Help with speaker cable for 1st tube set up ....


I am trying to get some suggestions on speaker cable selections for my first tube system setup..
Components
Sonic Frontiers sfs 80 amp
Audio Research ls7 preamp
Classe cdp3 cd
Mirage 490 is monitors...
transparent interconnects...
no analog sources at this time...
I like the sound of Straightwire Rhapsody, and currently use wireworld silver eclipse II on my main system...
I am not sure what kind of cables compliment tube systems vs solid state... I want to keep the budget low... as this is a secondary system to play with.. like 300 or less.
thanks for the help,
Joe
audioman4
You don't indicate how long the cables need to be, or whether it will be a single or bi-wire setup, so I am going to assume for the discussion that 10-foot runs will suffice, and that you do NOT need bi-wiring.

On that basis, and given that this is a second system, I suggest that you consider the Alpha-Core Goertz MI2 (or maybe even MI1, given the power output of the amp) cables. They have very low impedance (the MI2 has an impedance of only 2.5 ohms), so they work very well with both tube and solid state amps, not to mention low-impedance speakers.

For more info about Goertz speaker cables, prices, and a list of dealers (you can also order directly from the factory, which will also do the terminations), here's the Web address for Alpha-Core's Goertz speaker cable line:
http://www.alphacore.com/mispeaker.html

The other cable choice which should also work very well in your (second) system is Kimber Kable 4TC or 8TC. These cables do a lot of things well, and have no major deficiencies in performance.
a great place to start would be a used pair of straightwire
virtuoso (gold if available) works great with tubes. i used them with 3.5 maggies and aronov amps. these cables can always be re-sold they are that good
Mapleshade Golden Helix ($85 for 8 ft. set) or Double Golden Helix ($280 and worth the difference). The Double Golden Helix wiped out biwired Kimber 8TCs in my tube-based system. You can try them for 30 days free and see what you think. Good luck, whatever you decide. Dave
I Highly reccomend Clarity Wires "emberglow" speaker cable. The whole Clarity lineup was designed around tube amps and is of very high quality and at a good price. The Cables are sold exclusivly in the US at

www.responseaudio.com

Check em out!