What speaker cables do you use?

One things for sure, a demo is required...may well be difficult to find both boxes at a single dealers?

It can be so hard to tell which is better or which you prefer from a plethora of sometimes contradictory forum posts.  Once you hear them back-to-back in a well set up demonstration though, it should be a night & day difference.  

Really, not close.

However, YMMV.  That's all part of the voyage of discovery!

Sounds very much as if you do know what your talking about....your observations are duly noted and very much appreciated... given me much food for thought......as you say it's all part of a very enjoyable journey or voyage 

5m runs of Supra Ply 3.4S terminated (tin plating philosophy, Sweden made). I'm yet to test these Nac A5 cables and see what's all the fuss about. 

I would say it can depend on the speaker. Many years ago I used to run my Naims through a pair of 1970s Sony Carbocons and the NACA5 I was using at the time made them sound too 'tinny' at high volumes, detailed but a little harsh. Swapped to Van den Hul and that changed the sound immediately, taking away that edge.

In contrast when I was using a pair of huge JBL XPL 160s the NACA5 brought out the best in them.

MichaelK posted:

I would say it can depend on the speaker. Many years ago I used to run my Naims through a pair of 1970s Sony Carbocons and the NACA5 I was using at the time made them sound too 'tinny' at high volumes, detailed but a little harsh. Swapped to Van den Hul and that changed the sound immediately, taking away that edge.

In contrast when I was using a pair of huge JBL XPL 160s the NACA5 brought out the best in them.

Hi MichaelK,

What do you use now and have you tried TQ or SL cables? 

I have not tried TQ or SL cables. For me cables are a big headache! Not because they don't make a difference, they do - but it is because they make such a difference.

I currently use Van den Hul CS122 into Tannoy 15" Monitor Golds. The sound is smooth and detailed and the Naim amps provide the rock n roll.

The NACA5 is a great cable and obviously recommended by Naim, but it should not detract people from using other cables if these suit their system (or taste) better.

Agree completely, and as you say cables can make an enormous difference, and also can be an enormous cost, I'm using TQ ultra blacks with my naim system, I am tempted to try out more expensive cables but if I like them I probably won't want to send them back...

If you are happy with the sound of your current set up then leave it at that!

In my view cables should be installed and forgotten, and only considered as an 'upgrade' if the current sound is not to your liking, for example if you upgraded your speakers and they do not sound quite right.

Any good quality copper cables should be sufficient. Like you say you can end up spending hundreds/thousands on cables, but this can lead you down a slippery slope...

At the moment I'm whole sale agreed with Nordost cables approach- the most important cable is the power cable , then inter.. Then lastly speaker cable...given that length = costs the short power cable should have the biggest budget, then longer runs if made properly should have lower pricing due to production accountability .The speaker cables that I'm using are plenty lower in the Nordost range to the other cables  I'm using but sound amazing

Hi Tobyjug, , so are all your cables Nordost ?

Yeh..

I use Van Damm (it is recommended by my amp and speaker manufacturers).

WENGER

to your original question as to why ? 

I don't run a full Naim system so maybe unqualified to answer why ! But choice of cables is like choice of music.

My Karan amp has often been recommended to be run with Cardas wires .., though Cardas speaker cable are often of a litz design that notoriously sends Naim amps to overload ,but pushes the Karan to maybe put out close to class A in a hot short situation.

i much prefer the cooler Litz less flow of Nordost .

Hi Tobyjug , I've not ever heard any nordost cables, but the reviews are always good, I've just purchased a nap250dr and nac 282, Hicap dr, it says quite strongly in Manual only to use naim cables but I'm actually using TQ ultra blacks that work very well.

wenger2015 posted:

Hi Tobyjug , I've not ever heard any nordost cables, but the reviews are always good, I've just purchased a nap250dr and nac 282, Hicap dr, it says quite strongly in Manual only to use naim cables but I'm actually using TQ ultra blacks that work very well.

I run a similar set up  (SCDR rather than HiCap) - if you get a chance do try NACA5 or SuperLumina - mine is now with SuperLuminas. A wonderfully transparent and 'flat response' cable - meaning it's very open and neutral.

one thing: NACA5 - minimum lenght = 3.5 m / SuperLumina - min length = 3 m

Am I wrong in remembering that the OP just asked for infos about which speaker cable one is using? Must every single thread become a children's game among who has the dad with the bigger and better car?

Info: I use Vertere Pulse X mini speaker cable, 2 x 5 mt.

Best,

M

That is correct - we are sharing who uses what

It's always interesting to share views on 'who's using what' and how well things work. 

The great thing is their is no right or wrong in most cases.

Absolutely! I went through many different speaker cables in my 'career'. Most good. One thing I've learned though - I don't think there is a universal, best cable.

What I think works best with my full Naim setups are Naim speaker cables - they just sound right. Funnily enough when I put NACA5 on my SN2 + Ovators S-400 (instead of SuperLumina) it sounded practically as good as the SLs. 

Ultmately - who cares what we use - as long as it sounds enjoyable to our ears

Massimo Bertola posted:

Am I wrong in remembering that the OP just asked for infos about which speaker cable one is using? Must every single thread become a children's game among who has the dad with the bigger and better car?

Info: I use Vertere Pulse X mini speaker cable, 2 x 5 mt.

Best,

M

Hi M,  I do get where your coming from, it does seem that way on occasions...on the forum.....interestingly I've not ever heard vertere Pulse speaker cable, have you always used them?

After lots of blind testing and finding zero difference between any of them I went for stereolab purely because they fit into the space I wanted easiest due to flexible nature

Before I get the backlash, I tried a lot of different manufacturers and a lot of different price ranges as well as construction types and materials used

Blind test proved consistently there were no differences

Hi Yorkslad, absolutely no backlash from me, I'm all for what works for you....again I've not heard of sterolab cables, but if their good that's all that matters.

Equally so if you've tried something that doesn't work it's good to hear about it, that's one thing I do like about the forum.

Mine are two twin lengths of copper wire. 6mm2 for minimum resistance, and multistrand for flexibility and in case there is any skin effect of significance.  OFC not because I believs there's a difference, but because it was available at reasonable cost, and both channels the same at 12m because one has to be.

Are they together as a cable or 2 separate wires?