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Audioquest Firebird Zero

I've tried several speaker cables over the past year; Shunyata Alpha and Sigma, Wireworld Silver Eclipse series 7, Audioquest Oak and Redwood, Audience Au24 SX, and I own Clarus Crimson speaker cables. I prefer the Clarus over all of the aforementioned speaker cables. I've had the Audioquest Firebird Zero speaker cables on loan for three days. My initial thoughts were everything is a little clearer through them compared to my Clarus Crimson. Not a night and day difference, but definitely clearer. The Clarus are slightly more 3-dimensional to my ears. My wife on the other hand just keeps saying the AQ sounds sharper, clearer, there are less impurities in the music. I'm not sure what she means by impurities, but she keeps repeating it. Maybe she means a darker background? My plan was to have a home audition of the Thunderbird Zero speaker cables, but they had banana plugs on the amplifier end and I can't use them. I took the Firebirds with the logic that if I can't hear a difference between them and my current cables I didn't need to have a home audition of the Thunderbirds. $14K for an eight foot pair of speaker cables is freaking crazy and sad! It would be easy for me to dismiss it  because there isn't a night and day difference, but once you hear the difference it's very hard to ignore. Financially I just can't justify spending $14K on speaker cables and hope to hear the AQ Thunderbirds sometime next week. Once again I'm reminded that absolutely everything makes a difference. For those that can easily afford $14K, $20K or more speaker cables I understand, because cables can be equivalent to a component change. Does it ever end?
ricred1
gdnrbob
4,449 posts
 
@musicguy85,
Interesting post, and nice to hear from German Audiophiles( I have a secret obsession with MBL's).
You make an interesting observation. I just purchased a set of AQ cables and was surprised that they were only offered in 1 meter or more lengths. So, it would seem the DBS requires a certain length in order to be effective. -Though I might be wrong in that assumption.
Re: Hurricane vs. Firebird-
AQ is pretty good at organizing/pricing their cables. If it is higher up on the scale/price level, then it should 'outperform' the cables below them.
If I get a chance, I will call AQ and get the scoop on the length question.
Bob
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
No issues in length with the AQ cables.  I own both 1 and 2 meter lengths and already tried the 1 and 2 on my Niagara 1000 and there was zero difference in sound.  

AQ will tell you the same thing about length. I guess size doesn't matter to them. lol. 

Bob is right.  As you go up in price, the sound is better.  Lower noise floor due to materials or size of the Teflon tubes.  I own William Tell copper in 8'.  It's the bi wire one and what a difference it makes.  I was told by AQ that the silver version of the Robin Hood would have sounded even better than the regular Tell's.   
musicguy85
2 posts
 
Hi,

thank you for the responses! :) The audio contact here in Netherlands also said the Firebird should be superior to a Hurricance due to better conductors and that lengths need to be tried and that there good be slightly different sounds but not that one length per se is better.
=> So I‘ll probably go for three 2m hurricanes (easier to handle) for my DAC, my integrated and to the wall. This way I could leave the option open to have a Firebird to the wall in the future and use the third hurricane for the second mono power amp once I upgrade. 
Which brings me to the second question/topic: Speaker cables. :)

First I thought I‘d go for 2x1,5m Hurricanes (single wire). Then I read here that bi-wire is definitely superior with the Mystical creatures, so I thought it through, did the math and said to myself that I could some how afford them.
However, that brings me somewhat closer to a pair single wire Firebirds or even bi-wire (Firebird zero and Thundebird bass). However I could only afford and willing to spend the money for 2x1m length, which means I‘d buy them only once I got a pair of mono power amps due to the shorter distance.
To make a long story short, these are the thoughts in my mind:
- is a bi-wire Thunderbird that much better then a single-wire?
- bi-wire Thunderbird vs single wire Firebird zero?
- is it wise to mix two cables in a Firebird zero / Thundebird bass combo?

Anyone here that has heard any of these combinations?! :)

Kind regards!! 


gdnrbob
4,449 posts
 
@ctsooner ,
When I ordered a set of William Tell's from Johnny, it seems they didn't come any shorter than 1 meter. My office system has my baby monoblocks right near the speakers and 1/2 meter would have been a lot neater (visually), and less expensive.
So, I guess there is a minimum distance the DBS is effective? Or, AQ doesn't want to sell anything under a meter.
B
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
they may not want to sell under that.  DBS is to deplete the charge from building up on the cable or something like that.  I doubt length has anything to do with DBS (or visa versa).  

I haven't heard those specific combo's, but the bi wire is going to work best if your speaker is made to be bi wired.  I will say that you need to audition the wire to see what's best for you.  
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