The cables you choose to connect your speakers to your receiver make more of a difference than you might think. Cheap cables impair the sound, but good cables can be expensive. Consider your budget and try to audition some cables to see the differences.
Instructions
Auditioning Cables
1. Check the selection at your local consumer electronics and high-fidelity audio specialty stores.
2. Make sure the cables you select fit into the binding posts on your receiver or amplifier and speakers.
3. Buy or borrow several pairs of cables.
4. Connect a pair of cables from your receiver or amplifier to your speakers and play a song. Make sure the amplifier is turned off.
5. Immediately repeat the process with another pair of cables.
6. Compare the sound by listening to the same recordings using each of the cables. Listen to each for at least an hour.
7. If a clear winner emerges, buy those cables. If you can't find satisfactory cables in your area, consider mail order.
Selecting a Cable Type
8. Set your budget.
9. Consider models from AudioQuest, Cardas Audio, Kimber Kable, NBS, Nordost, Straight Wire, Tara Labs, Transparent Audio, Wire World and XLO for high-fidelity audio reproduction.
10. Buy 16-gauge lamp cord if on a limited budget.
11. Twist the leads of a double run of 16-gauge lamp cord together and solder them for an inexpensive upgrade.
12. Determine the lengths you need. Buy the shortest possible length of cable for each speaker, but buy the same length for each.
13. Check your speaker manual to see if the manufacturer recommends specific brands or models of cable. Product literature and reviews sometimes tell what the manufacturer used for internal wiring, and matching that usually works very well.
14. Check the Recommended Components lists in the most recent issue of "Stereophile" for both prices and suggestions of models worthy of auditioning.
15. Make a list of candidates.
16. Read reviews in audiophile magazines and on the "Audio Review" Web site to help narrow the list.
Tags: your receiver, 16-gauge lamp, 16-gauge lamp cord, high-fidelity audio, lamp cord