Speaker cable recommendations


I have a tube preamp with SET tube amps. Currently my IC’s are Audio Sensibility Statement RCA’s. I’m looking for new speakers cable that are light, flexible and that would have synergy here. Budget under $1k

previously I’ve enjoyed Audio Sensibility and Cerious speaker cables, but they are too bulky and heavy. So maybe something with similar performance but thin and flexible. As I’ve been reading I’m thinking I’d like something with air dielectric. 
 

some options that have popped up could be
Grover Hoffman Pharaoh
Audio Envy SP12
Zenwave SL17

looking forward to sow ideas. 

128x128kray

You might check out Silversmith Fidelium. A completely different design than what you listed, I believe, but thin (like tape) and flexible. They are at or near the top of your budget. I’ve been very happy with mine.  And Jeff is great to work with — pleasant, no he, very efficient.  There are a few Audiogon threads extolling their virtues that you can check if interested.  

Forgot to add I’m using 94.5db Omega single driver Alnico monitors. 
 

thanks for the suggestion @disc that name has popped up in the past. Need to look further. 

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I just installed Zafino Nova OCC cables $390 for 2.5m pair - they are the best I've heard in my system thus far, and way better than the Nordost's I have used in the past at double the cost. I also added their Fusion interconnects, really nice. (phono stage to amp) 

FWIW OCC makes a lot of sense to me...and Zafino seems to have the best price on OCC cables by far.

+1 Auditorium 23. These cables work incredibly well with tubes. I had much more expensive Analysis Plus cables and when I got the 23’s they brought my system to a new level.

Tube amps always have a high output impedance(low damping factor). This interacts with the varying impedance with frequency of all loudspeakers to produce frequency response variations which would not be there with high damping factors of most solid state amps. The lower the resistance of speaker cables the better to minimize this frequency variation. Of course this doesn't mean low resistance and forget inductance and capacitance. All other factors also matter.

I was using Older Nordost Purple flare, Sold them in favour of Wireworld Equinox8. great cables. From there I have my final cables , Madison Audiolab E3 Extreme1 cables. Where are you, I have a second set of Madison audio lab E3 Extreme2 cables for sale. $800.00 I upgraded to the 1's. I love this cable and what it does for the soundstage and midrange.

I'm not a tube guy but you might want to check out Lavricables out of Canada. Their cables are light and flexible.  They are pure silver if that's your preference.  They have 4 levels to choose from. Depending on the model you choose, you can get 8 feet (2.5 m) for under $1000.

Hey @styleman ironic you mention Lavri, I was familiar with them but hadn’t checked out there cables in a long while and was on their site couple hours ago. 
 

have you used their speaker cables? Can’t find any reviews on them. 

I've been using 47 Labs OTA (26 gauge solid CU) since 2001 with 300B and 2A3 DH/SET amps.

I started out with Reynaud Twins MkII speakers and then switched to vintage wide band single driver speakers in 2002 (Stepehens Trusonic 80FR, Elac S517 plus a few Coral's over time).

I recently tried Neotech 22 gauge solid CU (see link) which I like very much, plus it's less expensive and more readily  available that the 47 Labs OTA.

I use bare wire ends (no connectors) which sounds better to me.

There is a review (6 Moons) of the OTA in which it is compared to the A23, but unfortunately is is by a reviewer that I don't have much faith in.

I would have to hear/compare the A23 myself.

The two cables I suggest are suitable for 12', or so, and under runs (2 single runs per speaker are required).

DeKay

 

Just for fun check out Micca cable in the following A'Gon thread.

I have not tried it in my DH/SET setup, but am amazed @ how good it sounds in a little computer system (Ive used the 47 Labs and the Neotech in this system).

I also tried Canare 4S11, which was nice - but no cigar.

It (Micca) was good after 20 hours of use, but it has improved since then with close to 3 months (now) use.

Not certain of how many hours as my wife and myself both use the system when @ the computer.

I'll try the Canare in my good system eventually to see what a heavy gauge star-quad stranded design does for 3 watt amps (tried older Kimber before, but didn't care for it).

 

DeKay

Lots of good information above and quite honestly the choices are unlimited making a selection very difficult without auditioning the speaker cables in your own system. With that said let me add to the list the Lavricables Grand cables 5N silver, should sound very nice with your set-up.

Thanks @dekay 

 @lak - I got several recommendations for Lavri

I got a deal from a friend on some Zenwave SL17 SC's and going to give them a go, but want to compare them to 100% silver, so looks like I'll try Lavri and maybe Tempo Electric 

 

By the way, here is a correction to someone’s post from above:

Lavricables is based in Latvia and they specifically use pure silver wires. Their product range is impressively rich and they offer unlimited customization options. They make headphone cables, speaker cables, interconnects, USB cables, and more.
 

Another vote for LavriCables.  All the cables I’ve gotten from them sound supremely natural while being very well detailed — kinda the Holy Grail for cables IMHO unless you’re looking for tone controls.  Their value, quality, and customer service is very high, and my only reservation is as they sell direct from Latvia I don’t believe they offer a return policy.  Not great but kinda understandable.  I’ve got four cables from them and never considered returning any of them anyway, and I’ll likely buy more.  FWIW, and best of luck. 

@ cray   I recently bought 2.5 meters (8 ft) of their least expensive silver cables – 26 gauge silver.  It cost me less than $1,000.  They are being used in a kitchen/dining area with a vintage McIntosh 6200 integrated amp (that I’ve owned for 34 years) through which I play a vintage Oppo 970 universal CD player purchased recently for $100.  I also have Synergistic Research foundation RCA interconnects.  Previously I had been using my vintage Kimber 8TC speaker cables feeding mini Tannoy bookshelf speakers, also bought used on Audiogon.  When I replaced the Kimbers with the Lavricables, the improvement was astonishing.  Highly recommended.    I’m purchasing another set of their cables plus interconnects for a system in a small 2nd room.

Grover Huffman Pharoah speaker cables are in my reference system.  They are stellar performers.  Interestingly, I have never seen these cables on his website.  Grover recommended them to me in a conversation we had.

Might look at Decware ZFocus and Zwire cables. Lightweight and flexible designed for SET’s and breaking in nicely with my Omegas. Half your budget

Duelund DCA16. I used it with my 300b SET and Altec 604e.

I also have 20 years old Acrotec 1040 cable. I bought it bulk $100/1m. Acrotec sound a bit more refined but Duelund much more vivid, natural more musical.