Hey Rodge, Yes I am using the newer, thicker DNM wire for 'normal' speakers.
I should clarify, when I say it lacks the last octave, I am being unfair, because this is only in comparison to my Downsize Audio 2" wide copper ribbon cables. They have an extra octave in bass compared to most speaker cables, not just DNM.
The Downsize Audio ribbons are the best speaker cables I have heard so far, but they are 10 times the price. For the money the DNM kicks ass.
I have found that solid core is better than stranded in either IC or speaker cables. But then ultra thin ribbon cables are better again, but more expensive. |
DNM must be the best bang for the buck cables I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. However, if you can fork over the extra dough, Crimson may be the last cable you ever try. Just my opinion.... |
why is there a concern of a cable having stranded or solid core wire ?
the type of wire is but one variable which will determine how a cable will interact between two components.
i would prefer to just listen to a cable and then inquire about its composition and design--in that order.
the distinction between solid and stranded wire, independent of other factors seems arbitrary.
there are plenty of decent stranded and solid core cables. |
Agisthos,
Thanks for the info on the Downsize Audio cables, I'm going to look into them.
Devilboy,
I went from Crimson to DNM cables....The DNM IC's with the HFTN upgrade ($500.00) are really something special...perhaps system dependent?
Mrtennis,
Mr. Boyd asked the question and well, I have used both stranded and solid core cables and prefer solid core. I agree with you in the sence that we should allow our own ears (awesome measuring devices that God gave us) to decide the outcome. Perhaps Mr. Boyd is trying to find a good place to start and not blow a lot of cash in the process. :-)
Rodge |
After all...isn't a solid wire nothing but a large strand? So now I refer to my wire as having four strands, albeit large ones. |
Rodge827: You say you went FROM Crimson to DNM. I assume because you prefer the DNM over the Crimson. If so, may I ask how the DNM is superior? Also, what is HFTN? |
Devilboy, Here are a couple of copies to response's that I wrote about Crimson, and the HFTN on DNM IC's.
"A few years ago I did a demo of Crimson IC's and speaker wire in my system. At the time I was using soild core silver coated copper IC's made by Virtual Mode (no longer around due to the makers retirement). The V-Mode cables also had ferrite cores built into the source end to combat EMI and RFI. Speaker wire was Audio Consulting cryoed solid core silver wrapped in cotton tubing.
The Crimson speaker wire was sent first and immediatly replaced the Audio Consulting wire. The sound balanced out and was very pleasing. The IC's showed up a few weeks later, and were burned in using the Isotek burn in disc 24/7 for a week. Then I listened for another couple of weeks before comming up with my conclusion. With a complete Crimson compliment my system was a little too flat and boring. The cables took the life right out of the music. A little to overly polite for my taste, so back in went the V-Mode IC's and everything came back to life. The Crimson IC's went back to the dealer, but the Crimson speaker wire stayed for the next three years until I changed to a solid core wire that knocked my socks off. Please refer to your "Solid core/Hollow core" thread."
"Look into DNM IC's with the HFTN upgrade, 1m w/Eichmann plugs is $500.00. The High Frequency Termination Network or HFTN is designed to eliminate most if not all RFI on the line. Very hollographic and the closest to no cable at all, IMHO. You will get to hear all of what your upstream components can do."
You can read a more in depth description of the HFTN on the DNM websie.
Overall I preferred the DNM Cables to everything else that I had listened to. When I did the comparison, my system was close in style to a friend who has all Kondo wire in his. DNM delivered closest to what I was hearing in his big mega-buck horn system, which as it pains me to say is the best system that I (and many other testosterone driven masters of our own universe) have ever experienced. Look up 6Moons Road Tour Exit 1, you'll see what I mean, and his system is now way better since the review.
Crimson makes a very good cable, one that would be on the short list of recommendations. I'm not going to get into tonal quality, imaging, soundstage, highs, bass extension, etc. Since I feel that so much of these qualities come from the gear and room as well as the cabling. In my system DNM just sounded more to my liking. I recommend it so that someone else may like it also, and get off the cabling merry-go-round as I have.
Rodge
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I really like the solid core sound. I have JW audio cryoed speaker cables and interconnects. The speaker cables are stunningly good and cost uner a hundred bucks; the IC's are very good and are acquiting themselves nicely in my refence system. |
if the question were rephrased to "solid core vs stranded", perhaps, an old thread, if so, any references ??,
would one expect to see as many proponents of one approach vs the other, or can someone make a case for one or the other on objective grounds ? |
The theory is - solid core does not suffer from strand interaction which causes distortion. But I also think the larger the gauge you go the with solid core, the more problem you get with skin effect.
Perhaps it is best to have mutiple, thin runs of solid core? Audioquest seem to do this. And Mapleshade, which I have not yet tried. |
Mrtennis - I think TNT Audio has some solid vs. stranded theory on the website and is the basis for some of their DIY cables. |
I think the Audioquest theories make sense (although the science seems theoretical)...various sizes of solid conductors wound around each other....and in my audio system (as opposed maybe to my digestive system) it works really well. I assume the utter largeness and success of AQ as a company does engender what I see as seemingly unfounded criticism from the "audio-illuminati", but I use my ears for audio product testing and I actually LIKE the hard working Chinese people. Maybe I'll score some liquid nitrogen and freeze some cable and see what happens...I bet the dialectric cracks off along with the toe I spill the nitrogen on. |
http://tnt-audio.com/clinica/spkcbl_e.html |
Agisthos, or use a ribbon, or a true hollow core like the previously mentioned Cogan Hall's. |
does anyone think that the difference between stranded and solid core cable is easily recognized in a stereo system, assuming one is using either design for all cables ?
i think other variables can disguise the differences between stranded and solid core making it difficult to tell. |
That's the problem with cables, it's impossible to make comparisons with all other things being equal.
The biggest factor that should be made identical in a comparison is resistance, but that would require custom lengths to make perfect matches. |
