Budget re-cabling


I am considering re-cabling (changing out receiver, SACD player) on the main room system (5.1 and 2.1).

Front: B&W Nautilus 804 Center: B&W HTM61 S2 Rear: temporary Infinity Reference 2 or Dayton 2 way. 

HDMI Oppo 103 to Onkyo TX-RZ810: if critical at all, budget $30 or so?

Cables: new speaker for front/center. 10ft left/right each, 6 ft center (or 25 total). Budget $5-$6 per foot (may consider suggestions up to $10 there is something to gain).

I know this budget is mind bogglingly high (never spent that kind of money on cables, but want to go all out). 

So what are the best speaker cables for way below $10/ft? Good comparison tests (with price in mind)? Maybe comparison with 'DIY' or 'Repurposed' (using commercial cable repurposed for audio)? Links? Read ups? 

 

NOT INTERESTED IN PIXEL DUST and ESOTHERIC CABLES. 

 

 

kraftwerkturbo

@lanx0003 Do you have a link to the full acrticle for the table? I assume the Mogami W2534 below is using (as speaker cable) two wires. And all leads plus the shield twirled/connected together into a connector? Or are those interconnect cable comparisons? (I have seen the Belden 8402 pre configured with RCA on ebay). 

 

 

Main product image for Mogami W2534 1 ft. Neglex Quad High Definition Micr 103-1008

In the context of cabling, I have read about the 'quality' of connectors (Solid Gold with pixel dust, silver, bad gold plated steel, etc). 

Yet, very little about a very critical point I can see, and that is the SIZE of the CONTACT POINT. One article compares all the fancy versions of silver and copper (going from 100 for cheapo copper to 107 for fancy expansive silver for conductivity), yet little is mentioned how much of the 7% more juice is lost in a badly designed CONTACT POINT. A banana plug for example male/femal combination my have just THREE super TINY contact point through which all that good juice has to be pressed through. If I had to design a speaker connector, it would look more like the battery post and clamp on your car to ensure the biggest possible surface area for the contact. 

Curious if tests (listening and measuring) have been done to compare for example a banana plug connection with (could be someone larger connecting area) spade connection? 

 

OP, I sincerely apologize that the table values were for interconnect cable instead of speaker cables.  But the renowned Belden speaker cables 10-12awg (5T00UP / 5000UP) is good performers and used by BJC.  The Part Express sells 5T00UP  for cheaper if you decide to go for larger wire.