Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Cable match for M22's

Hey all,

Newbie to the forum and to Axiom audio. I've just been baptized with a pair of M22 ti's (yes, Santa came early and he drives a FedEx truck).

Obviously they'll need some time to break in, but I want to find the right speaker cable for my system. Right now I'm running cheap monster XP cables and the sound stage is a bit compressed. Any experience on what type of cable works well with the M22's (I've got a Marantz sr-780 receiver)?

I appreciate any comments/suggestions you may have =)

uh-oh...things are gonna heat up quick.

Let me start by saying I've used both Monster Z2 series cables as well as a run of 12awg copper. The difference was minimal at best. Unless you have an amazing ear, or are extremely fussy about your audio, a length of 12awg will work fine.

I think you're right in one respect: the difference between $8k and $10k cable may be extremely subtle and only audible to those with highly trained ears.

However I think that the difference between $0.25/ft and $5/ft cable can be a pretty decent upgrade for your system. There is much more bang for the buck when upgrading from otr (off the rack) crap to decent cable with some R+D under it's belt.

just a friendly retort =)

Oh Boy. BigRingKing, there are folks on this site who are pretty insultingly adament that zip cord is the best choice for cabling. I think the folks who believe that using string is your best bet just bite their tongues.

Personally, I like the Mapleshade Clearview Double Golden Helix speaker wires (long name, very thin wires), and their ultrathin interconnects. For conventional cabling, I'm sure that the Axiom offerings are a good value, and you would certainly be dealing with some of the nicest folks out there.

I use the above-referenced weird wires with my M22 like Michaura M55 speakers and a 5 watt per channel tube amp. Love 'em!



You can check them out here:
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tweaks/speakercable.php

What I said wasn't an opinion. It was my own personal experience. Your personal experience may vary. Like I said, it depends on your ears, and your amount of scrutiny of the audio.

Copper is copper no matter how you twist it, period.
$$ does not automatically equal quality.

Do a seach on the forums for more informed statements. This subject has been beaten to death.

Thanks 2x6spds

I'm definitely considering the mapleshades as an option, and I'm glad to hear they work well in your system. I may give them a whirl.

Spiffnme:

Hope I didn't offend. I just like lively discussion, and a lot of the topics on this board are polarized around this issue. I totally respect your opinion and your experience, in fact I value it b/c it balances out the overwhelming marketing hype of some products (like $10,000 cables for instance).

Not offended at all.

I wish I had a better way to test the cables in my home, but all I could do was listen, switch and listen again. Not the most scientific way of doing things, but at the same time, if there had been a huge difference I would have noticed. Sad to say, there just wasn't. A differene, yes...but worth $100+ more? I'm just not sold on the idea yet.

The Z2's look a lot nicer.

BRK, if you're being serious, there's simply no technical basis for your comments about speaker break-in or speaker wire. If the wire is of adequate gauge for the impedance of the speakers and the length of the run, it has no audible effect on the sound and allows optimum performance regardless of whether it cost $0.10 a foot or $1,000 a foot. Unfortunately this is probably the area of audio most rife with charlatans preying on the gullible. The facts are that when properly controlled blind tests are conducted and the participants have to "trust their ears" any differences in sound disappear along with the nameplates and pricetags. Don't waste your time and money.

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Don't waste your time and money.

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Or if you do, make sure to buy my premium Zero Intolerance Point wire... yes, 10ga. Z.I.P. wire... only $180/ft, but be careful with your first impressions... they take a century or so to break-in, unless you use our patented CD.



Bren R.

I side with 2x6spds and I have personally heard a difference between a "few" cables. Just last week I compared a JPS Labs Ultraconductor vs my Kimber 4TC and I still enjoy the sound my 4TC presents.
http://www.kimber.com/4tc.htm
And pricing can be moderate. Yes its not $1.50/foot but its not $150/foot either.

Try Ascendant Cables. You can get them from www.ozenterprises.net

I should also note, just to heat up the discussion...

A cable has inductance, capacitance, and resistance...correct?

A loudspeaker crossover has inductors, capacitors, and resistors....correct?

If a cables dont make a difference, thats like saying slightly varying the crossover components doesnt make a difference.

I may be wrong, but its just my little theory.

Welcome aboard Kirby. (Fan of Jack?)

If you want more than 12awg copper, the best prices I've found were from Heardland Cables

Here is a link to numerous postings on this subject by John Dunlavy on the subject of cable performance. The emphasis is on sound science and labratory testing of both electrical performance and listening experience. I think these postings effectively answer most of these questions about cables http://home.austin.rr.com/tnulla/dunlavy9.htm

That correlation is horrible in trying to link such two very different concepts.

Copper is copper, period, no matter which way you twist it, cover it, or stare at it.

Concentrate on what will make a real difference, the speakers and the room.
How come no "audiophiles" ever tells us about how they shifted a throw pillow on the couch and the ensuing sound was "more open in the mids with less harshness in the highs and highly controlled bass"?!!!

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How come no "audiophiles" ever tells us about how they shifted a throw pillow on the couch and the ensuing sound was "more open in the mids with less harshness in the highs and highly controlled bass"?!!!

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I get that too when I slouch on my couch.

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Concentrate on what will make a real difference, the speakers and the room.
How come no "audiophiles" ever tells us about how they shifted a throw pillow on the couch and the ensuing sound was "more open in the mids with less harshness in the highs and highly controlled bass"?!!!

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That does raise the further questioning of stereo owners who will pay $2000 for attractively marketed cables and interconnects, but wouldn't think of adding a second layer of drywall to their media room offset by furring bar - which, acoustically, would benefit them much more.

Maybe drywall companies need to get on this bandwagon too... new Domtar SilverSnake Pro XP35 1/2" drywall - from the leader in sound damping, the world's most acoustically transparent building material. But again, you have to wait for all the gypsum molecules to align.

Bren R.

Haha, yes, time aligned sheets of drywall.
That's funny but you know someone may very well try to make it, whatever time aligning gypsum means. It certainly means squat for copper wire.

Don't MAKE me pull out that link again. Oh, there, I just did it. Read the article, then tell me about the capacitance, resistance, and inductance.

Hey this might be my calling...you guys would stand by my new product if I do a startup.....(free m80's....I mean meals if you do.)

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Don't MAKE me pull out that link again

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Actually, that's the identical cabling system I intend to use in the new house (Jan 10 - can't wait to move!)...

Bren R.

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do when I finally get my M22s (come on, gift certs!)

This is the same kind of cable I just purchased.... $.41 cents a foot here:

http://www.markertek.com/MTStore/product.CFM?BaseItem=4S8

It's 2 sets of twisted 16 guage wire - supposed to be the equivalent of a single 13 guage wire. Twisting wires helps with external signal rejection. Add your own connectors or leave them bare... and the price isn't significantly more than zip cord.

There's a fatter cable, too - the 4s11 which is 4x14 guage wire, 11 gauge equivalent. I'm only planning on running about 20 feet, so that's overkill for me, really.

Ken,
I thought you already had the M22s.
Now you're saying that you do not?
Pleae tell me you have at least heard them by now. Peter has shared hasn't he?

Oh yeah, I've heard his. Otherwise I wouldn't be here.

Nope, I still haven't got 'em. One of these months... As soon as my computer is paid off, and Christmas presents, etc...

But I thought you wanted M60s...