Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Thinking about this system, opinions please.

Axioms own, very fine stranded copper?

Hi Rob,

My opinion is that you don't need to go nuts with either interconnects or speaker cables.

People seem to really like Blue Jeans Cables; they do seem to hit the sweet spot relative to price/performance/engineering. Any 12-14 gauge copper wire will work fine for speaker cable (Home Depot or whatever). I found a closeout on some low end Monster interconnects, but I think anything that is a tiny little step up from the freebies in the box will work just fine.

Do a forum search, but be prepared for divergent opininons.

If you are connecting your CD and/or DVD player via a digital cable (optical or coaxial), just get the cheapest one of the type; it's all 1's and 0's and it either connects or it doesn't.

These are my opinions only, based on my experience and information from those I deem credible. I do not claim absolute knowledge, and your ears may very well be able to discern differences in quality that mine cannot. No warranty expressed or implied, etc. I honor those with opinions different than my own, as long as they are expressed with dignity and respect.

Good luck! I just know you'll be thrilled with your new system.

Thanks guys. Sounds like that old box of car stereo cables will come in handy here. Way better than the in the box stuff, and best of all, I already have it...

That's the spirit!
Now go out and dig up that low voltage 12 gauge landscape wiring to your Malibu lights - its perfect for long runs to your surrounds. Also gives surround effects a grounded, earthy tone.

Rob, just one further point; the "in the box stuff" is almost always fine. Manufacturers don't sabotage their own products by packaging something with them that won't allow them to perform at their best.

Many people have great success with 12g wire from Home Depot. Someone mentioned Parts Express, you can can get a 100ft roll of good 12ga cable for 37.50. Look for the "Sound King" brand. Just get some banana plugs at Radio Shack. Impact Acoustics "Velocity" line of interconnects are good value for the price.
Blue Jeans Cables interconects are a little more expensive, but they ooze "quality." Plus you can pick the cable color! Just don't use the RCA's that come boxed with your components.

Oops, did I just step on JohnK's toes? I mentioned "don't use the RCA's that come in the box" right after John said they are fine. Not trying to troll, really. I just think there is more to be said for good quality (not "high priced") interconnects than for exotic speaker cables. JMHO.

Mark

No need to worry about JohnK's toes. They are iron-clad and step-proof.

I hate to disagree with JohnK, but freebie cables suck. Plain and simple. The R/L audio they throw at you may be OK, but the video cable you generally get is a VERY cheap composite cable. Not worth tying you shoes with. They don't usually give S-Video or Component Cables away with dvd players...and you need at least that for the best possible picture.

So...bottom line. Use the free audio cables if you must. But visit Blue Jeans and get a decent S-Video or Component Cable set for the video portion of your gear.

Well. Wow. What a difference a day makes. Recieved my M22ti's, VP100 and EP175 yesterday. I wasn't able to even take the stuff out of the boxes til 10pm or so, so I only had a half an hour to audition the setup (still on the old reciever), but even before break-in this setup is so much better than the AM-7 set I was using that "head and shoulders above" doesn't even come close. A huge difference was realized immediately, and I haven't even had time to properly place everything. The front 3 are just sitting on top of the entertainment center right now, much to my wife's chagrin. These things sound execellent, my wife even said she thought it sounded a little better, which for her was a huge admission. I can't wait til I get a chance to see what these speakers will really do, the new reciever is on it's way, so it won't be long...