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Speaker cables for vintage amp

post #1 of 11
4/3/11 at 10:09pm
Thread Starter 

Hi,

 

I have a mid 70s Technics SA-5400XC amp driving a pair of 6ohm Wharfedale Diamond 9.1 speakers. The sound quality was pretty bad and recently I found that a good part of the issue was due to my speaker cables. I've just had the chance to try some Cardas Twinlink cables, they sound much better, but the volume is much reduced.

 

Can head-fi suggest a lower cost alternative to the Cardas Twinlink (they are $200/cable) that won't sap as much volume?

 

Thanks!

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post #2 of 11
4/3/11 at 10:17pm

lamp cord.

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post #3 of 11
4/3/11 at 10:20pm

It doesn't much matter as long as the cable isn't super thin. The speaker wire that Lowes carries will work just fine.

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post #4 of 11
4/3/11 at 10:44pm

How long are the speaker cables? What gauge were the cables you were using before?  Are you sure you've terminated them well? 

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post #5 of 11
4/3/11 at 11:14pm
Try Blue Jeans Cables' speaker cables. I've had a pair for a few years and they're terrific.

Also, look up the Home Depot cables. Seriously. Quite a few have bought Home Depot's contractor power extension cords and reterminated them into speaker cables. (It's easy.) I haven't tried them yet, but do use them to run power tools and can vouch for durability. You'll never wear them out and some people think they sound wonderful.
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post #6 of 11
4/3/11 at 11:36pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Currawong View Post

How long are the speaker cables? What gauge were the cables you were using before?  Are you sure you've terminated them well? 


They are about 3ft long, probably 18 gauge (they look like this: http://www.asia.ru/images/target/photo/50546948/Speaker_Wire.jpg). They are unterminated, just stripped.

 

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post #7 of 11
4/4/11 at 4:31am

I can only imagine that changing the guage of the wire had a significant effect. I was always of the impression that 12 gauge wire was about the standard thickness for regular speakers.  You could experiment by using some 18 gauge instead to see if it changes anything, or go in the opposite direction as well, though for that short distance I think you've already discovered any changes that are likely.

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post #8 of 11
4/5/11 at 4:37am

are these an option? anti-cable

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post #9 of 11
4/5/11 at 3:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lenni View Post

are these an option? anti-cable


Solid copper wire?   Neglecting the cost (a few cents per foot at Home Depot) its not flexible and will break if repeatedly bent.

 

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post #10 of 11
4/6/11 at 12:26pm

the cable does not need to be repeatedly bent - only bent into shape, which does not involve repeated bending. I've never read anybody breaking the cable due to repeated bending - but I guess you know better.

 

the OP is asking for an alternative to the Carda's, since what's he's already using doesn't deliver properly (according to him). so I rather suggest him a proper shielded/terminated speaker cables for $40, than another cheap Home Depot cable, which it's probably like the one he's already using.

 

that's my alternative suggestion. your is... lamp cord. rolleyes.gif
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ert View Post
Solid copper wire?   Neglecting the cost (a few cents per foot at Home Depot) its not flexible and will break if repeatedly bent.

 



 

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post #11 of 11
2/10/12 at 6:42am

Hi

    I just bought a Technics SA-5400XC & i use to have a Technics SA-5400X, They both look the same but do they sound the same. Please can somebody help.  

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