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Speaker cables - I share this at great peril

stereofanboy said:
All the possibilities you guys bring up, but nobody thought this could be important?

Everything makes a difference. Some differences matter more than others. Some are good in one set of circumstances, yet bad in others.

I'm glad this one turned out good for you James.
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I love that you caught that, because while I think I know this amp (Adcom), that's a factor big time. Synergy isn't optional, in my opinion. It is necessary.

I will admit to anyone on this thread, my entire listening experience can change just from blowing my nose. I'm no expert here, especially with speaker cabling.

I will be happy to share what changes with my other setups using these in place of the old stuff, once I get the 2 new pair.

For now, the same thought keeps coming to my mind - "low-level detail". That seems to be what I've gained. Secondarily, the level of pinpoint accuracy at Mr. Coltrane's place on stage is unparalleled realism. IS IT THE WIRES? Hell, y'all, I dunno. But it does appear to be.

remember, I got these for free, and was doubting all the way.
 
For those wanting to experiment, partial boxes of CAT5 can be found on FB/CL, cheap. And, although it does take a good bit of time to make them look like the one's pictured, a single strand (8 wires, which equals 15g) connected to each + & - would be enough to get you into the 'ballpark' of improved sound. (A good pair of wire strippers is a must.) If you like what you hear, you can then go to the time and effort to make them 12g, and make them look pretty.

For the naysayers, I leave you with a quote from the big book of Alcoholic Anonymous:

There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance—that principle is contempt prior to investigation.
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Specs can be found here. (CAT5 V-1 is what I make.) Speaker Cable Faceoff 3 - The DIY Shootout
 
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It has been shown, using data and test equipment, that some cable can “enhance” the signal with HF distortion artifacts (ringing, overshoot) that listeners can/will misinterpret as “more detail” etc., This was shown to be a result (IIRC) of increased capacitance in the speaker cables. It might be what you’re hearing. CAT5 of course does have a substantially higher capacitance per ft than standard twin-lead wire.

What you hear and what you like is personal preference and taste, and although there’s a lot of junk-science around what and why for your wires/cables, it really comes down to this preference, regardless of whether any enhancement or changes can be proven with data and double-blind testing.

You are brave indeed to expose your experience and opinion to the scrutiny of the internet @onwardjames
 
Based on what Cat5 cables were designed for in my mind they would show more benefit as interconnects rather than speaker cables. Maybe I will make up a few interconnects using the cable. currently I use a lot of silver braided inteconnects are they are very expensive, and I wouldn't have spent the money they cost but was gifted them with equipment that I purchased.
 
stereofanboy said:
All the possibilities you guys bring up, but nobody thought this could be important?
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Noticed it straight away and think it's very important. I simply had no plan say anything, until that, as bringing up confounding changes usually is unwelcome when someone is talking about their new thing.
 
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loudnoises said:
And there ends a thread with actual potential.

"I added a stuffed fish to my phono preamp. Huge effect. But no, I refuse to quantify it. Just try it!"
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I'm not sure I understand you. What would you have preferred I said, or done? What "ruined" the thread, sir?

As far as I can see, and please, understand my previous stance after 40 years as an enthusiast, I'm guilty of using an amp I happen to use quite often instead of the other amp I had connected at the time.

Would it help if I merely reconnect the old monster cable leads still laying face-down on the floor where I left them? I can, y'know.
 
whoaru99 said:
Noticed it straight away and think it's very important. I simply had no plan say anything, until that, as bringing up confounding changes usually is unwelcome or dismissed when someone is talking about their new thing.
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This isn't a problem. I knew when I posted this of the usual pitfalls.

I don't have any dog in this hunt whatsoever. Feel free to think whatever you might wish. I promise, it's understandable. :beerchug:

This late in the game, I'm looking for that holographic, pinpoint accurate sound. It seems to me to really be closer than before.
 
loudnoises said:
It would be interesting to see the resistance and capacitance differences between new and old
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I know how to measure resistance, but uncertain how to measure capacitance. I don't think I can do it with just a cheap meter, can I ?

@Quadman2 here is a pic of the old stuff. When I return from taking care of my Mom (I sit with her on Sundays, clean her house, etc) I think I will reconnect these, and let you guys know if I'm still elated, and still hearing an improvement. Speaker wires are around 10', same as the new ones.


1772980525047.jpeg
 
rickb119 said:
Please see the specs in the above speaker cable faceoff link.
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Good point.

I looked at your link, it appears that this shows a twin-lead wire and several CAT5 cables which range from 25% higher to nearly double the capacitance.

This is of course a per-foot measurement, so is it significant if for example you switch from a pair of 10’ twin-lead cables to 5’ CAT5?

I feel like a lot of this is overblown on short cable runs as any amplifier of decent design should be able to accommodate reasonably long cables without an effect in the audio quality and therefore robust enough to have variations in resistance, inductance, and capacitance without a degradation in audio quality.
 
@onwardjames can you set up a blind test with what you have on hand? Like, two identical pairs of speakers? You could wire the amp to a switcher, use the different cables on each speaker, and switch back and forth (without knowing which one you’re hearing).

I think it might even work to wire one pair of speakers and the amp in parallel with the different cable sets. If you have a 2 in 2 out switch that doesn’t put a load on the non-selected path (meaning leaves it open, which is what many cheap selectors do) I would think that could work too? Others more electrically inclined will check me on this.

I for one would be super interested in hearing the outcome of a proper experiment here.

Edited for clarity
 
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SaturationPt said:
Good point.

I looked at your link, it appears that this shows a twin-lead wire and several CAT5 cables which range from 25% higher to nearly double the capacitance.

This is of course a per-foot measurement, so is it significant if for example you switch from a pair of 10’ twin-lead cables to 5’ CAT5?

I feel like a lot of this is overblown on short cable runs as any amplifier of decent design should be able to accommodate reasonably long cables without an effect in the audio quality and therefore robust enough to have variations in resistance, inductance, and capacitance without a degradation in audio quality.
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It actually shows several twin lead wires. And yes, the CAT5 V1 is a bit higher than most of them. Is that 25% enough to cause issues? Or is it like the difference between a 100w and 125w amp, and not really significant?
 
@Jfaustus On Sundays, I'm obligated to sit with the elderly mom. When I return, I plan on spinning a cut I know by heart, and then simply replacing the speaker leads with my old stuff. It'd take all of 5 minutes to do.

Then I'll listen again. I will be impartial, I will be honest.
 
I think I spy another speaker jack in your photo.
Now try removing the link between the two speaker jacks and try bi-wiring them.
 
Jfaustus said:
@onwardjames can you set up a blind test with what you have on hand? Like, two identical pairs of speakers? You could wire the amp to a switcher, use the different cables on each speaker, and switch back and forth (without knowing which one you’re hearing).

I think it might even work to wire one pair of speakers and the amp in parallel with the different cable sets. If you have a 2 in 2 out switch that doesn’t put a load on the non-selected path (meaning leaves it open, which is what many cheap selectors do) I would think that could work too? Others more electrically inclined will check me on this.

I for one would be super interested in hearing the outcome of a proper experiment here.

Edited for clarity
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All you need is a friend to swap the cables for you while you don't look.
Lay both sets next to one another and just change at the speaker and amp ends.
Ten trials with the same song and source.
Listener records what is heard for each trial, friend records what cables were connected for each trial.
Compare results.
 
onwardjames said:
You're a fellow Kentuckian. You are welcome, should you ever get near Bowling Green, to let your own ears decide.
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Appreciate the offer and would like to hear the speakers you mentioned but with no frame of reference I couldn't speak to being better or worse.
 
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