Cables recommendation

Monoprice! If you believe that wire has an effect upon sound quality then you live in some alternate universe.

Kubala Sosna Elation!  I live in an alternate universe and these cables make a huge difference!  My Universe is amazing!

I like Blue Jean Cable and Signal Cable for interconnects and power cables and Pangea for power cables and Analysis Plus for speaker cables. But I will admit, I shop in a budget style. I am not inclined to pay too much $$$ for cables...

I like Blue Jean cable and Signal Cable also. I have an entire duffle bag of cables from Cardas, Raven, Blue Jean, Belden, 

Right now I am using the Blue Jean/Belden Ten White Speaker Cables, Raven and Signal Cable Power Cords, Signal Inter Connects Analog and Digital, Cardas XLR?AES, Cardas Tone Arm wire. 

All of these cables are reasonable priced.

If you have a revealing system yes it makes a difference.

  Monoprice! If you believe that wire has an effect upon sound quality then you live in some alternate universe.

Look at morrow. They have a trade up program so you can move up if you wish. The also have sales on now with a substantial discount. They have great customer service also as well. I know some will disagree, and I recognize their opinions. My thoughts are start small and work your way up. Make sure you can hear a difference. 
  With regards to a streamer. I would recommend a Bluesound node. Shop for a used one, easily available at a good price. I did a lot of comparison with all that’s out there and asked for recommendations here on this forum. Recently got a used one, hooked it up, and I’m happy with my choice. It is a great start and you can move up if you wish. 
 Good luck, and happy listening.

dweller

just make sure ic’s occ...couldnt agree more...ah hell,Everything occ...even jumpers.

@jasonbourne52 Cconnect  4ohm speakers using a 12ft aluminium/copper cable cable of 18awg, listen to your favorite track, and then listen again with a high purity copper of 10awg.  Let us know what you think!

I have your preamp and amp with Dali rubicon6

speakers  I am using Audioquest earth interconnects 

and William tell biwire speaker cables   
amazing sound 

@lnutic

I also use Audioquest earth interconnects and William Tell bi wire speaker cables with my B&w 802d3’s, Classe Sigma SSP, and McIntosh 611 amps.   Agree, amazing.

Audio Advisor sells Audioquest Rocket 88 speaker wire that they terminate. The cost is about 1/3 less than buying the AQ version. It does not have the 72 volt battery pack on it. Oh and it goes on sale from time to time.

As far as interconnects, I usually get what was hot a couple of years ago at half price or less. Check out Music Direct. They have a selection to choose from

All the best.

JD

Audio Advisor sells Audioquest Rocket 88 speaker wire that they terminate.

A good choice or the AQ Type4 if you are price sensitive. I use both, the Rocket 88 is more detailed. 

I keep looking at Audio Envy cables. They get excellent reviews. They are not as inexpensive as the Blue Jeans cables but they are still not priced where the big boys are. A 6' set of their top of the line  SP12 speaker cables (ribbons) is  $475. BTW I do not own nor have any affiliation with AE. But I am interested in these and the have a 45 day trial

SP12

@artemus_5 

Look into Zavfino cables, much better built and superior performance for not whole lot of money over AE cables. I have had both brands in my system. 

@artemus_5 I am intrigued by them also. AE SP12.

You didn’t mention your budget but you did say keep it reasonable so here’s my take on this…you should go balanced between pre and amp…

Interconnects (go less crazy here)

• Mogami Studio Gold XLR (this is a ridiculously good cable to get you started and even beyond that point)
• Audience OHNO (you can find a special deal on this online)
• Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref II

Speaker cables (go a bit more crazy on this)

• Audience OHNO
• Audience AU24 SE or SX

Power cables 

• Triode Wire Labs 7+ (Amp)
• Audioquest Thunder (amp)
• Audience AU24SE MP (preamp)
• Audioquest Thunder (preamp)

Zavfino probably decent, never heard their power cords, interconnects or speaker cables but there are a lot of user feedback. 
You want to be careful with cables. Keep it neutral pure copper OCC is the best. Don’t go for silver cables with McIntosh and B&Ws

There is a lot to on[ack here. It would be great to see some photos of your system and venue (there is a place to put them under your user ID). I have a few Oppos. I’m going to have to plug them in and see what they sound like. But I have found that a high quality streamer is as important to digital as is a good turntable and cartridge. I prefer Aurender.

The big names in cables and interconnects are:Audio Quest, Transparent, WireWorld and Cardas. You can try cables through The Cable Company. Just for fun I tried sets of Blue Jeans and a couple other low cost ones and found them to be no better than the ones in the box with your Oppo.
 

The better your system the more difference interconnects will make. Your system is very good. As a test, I recommend you buy a single power cord… an AudioQuest Hurricane… ok, if that is over the top… go one step lower in the AudioQuest line. You are likely to be shocked at the performance gain. This is likely to be a great demonstration of the value of this stuff. This is a good way to tiptoe into these accessories… by experiencing what they can do. Buying inexpensive stuff you are likely to be disappointed and disillusioned.

I think those who do NOT believe that wire has an effect on sound quality are "living in some alternative universe" where ears are used solely to hold up their eye glasses. 

Innerconnects, spkr cables: 

Audience OHNO

Mogami or Belden: both equal in quality but have different sound characteristics. 

Powers: Audience 24SE

Have a look at Stager’s. My entire system is set up with Stager Silver Solids - and nothing at any price has ever come close, including these I've tried and tossed: Siltech, Tara Labs, Audioquest, Kimber Select.

No coloration, pure accurate sound.
They are remarkaby inexpensive pure solid silver, unshielded. Check the website:

( Googlgle Stager Silver Solids )

Blue jeans 10 gauge cable is good 

Doesn't matter.

All so good recommendations here.  Hope you can sift through it and find what works for you. 
 

Zafino cables are impressive. Buy what you can afford.

If you don't have problems with ethical issues try the Chinese clones of Nordost, Cardas, XLO etc. Amazingly good at ridiculously low prices.

Wow you guys are awesome, I will have to look into each cables you suggested. Thank you very much!🤗

audphile1 Thank you for your detailed answer. You're right, I haven't mentioned but what I meant is that I do not want to need to rob a bank. My system is relatively expensive so I am not looking spend a lot more on cables like few people advised me. However, I am willing to spend the extra on the things that will really be worth it and will give the best return on investment. I am not chasing the cables that will give me very little improvement on top of the others while need to spend a fortune (I am looking at the balance where the diminishing return is very little where the expense is much higher).

So what I had in mind was about 400-600$ on interconnects, 400-600$ on power cables and around 1,000-1,500$ on speaker cables which most of the cost will go on the length as I need 3 meters. I also don't care to buy used cables. I even prefer so to get a better product for the same price of new lower tiers ones.

I was once advised to get Tara Labs Apollo cables, Synergistic Research and Chord and it is quite interesting that no one here suggested them.

Thanks 🙏🏻 

@jasonbourne52 cables are passive tuned filter networks, they have resistance, capacitance and inductance, LCR, and those values will always vary from cable to cable based on its materials (conductor and dielectric), geometry and length. To think that these tuned filters don’t affect the sound, when well established pure electronics theory says it will, seems a little strange to me.

You might want to look at furutech cables.  Look into these kine of the do it yourself. If you are a bit handy you can put ends on there power cable sleakerwire and interconnect s. The house sound is detailed and warm. 

https://www.partsconnexion.com/wire-cable-non-terminated.html

See if you can buy cables with a return policy. The only way to see what you like is to try them on your system. Used cables come with the added benefits of being cheaper and already burned-in.

try lots of different wires and have fun.

I have compared a lot of products and I promise you they all have made a very big impact on sound characteristics…!

I’m now using  Nordost speaker cables and balanced interconnects, Shunyata power cords for amp and preamp and an Anzus power conditioner.

My primary cable company of choice is Transparent. They have a trade up program but I haven’t taken advantage of it.  I’m using their power and speaker cables for my MC312 powering a pair of B&W 702 signature speakers.  My signal cables for primary and secondary system (Rotel 1582 MKII powering a pair of B&W CM9’s) I’m using Audioquest cables.  Both systems sound great to me.  Good luck on your search and final decision  

@jasonbourne52

not believing in capacitance, induction, conductance/conductivity ...nor differences in quality of materials , shielding etc...

most certainly places you in your "alternatve universe."

 

Zavfino is really good - had the Prima mkII SC/PC, sold them and just got the Nova SC again - it’s a fun/addictive sound - they’re like the Naim of speaker cables.

@lalitk you have WAY Cables now?  I think I saw mention those somewhere.

@cd45123 

Glad to hear you’re enjoying Zavfino cables. IMO, they punches way above their suggested price. I am now using Zavfino and HIJIRI cables. I mentioned WAY cables other day due to their unusual appearance and Unique Xtreme Damping System for each audio cable type. Thought they look interesting and worth an audition some day :-)

I would recommend a neutral cable that won’t color the sound from your nice speakers. As suggested try a few different brands to find your favorite. I’m using Nordost Heimdall level in my system. Reasonable price and great performance. Good luck!

I shop used for such things, and there are bargains to be had.

I have Analysis plus for interconnects and speakers and pangea for power.

Gene is a bit too much of a denier for me, but he makes sense in this video when he suggests that getting the room correct is a necessary precondition for any cable choice. It is a far bigger factor.

I used to be like Jasonborne. Then I got my equipment in a proper room. Now I can DISTINCTLY hear a difference in every cable I use except power cables. That is likely due to having an independent electrical feed to the house of stereo completely separate from the main house. Bottom line, in my experience, is if you can't tell a sound difference with cables, your listening setup is not revealing enough. 

@baylinor is spot on:

if you can’t tell a sound difference with cables, your listening setup is not revealing enough.

I tried cable changes early on. Couldn’t hear any differences. Started to feel skeptical. Then, I learned about acoustic priorities and the magnitudes involved in what affects the sound. Then, I didn’t deal with cables until I had dealt with (a) equipment matching, (b) speaker positioning, (c) sub additions and setup, (d) room treatment. At that point, I did cable tryouts and chose what made a difference.

At this point, cables are off the table because the next changes to make a difference will be among major components/speakers.

If you’re a DIYer, I highly recommend RAMM Audio OCC copper cables and connectors. They sound amazing. Not snake oil as some would have you believe.

Noel Lee made a lot of money because of his monster cables? I guess people know they make difference? Yes I agree they make a big difference.

My system is all McIntosh and I went with Morrow Cable throughout. I use their mid priced cables and they sound superb to me. My power cables are DIY using Furutech components. I had a lot of fun making my own. FWIW.

@mazian If you don’t have problems with ethical issues try the Chinese clones of Nordost, Cardas, XLO etc. Amazingly good at ridiculously low prices.

Good grief. Have you seen any of the photos of the inside of these total junk pretend cables - - or, reports of people complaining how poorly they sound?

These counterfeits are nothing close to the genuine articles. Not slow annealed high quality oxygen free pure copper, nor dielectrics. Complete garbage designs.

People send in copies to Cardas to authenticate fakes passed off as the real deal when they suspect they’ve been ripped off by con artists and poor sounding cables.

Save your $ and better off to buy "any" of the authentic cables already mentioned.

+1 on Morrow, especially at their sale prices.  Replaced much more expensive (Purist Audio Design) cables and have been pleased with the result. 

I am with those that recommend the purchase of budget (think used) cables to set up your system. Position system within room for best sonics.Then after becoming  acquainted with your system think about switching out cables.

Blue Jeans is a good place to start. 

Check out a thread here on AG concerning cables that can be bought direct from manufacturer.

Ordered the Zafino Prima MKII OCC Speaker cable and the Arcadia IC. Figured I will give them a try. Can always send them back if they are less than what I am currently running in my system.

@baylinor is correct, if you have not addressed the room acoustics and equipment synergy then follow @jasonbourne52 advice and buy some cheap cables like Monoprice.  My goal has always been to make sure the cables did not detract from my system. If you take the time to match your components and install cables that make you feel like there is more to be gained then send them back. 

Some times this audio cable component game is like the age old question. 

"What came first the chicken or the egg" ??

Enjoy your journey I know I have enjoyed mine for the last 25 years. Made some not great cable choice guess that is why I have a duffle bag full of them. As my children leave the nest I set them up with a starter system and a clear some of those cable out. I help them on their audio journey, fun for all. 

Two left to go so the bag should be empty soon. 

Have a blessed day. 

@decooney I agree 100% those Chi-Fi counterfeit cables are junk. 

But to each their own. Some say snake tastes like chicken, well I have eaten snake and if you are buying chicken that tastes like snake, find a new butcher. 

A fake is a fake. 

Anything Cardas Clear line

loom if possible

One thing that u find .any times to be true is that most companies  start of the line cables are decent  mid way up the line they have parts of that are wonderful  and parts that are bad. And most tip end cables are wonderful  flavors  are different  but that is your pick. Generally  I find the top end and the entry level to be musicality  satisfying.  Also starting  out many  systems  sound there best with one wire companies  wire. Harder to get miss matches  that way. After the skill is there and the ability  to really hear the difference  wires for different  companies  at different  parts of the system  can be wonderful.  Some of the worst systems  I have heard are systems  with different  kinds of wire where the wire was fighting  one another. Just something  to think about.