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Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 5th, 2019, 6:05 pm

I bet my thermostat wire would not pale.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 5th, 2019, 6:09 pm

SoundMods wrote:
Stuart Polansky wrote:Forget DCR my friend. AC is the signal. Signal travels on the skin of the wire, depth varying with frequency. Having parallel sets of different diameter strands seems to help with providing a lower impedance signal path. DCR is of little or no consequence.

Maybe its BS. but it has served me and my mentor well.

Yup, Cardas with individually insulated strands would be better. My pockets ain't that deep.

Of course YMMV and system dependent.


Then explain why the Andrew Heliax micro-wave cable that I use for speaker cable, having a 12-gage solid center conductor, is rated out to 18-gHz.? And why after many - many - trials with so-called speaker cables, with every imaginable construction, pale by comparison?


Those cables have EMF and RF radiation insulation built in around the solid core. That could explain some of the benefits.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 5th, 2019, 6:29 pm

DaveR wrote:I bet my thermostat wire would not pale.


Might be the best sound ever. But,you'll never know unless you try.

What we experimented with was adding strands, differing size conductors, etc.

Seems like, even with the smallest conductors, for instance, finely stranded 21 gauge, the treble was always there: detail, inner resolution, however you wish to characterize it. The more and differing strands added, the fuller the midrange became.

Call it what you will, the effect is quite pleasing to my ear anyway. You don't like it, that's fine.

But the only way you know for yourself is to try. If you tell yourself before the test that there cannot be any difference, you will fulfill that prophecy. Ditto for the inverse.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 6th, 2019, 4:22 pm

I got hold of 8 gauge speaker wire. I also have some 10-12 gauge as well. With the 8 gauge, I just need a banana plug or speaker spade that will fit the wire and the binding post size.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 6th, 2019, 4:56 pm

See Roscoe's post.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 7th, 2019, 2:59 pm

What speakers are you using Steve?

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 7th, 2019, 4:28 pm

Main speakers are Amphion bookshelfs. Thinking about selling and upgrading. One of the recent CAF vendor has speakers that are on my short list.

I still want to listen to those speakers you have.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 7th, 2019, 5:01 pm

Steve, call me crazy but 8AWG speaker wire might be overkill for bookshelf speakers that go down to 48-50Hz? That size cable will probably pull your speakers off their stands unless the speakers are bolted on?

I have had pretty good experience with Anticables that are a "measly" 12 AWG. They are cheap too.


mix4fix wrote:Main speakers are Amphion bookshelfs. Thinking about selling and upgrading. One of the recent CAF vendor has speakers that are on my short list.

I still want to listen to those speakers you have.

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 7th, 2019, 6:18 pm

https://www.partsconnexion.com/FTECH-71108.html

#8 AWG is about 3.3mm in diameter

These lugs will accept up to 6mm diameter conductors

Re: 8 gauge banana plugs/speaker spades

November 8th, 2019, 10:28 am

[quote="TubeDriver"]Steve, call me crazy but 8AWG speaker wire might be overkill for bookshelf speakers that go down to 48-50Hz? That size cable will probably pull your speakers off their stands unless the speakers are bolted on?

I have had pretty good experience with Anticables that are a "measly" 12 AWG. They are cheap too.


I have to agree. It takes a lot to impress me when it comes to audio -- the 2018 CAF had a vendor that high-lighted the Anticables. During the first day (Friday) they played some excellent recordings and the Anticables very politely stepped out of the way to enable the music. NICE! All of the sound reproduction "boxes" were checked.
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