Newbie here with a cable question

MacIntosh themselves argue that you do not need anything special. So I would suggest run of the mill pro audio cables. As for speakers, I love electrostats (Quad 2805 in my case). Quad's designer Peter Walker similarly argued that no special cables are required.

I agree with willemj - no need to spend lots of money on wire! I recommend Anticables Level 1 IC's and speaker wire. Very good quality and honestly priced!       No need for any power conditioners - plug straight into your wall AC lines!           Speaker recommendations are real problematic due to the large number of available choices! New or used? Stand mount or floor standers? I too like full-range electrostats (presently using two pairs of Quad 57's). The later versions of the Quads (like the 2805's) are also superb and worthy of consideration! I would choose them over ANY Martin Logan!

@fishisgod - I'm of the other camp - i.e. despite what audio manufacturers state - I believe cables do make a difference to any system.

However - when starting out you first need to become familiar with the components you have.

The one piece of power related gear I would highjly recommend at this stage is the Furutech  e-TP609 NCF power distribution bar for your components and plug the main amp into the wall outlet.

Some nice cables that are reasonably priced come from Signal Cable - their Silver Resolution cables are very nice performers for the price

If you feel the need for better perofrming cables I can highly recommend KLE Innovations cables - they offer extremely high levels of resolution and are very adept at creating one of the best images I have experienced

If you are into DIY take a look at these
http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ahelix-power-cable.html
http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ahelix-interconnect-cable.html
http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ahelix-speaker-cable.html

They are also very adept at creating a holographic 3D image.

For more details take a read of these links
http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ayou-need-a-good-power-supply.html
http://image99.net/blog/files/category-002ayou-need-good-power-cords.html

Hope that's not too overwhelming - Steve

+1, Signal Cable Silver IC’s and Speaker cables. Affordable and high performance cables, comes with 30 days home audition.

Pro Audio cables are designed for pro audio components not high end components. Will they work with high end, of course they do. 

At the end of the day, try few cables and trust your own ears not specs. 

Personally, I love Nordost Blue Heaven.  Not too expensive and they do help.
FYI-nice system.  I'd never plug it in without a power conditioner or surge protector of some sort of quality.  No way I'd use a $15 power strip!

You’ve been warned by the first couple of posts...

Fine gear you have there. Whatever speakers you hook up to them, its like real estate value-location,location and location.

If you look at the virtual system pics, lots of nice gear, but some questionable speaker/room setup. Once you put nice gear in a living situation, like most of us, game over. Nothing but compromise, then we start going crazy with cable madness,tweaks, etc.

That being said, I find AC regen(PS Power Plant) and complete Nordost Heimdall II plumbing gives my modest system a little boost. Naturally, this is just MY system-YMMV.

Ancillary gear purchased here, on Agon for a fraction of retail. Otherwise, Id be using the supplied power cords and zip cord from Home Depot.

Wow guys... thank you, thank you, thank you for all the info.  I have a bit of research to do.  All of you provided a wealth of info. I am pretty much in the same camp as Williewonka.  Now I just have finalize an exact list of what I need to get.  Feel free to offer any additional suggesting...ie...models and thank you again for making it a little bit easier to understand

Blue Jeans Cable can provide all of your cable needs at affordable prices. Many people (including myself and others on this forum) use cables from BJC: https://www.bluejeanscable.com/

IMO, there is no need to spend major money unless you're looking for some exotic sound and can afford (to waste) it. 

good post:
MacIntosh themselves argue that you do not need anything special. So I would suggest run of the mill pro audio cables. As for speakers, I love electrostats (Quad 2805 in my case). Quad's designer Peter Walker similarly argued that no special cables are required.

-------------

- the same applies to Maggies

cone speakers can have their sound altered by the impedance of a cable - but no need to spend a lot of $$$ on them; just try a bunch of different ones

DC power cables - you want to worry about noise injection - use a star-quad cable and maybe an LPS too

AC power cables - not an issue; you want to use an isolation transformer and plug everything into a simple power strip that is plugged into the xformer --- but you may have a very clean AC line; if so, don't worry about it

Randy is right.

Cables return the least bang for the buck, IMO. So I spend money anywhere but on cables. Star quad is a good configuration of cable, and ETI or Klee connectors give you solid connections (and better than just about anything in or on any component from any factory). Again, my opinion.

I too use Quad ESL's, 2905.

Second blue jeans cable. 

Start with inexpensive cables, make sure you have really good connections and see what happens.  If you have hum or feel that you are missing something then consider changes such as shielded or braided cables. Blue Jeans would be a fine example of where to start, eventually you would end up trying the Heimdall's if you stay on Audiogon too long.

I'd push you to find a PS Audio or Blue Circle conditioner.  For $400 or so you will protect your system and help prevent ground loops.

How is this for a power conditioner with my setup?

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000SXWGAG/ezpowerconditioners2-20

Avid Acutus Turntable
McIntosh MC 275 IV tube amp
McIntosh C2200 tube pre amp
Mcintosh MCD 550 cd player

The best improvement for my very modest system was spending a day moving speakers and listening seat to find the best room synergy, then installing room treatment panels.
I also am using Anticables and am very happy with the sound.
Read Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound, it will get you where you need to be much quicker than just guessing and giving up.

Tom

I’m a fan of Martin Logan speakers so naturally I’m biased. ツ

I was initially drawn to the ElectroMotion ESL line but once I heard the Spires, I was hooked.

I have two amps I interchange. One is a pair of highly modified Golden Tube Audio SE-40 75W tube monoblocks and the other is a pair of modded 600W pro audio solid state monoblocks.

The two amps sound very different. The tube amp is sweet and mellow while the s/s amps have an incredible slam that just isn’t there with the tubes. Rock and large orchestral music really come alive with the s/s amps, while jazz, vocal, small chamber ensembles and instrumental sound divine with the tubes.

Depending on your taste in music, you may really like the ESL speakers with your McIntosh gear or not.

As for cables, I’m a believer but recognize that not everyone else is. I’d recommend you start with decent mid-priced cables (e.g. Nordost Blue Heaven, Blue Jeans, etc.). Once you are familiar with the sound of your system, audition a higher end cable. There are lots of companies that offer a no questions asked, money back guarantee.

I am a fan of Teo Audio Game Changer cables. At ~$600 they aren’t exactly cheap but in MY system they made a significant improvement. YMMV.

And finally, give some consideration to room treatments. A room can make or break a system.

It looks like you’ll two pairs of interconnect, Possibly a phono cable if you don’t already have one, and one pair of speaker cables.  Do you have a price range in mind of what you are comfortable spending on those 3-4 pairs of cables?

 If you want to get something nice, but don’t want to break the bank, I would recommend a budget of $100-$300 per pair of interconnect and $300-$1000 for a pair of speaker cables. 

 Personally, I am a fan of both Cardas cables and Kimber,  and both of these companies make products in that price range. 

 If you call the good people at the cable company, they can give good advice, and they also have cool lending library  whereby you can try cables out. 

I NOT A AUDIOPHILE JUST A CASUAL. LISTENER WHO HAS WATCH GENE OF AUDIOHOLICS REVIEW AUDIO EQUIPMENT STILL ON FENCE ABOUT CABLES TO USE I' VE TALKED TO AUDIOQUEST BOUT. TYPE 4 BJC ON THEIR 5000EU   AND KIMBER ABOUT 8TC MY ROOM IS 12 BY 13FT MY SETUP  EMOTIVA XPA9 GEN 3 AMP, MARANTZ SR8012, DEF TECHNOLOGY BP9080X TOWERS WITH DOLBY ATMOS SPEAKERS BUILT IN CS9080 CENTER CHANNEL, 4 SR9080 SURROUND SPEAKERS. AND 2 BP8060 DEF TECHNOLOGY. TOWER FOR REAR I DON'T WANT TO JUNK SETUP WITH GARBAGE CABLE BUT I DON'T  WANT SPEND 1349$ FOR KIMBER 8TC AT A TOTAL OF 140FT OR 1468$ AT145 TOTAL FT FOR AUDIOQUEST TYPE BJC QUOTED 309$ PLUS TERMINATED ENDS FOR SAME FOOTAGE  THERE'S GOTTA BE A CATCH LOOKING. OPTIMIZE. EQUIPMENT. THXS TO ALL FOR UR ADIVICE.  
RAY

Hi RAY,

With a 12X13 room, your money would be much better spent on room acoustics vs cables, assuming that is not already addressed.

Nonetheless, you might consider the Duelund 16 gauge wire from Parts Connexion for around $120 for a single run pair of 10ft speaker cables. Amazingly good tone and bass definition with smooth, open highs for a ridiculously low price.

The Duelund 20 gauge wire makes a great interconnect as well.

Dave

Thxs Dave this is Ray on Duelund cable that you referred me on I never heard of them are you sure Im going to research their product now thxs Dave any other reference plz send

JPSLABS.com

All their mid to upper cables are very good.

Note, they have a very good digital power cable that provides superior performance. 

Try the lending library at  THECABLECOMPANY.com

JPSLABS.com

All their mid to upper cables are very good.

Note, they have a very good digital power cable that provides superior performance. 

Try the lending library at  THECABLECOMPANY.com

+ 1 for JPSLabs , they ARE very good . I consider their middle speaker cable outstanding ,

If you can afford them, you can not go wrong with Wireworld Eclipse, or perhaps Equinox at a lower cost.

If you want to do it on the cheap, Better Cables Silver Serpent is a great value. If you have not compared them to Wireworld, then you won't know what you are missing and probably won't care.

I'll third Blue Jeans Cable.

Nice system.  A lot of good advice. I overspent on cables (although I bought used) - Transparent Reference. My suggestion is to go to the cable company or other dealer that will let you try them out first. Different cables do sound different w tubes vs SS gear, e g silver or copper wire.  Also DEFINITELY invest in power conditioning and power cables. Clean power = clean sound. Good luck!!

Thxs papafrgog on advice of power conditioner I was told for my setup I would not need one. I talked Chris Johnson President. of parts connection I"m new at this to me wire is wire I don't. know who to trust I definitely don't want to over spend on speaker. wire will balanced XLR connection help improve system thxs

You just need to listen 
To wire 
 2 . buy the best you can spend.   So you don't have to buy again 
3.  Mac says don't worry 
About wire?,     its a great selling ploy.   If they say something like that. Sell 
All the Mac stuff.  
4. Plus at night it won't 
Look like a disco floor in 
Your  room when  audio
Is on. 
Best rgt

I agree with robergerman, Anticables would probably do the trick. I use JW audio cables and my own raw material. Essentially solid core OFC wire, which I believe Anticables are.

JP:)

Dueland cable is a no brainer as I just replaced $5,000 in cable with Duelund interconnects and speaker cable at a cost of $500.00. Amazing copper with tin platting and a cotton shield. Very simple looking but the sound is something else. Parts connexion sells it by the metre. Make your own interconnect and only need bare wire for the speaker wire connections. 16ga for the speaker and 20ga for the interconnects.

Ok so at looked at Dueland Cable.  Awesome prices!
One favor to ask PLEASE.  As you all know I am truly a newbie to this as I will be hooking up my first hi-fi system.  I need a shopping list please of what exactly to buy.  The site I looked at was http://www.partsconnexion.com/  for the Dueland cable and it was a bit confusing with all the different types and sizes of wire.  Could someone out there take a look at what I will be hooking up and tell me what I need?

Once again my system will be.....

Avid Acutus Turntable
McIntosh MC 275 IV tube amp
McIntosh C2200 tube pre amp
Mcintosh MCD 550 cd player
Totem Forest Speakers
A power conditioner??  (recommendation please but not expensive)

@ceborg999,

Check out iFi iPurifier, couple of these $99 plugins with good quality passive power distributor would do just fine.

https://ifi-audio.com/portfolio-view/accessory-ac-ipurifier/

You need three pairs of interconnects and one pair of speaker cables you may need something different from your turntable that has a ground..the length of the cables is up to you. Once again 16 gauge for the speakers and 20 gauge for the interconnects. If you ask them nicely at part Connexion they may make the interconnects for you. I use a cablepro star grounded power strip and it works well for about $300.00. I hate power conditioners but that is just me. Have fun .

I was mistaken parts connexion does make the Duelund interconnects with rca connections.