Cable Confusion

Yeah - we really need a price point. Mapleshade has $7,000 speaker cables as well as the Clearview Golden Helix, about which I've heard good things and are reasonably priced.

Personally I can't figure out this cable stuff at all, and I've gone 100% Kimber because there does seem to be general consensus (above comment acknowledged) that their stuff is really, really good. I use Hero interconnects for most everything, very middle of the road, until recently they were around 90 - 120 per pair depending on details. I figured this got me 'enough' up the totem pole that I could stop thinking/worrying about cables and have been very very happy with that decision.

I recently put together a 4k system for a friend and we did 100% Blue Jeans cables for everything as at 4k total I wanted to focus on the speakers and amp and let everything else evolve over time.

I personally think along these lines:

Blue Jeans
Signal Cable
MapleShade (lower end, not the 7k ones!)
Kimber

Depending on total system cost. Anti-cables seem like they are similar to Signal Cable, but that is mostly speculation.

I have tried other expensive cables in various places in my system on loan from stores, and silver definitely made the highs too high for me, I always went back to Hero. Some call the Hero the poor mans KS series.

That said - if you want to be different and exotic, which I'm all for, Mapleshade does some really incredible things. You have to ignore a lot of the nonsense claims they make in their catalogue, but their recordings, for instance, do seem to be the best recordings I've ever heard including the Kimber recordings, Telarc, 2L, etc. A lot of what they do that seems crazy actually seems to work... So if you want to be different go with Mapleshade! Otherwise, I say Kimber up! (The other different/exotic thing to do is the Van Den Hul, they do some interesting things...)

And if your total system cost isn't high don't feel bad at all about going Blue Jeans/Signal/Anti/Better etc. Its mostly about your speakers, then DAC, then Amp. Unless your speakers are really hard to drive, then its speakers, amp, DAC :)... IMHO... I really think people should put 50% or more of total system cost into speakers then go from there...

2chnlben, My goodness, your request went unanswered by me. If this thread
was not pointed to by a different, but similar query, I would have never seen
your post.

Frankly, on most systems, cable difference can be hardly discernible. That is,
unless the radically different cable is introduced. Magnet wire is one example.
Cerious, on the expensive side, is another example with their viscous ceramic
conductor.

The Kimber Kable was not really bad. I couldn't really tell much difference
between it and other normal cables in systems past. With my former Pass
gear, I couldn't tell the difference in any cable.

It wasn't until I acquired my present system when cables divulged their true
identities. Though the hose cables remained similar, they all erred on
poisoning the conductor. The worst were the most expensive, like MIT,
Cardas, and Jenna. Anyone can hear the hiss when using hose cables, the
Jenna being the least offensive.

The magnet wire reveals magic in the mids, but leaves the frequency
extremes lacking. The ribbon retains the clear mids, and brings the hi's and
lo's to equal baring.

I must make it clear, I am talking about findings in my own system. Your
need for 8 feet runs makes the ribbon possibly unusable. The magnet wire
changes not over the same distance.

I left Kimber Kable years ago. Anti-Cable was a big jump up from that. Ribbon SCs like Mapleshade uses were the all out winners.

Muralman1,

I have pondered installing different cables for some time now. I’ve read so many articles on speaker cables that I can’t help but be a skeptic. If I can’t actually hear a difference – really hear it, without having to go back and forth between cables to discern any minuscule differences, or “perceived” differences – then I don’t want to lay out any cash. Therefore, I want to ask you specifically what the big jump or difference between your Kimber / Anti-Cables / and ribbon-type cables was. I am currently using four runs of Kimber 4TC in a double-shotgun configuration. I can’t afford to replace the Kimber with really expensive cables, so I have been curious about all the hype given to these other affordable cables. Any thoughts on cables (single or bi-wired) in the $600 range (need 12’ each side) that would provide a discernable difference??

i suggest that you set a price point and listen to all speaker cables within that price point. only you can decide what you like.

I left Kimber Kable years ago. Anti-Cable was a big jump up from that. Ribbon SCs like Mapleshade uses were the all out winners.

'Sorry to add to the confusion, but I've never heard a Kimber Kable I didn't like. No matter how old or how cheap, they're unfailingly musical.

Re: the original question any of Morrow, Mapleshade, or Anti would be a good choice. I have the Mapleshade Double Golden Helix on the HF of my Selah speakers... detailed yet pleasant presentation. Very good cable. the Elf cables appear very similar, some using gold over copper instead of silver over copper. Ernest tends to use an enamel insulation.

2chnlben, you don't need to look far he's on here:

ELF Audio cables

There is a website elfaudio.com, but you won't find cables on it...

I have used Anti-Cables, DH Labs, Supra, & ELF Audio SHG.
IMHO, the ELF Audio cables are the best.
Camelboy

I tried to find information online for ELF Audio cables, but no such luck. Is he still in business? Website??

Thanks

Jeez, I hate it when people come to the point quickly and make sense.

I have used Anti-Cables, DH Labs, Supra, & ELF Audio SHG.
IMHO, the ELF Audio cables are the best.

i also used the anti speaker connects, i liked them, the sound was very good, but they are abit funky if you can see them readily and are not easy adjust , if you have any length. i admit they are minimal but the red wire and rigidity of the wire itself was not flex enough for me...i loved the sound, but they are funky to work with and look at...if you want to see them in my system ..go to dwhitt and look at budget jazz system, i have them show with my totem ,cayin system...good listening...dwhitt

i also used the anti speaker connects, i liked them, the sound was very good, but they are abit funky if you can see them readily and are not easy adjust , if you have any length. i admit they are minimal but the red wire and rigidity of the wire itself was not flex enough for me...i loved the sound, but they are funky to work with and look at...if you want to see them in my system ..go to dwhitt and look at budget jazz system, i have them show with my totem ,cayin system...good listening...dwhitt

Are we talking about speaker cables or interconnects?

I had - have - Anti-Cables. But, I use speaker cables much more like the Mapleshade. They are DIY ultra thin copper ribbons. Following the Anti-Cable disdain for dielectrics I kept the insulation to a minimum - almost nothing.

For interconnects, I use the Speltz Anti-Cable IC. I have not heard anything appreciably better on my system.