[Mike Coady]

I'm having to rearrange my Home Theater and Audio setup so I'm needing longer speaker cables than I currently have. I need about a 12' run going to some large 5 - way towers (about $3000). There was a time when I wouldn't even consider using anything but the best cables out there when it came to speaker cables and interconnects but I can no longer afford to do that. Through the years I've used Discovery, Audioquest, Tara labs, Kimber, Cardis, Sonoran, DH Labs, Straight Wire and many more but I've forgot their names.

My instincts tell me not to use cheap cable for my revealing speakers but my budget says otherwise. So would something like Blue Jean cable's Beldon 10 or 12 gauge be something I could live with or is there something better out there that is inexpensive but very good quality? I would like to spend $100 or less for a 12' pair if possible.

I'm also open to buying used speaker cable so where would a person look besides Ebay?

[chris_everett]

How many watts are you pushing to your speakers?

[Mike Coady]

My main speakers that I'm needing the speaker cable for is powered by a Bryston 4BST which is 250 watts plus.

[Alf S]

Home Depot, Lowes... plenty of zip cords there..bought by the foot.

[Jeff Gatie]

I second the zip cord from Home Depot or Lowes. Get 12 guage, 100 feet. ~$30.00 or so.

[chris_everett]

For 250 watts and 12', 12 gauge is fine. I got my at Lowes.

[Chu Gai]

With all due respect, what is it about the former cables you used that indicated to your mind that they somehow represented 'the best' tier and that choosing something pedestrian like Lowes, PartsExpress, or for that matter Knukonceptz would somehow compromise your system? IOW, what makes one cable better than another if we keep something like the gauge a constant?

[Mike Coady]

Well I really don't want to get into the argument whether or not all cables sound the same but I've always felt like I could hear the difference in interconnects and speaker cables. Sure impedence and gauge make a difference and in fact may account for some or alot of audio differences. To my ears after learning to listen some cables have a soft high end, some bloated, some too lean, some almost too analytical, some with more appealing bass than others, some very neutral and for sure some are just better constructed as far as the way they are terminated. I'm not trying to put down anyone for not hearing what I hear or the cables you have suggested being lesser cables, they indeed may be very good. In fact the Lowes cable you have suggested was very well reviewed by Martin DeWulf editor of Bound For Sound and I think he always pretty much tells it the way it is. I believe the specific cable he reviewed though was a particular 6 gauge E51583 and that was about a year ago. I would imagine it would be a bear to terminate.

So I welcome your suggestions whether I agree with you or not after all I asked for your opinions. Personally even if all cables sounded the same I would rather pay a little more for someone to do a better job than I might do when it comes to termination.

I actually thought after posting I might get comments on cable from Blue Jeans, Cobalt, Better Cables, etc. but everyone here seems to use Lowes Cable. Anyway I do appreciate your suggestions.

[brendy]

Given the level of your system (making me jealous!)one probably would hear a difference.The main advantage to higher priced cables,like the companies you mentioned,are the end terminations.Try audiogon,a high end used marketplace.

[Mike Coady]

Okay thanks I'll check out Audiogon.

[Chu Gai]

If you're into reviews then perhaps you'll recall that an orange extension cable, available at HD, was favorably reviewed online a year or two back.

[Dick Knisely]

Mike -- no argument on the good, at all but

Quote:

I would like to spend $100 or less for a 12' pair if possible.

means to me that your idea of Inexpensive Speaker Cable and mine are a tad different.

Enjoy!