Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Sneak Preview of the Axiom Audio Cables

If anyone is interested, Audioholics has done a preliminary review (preview?) of the Axiom Audio line of cables. The review is subjective and will be followed by more objective technical measurements in a follow-up speaker cable face-off article.

Here's the link:

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/interconnects/axiomaudio_cables_review.html

Quote: "stiff RCA connectors that comfortably grip when attached without risking damage during insertion or removal."

sounds like some kind of dirty instruction manual.

I may have thought it, but I sure didn't say it.

I was amazed I beat you to it Peter

The SIAA (sexual innuendo addicts anonymous) meetings I'm going to must be helping.

. . . . . . .

OK...I admit it, I thought the same thing too.

I'll pass along some tips I learned from those SIAA meeting that should help you avoid the temptation of going down the (warm) slippery path toward sexual innuendos:

1. Count to 10. If still tempted, go to step 2.
2. Temporarily take on the persona of a puritan. If still tempted, go to step 3.
3. Pretend your mother is watching over your shoulder. If still tempted, go to step 4.
4. Think about your grandmother for 15 seconds. If still tempted (you're sick!), go to step 5.
5. WWJD?

Clint, I thought that Gene had warned you about writing those sexy equipment reviews when you know how those guys on the Axiom board are.

If we can get past the giggling adolescent confusion between audio cabling and private parts, first of all, I love the audioholics website. It's frequently updated, and unlike some blatantly commercial sites (which really make their money from "advertorials" - advertisements disguised to look like objective reviews) audioholics calls 'em like it sees them. For example, they hammered a widely praised Sunfire product (I've always thought they were overpriced and overrated, but that's my opinion, so please don't sue).

Anyway, I was pleased that audioholics like Axiom's new cabling.

There are some terrific bargains in well made cables out there - I like the Tara Labs Prism series, which can be had for dirt cheap on ebay, in England, Ecosse cabling is available for a few bucks for runs of very well made cables. There's some decent AR cables which are modestly priced. Of course, when you need a cable fast, there's always Radio Shack gold series stuff. It's OK, although the "Fusion," series has ferrite RF blocks which may, according to some reviewers, dull the music when used on speaker wire and interconnects.

I have about a dozen of the Outlaw locking interconnects. I think they're pretty, but they are a pain in the butt, they're big and the locking mechanisms can get hung up.

I swap equipment frequently, so I'm looking at the backside of my equipment and recabling more often than sensible, so convenience is important to me, so, I won't be getting any more of Outlaw's cables.

I like banana plugs for convenience, but my best speaker wire (IMO) are some runs of the Mapleshade Clearview Double Golden Helix Plus (big name, thin wire) which has naked ends, no spades, no plugs ... Modestly priced compared to Kimber, Nordost etc., but much more expensive than the Tara Labs.

Anyway, because I'm a supporter of Axiom, I'll be ordering some of their cables when they're available. It's always good to have some extras handy.

well heck, i coulda wrote a review like that! Lets see something with listenin tests already!

J would grab a beer and go hang out with the prostitutes. Any questions?

Yeah... the review is really a "part one". We are doing measurements, listening and a comparison test shortly. We realize this first round was just observation and opinion - but not many people had them yet... in fact, I believe I had the first shipment according to Amie... so I thought people would dig getting a first glimpse and opinion of the build quality.

And the cables don't make very good whips for those wondering... ;-)

Id like to know who was wondering that...


lol

Uhh... Did you mean electric whips?

In reply to:

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Uhh... Did you mean electric whips?

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[demonic laugh]Muhahahha[/demonic laugh]

there are electric whips. they are used to connect your a/c condensing unit to the outside electrical box. while probably not what you were referring to, let me know what gauge wire, and i'll quote a price; stock item!
dan

Good god! I would never have expected cables to be so expensive. What am I getting myself into?

I'll need a bank loan before this is all done!

-Nick

Go to Radio Shack or one of the other cheap places people will start suggesting in a few seconds after I post this. Cheap cables aren't going to hurt anything, and if you feel there is a difference (I don't, for the time being), you can always buy more expensive ones later.

"Cheap" is a relative thing, of course. Even I wouldn't buy cheap cables. Cheap cables, to me, are the kind that come bundled with lots of sheaper electronices. Really thin RCA cables, for example.

"Inexpensive" cables are the way to go. Just look for some thickness and a good buiild quality. Radio Shack's Gold or Pro lines fit the bill and perform well, as far as I can hear and see.

Check out Tara Prism 300s on ebay, they're really inexpensive, excellently made interconnects, much less expensive than Radio Shack's Fusion or Gold series.

Anything you can do to avoid stepping into a Radio Shack, or even browsing their website, is a worthy use of your time. The Tara Prism 300s don't look half bad.

http://www.taralabs.com/products/ind_prducts/ind_int_prism.asp#3

Bah - why must I face all these links that do nothing to me other than make me want to spend more money - heh. I had my next few upgrades so well planned....

What's worse, is that Gene just tested the Axiom speaker cables and they blew away the rest of the pack (so far). His Cable Article Part 2 is still a ways away, but we found it amazing that Axiom's no BS cables beat out stuff costing QUITE a bit more.

Oh good lord...that's all I needed to hear. Because I say "i'll just get some inexpensive ones"...but it'll eat at me that there is a "good deal" out there that will give me great performance and I didn't go that route.

My prediction:

The wife will have shot me by the time this project is over.

-Nick

But if the Axiom cables are more aesthically appealing to her than others, it may gain you some points...

Yes, I'm sure she'll enjoy the asthetics once she cleans my blood off of them. Actually she's pretty good about everything. Quite understanding with all my hobbies. I just never expected cables and to cost so much. Like most things in life you get what you pay for. And if you're careful you get more than you pay for.

-Nick

I've been scouring the net looking for a good deal on cables. (Still working on that system for my brother) Damn...buying an entire set of HT cables all at once adds up!

So far the best deal I could find on quality analog interconnects has been from Blue Jeans Cables. For $26/pair you get pretty much exactly what every place else seems to be charging $50+ for. (Belden 1505F with Canare RCA Plugs)

If you want anything more than a simple spool of 12awg copper for speaker cables though, "deals" are hard to find. Axiom's speaker cables are pretty much in the ballpark price wise. Heartland Cables seems to have some decent prices on speaker cables though too.

Even with all the bargain hunting that I've done, all the cables he'll need comes to almost $500. Damn....

If you need enough cables and you're willing to invest a little time, you can make the same cables for quite a bit less money.
http://www.bus.ucf.edu/cwhite/theater/DIYCable.htm

Darn right on finding deals on cables. About the best I have seen is Blue Jeans. The multi audio set is at a good price, also. I wish more would do those set.

I'd love to make my own, but I don't have the time or workspace right now. It's definately on my short list of things to learn how to do.

Just for giggles, I priced out the materials necessary to make 5 18' speaker cables like Axiom's. 12 ga wire, gold spades, red and black heat shrink, and techflex sleeving came to $94.40 plus tax and shipping at partsexpress.com.

You forgot to factor in the opportunity cost...