Looking for new speaker cables

What equipment do you have? I'd recommend putting some photos and identifying the components under your UserID as a virtual system. That will help us get a good feel for your system. 

If I want the sound of the components to come through I buy Transparent. I have experience with a number of other ones. I have experience with them for decades... although for the first few decades, always used and the lower tier. Now I use Gen 6 Ultra. If you can afford a higher tier, they are worth it. 

Cardas Clear Reflection

Well, I've been using the same absolutely incredible speaker cables for over 15 years now, JPS Labs Superconductor 3 speaker cables.  Since purchasing the Superconductor 3 speaker cables, I've changed/upgraded every other cable in my audio system, some of them two or three times over, except for the superconductor 3.  Happy listening.      

My usual recommendation that meets all of your goals - WyWires Platinum or Diamond series.  Read published reviews.  Long term sale is ongoing making them more affordable.   Alex (President/CEO) is just a good person.  I recommend you add them to your audition list. 
www.wywires.com

Check out ViaBlue SC-6 made in Germany.  ( The Music Room carries them). They are an open pathway to your speakers for all the music coming from your electronics.  They don’t add coloration or take anything away..  Give them time to break in and you will be enjoying all your system is capable of.  The cost is in your comfort range or below and will preform many times above their price point.  These were used at many high end listening rooms at this years AXPONA.

I absolutely love them in my dedicated vinyl system.  

@jaybe  Curious what was it about the Fidelium you didn't like? Another company to check out is Snake River Audio. Jonny is a great guy to work with and you buy direct from him. Cable Co also has them to try. 

RAMM audio OCC cables. Amazing. 

I would stick with what you like, Audience and they are nice cables. 

As previously mentioned Cardas would make a great starting point.

That's the way I describe my Cardas Clear Sky x4. They add body without losing high end clarity and sparkle. 

Townshend Audio F-1 Fractals cannot be beat. And fairly priced. 

OP I’ve heard the SX on my friend house, He is using tube preamp , so they do have body , With solid state I agree they might sound thin. Audioquest are well known for body , speed, clarity with their cables above 2k? They use solid core why their cables do possess body.

Wavetouch audio spkr cable ($2k/7ft pair). Listen to clean mid-range and solid bass from 5.25" woofers below. Alex/Wavetouch

https://youtu.be/Kr3bV7tRe4U?si=92ILYQmk5UadozS8

Original music

https://youtu.be/7x14sRLub8Y?si=cbYKsWlH4LINNEDg

My take:

(1) A quest for “ more body” via new speaker cables is an ethereal and elusive pathway option at best. I’d first consider an upgraded source if “more body “ translates into added slam and added dynamics. 

(2) Without prejudice to the former, your AUDIENCE 24 cables are already a very good performer in my experience. We all know that in high-end audio equipment, alternative cable brands have their own bespoke sonic signatures. These loosely translate into “brighter”, “warmer”, “transparent “, “ tamed” (in the context of digital glare) etc,

There is a reason why CARDAS CLEAR BEYOND / CARDAS CLEAR and NORDOST ODIN / NORDOST VALHALLA dominate the audio fests.

Thanks all so far. Lots to look into here.

I have tried and used various cable options but settled on Transparent Gen 6 Reference Series. 

I haven’t heard anything better than chord company music speaker cables so I bought a couple. 

As always you kind of need to put whatever in your system to find out what's tingling your pallet. 

I am not a “cable denier”, but I am a “cable skeptic”.  In other words, I know they can make a difference, but I would never spend more than a couple thousand on a speaker cable, even in a $50k+ system.  It bothers me that some cable companies have 10 or more different levels of cables - to me, it just means they save their best efforts for their top level cables.  Cynical I know, but if they have 10 levels, there are 9 upgrade paths for them to put you on.  I much prefer spending less on cables from a company that only offers one or two levels.  Whatever you get, you’re getting something close to their best.  My most recent speaker cable purchase was from Triode Wire Labs for my “vintage system” (Leben pre with restored Altec Santiagos).  Very nice cable for about $1k.  

You don't know me but I have settled on these Shunyata Research Alpha Speaker Cables and like wow. Also dig Cardas Clear Beyond (anything in that line) and most of the better Transparent offerings. 

Audio Art Cables are excellent and well priced.

Rob is great to work with and will customize connectors if you so desire.

Check out Signal Cable, a company in New York.

Set aside the reputation of all the big names and all the hype about the sound quality.

These are custom cables at affordable prices with attention to high audiophile standards. If you don't like them, sell them. But I think you'd be surprised.

There are many good choices. I have the Rocket11 and like them. The wire going into the speaker connectors are strong and solid they barely fit in my JBL's

Forgot the Rocket 11 are from Audio Quest.

If you like Audience, Front Row is the way to go. Cardas would be my personal choice. Like @akg_ca . If you can go up to Cardas Clear that is the sweet spot IMHO. Otherwise clear reflection. I settled for Luna Mauve until I have the $ to get one of the above. Great value for the money. Good luck and keep us posted.

Just received the Tellurium Q BLACK II @ $325 pr. .....Wow . It should cost double that. You can't go wrong. All those great reviews are correct.   Amazon.

How does Front Row compare to Clear?

@jaybe what is the length of your speaker cables? also, do you have any preference on end termination solution? 

I’ve been through several speaker cable brands and settled on Cerious Technologies “Graphene Lumniscate.” This is their top speaker cable. They are very transparent, vocals are very clear and bass is tight. They don’t add any sonic signature in that they don’t sound warm or lean. What I do notice most is the clarity and just allowing my system to shine through. Cost around $2500/pair. 

I recently purchased another set of speaker cables that actually cost more than the Graphene Lumniscate to try something new, but quickly realized they couldn’t compare to the Cerious cables. They are a real bargain at $2500 imo. 

@westcoastaudiophile 

Why is this important?

Hi OP,

I recently upgraded to the Audience fronRow speaker cables.  Although premium-priced, I am very happy with the improvements they provide and feel they were worth the cost.

Yes, they have BODY. 

In my system, they are clear, balanced and natural sounding - with flesh-on-the-bones sound.  Everything that I hoped for in a new set.  Although I did not try other high-end cables, I expect to be stay with these for a very long time.

Check with dealers...  Since Audience released frontRow Reserve, some dealers may have a demo set that they want to pass-on.

Happy Hunting,

@jaybe 

P.S. Over the years I have owned Cardas, Kimber, High Fidelity ($$$), etc..  I am so happy with my Audience frontRow speaker cables, I am considering replacing other the interconnects without considering other brands.  

Fortunately, if you like the sound the frontRow (8') retail for $5k, and the frontRow Reserve retail for $7k (8'), both are within your stated price range.

again, Happy Hunting

Respectfully. Your cables dont have ANY of these things. A well designed cable LEAST affects the sound bringing you closer to the music. If it’s affecting the music in the manner you described then I’d argue it’s altering it in a less than satisfactory manner. Nordost IMO do similar so I steer well clear of them. 

Karl Schuster’s Empirical Design cables have made a difference in my system. Karl has a good ear and his wires have a scientific basis for their design and construction. Been in business for over 20 years. Not cheap but not crazy expensive either. They will not be thick enough nor flashy enough for some.

The only thing worse for this hobby than a quote like this (and I don't blame the OP for being fed this can of lies)...

"They have all the detail, air, and speed I need. If anything, they might lack a bit of body... Not to the point of being thick or slow..."

... are the people who perpetuate that nonsense and let those individuals continue thinking those are all real things. They're not. Those things objectively don't exist. They're straight up lies put out by manufacturers. Pure lies. You would hear no difference, at all, between an expensive boutique cable and cheap, standard 12AWG OFC (or even 16AWG). Because there is no difference. In some cases, the "bells and whistles" manufacturers put onto their cables actually increase resistance.

I have been using Signal Audio Cables for decades. Yes these mid priced cables are worth every penny and are better than the Amazon stuff and cables costing 10 times more.

Everything in moderation.

I've had high end models of Audience, Audioquest and Synergistic Research.  Then I happened to read some reviews on Silversmith Fidelums, tried them and they smoked everything I'd run.  Amazing speaker cables at any price and yet extremely reasonably price......shocking really.  Three of my audiophile are now running them.  A little surprised they have not been mentioned.  Worth exploring.  BTW, may be the ONLY cable of any sort that also sounded very good out of the box....they do improve but can be enjoyed immediately.

Enjoy the journey!

I have used a number of different speaker cables over the years and have finally settled on Iconoclast SPTPC Series II.  They seem very neutral and well balanced through the whole frequency spectrum.  If you go to the Belden/Iconoclast website, you can read all about velocity of propagation and how it affects music.  The design engineer, Galen Gareis is great.  He explains how and why he designed these cables to minimize coloration, delays, etc.  They also go into how their made with ultrasonic welding instead of soldering he connections.  They sometimes have demo cables they can send to you to try before you buy.  I did that working with Bob Howard, their sales director.  They are in a word, terrific.  While they're not cheap, they also don't break the bank.  You should seriously consider trying these.  Good luck with your speaker cable quest !  

A lot of  choices out there!  However, I will cast my vote for Shunyata Research Sigma speaker cables.  I am a big fan of Shunyata and have a loom, plus an Everest power conditioner.  I highly recommend the Sigmas.

I have not heard these but they get a lot of rave review from consumers over at whatsbestforum.com: Albedo Monolith Reference cables.  People say that once you hear them in your system, that is it.  I am very happy with my Shunyata's so I am sticking with them, but something to check out.

Based on all the great comments about Silversmith speaker cables I ended up buying a set.

With my system at the time, (tube amps) they made the sound very dull and closed in. However, other friends that use them with tube amps like them.

It must have been a system dependent thing (impedance ?) so, try before you buy.

ozzy

@squared80 

Sorry you feel that way. Wow. I'm sure you'll have kinship here with 2 or 3 others.

To everyone else, thanks for all the great input.

Try to get a home audition for Clarus Crimson Speaker cables. 

Check out ArgentPur cables...they have "body" plus the other characteristics you are seeking! I have had mine for about a year and they will remain for some time.

The company has a philosophy of matching specific gauge wire to speaker sensitivity and cable length. The cables are solid silver BTW, without any harshness.

https://argentpur.audio/products/speaker-cables

I also owned for a time the Clarus Crimson Speaker cables. The speakers I bought were reviewed using these cables, so I thought they would be a good fit. And they were pretty good.

However, I eventually went with the AQ Thunderbird Zero/Bass combo. Now these cables are very impressive.

ozzy

@jaybe - since you seem particular about the performance, I suggest climbing farther up the Audience lines which should “likely” give higher performance - other brands it only “might” be subjective better.  Another option is try the Cabke Company loaner program- you might pay more but you’ll increase your chances of finding something that you like.  

Timbre Argentum — pure silver. Nothing better. 

Looking at the already investigated Tubulus Concentus and Fidelium Cable, a 10' ft ( 3mtr) length is approx' $1300 - $1500.

With a Comfort Budget of $4K - $5K, does this suggest that the OP requires approx' 12mtr ( 36' ft ) lengths of the tried out Cable, or is there a want for a Cable that has a much increased price to ones tried out ?  

I can only suggest a wire type for the purpose, bring PC Triple C.

This wire if Purchased as a SAEC 850 ( Stranded ) or as Acoustic Revive Ref II ( Solid Core ) will get you to a very attractive influence on the sound for approx' $600 - $900 if a 10mtr (30'ft) length is the requirement.

Those I know who have converted to PC Triple C have added to other interfaces in their system as well, and it is also becoming a Upgrade Wire used between Xover and Drivers on the owned Speakers.

PC Triple C Wire when used is discernible for creating a perception a Lucidity is present like not before, Space has Grown between imagery, Soundstage has been Inflated with a few more pumps of the good stuff.

When PC Triple C is being compared to other Wire Types that have been used. It can be said as the perception being created to myself. Other Cables once used, when reintroduced to the system sound bogged down with colouration and have a discernible loss for expressing freedom, the Cable seems to have drawn a Curtain in front of the speakers.      

Audience FrontRow are excellent cables. I used to own AU24sx and thought it was hard to beat but the FrontRow proved me wrong. 

For what it’s worth, I found a bigger impact in upgrading power cords than speaker cables. I would encourage you to audition as many different cables as you can as it’s your ear than need to be pleased.