Solid core and multi core cables

Posted by: Robert Howell on 11 August 2003

Naim speaker cables have solid cores, so one Saturday afternoon I thought I would try changing my Gale XL315 multicore cable for 12 amp mains cable as an experiment. The idea being that Naim cable is solid core and so is the mains cable and they are likely to have more similar impedance/capacitance characteristics than the Gale multicore variety. I know, I know, this is not universally true, but still, I thought this would be an interesting test.

With A-B testing, I found that the mains cable sounded just the same as the Gale multicore (even if the multicore was bi-wired). I could detect very little difference between them. BTW I have done blind testing with bi-wire/non bi-wire and have have an 80% sucess rate in determining which I am listening to - so that's a sort of calibration.

Anyway, I'd be interested to see if any of you guys have experimented with this sort of mains cables for speakers? If so, what are you experiences?

My Kit: NAC62/NAP90/Marantz 63 mkII Signature, and Pro-Ac Tablette Signature 2000.

Cheers
Rob.
Posted on: 11 August 2003 by trickytree
Hi Robert

I asembled my system at the begining of the year on a tight budget and didnt have any cash for Naim cable so I used 2.5mm ring main cable as I had a drum of the stuff lying around. It took 2 or 3 months before I got round to replacing it with Nac 5 and the whole system just took off. I also have a 62/90. Would strongly recomend you get yourself some Nac 5, at least 3.5 mtrs long.
Also as far as I know Nac 5 is a multistranded cable and not a solid core.

Paul
Posted on: 12 August 2003 by Frank Abela
Robert,

Naim NACA5 is not solid core - it's multi-stranded. A truly solid core cable (such as DNM reson) actually has just one core of copper wire for the positive and once core for the negactive. Naim cable has a lot more than that.

Generally, solid core has a cleaner, firmer bass response than multi-strand. Multi-strand generally has a more open treble and greater scale.

Regards,
Frank.
All opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organisations I work for, except where this is stated explicitly.
Posted on: 12 August 2003 by Robert Howell
Well there you go! I'd always thought Naim cable was single core! Thanks for putting me straight.

I think I'll hold off from buying some NACA5 cable for a while, unless any of you guys are in the Lincoln area and want to play one weekend! I'd really like to hear the difference between speakers cables before buying as I'm one of those who think the differences are v. small - still, I'm happy to be proved wrong!

I forgot to mention my system includes a REL Storm III tapping off at the speaker level.

Anyway, thanks for the info!
Cheers,
Rob.