Cardas "Golden Reference" interconnects for sources.
Audioquest "Oak" speaker cables (pain in the but to deal with) 9 gauge. But man do they sound great!
Cerious Technologies "Graphene Extreme" power cords throuout.
Anthem STR amp
Ayre C-5XE MP CD player
Oppo BDP-105 Universal player
Nakamichi DR-3 cassette deck
ATC SCM 40 Studio Monitors
Everything plugged into a PS Audio Perfect Wave Power Plant.
This combo works very well with My system 😎🍻 |
Hi,
Some of my IC on RCA where made by me some time ago using Belden 8402 and some switchcraft plugs, and sider with 4% silver. For
me they are ver musical and I enjoy what they bring to the table.
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Same acoustic zen hollowgram II for years lol... |
Just about everyone makes fun of expensive cables. And yes cable prices can be ridiculous ! Cables and HT equipment are known for having the steepest depreciation curves in the audio sector. Last year's $2k HT receiver is this year's $500 brick with outdated connections and features. Cables ototh do not change much year to year. Sure manufacturers try to come up with new ways to sell the same basic concepts, but really not much changes. These facts make USED cables one of the true bargains in audio ! There is always a cornucopia of available choices, at all price points. Prices are fairly stable after the first big depreciation hit, meaning one can buy and sell without losing too much cash (if any). One can easily find outstanding, "expensive" cables that match your system and preferences, for a fraction of original price ! Go to Stereophile and other mag rec lists from 10yrs ago, note the recommended cables, then start bargain shopping ! |
Like inna6,071, I am still using Purist fluid cables from 25 years ago for my main speakers .... borrowed a few others to try and if anything they downgraded the sound. Have the entire main and secondary system on Monster Reference M1000 cables from 30 years ago, and haven't heard enough of a change with others to spend the money. The only problem with the Monster's is physical .... some of their RCA connectors have required rewiring. |
With only a couple of exceptions, I’m still using Radio Shack interconnects and plain 14 ga. zip cord for speakers. I’ve had a couple of occasions where one of my systems would develop a persistent hum and I’d have to do some chasing to locate it to eliminate. Re-routing, replacement of interconnect with new, or replacement with XLR have always solved problem. Obviously, I’m not a believer in the faux “science” that is pervasive in that segment of the audio equipment world. |
I have a bunch of 30 yr+Lindsay Guyer's and a pair of Kimber Select KS 1020 for my mains and I'm very happy!
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Just had an interesting experience w/elderly cables. It didn’t go well: - I pulled 2 pairs of 5 ft long Monster Cable M1 speaker cables (late-’80s vintage) out of storage
- I decided to biwire my ATC SCM 12 Pro passive monitors w/them. I’d been meaning to try it, but only had one run/pair of AQ Type 4 cables, so had been stalling.
- To make this work, I had to get 8 spade-lug-to-banana adapters. I affixed them very tightly on 1/2 the spade lugs (which my particular amp/speaker set up requires)
- With a lot of pain & struggling (those old spade lugs just don’t want to work w/WBTs!), got it done. Let the cables cook for ~100 hrs.
The other day I fired up the ATCs. Frankly, it sounded like shit--not very similar to my usual system of AQ Type 4 cables + 2 pairs of no-name 4" 12 gauge jumpers for the ATCs. Suddenly there’s a broad glare in the upper mids & lower treble; also some grain in the treble. The bass (which is otherwise epic for a 2-way in these ATCs + JLAudio sub) suddenly goes less deep with less impact. I suppose the 8 adapters could be at fault. But I tend to think that those old Monster Cables just aren’t as good as up-to-date Audioquest type 4s. Just swapped them back to original cabling this morning, and that great sound is back. |
I have made all my cables except for one interconnect which is about 14 years old, the Van den Hul Orchid interconnect. I later swapped out the RCA connectors for top of the range Furutech and noticed a small but important improvement.
Outside diameter is 2.9mm with 2 braids, one for screen and one for signal return. The centre conductor is very thin solid core. I keep it because of it's sound and as a sanity check for my own cable concoctions.
A friend convinced me to let him try the Orchid. I had a hard time getting it back and he is a Nordost fanboy.
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My cables snd connects by and large are at least 40 years old. They are - now that I think of it - the oldest parts in my system. |
I have upgrade my power solution with Shunyata cables, speaker cables are Audio Quest, interconnects from TT to phono pre are Monster Cables I have had for over 25 years but are in excellent condition. Interconnects from my Nakamichi Cassette Deck are also Monster Cables. My cables from my Whest Two.2 to my Arcam AVR 850 are Whest interconnects. |
I see a lot of people in this thread who are using older cables and happy with their performance, but no one who can explain whether cable performance degrades with age, or whether current cable technology performs audibly better for a comparable investment and is worth upgrading to get. Can anyone answer those questions? Thanks! |
I have stuck with my Kimber KCAG silver interconnects since the late 90's. Same goes for my double runs of Dynaudio OCOS speaker cables. So close to 25 years of use and I look forward to another 25 years. Really happy with my cables.
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I still have my original speaker cables and they seem to be working great attached to my Apogee Duaetta Signatures. They are biwired by Temporal Continuum speaker wires and guys both of them are 29 years old.
Imthorek |
I'm skeptical though that cables matter much Well @tk21, with so many cable companies selling direct these days with generous trial periods it’s certainly not too hard to find out if you’re right, so why not try? You might be surprised. |
A representative inside of McIntosh factory once told me that the engineers there maintained that there was no noticeable difference in various interconnects and speaker wire. At the time I had the Mac 1000t pre and 2102 amp.
An audio reviewer who was a personal friend demonstrated otherwise in his system. That's when I first started to think that McIntosh was not transparent enough in its presentation to reveal differences. After trying other manufacturers products, I came to realize that the comforting smooth sound of McIntosh came from a scrim over the presentation that obscures much micro detail. Well, I sold the Mac system and from that day forward have heard the difference in virtually all of the ICs I have owned since. |
Many years ago I read an article written by McIntosh which stated you could use a lamp cord for speaker wire and not notice any real audible difference. I have used cheap wire, medium priced speaker wire, and tested expensive speaker wire. The look of better wire is appealing, but I couldn’t notice any real sound difference. Speakers were Wilson and Paradigm. Now I am using wire that cost 150.00 for two 10 ft runs. Sounds great. Will never spend any more on wire. |
Happy here....
I have a few in rotation but as discussed below by @noromance, I generally go back to solid core. Harmonic Technology did it well with multiple, individually insulated (with foamed PE), OCC, solid core wires of different sizes. I also sometimes use heavy gauge NOS Western Electric KS-13385 wire, as well as some newer Duelund DCA12GA wire doubled, twisted, and bi-wired for a total of 6 awg to each speaker per pole. Fortunately, due to using monoblocks, my run is also short - typically 1M. |
@justmetoo Lol Michelle your pitiful Mark Levinson/Burmester system is so "not sufficient high end" indeed! :-p
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I have a mix of cables old and new. AFAIK the most I've spent was on a set of speaker cables from Benchmark Audio with Neutrik SpeakOn connectors (for the Benchmark AHB2 amp). About $2/ft. I'm satisfied.
It's not that I'm unwilling to buying fairly expensive gear. I have about $18K -$20K USD tied up in the rest of my fairly simple system, about half that in the loudspeakers. I'm skeptical though that cables matter much (as long as the connections are tight, they aren't damaged, and the gauge/length/type is appropriate for the use).
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Used StraightWire Maestro ICs and Kimber 8TC speaker cables for 25 years, but decided several years ago to give Cardas ICs and SCs a try. Liked the Litz/solid-core construction and the fact that they're made in the U.S. First time I've ever had the same manufacturer on all audio cables and I really like the results. Nice tonal balance and very musical. |
Cables don't wear out so use them if compatible with new system.
In my case, new speakers more neutral than old. Old cables too lean and had to replace them.
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Phono cables are default Jelco JAC501. They seem fine. Better than an Audio Sensibilty cable I tried.
Interconnects are interesting. I’ve tried a few options with the best of intentions. While they all have had some nice aspects to the sound, they’ve all been colored in some way or another. So my trusty cheap ICs (not patch cords!) remain my reference for maximum detail. I use them for all non-phono connections in all systems.
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I also use Clear Day solid core solid silver speaker cables on the second rig. Took a few months to break in and open up fully. Bought them a few years before Paul passed away.
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Oh yes, old stuff all throughout.
Speakers : Straight Wire 'Waveguide' (using FuruTech spade and 30° angled screw tight banana type connectors).
Pre- to Poweramp : OLD versions of XLR Transparent MusicLink Ultra.
LP to phono boards in Preamp : Vd Hul silver (something or other), 1,2 meters.
CDP to Preamp : some old odd German brand low Oxygen type, 1' long only, XLR interconnects.
CDP to DAC : OLD Transparent Reference, 2' long.
DAC to Preamp : Some German brand, stock standard microphone XLR cables.
Tried many, many alternatives but always preferred the lot mentioned above.
I do concede that my system is just not sufficient Hi-End enough to make any noteworthy difference with more expensive / exotic type of interconnects and speaker cables. 😉
(also see my system page)
Michélle 🇿🇦
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Still using my QED silver Anniversary bi wire cables. They sound good to me. Also have Audioquest type 4 (two 4 meter pair for each speaker) laying around somewhere. The type 4 is a highly regarded affordable cable and well reviewed by stereophile (stereophile recommended component for years). It is a neutral cable that just gets the job done. The QED cable is also a great affordable cable also well received. I can see why, as I have no plans on changing them out anytime soon. Priced the auditorium 23 cables (4 meter pair), over $1500! I would need 2 pair, ouch. Maybe someday.
Most expensive cable i own is my Audioquest thunder 2 meter power cable/chord. I think I paid about a thousand bucks. |
Well I guess I have you all beat as far as age is concerned, bought 300 feet of Hartley Reference Cable (10 gauge) in 1980. Spec'd by Rich and custom built, Rich owns Hartley. Needed 300 feet to get the 6 runs from amps to speakers in my tri-amped system. As an aside very few people had speaker cables on their radar at the time. Many people thought I was nuts, some still do. And $300 for 300 feet was not a small sum (for me) at the time. Yes, they are still in service. I've inspected and re-terminated them as needed.
Regards,
barts |
Yup, old cables. Got off the merry-go-round quite some time ago; there's too much music to listen to. Some Gabriel Gold Revelation R ICs, Argent Audio Pursang S, and Clear Day double shotgun speaker cables. I'm a solid core kind of guy, aside from power (Triode Wire Labs and LessLoss). The only new cable I'm sorely tempted to try are the Silversmith Fidelium speaker cables. |
I had an audio dealer over here for a listen. Of course, he was looking for things he thought he could sell me to improve my system. When he walked over and saw my 19 year-old speaker cables, he kinda stepped back in reverence. "Those.... those are good." |
I’ve monoblocs beside my speakers so the cables are only 2’ long. 14 gauge solid core UP-OCC in Teflon insulation. I replaced home-made ones four years ago using a pair of wires from CAT6 in parallel with loosely-twisted 14g Romex wires. I’m a fan of solid core on speakers. The OCC wire is excellent with superb clarity, speed and transparency. |
I think the newest cables in my den system are at least 15 years old. I finally threw out a pair of 1m Fulton Gold speaker cables that were languishing in my garage; probably around 40 years old. Always a pain in the ass to use, as they were so stiff, and the plastic covering did nothing but deteriorate into a sticky mess over the years. Still have a bunch of Fulton Brown (same vintage) sitting in my misc cable bin. |
@jond Thank you!
It's great to see that so many members are using older cables. |
Music Meter interconnects and Audio Quest speaker cables. 25 years old and still sound great to me. |
@whipsaw I used to use the Purist Musaeous Praesto Revision speaker cables but they were handily beaten by Cerious Technology speaker cables. I've since moved on the Audio Note Lexus to complement my speakers but highly recommend the Cerious cables they sound excellent and are a good value.
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my lovely sounding straightwire maestro and various purist and tara labs ic’s are still regularly in use, and used as references when presented with the hot new cables of the week...
... as are mid and low line wireworld and xlo's from the 90's... still sound great |
Some old cables especially silver ones are better with age also i can tell you that companies have changed how they make interconnects are wires over the years and top of the line then may be way better than top of the line now.
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Magnan RCA Interconnects.
Magnan Signature Power Cords.
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I just replaced some 25 year old DH Labs speaker cable with Mogami 3103 from Takefiveaudio. I was unsure what to expect but they did make a substantial improvement. Very happy with the swap. |
I've tested very expensive cables, but settled on a very simple solution. So much of the cable 'technology' relies on the positive interacting less with the negative... so I used separate cables. Currently I'm using tributaries 12-4 twisted into a single wire which is about 7 guage. The positive side runs in front of the Amp to the speaker terminals and the negative runs around the back. This setup has hands down given me the best sound stage and clarity.
I'm listening on Wilson Tiny Tots with Puppies.
What are your thoughts? |
I still have the cord I took off a Lava Lamp in 1975....still sounds groovy. |
I am. My cables cost a whooping $50 ant they are perfect. As long as shielded, every cable is perfect. |
I’m using cables from two companies, and yes they are old: Kimber: Illuminations D60, AGDL digital, KCAG and power cords. I also use TARA Labs: Space & Time speaker cables, Reference and Pandora "S" interconnects. I read somewhere that it was a mistake to mix-and-match cables from different manufacturers, so I keep the same company’s products consistent within my two systems. If it isn't broke, why fix it? |
I have Straight Wire Crescendo speaker cables from 2009 between my Rowland Model 12’s and JM Lab Mezzo Utopia’s and Crescendo balanced interconnects between my Model 12’s and Classe SSP-800 processor/DAC. They all sound very good but the cables are thick as Anaconda’s with all their insulation and such. You don’t see that any more with cables. Good? Bad? I dunno.
At the time they were top o’ the line but I just upgraded my analog rig bigly so lately I’ve been pondering if it’s time to upgrade for optimum sound. I was thinking of Triode Wire Labs cables.
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Monster Cable M1 Sonic reference Speaker Cable 10 ft or. Using in one of my Systems since 1990 Still great |
I have a pretty low-end system(s), a few thousand bucks. I have several times tried up-grading cables--interconnects, speaker cables. I was unable to hear a difference. So if I have a grand or three or four, I'll likely invest it where it will count--upgrade of one of the components, or even a separate system for where I sometimes sleep. I don't know whether they make a difference or not. I do know that I cannot hear whatever difference they make in my system, in my environment. |
Acoustic Zen Silver Reference interconnects and Satori shotgun bi-wire speaker cables have been constants in my system for about 20 years — yikes!!! — despite others making brief appearances and aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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Dominus Rev B fluid is a great cable. I have Rev B with Ferox power cord on the amp and it isn't going anywhere. |
Audioquest Midnight and Sterling in the second configuration. 20 years old. Still sound good to my ears. |
Dominus Rev B, which are probably 20 years old. The worst ergonomically but peerless compared to my other cables. |
whipsaw, no, no experience with those. Generally speaking, as an analogy, think of Purist fluid cables as 'tubes' and of Ferox as 'transistors'.
I never tried Contego cables, people say that they are just in-between.
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