Please tutor me on some integrated amp basics.

Skyscraper,

You’re putting together a rig nicer than one I’m likely to own anytime soon, but if I had your means I wouldn’t succumb to pressure to blindly grope at cable solutions. Be analyitcal about it and buy with the conviction that sold you on the speakers. Just get some real basic cables and listen to them very carefully, at least until you’re sure the speakers are broken in and expressing themselves as they will for the rest of their lives. Then try something different, but still cheap. Understand how they’re built and what those features and designs are doing. Google and read about cables, how they’re built, and how they measure. Try to figure out what different measurement characteristics translate into design-wise and sound-wise. Then if you decide to blow a couple grand on some cables you’ll have a much better idea of what direction to look in. Guesswork is hardly a solution.

Inside my F5 are two pairs of small signal input wires. They’re 6 inches long. I originally built it using some nice, shielded IC cable. It was hard  to work with. I replaced them with some 24g solid conductor twisted tweeter cabinet wire. Real simple stuff. It sounds noticably better. The wire makes a difference, but I don’t recommend going whole hog before you know what you want to improve in a broken in system.

Kost_amojan, I didn’t think my house was hard to build, plumb and wire, but I had some idea about what I was doing. I would like to learn about electronics but that will probably never happen. I’m impressed it would be easy for you to make your own cables. I always admire people who have the skills to do things. That cryogenic freezing of cables sounds pretty hokey to me too, although I know zero about it. I’ll think about your last post tomorrow when I’m not so tired. There’s a lot to learn about cables as you say. I’ve only been reading up on them two or three days now.

If I can find some relatively expensive cables that are universally recognized as being of high quality, and would likely synergize with my equipment, maybe that’s a direction to go. I’ll probably get the VPI phono cable which isn’t too bad at $300 and is supposed to match the wiring in my VPI Classic 2. So I only need pricey speaker cables at this point. I'd really like to find something I wouldn't have to replace later on. I can deal with power cords, power conditioners, and the like at a later date. Appreciate your advice.

Jackd. I’ll add the Audio Sensibility name to my list of cables to look into. Thanks

Shkong. I’ve added Audio Note and Analysis Audio cables to my list too. It’s amazing how many cable manufacturers there are out there. Thanks for your followup with some more details on the Audio notes.

Jones4music, "Just quantum tunnel and run 3,000,000 volts and move on with it?" Can I borrow your quantum blaster when your done with it? In order to reduce external noise pollution the next door neighbors yappy new dog could use a taste of that.

Inna, I may consider buying used cables from a reliable source. I don’ t think cables could get abused as easily as components that I wouldn’t want to buy used might. Unless maybe you ran them over when vacuuming. Used, I could get closer to some top of the line stuff, and be done with it. Maybe I’ll luck into some used Nordost Valhallas or some such at a cut rate reasonable cost. I’d prefer to not go much over a thousand for speaker cables if I have to.

I’ll have to figure out good, reliable sources for used speaker cables. I was looking at The Cable Company site tonight. There must be other sources too. I can afford good cables, just don’t want spend money on them versus other things. But it looks more and more like I have to suck it up. I don’t want to marginalize the rest of the system I’ve put so much into just like you say. So it goes. I’ll get over it in a few days and after another thousand or so is gone with the wind.

Mike

kosst_amojan
@geoffkait

What’s your point? Who can’t buy reels of cryo’d cable and wire? I can. I don’t think it makes any difference.

>>>>>Bingo! That’s my point! You don’t think it makes any difference.

And cryogenics is only one example of things people don’t know about making cables or dismiss. That’s why I say building a superior sounding cable is difficult for most people. Directionality is obviously another issue people don’t know about or dismiss, no?

Kosst_amojan, It’s a new day, I’m awake again and have reread your post. That’s sensible advice you’re offering. I do need to research more on this fairly complex subject, and be patient doing so. I am getting into a bit of a rush to get this project, buying a new stereo system, over with. At the very least I can make do until February when my back ordered Magico’s are set to arrive, and obtain at a better understanding of what’s involved with audiophile quality cables. That’s a way more sensible idea than taking a shot in the dark. Thanks for your advice.

It’s taken a few days to adjust to the idea cables are an important part of a stereo system and the non-expense of using zip cords is a thing of the past. Back in the late seventies, when I last purchased components, you never even considered wiring or cabling in the overall cost or budget for a system, and honestly I didn’t when budgeting for my recently purchased new equipment. That’s why I’m been trying to find a way out of this somewhat unexpected added expense.

Are there any $1000+ speaker cables you would personally recommend, that you’re sure are well built and legitimate, and not too esoteric. I’ve received well over twenty recommendations so far without even asking, and read reviews of even more possibilities. I need to start narrowing down the field to a shorter list of legitimate contenders to research.

I’ll maybe make due with something in the Blue Jeans range in the meantime, as some have suggested. It would be nice if there were some cables in the $1000+ range that there was a consensus about, that you couldn’t go wrong with. Maybe with some further research I can turn some up. I’ll have to find what cables Magico uses for demoing their A3’s at shows too. (I’m thinking out loud). Thanks again


Geoff, I’d appreciate if you didn’t head my thread off in a related, but different direction, while I’m trying to figure this out with your and other’s valued advice. Are there any $1000+ cables you’d consider to be a sure bet and should be on my short list? Preferably ones by not too esoteric a manufacturer with a a decent track record? I read your thoughts on cryogenic treatment of cables, and had read some others who passed this off as gimmickry. Not to focus on cryogenics, I’m curious what aspects of cable design you’d recommend I should avoid as gimmicks and what might be legitimate design factors to look for. I really have no way of knowing what’s legitimate design or manufacturing practices, and what’s not, and opinions on the internet are all over the place. I am trying to learn though, best I can by asking questions. Thanks for your advice,

Mike

I'm not the guy to be dishing out great cable advice. I make my own. The ones I'm using are a rip off of an idea of a popular cable that uses 4 conductors braided together. Mine are 6 16g conductors, round braided and covered in cloth, terminated in gold with silver solder, and equal about 11.5g combined with much better skin effect and lower inductance.