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Are DIY Cables Worth It?

I just read a listing in the classifieds titled "Vh audio CHeLA diy bulk speaker cable" that looked interesting. It claims to sell unterminated cable for $17.95/ft that would sound like $2000 cables when terminated.

Assuming I take the time and terminate the cables correctly, from what you see on their website is this cable worth my time? (Keep in mind that my time is not overly expensive, and I will never be able to spend more than $200 on speaker cables.)

Here is a site with more information about them: http://www.vhaudio.com/wire.html#vhspeaker
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ngjockey
1,042 posts
 
48 hook-up wires in parallel? That would be fun to terminate. Don't get any of those confused on +/- because amps don't like shorts. At least it would look impressively thick with all that "secret" type of insulation.

For less than $200 (don't ask me how):
http://www.ultimatecables.com/

There's also 10/2 cabtire (SOW) for much less. 10/4 for biwiring.
gunbei
2,327 posts
 
I beta tested the VH Audio speaker cables you're considering in the summer of 2004 and thought they sounded very good. Luckily they came to me already made so I didn't have to play audiophile crochet with them.
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shadorne
7,333 posts
 
First I am not sure that $2000 cables necessarily implies better sound than $200 cables. More expensive yes.

Second, of course DIY cables with similar materials and properly terminated will sound the same as what you get from a manufacturer. There is no added magic at the factory...it is just a cable and a termination plug, hardly rocket science! Besides cables make only very slight differences (rarely audible if your gear is SS and with 8 ohm box speakers with no crazy impedance dips).
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heyitsmedusty OP
185 posts
 
I have NHT 2.5 speakers and a Harmon Kardon AVR 240 receiver, so I doubt I would reap many benefits from super high-quality cables. Right now I'm using Monster cables, and I don't really have a problem with them, but from the things I read on different virtual systems about how "this cable made my system sound warm and sweet" and "that cable added a depth of philosophical knowledge to my system," I got curious about whether or not I needed some nice cables.

I like the poetic language, and I'm just wondering if good cables can persuade my ears into making me say things like that.
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
Go to the Cable Asylum and look up the reviews of VenHaus cables. VenHaus makes good products available to the audiophile 'masses'.

Cable matters but its quality must be in proportion to the system's quality: too good and it will start revealling a lot of flaws (both gear and recordings), not good enough well, not good enough.

For your system I'd definitely use something good, but not overboard. The mapleshade entry level speaker wire comes to mind:

Clearview Golden Helix

It is a single conductor, silver plated copper with minimum insulation. Good enough for present and forseeable needs.

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