The most detailed speaker cable??

It would seem that Rsbeck that you're here only to refute and recruit. I'm just not interested in playing king of the hill. Changing the channel now, thanks...

Sorry, Rsbeck. By the time I posted my comments, you had written a second time.

The first thing is to try to make a diagnosis of the entire system to see where the problem might originate.
If a problem is identified, we should investigate a little to see whether or not the disagnosis is sound. If a solution is offered, we ought to be able to debate whether or not it will solve the problem.

I certainly agree. Perhaps I misread your earlier posts, because I came away with the impression that when it comes to cables, your conclusions circumvent the need for any debate at all.

Each of us responds to the author's question based upon our personal experiences. And in my experience, moving from copper to silver cables produced exactly the result sought by Harnellt. I say that except for tying up a few bucks in used cables, he has nothing to lose by experimenting. If it is indeed a debate at hand, then such discoveries are hardly settled. There are no absolutes that apply to every one of us, except maybe what'll happen if you change an outlet without first cutting the power.

All I'm trying to say is that the findings of others are not nullified by your (or anyone else's) contentions. If I interpreted your comments as such, I apologize.

Rsbeck's suggestion of examining one's room and system configuration to trouble-shoot a sonic problem makes common sense to me. It's possible that folks asking questions about cables as a solution to a problem haven't considered whether room treatment, or a component is to blame. No disrespect to you, Harnellt, if you've already considered...and eliminated...these variables.

I believe cables do sound differently. However, no cable is going to properly solve a problem if the root cause is a component, or a room that lacks proper treatment. I owned loudspeakers that I found terribly bright and lacking in bass. I tried several different cables, and I heard only minor variations between them and not enough to fix the sound of my system. Eventually, I changed speakers. Changing speakers made all the difference, and I would have saved myself a lot of time if I'd changed them sooner.

I have to agree with Rsbeck -- completely. Putting aside the placebo factor, in all truth you'd be hard pressed to find something better that -- drum roll, please -- 14 gauge low voltage lighting cable from Home Depot. Approximately 15 cents a foot. Well-shield, super-well constructed, very pure copper, does the trick. Don't believe me? Roy Allison and the fine folks at McIntosh all have the same thought. Power cables? Give Dusty at CI Audio a call -- he's an extremely thoughtful, honest designer and recommends, drum roll, please, normal computer power cords from Radio Shack.

Yes, a dedicated line is a great idea, and a better outlet is certainly a good idea.

Otherwise -- snob and placebo factor aside -- the money one would invest in expensive cables would make much more of a difference, as Rsbeck has said, in components, especially your amp and speakers.

Grant, I completely agree. And given the variables Harnellt's system (absent the unanswered issue of room treatment), I would again recommend silver speaker cables. I've tried six different cables in my system, and the differences between copper and silver were not even close. As well, the variations in detail and transparency amongst the copper cables were not marginal either. Does this mean that I have the answer to his dilemma? I don't know.

In response to the suggestion that one of the components might be the culprit here, which one would it be?
AR cd3
Pass alpeh P
Pass X-150.5
with AZ silver ref. xlr
Joseph Audio RM22si MK2

His system seems capable of producing the detail he is after, but in my experience the speaker cables listed in his initial post will not translate the same level of detail that silver will. And as far as treating the room, doing so in our house did not enhance the effects of brightness, but rather tamed it instead. Again, just my experience.

Harnellt, let us know what you discover.