Biwired Speakers - silver for high, copper for low


Had the Nordost SPM for many years - needed a WAF thin cable that I can run under the rug. Have recently changed my speaker placement - can now use other cables (within WAF limits - no ugly fat black snakes).

Have tried numerous cables to replace the SPM. Am looking for more body. Found in general, silver cables give more extended high, greater transparency, even delicacy (if well executed) but never quite enough body or bass weight. On the other hand, high purity copper seems great for warmth and body, but you lose some transparency and detail.

So have tried Ridge Street Poiema (silver) for high and home brewed cryoed high purity OFC for bass. On teh whole seems to work well, but have some nagging doubt with integration. I swear I hear something that is not supposed to be there. May be phase shift issue ??

Was contemplating Omega Mikro or other more exotic ones. Any other ideas ?

Thanks
gilas

Showing 3 responses by gilas

Oh, I should add this.
power amp: Chord 1200B, solid state A-B, 250Wpc
speakers : Wilson Benesch Discovery, smallish stand mounts.

thanks

Tom
Thanks for your response guys.

La Fashionista is not that bad. She complains about the monsterous Shunyata and Electraglide power cords, I hide my credit card bills well. All's fair ;-)

Once in a blue moon, I get a remark along the lines "this sounds good, what did you do ?" Most times, I am allowed a free run. I can't however have extreme stuff because of two highly intelligent and extremely inquisitive juvenille life form.

Listener and Sherod, thanks - I will look up your suggestions.

Darryl, I have tried the Poiemas on the bass. Doesn't do it for me some how ?? I have spoken to Mnh and Robert @ RSA, for some reason the Poiema has not sung for me yet. Don't get me wrong, The Poiema is great sounding, I thought the delicate portrayal is to die for (as far as refinement goes). However, I do like a bit of the rougher (dynamic) side as well. My Poiema so far has not revealed that side. I don't think it is my source or pre-power. I will try again after a few days - it may simply be a question of extended setlling in.

Tom
Hi Tim, You raised valid points, esp mucking up the speaker's radically tonal balance by using different cables.

I did post my system, but I don't think I have "popular" amp or speaker. Any way, here goes the material parts :

power amp: Chord 1200B
solid state A-B, 250Wpc, very dynamic and transparent, neutral, not warm. Don't think the problem lies here.

speakers : Wilson Benesch Discovery
2.5 way carbon fibre integral stand mounted monitor
2 x 7" isobaric downward firing bass drivers, 1 x 7" mid range unit, 1 x 1" soft dome silk tweeter
crossover freq : Bass 500Hz , Mid & Tweeter 5kHz
1st order bass roll-off, 1st order mid range crossover, 2nd order tweeter crossover
polypropylene capacitors and air cored inductors in X-over.
bi-wireable, internal multi-stranded silver plated copper wiring.

I used Nordost SPM, it was OK but lean in the bass. I have tried Valhalla, it was much better but too much money. The Poiema gives a more refined presentation but lacks (so far IMS) energy and dynamics. A friend's home brew cryoed copper was surprisingly good and very musical, but not as transparent or detailed as any of the above cables. Have tried Cardas, didn't like it.

That leaves the Omega Mikro (unthinkable from a practical point of view), the Pure Note Cerulean, or others that I am not aware of.

Thanks,

Tom