Who else is using old cables/interconnects, and is happy?

My speaker cables are NOS 1950’s Western Electric 10 awg bi-wire set. So, although they are as old as I am, fairly new to me. And yes, I like them.

Cardas Quadlink interconnects and 2 sets of matching speaker cables. Purchased from Audio Advisor 22 years ago for my Acoustat Model 6 system. Those speakers are gone but the cables and interconnects remain. Guess I don't have to worry about burn-in.

I have always been partial to Harmonic Technology speaker cables.  The Pro 9 line is constructed from solid core, multiple sized, fine gauge OCC wire that is individually insulated in foamed PE, cased, four cased wire groups twisted, and then stuffed with damping material in a tough PVC outer casing....what's not to like.  They have always sounded just right to me.  Currently running a full set of Pro 9 to the LF posts and a second full Pro 9+ to the MF/HF posts for an aggregate of 6 awg to each speaker.  That old wire sounds great.   

I've been using Chord Odyssey 2 speaker cable and some fairly thick Ixos interconnects (with stupidly tight RCA connectors) for my Marantz CD player and Creek amp. Been like that for about 10 years.

Everything else (minidisc/TV/Blu-ray/MP3) is either budget oxygen free copper or budget gold plated HDMI.

After previous decades of chopping and changing I can't see any reason to experiment any further.

Those changes, if there were any, (various Naim/Linn cables etc) didn't seem to anything particularly noticeable other than cause aggravation with routing.

The Naim cable was especially bad due to its thick and unwieldy dumb-bell shape and construction. To make matters Naim stipulated that each run had to be a minimum length of 3.5 metres or so.

The reason given was that the power amps 'needed' to see a minimum amount of inductance to operate properly. This may have come from their accounts dept for all I know.

Then there were the obligatory Naim DIN connectors and the dreaded SNAIC pre to power lead. 

Ah well, it's all behind me now.
A nightmare form the distant past...

Hi All,

Not sure if this exactly fits with this thread but here goes. I had been experimenting a little bit with less expensive, old interconnects as I know nothing about wire and do not want to spend a lot of money on a mistake.

I am running Thiel CS5i's and had been contacted by someone from the Thiel thread who commented they had good luck with Synergistic Research interconnects.

Maybe a year ago, I bought a pair of SR Alpha interconnects (circa early 2000's?) and installed them between my DAC and preamp. I thought they made an inprovement but not that much. 

Cutting to the chase, I bought another pair of SR Alpha interconnects and added this pair between my preamp and amp. This time around I paid attention to the arrows as these interconnects point the way the signal should go.

Oh my! Now I can hear an improvement for sure. Like a veil was lifted. More clarity, better depth of field, and better accenuated bass.

Just kinda of amazing for a $150 investment. Of course, now I am thinking about trying something better from the Synergistic line...

Thanks for listening, Dsper. 

All my cables and interconnects are 25 yrs old. M.I.T speaker wires. Straight wire and XLO interconnects. Still as wonderful sounding as ever. 

My interconnects are over 25 years old. I’m going to make my own in the coming days. Custom lengths and very high quality parts. Stay tuned.

I've got some old RCAs that say JAPAN on them. I think it was made by Technics. 

I'm very happy with a set of Audioquest Lapis Hyperlitz 1M cables (RCA) that must be 20+ years old (and I bought them used).  I'll probably keep them forever; since the printing has completely faded off the cabling, only I know what they are. Plus, to my admittedly aging ears, they still sound nice.

whipsaw
I lived with Monster Cable from 1988 to 2002. Starting in 2002, I crossed over into the "dark" side with Transparent Audio.


Happy Listening!

Still using Cardas Cross Link 6.5 ft speaker cables since 1995 Kimber Illuminati D60
on Sony CDP707esd since 1990 and Audioquest Diamond Back interconnects since 2014.

Not me I use TARA LABS MUSE for best sound.

Late entry: Still using TG Audio HSR speaker cables, SLVR pc and High Purity i/c’s. 

some of my favorite interconnects are still straightwire maestro’s and purist audio colossus and musaeus from the 90’s... modern ic's may equal but won't eclipse for performance

I have 2 BMI Whale Elite power cords 20+ years old, I have 4 Shunyata Black Mamba Power cords, I have a Synergistic Reference Master coupler and i have a Illuminato Orchid digital cable all also 20 years old.

I make most of my audio purchases from the used market.  All my cables are older used models.  I don’t always need the latest and greatest.  Other hobbies to feed. Everything in moderation.   

Moderation? that's crazy talk @rocray  😁

All my cables are from here or USAM. Had some really cool interconnects and speaker cable built by a guy using older stock, cloth insulated. Love them! Not sure if that is considered used, or new using old material... Right now have a pair of bi-wire Nordost cable that I'm really enjoying. (used of course)

Anyway, I was just thinking about some old solid core speaker cable I had 25 years ago, Mission/Cyrus made it. Really great stuff. Weird thing was since it wasn't shielded it posed a problem. My next door neighbor was a CB/HAM radio buff. Had a broadcast amp that must have reached China. Picked up his signal enough to blow fuses in my little Cyrus one amp. Weird but true.  

It shouldn’t matter how old the cables are.  There are not many breakthroughs in cables.  Most of the time it is a small company buying off the reel wire with expensive connectors and a fancy sleeve for the wire.  How many companies actually make the wire the manufacturers are shilling for?   The longer the wire is used, the more broken in it will be.  Win, win situation. 

Glad to see I’m not the only one still enjoying their old cables. I still rotate my Audience au24 speaker and interconnects, Bob Crumps TG Audio solid core silver speaker cable and silver power cords. XLO signature interconnects, JPS power cords, Super conductor 3 speaker wire and digital coax. Acoustic zen silver ref 2 amazed they still make that one. I have some old silver wire from USAF made into interconnects from Don Allen who built very nice amps. Even some unmanageable Virtual Dynamics magnet power cord that will pull your gear off the rack, those collect dust.