Depends on the cable. Have you looked at used?
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@bzawa Bulk twin conductor 12AWG is readily available as are easy to terminate connectors of high quality in banana and spade for relatively little money that would be more than suitable for your application. Or you could just get these https://www.svsound.com/products/soundpath-ultra-speaker-cable which are pretty nice in whatever length and terminations you choose times two $. |
Used cables are your friend. These are excellent cables for only $425 shipping included and no cutting required. If they don’t work out you can turn around and sell them for little/no loss so very low risk to try. https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650192338-acoustic-zen-satori-6ft-spades/ |
Make this a DIY project. It's easy and you get a nice sense of accomplishment doing something for yourself? Have a look at all the cable options at a place like https://www.vhaudio.com/search.html?ss360Query=speaker%20cable Cheers. |
Roger Russell's yap about speaker wire http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm I like connectors from Parts Express, no solder, a pair of set screws
Similar solderless, Spade Connectors
Personally, I won't spend money on speaker cables, I make my own out of twisting a pair of ethernet cables (cat 5,6,7,8 doesn't matter). Look for pure copper, look for smaller number/higher awg, I prefer stranded to solid, I wrap/tape two different colors so I know +/- each end. Cut off the factory connectors if any, attach solderless connectors from Parts Express. Combined Wire Gauge Calculator i.e. 8 strands of awg 22 = 13 awg i.e. 8 strands of awg 26 = 17 awg
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Get a kit of the DIY cables from GR research probably for less than a hundred bucks you can have a great set of cables anything you can get two 4 ft for less than a hundred bucks $ There exist all kinds of good YouTube videos by honest audio engineers like Gene of audioholics they've done scientific measurements for example proving that those audio quest cables are total BS they actually had worse performance once you put a battery in that one that uses a battery It never ceases to amaze me how people can get sucked into believing that total nonsense. They are fools. All these quack audiophiles wax plastic fantastic about how this particular cable gives more depth and realism and presence or whatever silly words that can come up with nonsense if you did a double blind study change the cables out and they didn't know which cable you're using most of the time people can hardly tell the difference. I think a lot of these guys are just paid shills to help perpetuate the scam these guys are burning Bernie madoffs want to be's may have succeeded in hoodwinking people out of serious money and managed to figure out how to scam people and get rich selling cables that really aren't any better than a much much cheaper pair They have discovered the art of stealing being con artists and being able to get away with it. Now we will see hateful responses LOL I don't care ,get a life.
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I wouldn’t fiddle around with DIY or anything like that. There’s just too many absolutely phenomenal speaker cables out there on the used market, in your price range, that would perfectly fit your needs. Do the research, figure out what you like, then find a nice pair of pre-owned speaker cables on one of the used high-end audio websites. Purchasing used can get you way more cable for the money. I’ve been doing it that way for over 25 years with great success, and it has saved me a ton of money in the process. Happy listening. |
I would take the advice of others here and buy a kit and build your own cables. Or buy the cables that @hilde45 has offered, Analysis Plus cables are top shelf stuff. I use their interconnects on one of my systems. I prefer ribbon speaker cable. |
@soix Thanks for pointing out the AZ cables. I'm very tempted. Indecision is holding me back. I borrowed Shunyata Gammas and Cardas Persecs from the Cable Company. I think they both sound somewhat better than my old Cardas Quadlinks and Monster Powerline 2s. But I was expecting more. I think next I will borrow AZ from CC. Don't ask me why but Analysis Plus is calling out to me. Must be something I read somewhere. Thanks |
If you want inexpensive speaker wire that sounds surprisingly good. Get a Home Depot 10/3 (preferred) or 12/3 power cord, clip off the ends and use that. It was done in Stereophile long ago and compared with audiophile speaker wire... while it was not better... it was excellent and cost effective. I use it on my office system.
I have tried Monster and Blue Jeans and found them not to be of very good quality. I have not compared against the HD 10/3... but I'd put my money on the HD 10/3 if I had to guess. |
https://cullencable.com/copper-speaker-cables/ |
If you only need 4 foot cables, I don't see why not. Seems like a good idea. From the other posts, there are lots of good options and it is easy and clean to have them terminated by the pros. My buddy terminated his cables with good connectors and shrink wrap and they look just like from a factory. I personally don't care for bare wire. Do you have a speaker cable picked out yet? I keep think about new cables and was told DH labs T-14 is good, but I have not tried it. |
Many good choices here, Cullen, Pine Tree. You might also check out Ice Age Audio up in Traverse City, MI My next purchase will be @daledeee1's suggestion ... full set-up for $110 ...
https://sites.google.com/view/pine-tree-audio/speaker-cables/speaker-cables/shadow-ribbon |
Don’t cut and terminate yourself unless you are experienced. Rather, audition the following WyWires model: Read the following Absolute Sound review below: $299/4′ pr. interconnect (RCA or XLR); $449/8′ pr. speaker Also read: https://www.hifipig.com/wywires-blue-interconnects-and-speaker-cables/ |
Why in the world would you spend $1,000 on speaker cables. Serious question. I assume it's because you want them to look really nice; some eye candy in your system. Because it can't be because you think they'll actually sound any better than using a coat hanger. They won't. Shame on anyone here who says (lies) to the contrary. |
The reason that you would spend $1k on speaker cables is the reason I spent $5K on speaker cables. Because the incremental increase in sound quality of the system is worth the expenditure. So the cables increases the sound quality more than the equivalent investment in any other component of the system. |
@squared80 I would spend $1000 on speaker cables if I was convinced they made a big difference in sound but I am on the fence regarding cables. For me, it's hard to dismiss all the positive reviews and the whole cable industry's claims (are there really that many dishonest or crazy people?) But...I borrowed Shunyata and Cardas cables from the Cable Company and am not greatly impressed. I am still evaluating them but at this point in time, I'm not convinced they're drastically much better than what I had (old Cardas Quadlink and Monster Powerline 2). Then again my hearing isn't what it used to be and my aural memory isn't great. |
Build your own if your confident enough, check out the site https://www.tnt-audio.com/int.html I built the TNT system rack which looks and sounds superb and two different types on mains cables. Some good DIY projects for the winter months |
