing 10 times less.  Just a thought.

I have bi-wired solid core ANTICABLES & ZEROBOXES with Vandersteen 3a Signatures and a 140 watt Atma-sphere. Sounds great!

I’m also using Gold ANTICABLE XLRs out of my preamp. Love them.

I’d like to try Paul’s power cables, but I currently have an ISOCLEAN a/c power outlet and power cords running to my amps (and am totally happy with my ISOCLEAN gear so, I'm not replacing that.)

I’m completely happy with my ANTICABLE products - especially for the price.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, just like we have our preferences as to the dynamics of the music that comes from our speakers.
Systems are always dependent upon the components which make them up including the incoming AC.
There is always going to a product that sounds better regardless of what one owns.

Maybe the OP is hearing his system for what it truly sounds like?  Sometimes better shows us the warts.

Good lord, jaybe, i was just kidding you, and now you tell me my hearing isn't right!  
But to be honest with you, i am not surprised at all and i agree with you that they are not that great... i tried to stay polite, but sometimes by trying to do complicated you get worse results...
Have you found any reputable, honest cable manufacturer, or recording engineer, or speaker designer that will tell you that you hit the ceiling in performance really quickly after fundamentals have been met with cables?
I have some links that will surprise you!

not at all. the 30-day money back guarantee is built-in the price many folds. Some will return, some not. Again, they are not bad cables. They are very good cables. Nothing wrong can be found with their sound.