Switch to silver for a treble boost?


I like my (budget) system, but I find it doesn't quite have the treble sparkle and 'air' I'd like.

I have the opportunity to buy a pair of 2.5 meter silver core speaker cables for less than $100 (hand soldered terminations, German surgical-grade silver multicore conductors), and was wondering what people's thoughts were on the subject: is it worth switching from my current heavy copper to silver add a bit of treble sparkle?
carl109

Showing 6 responses by carl109

My system isn't resolving enough to warrant an upmarket PC (and I'm a bit of a fence-sitter there too).

I'm quite happy with the sound of my CD player and amp via a pair of Grado h'phones; it's via the speakers that the system seems to lack treble sparkle, and I guess a $100 pair of speaker cables is cheaper than changing the speakers (which I'm otherwise happy with for bass and mids).
B&W DM602's (large standmounts). The bottom line is that for my system I know these speakers are ok, but thanks to years of playing in bands my upper frequency hearing isn't what it used to be. The Grado h'phones are on the bright side, which compensates somewhat.
I'd rather tweak a little extra top end by using different cables, rather than having to change speakers or using the tone controls on the amp.
Knownothing "I was experimenting with different platforms and supports".

I have some off-cuts of Caesarstone, a heavy man-made marble which I might try under the player, as it's currently sitting on a large timber unit. And I think I'll give the silver speaker cables a try - for $100 I can't go too far wrong!

Douglas, I do have my eye on some better speakers (like the B&W 800 series), but my current 602's are only 2 years old so there'd be a very low WAF on upgrading just yet!
Cheers all.
Silver speaker cables arrived... initial feeling is that they have made little difference to the upper treble, as a couple of you predicted!
My system still seems to sound as if there's a sheet over the speakers.
However, they did alter vocals in a nicely unexpected way. To my ears, voices now seem better defined and separated from the backing music, as if the singer has taken a couple of steps towards me, and this was using a few of my favorite and familiar tracks.

I might report back again after a few more days listening.
Alun, after a few weeks of the silver speaker cables (locally hand made from "German surgical grade silver" according to maker), I have to agree. The difference from my previous heavy copper was small indeed, but I accept that could also be system related.
The silver has produced a slight lift in the upper-midrange, which has helped nicely with vocal clarity, but certainly didn't produce any extra treble distinction or "sparkle" that I was hoping for.

I would add that these cables (2.5 meter pair) were only $100, but given my system I'd be reluctant to spend more than that.
I have short steel stands (short to keep the tweeter at ear-height when seated), which have four brass spikes. Each stand then sits on a cement paver, which in turn is on my timber floor.
The cement paver was an attempt to isolate the speaker from my wooden floorboards and reduce the floor resonating with the bass, which worked.
I think the treble issue is more to do with my compromised hearing sensitivity at high frequencies; if only someone had told me to wear ear-plugs when I was younger and playing in rock bands! Oh well...