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Help with Cables "which ones best for my set-up?"

Im fairly new to this hobby but have assembled what I hope is a good system to start. Mcintosh c2300 Pre amp. Mc501 mono amps Vpi Super Scoutmaster turntable with dinavector 20x High output. And last weekend my Sonus Faber strads arrived. I was using some old linn 5140s I pursched about 10 years ago for my media room. And the linn bi amp speaker wire. Having bought all this equipment since march of this year my wallet needs to rest for a while. However I know I need to work on cables, but which ones and what should come next? I also have a benchmark DAC 1 and a dedicated mac mini with a dedicated 4 terabyte drive. Any advice on my system and what should come next would be welcome.
richardallred
tvad
9,467 posts
 
My experience has been that gauge matters more than materials, construction or brand. A larger gauge provides more richness. A smaller gauge provides more detail, and a more "open" sound.

FWIW.
tiggerfc
150 posts
 
Another suggestion is to view the virtual systems for sonus faber and mcintosh and see what those folks are running in their rigs. Personally, I like Cardas. Speaker cable that is. Not a fan of their interconnects.
johnnyb53
3,490 posts
 
08-05-10: Tvad
My experience has been that gauge matters more than materials, construction or brand. A larger gauge provides more richness. A smaller gauge provides more detail, and a more "open" sound.
But if you have a cable made up of several small gauge individually insulated conductors twisted or wrapped or woven together to create an aggregate large gauge (e.g. Kimber 8TC or 12TC) you get the best of both--richness and deep bass control as well as delicacy, air, and inner detail.

I'm currently running Zu Audio's 10-gauge Libtec cable and it definitely provides both in spades (or bananas, nyuk-nyuk).
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Could be, Johnnyb53. I have not directly compared identical gauge cables made of stranded wire, and of several small gauge individually insulated conductors twisted or wrapped or woven together.

Have you done this comparison?

I have heard cables made of several small gauge individually insulated conductors twisted or wrapped or woven together, but in a smaller aggregate gauge than the other stranded cable I own.
oakleys
78 posts
 
Congrats on the nice system!

The single most important factors is that they are the right length, also they are properly termenated.

the rest is mostly cosmetics and how deep into your pockets your arms are willing to reach...related too is how deep into your insecurities the marketing campaigns of cable companies has dug in.

also to remember that what cable x sounds like is person y's audio system is most likely not going to sound like in your audio system. so...

good luck!
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