New system need speaker cables - what to buy?

[Chrispy]

Well then! Let me explain : I'm saying that there is no difference at all between lamp cord and very expensive (speaker) cables. Since there is no difference, buy the cheapest you can and invest the rest in your gear. I am a fan of BJC because I like the looks, the quality, and the end terminals (plugs). Sonically, I could easily use lamp cord for the same results. That logical enough?

That helps Aesthetics can cost more.

 

[Ropeburn]

That helps Aesthetics can cost more.

You can get very nice looking lamp cord with woven cloth sleeve and all.

 

[Drengur]

Audiophiles think they understand electrical engineering. They don't, since the vast majority of them never studied it.

I have not studied it and I really don't understand much. However, this goes far beyond that. You don't need to be a rocket engineer to know that adding a couple of gallons of milk to the rocket fuel is not a good move, even though the guy with the cows says it makes for a smoother ride.

 

[mhardy6647]

The "oxygen-free" criterion is just marketing hype given that ordinary copper wire is more than "oxygen-free" enough: What about “oxygen free” wire?

I've been trying for years to figure out how to exclude the oxygen from my listening room... you know, to maximize the long term performance stability of those OFC wires.

I have not studied it and I really don't understand much. However, this goes far beyond that. You don't need to be a rocket engineer to know that adding a couple of gallons of milk to the rocket fuel is not a good move, even though the guy with the cows says it makes for a smoother ride.

Ahhhh... but there may be precedent.

 

[Pearljam5000]

Done

 

[Count Arthur]

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If you just want a bit of bling, you can get "reproductions" on AliExpress for a fraction of the price:

Personally, I wouldn't buy a product that uses another brands name, but is clearly a fake, but there are unbranded pretty cables available if you just want something that looks nice:

My only concern would be whether they are really copper, or perhaps CCA - Copper Coated Aluminium, and for that reason I would sooner buy a reasonably priced, branded cable from the likes of Canare, Belden, Mogami, or Van Damme, etc..

 

[egellings]

I have not studied it and I really don't understand much. However, this goes far beyond that. You don't need to be a rocket engineer to know that adding a couple of gallons of milk to the rocket fuel is not a good move, even though the guy with the cows says it makes for a smoother ride.

I would bet that most people would know that adding milk to a gas tank won't work well at all, even those with no knowledge of fuel chemistry whatsoever. In the case of wires & cables for audio, electrical engineering knowledge is the only antidote to snake oil. Since most people don't major in that field, they can be susceptible to mistaken beliefs about what cables & wires can and cannot do. Then there's the problem that any differences that might happen due to different cable characteristics, are likely to be inaudible, and only a network analyzer set to measure impedance would be able to show the minuscule differences. But then, as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, if someone truly believes that a particular cable really improves sound quality, then they should go out, get that cable and enjoy the music. My own 'loom' is made up of RG-58U for the interconnects and 16 gauge lamp cord (6 foot lengths needed) for the speakers. I'm getting good sound with that setup, and I sure that exotic cables would sound just as good, or maybe worse, if they botch up R, L and C too much. (Resistance, Inductance, Capacitance) We listen through different belief filters. I think I paid about 20 or so USD for my, um, loom.

 

[egellings]

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That's no excuse. These things are basic electrics and highschool level physics, plus some further reading on the topic. Every enthusiastic amateur can and should know these things, you don't have to be an engineer for it.

They don't get educated because subconsciously they know it would destroy so many myths they hold dear.

True. I can drive a car without a clue as to how the engine works. In my high school physics class, the electrical part was maybe a chapter or two; most was on mechanical topics. The less formal knowledge one has of a topic, up to a point, the more easily it is for them to be misled about it. I agree about verified knowledge being a myth destroyer.

 

[egellings]

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Get a couple pair for the kids at that price! It's steal! I wonder where the price tops out at, since the price shown seems to be a starting price for entry level cables ("from)".

 

[Pearljam5000]

Get a couple pair for the kids at that price! It's steal! I wonder where the price tops out at, since the price shown seems to be a starting price for entry level cables ("from)".

It depends on the length

 

[egellings]

It depends on the length

I suppose that a customer can order custom lengths.

 

[DMill]

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They are pretty for sure. I always wonder at what price the 99 thing doesn’t matter. You just spent $88k for nothing, maybe the extra buck buys you wire just as good?