Speakers cables that are warm yet detailed........

Here we go again...another wire thread that'll eventually have 75 different suggestions from everyone who posts what they use with no regard made to the original poster's associated gear.

My suggestion is to buy a few used pairs of cabling from the l...o...n...g list to follow, and then listen for yourself.

Otherwise, cut to the chase by contacting The Cable Company for some recommendations, and then using their Cable Lending Library to narrow your choices. No matter what you eventually choose, you will have to listen to a few different cables to decide which are right for you.

Tvad..thank you for your response, I was hoping that instead of listeining to a ton of cables that someone could shed some experience on certain cables that may work and you may want to note that some individuals already have. FYI, with the Cable Company you have to put down a deposit, and that is usually 10% of the cost of the cables your renting, and you can only listen to the ''ones they have in the library'' and usually are not the ones I want and then the deposit is then held by them for store credit only. It could be an expensive propositon. By the way, I appreciate your comments but I do not see where you offered any suggestions on any cables which is actually your criticizism of the thread itself and the people who are answering it. So, you could be either the problem or the solution to this thread. Give me some ideas !!!! Thanks....

Cardas cables are generally regarded as warm but have the right amount of details. Their Golden Cross Series are warmer than their Golden Reference series. Check out their FAQ site for more sonic description & application of their cables.
http://www.cardas.com/content.php?area=faqs&content_id=3&pagestring=Cable+Use
I using their Golden Reference ICs & Golden Cross speaker cables & they synergies very well in my set-up ie: detail, analog sounding (warm) & with an articulate LF.

Garebear, your comments about my abrupt post are valid, so allow me to address them. I’ve read similar posts for almost four years. They have the same theme. The respondants are well intentioned, but they often don’t read the question, nor do they offer anything meaningful based on the wishes, or on the system of the author of the question. Too many replies are the result of folks who are simply eager to type their opinions, regardless of whether their opinions have any direct bearing on the facts surrounding the question.

10-08-06: Garebear
Tvad..thank you for your response, I was hoping that instead of listeining to a ton of cables that someone could shed some experience on certain cables that may work...

This is precisely what The Cable Company does. You'll notice that not one of the responders has posted their suggestions based on the equipment YOU own, but rather on their experience with what THEY own. This is a significant difference. The Cable Company makes suggestions based on the equipment you own. This is meaningful.

..with the Cable Company you have to put down a deposit, and that is usually 10% of the cost of the cables your renting, and you can only listen to the ''ones they have in the library'' and usually are not the ones I want and then the deposit is then held by them for store credit only.

Well, if you consider that they might actually offer something that works, and that you won't spend months on trial and errror, the 10% is a reasonable "fee" for the service they provide, IMO.

I appreciate your comments but I do not see where you offered any suggestions on any cables which is actually your criticizism of the thread itself and the people who are answering it.

Since I am not familiar with your gear, having never heard any of it, I am not qualified to offer a suggestion about wire that would work with your system and suit your needs, and I submit that 90% of the responders here are also unqualified based on that criteria. Sure, I could mention half a dozen warm yet detailed cables (well maybe not...warm & detailed is an oxymoron, as Mrtennis has said), but I wouldn't have a clue about how they would function with your equipment. So, what would be the point?

...you could be either the problem or the solution to this thread.

I would propose that my suggestion is a common sense approach that may lead to a faster, more satisfying, and potentially LESS expensive solution than a series of buying and selling of wire that doesn't work well with your gear, and therefore my idea to consult with The Cable Company is not the problem but rather a real world solution.

Short of contacting the The Cable Company, I would recommend doing a search of member's systems for owners of Avalon Eclipse loudspeakers and/or Rowland amplification. Then contact them directly for ideas of what wire they have tried and what works. That's free, and it cuts through a lot of noise.

While Grant does have a point, there is still a piece missing, the listener's personal preferences. I've known people who have owned the same equipment as myself, yet we disagree on cables because our musical choices and tastes are different. So contacting folks with Rowland amplification and/or Avalon speakers does not hold much weight either, IMHO.

Another suggestion, which I find works better for me than The Cable Company (I have a 6% sales tax as well, since I live in PA), is to buy and sell used on AudiogoN. The money lost is very minimal, if any at all, with some wise buys.

I've demo'd many cables, power cords, speakers and equipment that way. It's the only way to try things in your own system, IMHO.

That said, certain cables do have certain common traits. Nordost Valhalla will be stunningly fast and transparent, but may sound lean and thin in a analytical system. Cardas Golden Reference will sound full-bodied and warm, but may sound lifeless in a warm system. These are not just experiences of mine, but have been replicated with experiences of many other audiophiles.

So I think Gary is looking for a couple good suggestions of starting places. Cables with known traits as neither too warm or too detailed. I don't think he's looking for someone to tell him what cable he WILL like, just a couple of ideas of where to start trying in the AudiogoN marketplace. It is easier if you do a little 'homework' with fellow enthusiasts first, so you don't have to try EVERYTHING.

Maybe with some help, and some searches, both here and at AA, he can come up with a list of 3-5 cables he'd like to try. Many Audiophiles I've talked to have similar impressions on cables 'qualities', we just disagree due to systems and tastes. So you can gain some insight as to where to start. If he could find a thread like you started Grant, about power cord flavors, for cables, that would be helpful.

Earlier I echoed a Tara Labs recommedation, as I've always found them to be well balanced. Gary mentions that he does like the PAD Venustas, so maybe looking to move up the PAD line is another option.

That's enough for tonight.

Cheers,

John