ONE OF THEM GETS CLOSE to my $3k REFERENCE?!? My fave Speaker Cables under $100!
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- #speakercables #hifi #audiophile
LINK TO CABLES at AMAZON (prime): bit.ly/3Ki2NPC
My Written Review: bit.ly/3Ki2NPC
None of us want to spend a fortune on HiFi cables. While I have a reference set of Cardas Clear Reflection in my system, I am not one who says you can not find amazing buys for much much less. In fact, one of these cables in this lineup gets awfully close to my $3k reference cables. All of these are under $100 and all are available at Amazon via Prime.
I tested seven cables out and these three were the best of the seven. Of these three, one stands out above the other two.
You can find direct links to amazon for all three of these here: bit.ly/3Ki2NPC
Great Audio Buys 2021:
An AMAZING Tube Amp for LESS: amzn.to/31lRAZK
This ALL IN ONE is Stunning: amzn.to/3bvPXzg
The Speakers I will Die With: amzn.to/3nBHZXs
The Best Klipsch Heritage Speaker Hack: amzn.to/2MXXTz7
The BEST Bang for the Buck Streamer: amzn.to/39oHATg
A NO BRAINER Budget Integrated that packs a HUGE punch: amzn.to/3tQXWN6
Media Contact/Review Contact: stevehuff1@icloud.com - Jak na to + styl
Thanks I got the 2 meter version of the Micca pure copper cables because of you and they are the real deal! Light and love.
Wow, the Micca's are my speaker wires as well over the years! Glad that you also approve of them.
Hello, you have a nice setup. After going through several cables, I now have Inakustik Referenz LS-502 . For $40 a meter, they have excellent audio quality. very balanced, nervous in the bass, silky mids and controlled highs.
I just installed the red Micca Pure that you recommended yestarday. So much better than what I was using before. Thanks!
I’ve made a few sets of speaker cables similar to the $39 for friends and family. Used OFC 12 or 14 AWG from Sky High Audio. Costs about $1.25 a foot finished with Sewell terminations. Subjectively, an improvement over the usual 16AWG CCA stuff. But more interesting, no subjective difference noted on my system when I borrowed a set of Audience ($300 each)cables to try.
love the channel. I love your honesty and the calm manner in which you present things. Because of your recommendation I just ordered the Micca cables. Thanks!
Where from?
@@rosenlazarov Amazon
I just bought your Favorite!! Can't wait..Thanks P
Thanks for review, just ordered a pair :)
I bought the SVS Prime Pinnacle towers and got the SVS speaker cables with them. I normally run Kimber Cables for my speakers and when I listened to the SVS cables, I heard the same thing you did (I’m sure not in the same detail). More bass that was not as detailed and the mids were different. I put the Kimber cables back on and could tell the difference. Sounds much better, tighter bass response and better vocals. I’m going to order the cables you recommended today. I excited to hear them. Just to compare to my Kimber.
Thanks for doing these cable reviews. Have you tried the Blue Jeans speaker cables? I would love to hear you thoughts in them. Thanks again.
I like these kind of videos. Can you do 3 more speaker cables just under $200?
So after watching this I picked these up they are $25 now 7/3/24 and wow they added a little sizzle on top! I can't wait until it gets cold out so I can try these with my winter amp the R8 which gives my focal bookshelf speakers a rolled off sound I didn't realize cables made that much of a difference!
Took your advice and got the Miccas. They replaced a comparably priced pair of Crutchfield cables. The Micca cables had better definition / separation. Thanks for tip!
That’s cool you said that cause I have the crutchfield cables as well. Are you still happy you made the switch?
I am curious if the micas fit into the sprout ok. The plugs that came with my sprout look like the 2mm size and the mica are 4mm any problem getting them in and out.? I am going to pick some up for my sprout if they fit ok.
Well, I have number one handled. Been using the same speakers for over 40 years. My problem is I tend to like what I have and keep it until it breaks
What kind of speakers did you use to test the cables?
Excellent. What is the equivalent for interconnects?
would you go w 6' runs of the Micca cable?
Many have probably heard of Blue Jeans Cable out of Seattle. I use them exclusively. I’ve never compared them to expensive cables but clearly the company is comprised of cable nerds.
+1
Blue jeans 👖 are Belden wires with nice connectors
@@seanb3303 So they chose, wisely. :)
I have their ICs and find them to be very tight, with a lot of glare. Better in my horn system for use with monoblocks, but not for a DAC connection. They don’t come close to Purist or Acoustic Zen performance, but the BJ are inexpensive and the company is excellent.
Hurray for Blue Jeans Cable.
I just got the micca thanks for the plug!
I love that there are deals out there. Question: What if you ran a double run of the 39 dollar cable? I wonder if that would improve them even more?
U have a beautiful system n carpet 👍
Mmm, new cables... they may take a while to settle in. It happened to me many times with speaker cables and interconnects.
I am using Naim nac a5 and I find them superb.
Have you tried the Blue Jeans Cable Canare 4S11
I have the SVS cable and I have been thinking that they were a little heavy in the bass. It seems like spending $40 to try a better cable might not be a bad idea. Thanks
Van Damme LC-OFC works great for me. Clarity, air, precise bass, big stage, affordable.
Peter i have hears many pep talk giid about them cables !!!
Will the Micca wires tone down my Klipsch speakers? I don't want warm or neutral at all and I'm afraid they will muddy the Klipsch sound.
I have kimber cables classic and they sound amazing
I have the monoprice 14 gauge speaker wires for 10 years now and just recently purchased the Micca cables. Had some free time to test them between the monoprice. Turned everything off and only used one speaker to test. I was making sure I wasn't having the Placebo effect lol going back and forth back and forth I noticed the Micca cables were slightly warmer and had less of a static sharper sound.
But which was revealing the true sound of your system?
@@arnolfini1434 confused with your question..
I wonder how they compare to my Blue Jeans Canare 4S11s. I like the locking banana plugs from Blue Jeans but have only compared them to a very old set of Audioquest that were probably on the low end of Audioquest when I got them several decades ago. If anyone has any thoughts on how these might compare to my Blue Jeans I appreciate the comments. I do with they had more length options but that may be part of keeping the cost down.
12' pair back on Amazon for delivery in early June (hopefully sooner) - FYI. curious to try these out. Have some new (to me) La Scala II's on the way sometime this month so curious to try everything out.
yes the Silverbacks are great, Perhaps it is the multi strand composition.
These micca cables are intriguing , but I need a snug fit. If they had a locking plug, like blue jean cables do,
I would buy a pair.
Kudos to the presenter for trying different cables & showing us his results.
Buy a set of locking bananas, they're inexpensive and easy to install.
I just added the Micca 12’ speaker cables to my Polk Audio LSi 25’s and LSi center. I just bought a Rotel RMB-1585 amp. They sound amazing! Why don’t they make custom lengths? I need two more 50’ lengths for my surrounds!
Blue Jeans Cables! Five thumbs up!
too bad the micca cable not available locally in my country. would like try it too.
You would be light years ahead buying $39.99 Monster Cable at Fred Meyer and spending the $4000 you save on better speakers and components.
I am giving my son who moved into his first town home My blusound powernode as I an changing my system. Do you recommend bookshelf speakers in the 500-700$ price range. I'm buying so if he likes home listening he can up grade himself lol.
I have been using the monster cable M2.2s for a long ,long time.
Perhaps some Mogami 3104, happy at last!
Have you reviewed Gear it speaker wire?
It's the connectors that hold it back. Barewire best.
Based on your review, I bought them and tested them against vd Hull, Belden, Telerium q blue. I hated the Telerium q. My standard cable is vd Hull. The Micca came out best, for just, delivered in Europe for 58 Euros. It really is an overall upgrade of my sound. Designed in USA made in China.😊
about how long to run-in
Thanks
Hi Steven have try Mogami W3104 i hear they are very speaker Cable AT reasonable Price
You didn't say what the red cables were and how to find them.
YES! Subscriber for life now! I have a highly resolving system and every cable i change makes a difference.... those who say otherwise have mediocre and non resolving system!!
I used to be a cable guy, MIT, Cardas, Siltech, Tara, JPS... I came to the conclusion that I needed expensive cables because my speakers where not well positioned, I now use studio cables and could not be happier.
Hi @Robert Charbonneau , which "studio cables" do you recommend? I'm currently using Canare 4S11.
What are studio cables?
Should have included the Duelund tinned copper wires, especially for high-efficiency speakers. Check out the detailed reviews on Positive Feedback. I use them with my Avantgarde Duo Mezzo XDs, very nice pairing.
I’m about to try these as I’ve heard great things as well.
I kept experiencing too much sibilance with Duelund wire in power cables and ic's. Despite my bad experiences with it, i tried a diy usb cable with Duelund wire in it and i found it only slightly bright and sibilant but it was still there. It does seem to be mellowing out. I've read Duelund wire takes forever to burn in.
@@susokraut3169 maybe your system isn't resolving enough to hear the difference? I hear what I hear and its absolutely not subtle. I dont know what else to tell you.
You can believe all you want that you don't hear a difference but don't tell us we don't hear a difference when we do. I am in the camp of diminishing returns however as I've heard cables in the thousands not sounding any better than cables in the low hundreds in my own room thanks to a generous audiophile local to me who has let me take home and demo tens of thousands dollars worth of audio gear. In fact, through his help is when i finally heard for myself the differences cables can make..
I think you would be much happier in this hobby over on the ASR forums. Take care.
@@susokraut3169 "Don't try and denigrate me" says the guy telling me what i'm hearing is all in my head. Enjoy your amazon cables and have fun listening.
@@HailKingCeezer pay no attention to the troll, he probably cant hear over 5kHz, these cables introduced sibilance into my system as well.
Is the 12 foot pair gone from Amazon? I only see the 6 footers
They seem to sell out often and then come back in a week or so.
Just got this cable yesterday ,, what i can say ,, it sound like 20$ cable !
I have the same SVS cables between my LS50 Metas and Cambridge Audio AXR100. They replaced 30 year old lamp cord. I always thought cables didn’t matter but there was a noticeable difference in the high end.
@@MIsterB716 The axr takes a standard 4mm banana plug then? Looking into a set of wires and a reciever but unsure and don't believe the manual says anything regarding it.
Imagine some normal 14 awg conducting 200 watts without a problem. A modern day miracle!
If 14 gauge house cable will handle 15 A. V (120) x A (15) = W (1,800). 200Watts and more, easily. You could run a space heater with it.
Interesting, and with those bananas(the spinners) which I can't stand. They can create a diodic effect, not to mention create sort of two signal paths to the speaker but hell, at the price it's worth maybe trying them with a better connector. I've been throwing around the idea of putting together speaker cables built around Mogami W3104 which I finally got to hear. Now the owner of them and various others say that they need 300 hours of use to be at their best. I never quite understood the whole burn in process like a lot of ideas in audiofealdom(made that up), but again many owners suggest that. I wonder if it's (burn in) nothing more thana person acclimating to the cable, your mind psychologically accepting the change. I always found; it's when you remove the new cable or component from the system to see, hear the difference that it actually made. Anyhoo, fun review plus love the components. Not familiar with the speakers though.
It´s about copper molecules setteling down and getting use to behave in a certain manner, simple physics..
My Dynaudio Heritage speakers arrived in his week and my Int 25 IA will arrive on Tuesday. What speaker wires would you recommend w what type of connections? All based on your reviews.
Thank you can’t wait
What is your budget? I have same speakers as you. I’m considering Audioquest, but looking at their higher end ones like the William Tell.
I envy you Frank! Int 25 is my goal! 🇺🇦🇺🇸👊
Where can I get those $39 speaker cables? The link didn't work and Amazon no longer carries them.
Here ya go: amzn.to/3xWFXJx
I saw this review and decided to order the Micca cables, just for yuks. I tried them in both of my systems. In my less expensive, second system, I swapped them with Anti-Cable 2.1. In my main system, I swapped them with Transparent Bi-Cable (bi-wired) cables. At the end of the day, I preferred my existing cables, but not by much! I won't go into the details, but the differences were very subtle. I am extremely impressed with the Micca cables, and, at this price, they are an easy recommendation.
What's your impression of the Anti-Cable?!
@@abomani21 get a quality 99-100% OFC (oxygen free copper ) that is 10-12 awg. Can be had under $30 for 2. Get a quality end that matches your equipment and be done with this. Also the third cable he reviewed here are exactly what I'm saying except 14awg. If you want to brighten up your system, use silver cables.
Speaker cables do matter to a point but my sub $40 cables will hang with cables costing 10 times the price.
that's cuz you're transparent cable uses the same ofc garbage that these cheaper cables use, ofc is the worst wire for audio you can use if you really want to hear a difference get some OCC single crystal wire far superior to anything ofc on the market. but don't get it from China cuz they don't have OCC anything.
Awesome
Too bad you didn’t add the Silverback wires to this comparison, I use them exclusively and would love to hear your opinion.
100% agree! Excellent cables👌
I’m in the UK , Could someone post a link to buy the best / last cables pls ?
I don’t know what they’re called
Paul did you manage to find any over here? I've had no luck ..
No mate, Zero , out of stock 😕
@@paulharris247 IMO if one wants speakers, one goes to speaker maker. If one wants a subwoofer, one goes to a subwoofer maker. If one wants speaker cables, one goes to a speaker cable maker. I've changed my speaker cable several times and it's only when took the punt and purchased 'chord speaker cables' that my setup finally sounded more resolving and btw my livingroom also sounded more quieter.
At this price you should have tried two pairs as bi-wiring. Not that bi-wire necessarily is better. But it will transform them to double the gauge still at a low price
Buying $3,000 cables but getting them on Amazon? Time to have a hard talk with yourself.
Tried Xangsane silver cables from China , they look like Nordost hi end flat cables with 5 strands of separate silver cables. For 2M pair , only costs US40. Easily beats my Van Den Hul cables that costs US250.
I tried one of their silver interconnect cables. Very bad sound. Don't recommend them.
@@Jil8840 I have never tried their interconnects , I use Mogami for XLRs , and MBPS for USB. As far as I’m concern, their spkr cables are fine.
@@Jil8840 I did, too. Way too bright for my system.
@@ChicagoRob2 exactly the same in my system, too. Extremely thin, bright sound.
Using Mogami W3104 speaker wire to match the Mogami gold XLR cables in my setup. I’m liking them compared to the Audioquest cables (silver?) I made way back in the day. Anyone have experience with these?
I have no experience with Mogami in home audio. I do use instrument and patch cables made with Mogami wire. They're the best cables I own by a very wide margin. I do believe you have given me an interesting alternative for speaker cables, thanks
I am using the Mogami 3082 coaxial wire with banana plugs I bought on Amazon from Worlds Best Cables, around $90 delivered for the pair. I had to tweak my system, they did something! This is my first foray into using coaxial wire for speaker cables, I am sold. And I am not one of those cables make a difference guys either, I have lots of cables and power cords from many different manufacturers, and I have never heard a difference vs a free cable and a $100+ one. These Mogami coaxial speaker wires? This is a first for me, and I own that W3104 cable too... I will stick with this 3082 coaxial cable, give them a shot and see what you think.
@@michaelwright1602 WBC cables are my favorite guitar/patch cables. I'm probably gonna give it a go.
12tc from China..
Basically kimber, without the high price,
Regards Antony.
@@antonyharding5360 did you compared them to Kimber? I'd be interested to hear about that. I love Kimbers have my 8TC about 14-15 years.
I highly recommend Kimber 8TC Speaker Cables.
It's one of Kimber's entry level, but definitely bang for the buck.
I always return to this cable. One hack I use is physically expanding the diameter of the cable 4-6 times by compressing 6 inches or so at a time and allowing the wires to cross at near 90 degrees. Doing a pair of 12 footer cost me a bunch of time but worth it.
How does it compare to the 4TC?
So, what are they called, who makes them?
Micca
I have a vintage set up with a McIntosh c32 pre and mc2300 power amp pushing klipsch ksf 8.5s and bose 201s. do you think a cable upgrade is warranted? thanks
High quality cables are part of a high quality system.
Try em, ideally swoping around over a few months to get to know your true preference...
Bargain basement, try the 12tc from China..
What makes one copper wire better than another? What properties in copper affect bass?
Cross Sectional Area is the only thing that matters for Speaker Cable - once you're over the size of standard 240v 10A Power Flex, nothing else makes any measurable difference.
Nothing
Nothing. Total bs.
@@PiDsPagePrototypes that would be called gauge.
@@dougdavis8986 AWG in the US, millimetres squared in the metric world 😉
Why didn't you make a test sound comparison to hear the difference?????
What happen to your beef with mortis the wizard!
Instead of going exotic, try going basic.
Try cables from Tempo Electric. They’re as simple as a bare silver wire and oversized teflon jacket.
Made in NY.
cables that act as an eq just get an eq if you wanna change the sound and you will have total control of the change
All cables whether they are $1 or $10,000 change the sound. No such thing as a neutral cable. All will
Change the sound. The key is finding what works best within your own system.
So what is the neutral "no eq" cable to use if you don't want eq? All cables have a sound signature :)
@@stewstube70 thats why i dont pay more than 100$ per cable if i wanna tweak the sound i just use an eq at least i control the changes
@@godssoldier597 - Monoprice 12g Cable.
Eq doesn't give you perfect results. It's a combination of everything that gets you there.
Hi, Just wondering how 12 feet is the same as 4 meter…
1 meter = 3 feet
@@raymondtorres6561 91,44 cm
It makes sense to me that cables downstream of the DAC will make an audible difference. What about upstream - coax, optical, USB or even the power cords themselves. Do they truly change the sound?
Yes, they all do.
Signal to dac needs to be clear without interference too. Crap signal in means you also get that out.
LONPOO has the exact same cable for $7
Gosh, there is zero performance reason for a speaker cable to cost 1000s of Dollars. People tend to imagine hearing improvements as a result of having paid a lot.
Agree
What a great review! Thanks for this comparison and its funny that I also have several pairs of those SVS cables that aren't currently in use for the reasons you mention, so I ordered the Micca's for fun to try them in comparison to the Elac Reference cables I currently use. The Elac's seem well built and are very neutral sounding but they sell for about $250 a pair. We'll see what happens...lol.
Where have you ordered them? On Amazon they are not longer available, at least in Germany.
Amazon has a 6 foot pair for $30 here in the US.
I had the Mica’s and much prefer the Elac’s. The Mica’s went right back for a refund. I did not like them. Found the sound cold and lacking in mid range, mid bass and lower bass. I don’t understand why he’s going on about those cables.
I had them hooked up to Cambridge Audio CXA81, Marantz Pro CD player using balanced XLR cables to the amplifier and Elac UB52 speakers.
@@j.craigh.3480 the Micca cables sucked on my Elac’s too.
Not available on Amazon unfortunately out of stock
Ordered a 12 foot pair from Amazon Canada - $54 CDN
No restock date available either. 😕
The silver plated connectors might have been the cause of the thin mid range using the Belden, and best to do double run for a 13awg equivalent.
Amazon now says your favorite cables are unavailable and does not know when they will be available again. Bummer.
Did a house recently 🤔 middle aged man had use his jumbo cables pull through rafters and stud walls wouldn't let us cut them aaaaaaaaahh an eighties man like your gonna move now 😳 Jesus Murphy cables I use regular lumex house wire and I do move a lot 😉
Bigger gauge better sounds LOL😂😂😂
I worked for Monster in it's formative days (1981) It was pretty much BS. People ate it up because it was a new "component" It magnified the wire thru a clear insulation WOO WOO We had a setup with lampcord (with a resistor hidden from view) and it corroded pretty much in 6 Months.. Maybe SKW 6 nines OCCC from HifiGo quick and well made!!
I agree. Early Monster sucked.
SKW isn't OCC.
How could that orange cable be an upgrade from the "thin copper" at Walmart.....are those not thin copper wires themselves? :)
Exactly the same, only twisted...
Zip cord! 30$ a spool!
I was going to buy these cables on amazon but they only come in six foot lengths not 12 foot
Are you sure?I just bought the 6-footers and saw an option to purchase 12-footers.
VAn Den Hul Sky Hybrid
$45 now. 7/3/22
No cables, just solid pieces of cooper
I want to make a joke based on the typo, and the the best I get is swapping cables for single malt, because making the barrels is the job of a Cooper, and the alcohol makes it easier to listen to nonsense about speaker cables ;)
@@PiDsPagePrototypes
Cooper wires are made by Sheldon Cooper. They have no emotion and will be very critical at the slightest opporchancity😂😂.
@@jazzman1626 Well played sir.
How in the world!!! Can a speaker cable add bass 🙄
Cables are system dependent. So it’s important you audition them in your own system.
@@susokraut3169 Yes
Brainwashed.
@@JohnLee-db9zt More like mental illness dependent.
Cables who works in Huff's setup might not work in yours. It's all about synergy..
If $40 cables get really close to his $3,000 cables, just imagine how close $200 or, gasp, $300 cables come. The moral of the story, never spend more than about $500 on speaker cables.
Better yet, cut the ends off Power Flex and use that.
Any cable will do, blow the boat out and get amazon basic.
Have you tried running 99% pure ofc 10awg wire that can be had for less than $30 with just a quality pair of connections to compare? The only way I can see it being different is using Silver to brighten the sound. I haven't heard $1k cables to compare but I'm making assumptions based off of tons of experience with different cables.
Agreed, Crutchfield bulk 10 awg ofc cable, banana connectors, make your own.
ofc is garbage where have you been OCC single crystal is far superior
What are those red cables you gush about? You never show or state their name and/or manufacturer!?
Do a blind test and we might believe you
I've listened to many cables over the 30 years I've had my systems and I now have 2 rules.. 1 It must not look like it should be underground. The speaker cable that looks like serious amps cable is not my thing. 2 It must sound better than anything I've heard regardless of price.. I have only 1 cable I use through out my system and it ain't Cardas...It costs a little more than Cardas but hey you get what you pay for.. You have a lot to learn maybe one day :-)
$3k for 2.5m of copper? 🤦🏼♂️
Yep, dude needs to check out the placebo effect
@@dbcoder waxed strings provide the best voicing. I remember my brother and I running a waxed string between two high-end paper cups and it was magic. Those were the days ….
But yr hovering around here, mate!??
What copper he running to the power plant?
Not for poor audiophiles.
Who is silly enough to pay$3k US for speaker cable??
That could feed Eretria for a day
People with OCD