Which speaker cable to Extend Home Hifi Speakers

[networkingNut]

I am looking for cable to extend my Hifi Speakers (Bi-Wired) The unit is a Panasonic SA-AK410.

 

I am torn between

 

FOUR CORE IND LAP SCREENED AUDIO CBL - CBBR6312 - PRO POWER

 

Bi-Wire Flat OFC Speaker Cable 4 x 1mm (20m Length) on eBay (end time 01-Jul-10 21:58:11 BST)

 

I am really a bit clueless when it comes to speaker cable. I am leaning to the CPC one as its screened and colour coded.

 

Any opinions or other suggestions appreciated.

 

In terms of connecting I am thinking butt connectors as I am not very good at soldering

Edited June 13, 2010 by networkingNut

[john]

I'd go or what you've found on eBay When I have joined them in the past I have just used chocy blocks or jelly crimps (amazing things those crimps!) So they are easily joined, just make sure its a good connector otherwise you will get a poor sound. Ideally though you would want a new fresh run from the amp to the speaker.

[Andrew_C]

DON'T buy fancy speaker cable!! The CPC stuff is totally wrong, it is a low current signal cable, the flea bay is better but over expensive. Go for some 0.5mm2 oval flex. Even if you need two runs it would be cheaper at £18/100m. No one in a genuine test would be able to tell the difference.

 

Butt crimps would be fine, but learning to solder is a skill worth developing.

[tom_newton]

I can only tell the difference between cable that has been colour coded, and cable that hasn't, as the latter is much more likely to produce out of phase stereo, as you increas your chances of wiring up wrong.

 

Go for something inexpensive but colour/band coded. Try richer sounds?

[Jamo]

Its quite likely with speaker cable that if you go into a shop and ask they will try to sell you the most expensive stuff. Unless you have VERY good quality speakers (and im not talking home HIFI speakers here but studio quality monitors over £150 a speaker and full range) then you will not notice a blind bit of difference even if you wired it up with wire from the kettle cable that plugs into the wall

[networkingNut]

I would prefer to get something colour coded so its easier to trace the cables. The only one I could find on richer sounds is

 

Cambridge Audio SYMPHONY BI-WIRE | Per Metre | Richer Sounds

 

Although its not colour coded its marked on the cable. However this is more expensive than the ebay stuff

 

I asked the the ebay seller for a quote and he said £64 delivered for a 50m role

[difinity]

I've used mains cable in the past, colour coded and cheap

[networkingNut]

I will probably just go with the mains cable as its cheapest and colour coded.

 

Thanks

everyone

[oalcock]

HDMI Cables, AV Cables, Computer Cables, Travel adapters from Cable Universe - last week we got 100m of budget figure 8 speaker cabling for £9 with £3.50 postage. Works well!

[ICT_GUY]

Use solid mains cable, the higher amp the better (30amp cooker flex if you really want to push the boat out.). Flat cables go under the carpet nice and easy too.Expensive cables are a myth to separate the gullible from their money.

 

The only repercussion of using mains cable is that you will save a shed load of money.

[ICT_GUY]

£2 per meter 10mm thick

[OutToLunch]

I'd go for a few coat hangers myself... Do Coat Hangers Sound As Good Monster Cables? - The Consumerist

[soveryapt]

Take your pick .. Cable - Speaker at Studiospares .. depending on what you're connecting depends on the quality of cable you would require .. as has been said, if possible, it's always better to do a single run instead of joining lengths together, but if it's done right there won't be too much of an issue ..

[networkingNut]

I think mains cable is the way to go after reading everything. I would like to do a single run but I will have to double check the back of speakers to see if they can be opened.

 

Thanks

nN

[Busybub]

I'd go for a few coat hangers myself... Do Coat Hangers Sound As Good Monster Cables? - The Consumerist

 

Monster cables are crap anyway, so this doesn't come as a surprise. Coat hangers are a bit unwieldy though

 

Interesting that so many don't think it makes any difference...

[ICT_GUY]

Of course, a coat hanger doesn't have a Monster Cable lifetime warranty, so if your coat hanger breaks, you'll have to go out and buy another coat hanger.

[DMcCoy]

Monster cables are crap anyway, so this doesn't come as a surprise. Coat hangers are a bit unwieldy though

 

Interesting that so many don't think it makes any difference...

 

As long as cable resistance isn't affected too much by the length then I really doubt it would make any difference. At least none that can be identified by a proper abx test.

[Andrew_C]

At a slight tangent, a reputable audio supplier (think manufacture and supply miles of cable to the BBC) had a demo on a trade show stand a few years back. They ran digital audio over two lengths of wet string with no degradation.

 

Beware "Snake Oil" vendors, especially this charlatan. Oh, and if he wants to try a libel action, I'm waiting.

[ICT_GUY]

People who can afford £1K for a digital connector don't deserve to keep hold of their money.