There are undoubtedly several factors involved in what you are hearing. You seem to have identified most already. Your own expectations are probably the biggest. Blue Jeans uses Belden wire, which is definitely good stuff. As you correctly pointed out, the gauge has changed although that is probably not a big deal for the length of cable involved. If you hear a change in volume realize that louder always wins every comparison. My philosophy in these matters, though, is why ask why? Enjoy!
Breaking in Blue Jean/Canare 4S11G speaker cable
I recently bought a set of 4 of these cables, 8 foot locking banana at amp end, spades at speaker end. I bi-amp my speakers with two identical SS amps. I had been using 12 gauge Signet wire with Nakamichi bananas for the last 20 years or so. Listened to an HDCD Mannheim Steamroller, 25 year celebration Cd on Denon player that is HDCD compatible. I listened first with the Signet wires then swapped out to the new Blue Jean cables.
I purposely left the volume control on my preamp untouched between this swap. It's not quite a blind test but I very clearly heard improvement in SQ. It isn't night and day but it is improved. The bass seemed more full, maybe a tad tighter. Mids maybe not much different, they were pretty good before. Highs seemed overall a bit cleaner and clearer. Some say there is a long break in process to these cables. I'm impressed already and pleased with what I'm hearing.
One thought is that I went from 10 foot, 12 gauge single/stranded runs to double runs of 8 foot 14g which is equal to 11g. The combination of slightly shorter run and drop in gauge, could lower the resistance (should theoretically) and maybe I was getting a 1 or 2db gain, which can seem as an "improvement". Not sure but it sounds better and it isn't just because I want it to. It is clearly at least somewhat better. Shout out to BJ/Canare.
I won't jump up and down and proclaim it's the best or whatever but it is an improvement over stock 12g speaker wire for sure.
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To be honest, I "hoped" for improvement but considered that I may not hear anything. I was surprised at what I heard, even it is nothing more than the 1 or 2db increase if that's what it is. I'll continue to listen to various Cd's and LP's and will have an even better idea of what I think of this. I try very hard not to let my "purchase bias" play a role but I know it is not easy to do. That often takes me a longer period of time and at some point, I may think of something as actually not an improvement at all and sometimes a step backward. I went through this with IC's and have done it with various tubes many times. For some reason, I enjoy this silly process of trying new stuff all the time. Kind of crazy since I listened to the same gear for over 20 years with virtually no changes other than trying a different tube here and there. I've made more changes in the last year than I did in the previous 30 years. It just keeps getting better so I can't complain. |
Congrats on finding a better cable. Always great to improve things. However I would like to see the reasoning/math which supports that this change even made a fraction of a db in difference. The resistance of 10’ of 12G copper wire is .016 ohms, the resistance of 8’ of an aggregate 11g copper wire is .010 ohms. Are those speakers cables directional BTW? |
@billstevenson FWIW, I'm using the BJ Canare wire. BJ does also use Belden in 10g and 12g but I decided on the Canare 4S11, quad 14g. I've read an awful lot of favorable reviews and decided on what looks to be a good bang for the buck kind of deal. I've had Belden IC's and still use one between SUT and phono pre, custom made and they are fine but I've gone back to old school multistrand everywhere else for now and have no complaints. Probably next on the upgrade list, just the same. otherBill |
If they are directional, they are not marked as such so it seems that they would not be. I had them made with locking bananas at the amp end and spades at the speaker end. They are sonic welded terminations and seem to be very well made. All are very positive connections, locking bananas are nice, very firm fit when locked and I do like spades at the speakers. The cables are more stiff than I would like them to be but I am pleased with how they sound. It will be interesting to see if I perceive any improvement over time as most say they have a long burn in period. Interesting as I do not see anywhere that the company makes this claim. |
@curiousjim I'd say go for it not sure what they cost now but I paid $17 for a 1M cable well worth it. |
I am running the Canare 4S11G cable as well. I have a 5.2 HT setup with a few long runs (one is 40 ft!) so I made the cables myself with components from Performance Audio. Bananas on both ends. I had old Monster Cable that wasn’t very good to begin with and was long overdue for replacement and upgrade. |