Bunnings. 112 strand speaker cable.

[Addicted to music]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:28 AM, andyr said:

 

Actually, Peter ... I am completely uninterested in 'testing' cables; I - and my customers - know what sounds good ... so I will stick with what I know.  

 

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You bought it up that thicker cable didn’t have “good transmission”.    The findings saids otherwise….

[andyr]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:49 AM, Addicted to music said:

You bought it up that thicker cable didn’t have “good transmission”.    The findings saids otherwise….

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True, Peter ... I should've come straight to the point and said "the thicker cable didn’t sound as good".  

 

[Addicted to music]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:52 AM, andyr said:

 

True, Peter ... I should've come straight to the point and said "the thicker cable didn’t sound as good".  

 

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which also depends on what you’re using and comparing to,  just like the testing I provided.  

[davewantsmoore]

  On 18/01/2024 at 9:59 AM, cookster said:

Or Jaycar 79 strand OFC for around $4.95 a metre

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Once you get to about here in $$$,

you'd be better of looking at a budget manufacturer something like https://www.nbspeakercables.com.au/collections/frontpage/products/custom-speaker-cable

where you can get professionally terminated ends (spades / bananas, etc.)

 

The reason is that the termination quality of speaker cables has the biggest influence on the sound quality, and good connectors that are properly terminated is the best jump in performance you can make over the bare wire cables you previously mentioned.

[bob_m_54]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:40 AM, andyr said:

 

I disagree, bob.   If multiple parallel strands of solid-core wire are individually insulated ... they are still 'solid-core'.

 

And re. 'Litz' ... I happen to agree with you - but I got my @rse kicked here previously (when I mentioned 'Litz') by a pedant who said that 'Litz wire' has a particular braided pattern (not just twisted pairs) ... so I no longer use the term.

 

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No, the definition of Solid Core cable is one solid wire core per conductor. Yours is individually insulated multi cores. And yes, there are certain configurations of Litz wire, based on weaving and twisting methods, hence my saying "more akin to Litz wire concept"

[bob_m_54]

But I don't think the solid core cable will sound any worse, it's just not that practical in most circumstances. It's better leaving it to what it's designed for ie. inwall fixed installations. When laying loose on the ground, moving it too much will subject the connection points to too much stress, causing fracture points..

[cookster]

Hi all

 

i have gone with Van Damme. 
 

thanks

 

[andyr]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:53 AM, bob_m_54 said:

No, the definition of Solid Core cable is one solid wire core per conductor. Yours is individually insulated multi cores. And yes, there are certain configurations of Litz wire, based on weaving and twisting methods, hence my saying "more akin to Litz wire concept"

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If that is the case, bob (that "the definition of Solid Core cable is one solid wire core per conductor") ... then how do you differentiate between the 2 different types of Cat5/Cat6 cable:

• one of which has 8x solid-core wires in the 'jacket'
• the other uses 8x stranded wires in the 'jacket'?

The former is used in walls and ceilings ... the latter is used for fly-leads from wall socket to computer (as it's much more flexible).

 

The definition which seems simplest to me is that:

• the former is solid-core Cat5/Cat6 cable
• the latter is stranded Cat5/Cat6 cable.

 

[Misternavi]

  On 18/01/2024 at 9:44 AM, cookster said:

Ok let the flaming begin

 

i have a top of range Naim/Harbeth system in the house but for a second system in my shed/mancave/child escape. I am looking at a lower cost 2nd system. 
 

Just wondering if has anyone tried the Bunnings antsig 112 strand copper speaker cable? It’s only $2 a metre so I know it’s low end but it’s for my mancave. 
 

any thoughts or better ideas, thank you. 
 

 

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it's $2 ...... buy it!

You can even double the amount of conductors to test if it will improve on sound (approx 13ga.)
just scrub the copper conductors with a fine grit sand paper once they start to oxidise.

 

It's a man cave system people!!!! doesn't have to be fancy.

[bob_m_54]

  On 25/01/2024 at 4:10 AM, andyr said:

 

If that is the case, bob (that "the definition of Solid Core cable is one solid wire core per conductor") ... then how do you differentiate between the 2 different types of Cat5/Cat6 cable:

• one of which has 8x solid-core wires in the 'jacket'
• the other uses 8x stranded wires in the 'jacket'?

The former is used in walls and ceilings ... the latter is used for fly-leads from wall socket to computer (as it's much more flexible).

 

The definition which seems simplest to me is that:

• the former is solid-core Cat5/Cat6 cable
• the latter is stranded Cat5/Cat6 cable.

 

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Because each of the conductor pairs are solid or stranded.. pretty obvious I thought.

Edited January 25, 2024 by bob_m_54
for clarity

[POV]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:28 AM, andyr said:

 

Actually, Peter ... I am completely uninterested in 'testing' cables; I - and my customers - know what sounds good ... so I will stick with what I know.  

 

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Serious question Andy, how do you and your customers know?  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think what you mean is ‘think you know what sounds good’.

 

 

[andyr]

  On 25/01/2024 at 8:21 AM, bob_m_54 said:

Because the conductor pairs are solid or stranded.. pretty obvious I thought.

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Yes - I agree ... obvious, bob.  

 

But that conflicts with what you said earlier (when responding to my post about me making 'solid-core' spkr wire from Cat5 cable:

 

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:53 AM, bob_m_54 said:

No, the definition of Solid Core cable is one solid wire core per conductor. Yours is individually insulated multi cores. 

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[bob_m_54]

  On 25/01/2024 at 8:25 AM, andyr said:

But that conflicts with what you said earlier (when responding to my post about me making 'solid-core' spkr wire from Cat5 cable:

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No it doesn't.. there are four conductor pairs in CAT 5 or 6, ie eight conductors in total. Each of the conductors is either solid core or multi stranded conductors. Your speaker cable has two conductors one pos and one neg.. (or signal and return, whichever your prefer) But each of those conductor are made up of.. and take note... multiple strands of individually insulated wire... (akin to Litz wire) so..... it is multi stranded cable..

Edited January 25, 2024 by bob_m_54
spelling

[andyr]

  On 25/01/2024 at 8:23 AM, POV said:

Serious question Andy, how do you and your customers know?  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think what you mean is ‘think you know what sounds good’.

 

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Wow, Drew - we are really getting into "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin" territory, here!!  

 

Yes - absolutely ... "what I think I know that sounds good".  That's the only reference that concerns me.    Well - and what my friends say, after I've bribed them with fine wine and cheese when they come round for a listen.  

 

[andyr]

  On 25/01/2024 at 8:30 AM, bob_m_54 said:

No it doesn't.. there are four conductor pairs in CAT 5 or 6, ie eight conductors in total. Each of the conductors is either solid core or multi stranded conductors. Your speaker cable has two conductors one pos and one neg.. (or signal and return, whichever your prefer) But each of those conductor are made up of.. and take note... multiple strands of individually insulated wire... (akin to Litz wire) so..... it is multi stranded cable..

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Whatever you say, bob.  

 

[surprisetech]

  On 18/01/2024 at 9:44 AM, cookster said:

Just wondering if has anyone tried the Bunnings antsig 112 strand copper speaker cable? It’s only $2 a metre so I know it’s low end but it’s for my mancave. 

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Low cost, yes.  Low end? Not necessarily.

Economies of scale are a huge factor in the pricing when buying raw cable off the reel.

[muon*]

  On 25/01/2024 at 4:03 AM, cookster said:

Hi all

 

i have gone with Van Damme. 
 

thanks

 

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[Addicted to music]

  On 25/01/2024 at 10:22 AM, andyr said:

 Well - and what my friends say, after I've bribed them with fine wine and cheese when they come round for a listen.  

 

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Then your findings floored,  try feeding them figs instead of cheese and a few cans of red bull and then see what they say after it gives them wings 

Edited January 25, 2024 by Addicted to music

[andyr]

  On 25/01/2024 at 5:41 PM, Addicted to music said:

Then your findings floored

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I disagree - I don't think my findings are flawed at all.  To paraphrase 'the Red Queen' ... my findings are whatever I want them to be!  

 

[Tasebass]

Got me Popcorn out on this one....

 

[Godot]

 

[rantan]

  On 25/01/2024 at 5:41 PM, Addicted to music said:

Then your findings floored,

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Was it is carpet, vinyl, slate, cork or stone?

[Hi-Fi Whipped]

  On 25/01/2024 at 4:03 AM, cookster said:

Hi all

 

i have gone with Van Damme. 
 

thanks

 

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Nice one, but this discussion is not all  about you mate!

[Keith_W]

  On 25/01/2024 at 3:53 AM, davewantsmoore said:

The reason is that the termination quality of speaker cables has the biggest influence on the sound quality, and good connectors that are properly terminated is the best jump in performance you can make over the bare wire cables you previously mentioned.

Expand  

 

Oh, so what does improperly terminated speaker cable sound like? 

[Peter_F]

  On 26/01/2024 at 2:32 AM, Keith_W said:

good connectors that are properly terminated is the best jump in performance you can make over the bare wire cables you previously mentioned.

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How does adding another bottleneck in the chain increase performance? 

Edited January 26, 2024 by Peter_F
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