Has anybody tried using single solid core cables?

I, too, have found and prefer, solid core cables to stranded. Also, try and forgo the connectors and go bare wire (commando, for those who eschew underwear) since all connectors impart their own sound signature.

All the best,
Nonoise

Also, coherence, which there is not a lot of nowadays. Most folk confuse some added body (think thickening, like roux) to the music and are willing to sacrifice detail and clarity for it.

I've come around to thinking it's all in the implementation and the particular system. Right now, I have solid core silver for my ICs and tinned, stranded copper for my SCs.
It's the best I've heard in my present system.

Coli, interesting personal observation on the unnatural sound and the betterment of the human voice. I know from recently using silver solid core SCs that voices were better presented than most other parameters of the musical event and that leading edges were hightened at the expense of the rest of the note. That could be why it was so engaging, at first, and then left me unsatisfied after.

I still believe that there are better made solid core SCs out there but they are beyond my financial reach.

All the best,
Nonoise

Yes, it's all system dependent. I went back to an older pair of solid core copper speaker cables and I now have the music literally in front of the speakers and all on the same plane. It's not quite holographic but the level of resolution is beyond what I thought possible.

The center fill is nothing short of astounding as everything seems quite palpable compared to before, with the images spreading out to almost outside the speakers. Couple it all with the resolution of a good pair of headphones and it leaves me scratching my balding head as to just why this combo of amp, cables and speakers sound so great and then it dawned on me that it wasn't until I got my speakers that it all came together. So yes, it's all system dependent.

All the best,
Nonoise

I concur on removing the terminations. My Mapleshade Double Helix are simply bare wire and sound all the better for it. I've read on other sites where some have removed the terminations on their Anti-Cables for better sound.

As for gauge, the Mapleshades are around 18 ga which seems to hit a sweet spot of sorts. Works like a charm.

All the best,
Nonoise