Speaker Cables?

[se7en]

Anyone spring for one of them pricey speaker cables? Notice much of a difference? I'm tempted to buy an Evidence Siren II, as I love their instrument cables and do notice a difference.

 

[D-Rock]

I like an use the 5ft thick ass Planet waves cables that are $25

 

[OUTLAW1969]

I use a Kimber speaker cable and it sounds great, but cannot say that it is any better than a Monster cable from GC, either, because I have used the Kimber since putting this rig together.

 

[tripstan]

If your using a 3ft $25 planet waves cable that is thick as hell it will sound fine. I think it starts to affect power/tone when you run long speaker cables 10ft-15ft or more. Just from personal experience no science behind my claims.

 

[se7en]

I use a Kimber speaker cable and it sounds great, but cannot say that it is any better than a Monster cable from GC, either, because I have used the Kimber since putting this rig together.

I've heard good things about the Kimber speaker cable. Pretty reasonable by comparison as well.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I use colossal cables colossus. Expensive but sounds great.

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

I bought the Lava cable Tetra (I think that's what it's called) sounds like it should, like nothing.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I bought the Lava cable Tetra (I think that's what it's called) sounds like it should, like nothing.

Been wondering about these...

 

[WizardSouth-JP]

I bought the Lava cable Tetra (I think that's what it's called) sounds like it should, like nothing.

Been wondering about these...

Costs about $50 for 3ft, I was running a Monster Speaker cable before this, wasn't recording so didn't compare side by side...but the cable looks tough, could whip a grizzly bear with it and still be fine (if the bear didn't maul you to death). Doesn't sound like anything which is good, I only want to hear guitar + amp, cables shouldn't affect tone in my opinion, if it does that's just another variable.

 

[50MkII]

I am currently using the Siren II cables for each of my amp setups. I know a buddy who posts here frequently who used them until he tried the Alessandro speaker cable out then converted. In the past, I have used Monster Studio Pro (1000? top of the line) and cheapo Livewire, Rapco or whatever they were a long time ago before using Monster. Do prefer the the Siren to the Monster. Differences are slight but noticeable. You will find greater sonic differences in different instrument cables (guitar to amp, pedalboard to amp) than speaker cables. I am comparing different instrument cables right now. I keep telling myself not to do what I am currently doing with instrument cables to speaker cables- it can get expensive making all of these comparisons after a while.

 

[lettmusic]

I use a short 3 feet Monster cable and a long 10ft Planet Waves. The Monster has more clarity, but not much, the long length of the PW is not desirable, but I need it in some situation when I'm running 2 amps or recording. Ideally you don't want a long cable as it does make a difference in signal integrity, just ask Scott Henderson.

 

[stratotone]

I've used lamp cord, works as well as anything. Good enough for Ken Fischer, good enough for me. Besides, everyone puts these giant ass enormo speaker cables between guitar and cab and then they have teeny wire inside the cab to the speakers.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Besides, everyone puts these giant ass enormo speaker cables between guitar and cab and then they have teeny wire inside the cab to the speakers.

speak for yourself, I wired all my cabinets internally with the same solid core silver wire that I build the speaker cables out of. obviously you don't need to use silver but i like its sound better than copper.

I always match the wire or you are diminshing the improvement from your fancy speaker cables. I will say though that even without the cab internals there is a marked difference when using good speaker cables.

 

[nevusofota]

I use vovox speaker cables and do hear a difference.

 

[stratotone]

Besides, everyone puts these giant ass enormo speaker cables between guitar and cab and then they have teeny wire inside the cab to the speakers.

speak for yourself, I wired all my cabinets internally with the same solid core silver wire that I build the speaker cables out of. obviously you don't need to use silver but i like its sound better than copper.

I always match the wire or you are diminshing the improvement from your fancy speaker cables. I will say though that even without the cab internals there is a marked difference when using good speaker cables.

I think I'll leave my '72 stock Vintage marshall cabs alone, thanks. And my '76 blackback cab. And the rest of my cabs.

I guess you beefed up the wires from your output transformer to the speaker jack too, right? Those are awfully small. OMG what about the windings on the transformer?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Besides, everyone puts these giant ass enormo speaker cables between guitar and cab and then they have teeny wire inside the cab to the speakers.

speak for yourself, I wired all my cabinets internally with the same solid core silver wire that I build the speaker cables out of. obviously you don't need to use silver but i like its sound better than copper.

I always match the wire or you are diminshing the improvement from your fancy speaker cables. I will say though that even without the cab internals there is a marked difference when using good speaker cables.

I think I'll leave my '72 stock Vintage marshall cabs alone, thanks. And my '76 blackback cab. And the rest of my cabs.

I guess you beefed up the wires from your output transformer to the speaker jack too, right? Those are awfully small. OMG what about the windings on the transformer?

well my signal chain when i still had a tube amp was silver from pickup to speaker. zephyr pickkups silver in guitar silver in all cables silver in my homebrew amp where it could be used and then the speaker cables.

now im digital where i belong.

i dont really care much for vintage only the best possible sound for which i use an entirely scientific approach.

the vintage cabs reproduce sound so poorly... ill never have to worry about it though as ill never own one.

to each their own though, if it works for you enjoy it!

I do not subscribe to "thats how they used to do it so its better" every single human advancement has come from the desire to improve the existing standards.

 

[blackba]

The longer the speaker cables, the more difference you will notice between gauges and brands. I typical use ProCo cables or home built cables with Carol wire.

 

[stratotone]

Yeah, we all know a vintage marshall cab from the late 60s to early 70s is a poor reproduction of sound. Wow. I have a Bogner cab, which IMHO is one of the better 'new' cabs you can get... my '72s sound better. As a matter of fact, nearly all of the high end cabs are COPIES of the late 60s Marshall cabs. You know, vintage cabs that reproduce sound poorly.

Maybe one of you kind folk will trade me a new Marshall cab for my shit '72s?

Think of it this way... you know, scientifically:

You have a transformer with teeny tiny wires wrapped around a core. Wires coming out from this are really small and go to your output jack. The one that your speaker cable plugs into. Ok, now you've plugged in your enormo tone ranger awesome cable, and it plugs into your cab. Ok, you've changed out the wiring internally too. Then it goes to a tiny bare wire to the transducer from the terminals on the speaker.

What I'm trying to say is, think of current as water flow. You're telling me you can take a straw (internal amp wiring off the transformer) to a sewer pipe (speaker cable) back to a straw (stock cab) and see a huge difference? Or straw>sewer pipe>sewer pipe>speaker?

As long as the cable can handle the voltages produced by your amp and your ends are good, you're fine. I'm talking about average length cables, if you're going to use a 100 foot cable you might have a little loss, but it's nothing like a guitar cord that is passive and subject to greater capacitance loss.

Just my opinion. Not as steeped in science as your double blind method was, I'm sure. Let me guess, you use hospital grade power cords too, right?

Pete

Besides, everyone puts these giant ass enormo speaker cables between guitar and cab and then they have teeny wire inside the cab to the speakers.

speak for yourself, I wired all my cabinets internally with the same solid core silver wire that I build the speaker cables out of. obviously you don't need to use silver but i like its sound better than copper.

I always match the wire or you are diminshing the improvement from your fancy speaker cables. I will say though that even without the cab internals there is a marked difference when using good speaker cables.

I think I'll leave my '72 stock Vintage marshall cabs alone, thanks. And my '76 blackback cab. And the rest of my cabs.

I guess you beefed up the wires from your output transformer to the speaker jack too, right? Those are awfully small. OMG what about the windings on the transformer?

well my signal chain when i still had a tube amp was silver from pickup to speaker. zephyr pickkups silver in guitar silver in all cables silver in my homebrew amp where it could be used and then the speaker cables.

now im digital where i belong.

i dont really care much for vintage only the best possible sound for which i use an entirely scientific approach.

the vintage cabs reproduce sound so poorly... ill never have to worry about it though as ill never own one.

to each their own though, if it works for you enjoy it!

I do not subscribe to "thats how they used to do it so its better" every single human advancement has come from the desire to improve the existing standards.

 

[stratotone]

The longer the speaker cables, the more difference you will notice between gauges and brands. I typical use ProCo cables or home built cables with Carol wire.

Not as much as guitar cables. Are you guys running cables across your house or something? For general use I never needed something more than a few feet long, maybe five or six for a stack. I think some of us are forgetting the difference between a passive guitar signal and a speaker cable.

Hey, some science!

http://gizmodo.com/305549/james-randi-o ... are-better

So if they can't prove a 7250 speaker cable is better than a monster cable... Hm. Draw your own scientific conclusions. I think I see a way some of you guys in this thread could possibly make a million bucks. When you do, remember where you got the link.

Pete

 

[madrigal77]

I made my own. Mogami cable and Neutrik ends. 3ft cost me less than $20. I don't know how much better it sounds, but it sure is heavy duty!! It's about as thick as a nickle .