Tell me something about this speaker cable

Posted by: elverdiblanco on 28 September 2018

The speaker cable I'm using at the moment was bought when I was living in the US back in 1996. I got it from a dealer in Kalamazoo, Michigan and although it clearly states it is manufactured by XLO I know nothing more about it.

The information printed on the cable reads as follows:

XLO/CDA Super 16 Speaker cable for custom design applications (UL) CL3 105oC VW-1 16 AWGx4C XLO Electric USA

The 105oC is 105C with a degree symbol but I don't know how to type that

I know that XLO do some high end cables now but don't know if that was always the case. I've recently bought a Nait XS2 amp to power a pair of Rogers LS2 speakers and I'm wondering if a cable upgrade would be a good idea. I know price isn't always a good indicator of quality but I haven't the faintest idea how much I paid for it back then.

So, does anybody know anything about this cable? Where does it rank in cable quality and how much am I going to need to spend to get significantly better?

Thanks, Steve

Posted on: 28 September 2018 by Daniel H.

Your cable looks like a twisted pair; not the best thing to use with Naim amps. Naim's own Naca5 is the easy choice. I suggest you read this thread:

https://forums.naimaudio.com/t...-for-naim-amplifiers

Posted on: 28 September 2018 by Japtimscarlet

Very much like a twisted pair

NacA5 is cheap to buy new and cheaper pre loved

Worth a try at least

Posted on: 28 September 2018 by True Blue

16 awg is the copper grade. 4 is the number of cores. Cl3 is fire retardant shielding to 105 degrees c

Posted on: 28 September 2018 by True Blue

Basically it's a commercial install cable

Posted on: 28 September 2018 by True Blue

Don't reckon you'd need to spend much with your naim gear to better it

Posted on: 28 September 2018 by Bob the Builder

I would definitely get some Nac A5 and remember to get at least 3.5m per side. I know it is safe to use shorter lengths with the newer amps but it also does sound better.

Posted on: 29 September 2018 by elverdiblanco

Thanks for all the replies. So basically it isn't that great and certainly not the sort of cable that goes best with Naim. I've ordered 2x6.5m lengths of Witch Hat N2. My rack is to the right of the RHS speaker so one run is about 4m shorter than the other and from what I've read about NACA5 I don't fancy trying to hide 4m of that extra cable. Not only that, the N2 is half the price and if it isn't any good I can send it back for a refund. My dealer is recommending Atlas Hyper 3.0 but that's £40/m and he doesn't have any made up to demo and I'm reluctant to spend over £500 on something I can't listen to first.

Posted on: 29 September 2018 by Japtimscarlet

elverdiblanco posted:
Thanks for all the replies. So basically it isn't that great and certainly not the sort of cable that goes best with Naim. I've ordered 2x6.5m lengths of Witch Hat N2. My rack is to the right of the RHS speaker so one run is about 4m shorter than the other and from what I've read about NACA5 I don't fancy trying to hide 4m of that extra cable. Not only that, the N2 is half the price and if it isn't any good I can send it back for a refund. My dealer is recommending Atlas Hyper 3.0 but that's £40/m and he doesn't have any made up to demo and I'm reluctant to spend over £500 on something I can't listen to first.

Don't blame you .... sounds like a sensible move to me ...

Posted on: 02 October 2018 by elverdiblanco

The Witch Hat N2 cables arrived today. Straight out of the box they are so much better than the cables I've been using. Bass frequencies are presented a lot better and where the old cables could sound a bit cold and sterile the new ones have much more warmth and rhythm. The sound has a depth to it that was missing before and where tracks like Going Home by Dire Straits could sound a bit muddled with the old cables there's clarity and separation that was never there before. Even the other half said the new cables were a lot clearer and had a lot more oomph so for her to notice that's saying something

At £15 a metre these cables are a bit of a bargain and from what I've heard so far I'm very unlikely to be sending them back. Will they sound better with a bit of burn-in? Here's hoping.