I know this subject has been discussed, debated, and talked about to the point of exhaustion; However I could use some advice and ask for a little lenience on the matter.
Before falling ill to this nasty flu, I had been in the process of remodeling my theater. I changed my configuration around a bit and as a result, the current cables/wire I was using ended up being way too long. Well I sold those and I'm in the process of replacing them.
In short, I need some suggestions. I'm not big on going to the hardware store type of places, so I'd appreicate some brand suggestions. I had been running Cobalt Cables. Excellent cables, but I don't think I'm wanting to drop that kind of money on wire/cables again. Not after all the research I've done on the subject.
So far, I've been looking at Monsters XPHP, which is still a little on the high side, but I've heard good things from people who use it. The other I'm also contemplating is Sound King from PE.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sutter
I bought a whole slew of cables recently from monoprice for my new setup. At the price point I really wasn't expecting much but they had such great reviews that i figured what the heck.
They shipped fast and the order was accurate. When the cables arrived I checked the build quality and it seemed solid. I tore apart a component cable I had ordered just for this purpose and the soldering was high quality and the cables were well shielded etc.
I then did some comparisons with some monster cables I had and honestly could not tell any difference.
My advice would be to check them out, at their price point even if you are somehow dissapointed you haven't wasted much.
As I've said in another post I got a spool of Tributaries RG6 from a local A/V dealer and cut the exact lengths from the equipment rack out to the TV where they'll terminate with the proper wall plate jacks on either end. The end result is a clean, neat and tidy application that will cost me less than I could have bought the cables online.
The more I've researched, the less I am impressed with the *high end* overpriced cables a lot of companies sell.
I'm learning.
22 views and only one person replies, what a shame. Well, it was worth a shot anyways.
Duane thanks for the responce bud. I've viewed their site on more then one occasion, never looked at what they had to offer in terms of speaker cable/wire though. I'll give them a look tonight.
Sutter
Rick, that's the conclusion I'm coming to myself. Just not sure on what brands to consider. Thanks for the reply.
Sutter
If you want a good cable for the money I suggest Bluejean for the interconnects and try some Axiom bulk cable for your speakers.
Once again I will recommend
BlueJeansCable. Solid, well crafted, competitively priced. Quality components.
Thanks Wid, I never thought about Axioms cables. I do plan on running bare wire, although I must say, I like the ease of banana plugs. I totally forgot they sell in bulk now. In the past I'd always rule them out because I hate spades and refuse to use them. Thanks for the suggestion bud.
Sutter
Ditto on the BlueJeans, I have some BlueJeans cables and they are really good cables, also their service is second to none...just like Axiom.
I've always heard the bulk Axiom speaker cable is some really good stuff, many like it because of it's flexibility. I love the look of their 'terminated' speaker cables, I'm thinking that what I'll use from the wall plates out to the speakers.
Monoprice sells everything but speaker cable. I got my speaker cable from a palce i found called Tristate Electronics.
They only sell in bulk but you can get 500 feet of high quality Belden 12 AWG cable for 135 which is better than anywhere else I found. Here is a link.
Cables
Well that was the quickest decision I've ever made to anything pretaining to this hobby.
I think I'm going to go ahead and order the Axiom bulk cable/wire. I really do like their terminated cables/wire, but I just can't deal with spades. I've never really had a true hate for anything, but must say I hate spades. It'd be nice if they started offering a choice of either spade or banana plugs, but since they don't, I'll go with the bulk.
I did notice they do sell banana plugs, but I'm stupid, never learned how to do that sort of stuff, so if they don't come terminated, I don't buy them.
Sutter
I used the Bluejeans for inter connects for the Halo amps. Used Axiom speaker wire, and slowly changed most of the cables over to Axioms. Have been happy with the chocie and would recommend both companies.
Dennis I do have a couple of the Axiom cables and those things are nice, I can't believe how flexible they are.
For the short runs I'd certainly suggest cables such as the above mentioned but for the long runs I do believe you'll come out ahead having them made up locally.
Purchased my HDMI/DVI and Component cables from monoprice, unbelievable prices and super quality. Speakerwire was purchased in bulk from an ebay store.
In reply to:
I did notice they do sell banana plugs, but I'm stupid, never learned how to do that sort of stuff, so if they don't come terminated, I don't buy them.
Sutter, assuming it's the soldering that bothers you when it comes to banana plugs, You might be interested in the banana plugs I use.
They can be found at your local
Radio Shack. No soldering required. They screw apart; you slide about a half inch of exposed wire through the bottom half of the plug, fan out the exposed wire, bend it down over the top of the bottom half of the plug, then just screw the top half back on.
I use
SoundKing, 12 gauge speaker wire from Parts Express, and
Dayton innterconnects from Parts Express. Good quality, great price.
Ah sweet, Jack you're such a life saver. Yes, I never learned to do all that soldering stuff. With all my years of experience, I should know how, but it's something I'm guilty of never learning.
I'll check into those banana plugs you refered to. I've got a Rat Shack close to my house.
Thanks again my friend, you're too kind.
Sutter
Jack I also use the Radio Shack banana plugs, heavy duty and easy to use. I also have a couple of banana plugs that is almost identical to these except they have a set screw, which I really like...but I can't remember where I got them from.
No, although these look extremely close, I picked mine up locally. I'm actually thinking it was maybe Home Depot. They sold A/V connects and cabling for a period of time but our local Home Depot quit selling it a couple or so months back...matter of fact I am quite sure it was Home Depot where I got them.
I'd be willing to bet you're right. The bananas I got were RCA brand plugs that I got there and they look exactly like jack's last pic.
Not to keep going on and on with this, but looking at this from Parts Express...
Being recessed, it looks as though it could be made into a nifty QS8 speaker wall plate.
>>> I'd be willing to bet you're right. The bananas I got were RCA brand plugs that I got there and they look exactly like jack's last pic. <<<
Makes me mad I didn't stock up on a few them Ash. Oh well, such is life!
Rick, that is a solid idea! Thanks!
Tom I went ahead and ordered a couple of 'em, I'll let you know how well they work out in a couple or so days.
Yup, those are the same ones you can get at Home Depot. I actually prefer them to the other plugs you posted (which I got from BlueJeans.)
Tri-State also sells banana's that work in a similar way to the rat-shack. If you buy enough (like 10 pairs) they are ridiculously cheap (I seem to remember less that $2 a pair?).
Bluejeans. I love 'em and even gave a gift cert to a friend so he could be assimilated...
I got my banana's from tristate I think I paid 20 bucks for 5 pairs.
They don't require soldering, the bare cable goes in through the side and you tighten the screw down on them then cut away the excess cable. I'll post a picture when i get home if anyone wants me to.
In reply to:
If you buy enough (like 10 pairs) they are ridiculously cheap (I seem to remember less that $2 a pair?).
yeah, i think i got mine for about 3 bucks or so. Haven't had any problems with them so far... I've got them on the wires going to the outdoor speakers, so come spring we'll see how they do.
I ordered my long HDMI cable from Monoprice and I'll be darned if it didn't show up on my doorstep the very next day. Come to find out it shipped from Deerfield Beach, FL...about an hour and a half drive from my home!
one of the guys from the warehouse probably just dropped it off on his way home. lol
My Monoprice stuff came out of CA, but took only 2 days to Iowaaaaaa.
Man I lied upstairs, didn't mean to do it. I actually ordered the HDMI cable from PCCables.com and not Monoprice.com. I've ordered several items from several different people in the past couple of days and I somehow (ME?!) got confused.
Oh heck it's cool Rick, it's easy to do. I mean when your ordering this from here and that from there, it's not hard at all to get places mixed up.
Sutter
Anybody know where one can get shorter length sub cables? I need 1 long one, about 30'-35', but I also need a short one to connect my other 500. I've got the two subs about, oh I don't know, probably about 4' or 5' apart. Basically they both sit behind my couch, one on each end.
Sutter
Bluejean has them in any length you want, Axiom also sells them.
Yeah I noticed that Axiom sells them, but they're a bit pricey in my opinion. Maybe not, I don't know.
Problem with Bluejeans is I don't like their payment method. You're forced to use Paypal as far as I know, and the card I'll be using isn't one I've got on my paypal account, and I don't wish to add this card to it. So I've got to shop around.
Sutter
If you call Blue Jeans and explain the card issue, they will take an order over the phone when having a payment issue on thier web page. At least Erand did for me when I placed an order.
Oh really, I didn't know that. I'll look over their site then and give them a call and see what can be worked out. Thanks man.
Sutter
Sut, the usual suspects, such as
Monoprice , also have shorter cables.
Really! Darn it, I just ordered a whole slew of cables from them this afternoon. I must have over looked their sub cables. I'll pull their site back up and see if I can find them. Thank you John!
Sutter
Sut, of course it doesn't have to be labeled a "sub cable". There're all just coaxial cables with an RCA connector on each end.
exactly. I'd recommend going down to HomeDepot and buying a roll of coax and picking up some connectors at RadioShack and you'll save yourself some dough. Plus you get to have the enjoyment of making a part of your system yourself! Don't you go buying a $80 Monster digital subwoofer cable or we'll all come over and give you a swift kick to the shins!
