Cable Conundrum (long, bring a sandwich)

[chessman]

I am about to separate my Siamese twin system (HT and two channel) by using a long (25') pair of XLR interconnects between the processor and the preamp. That turns a 50' speaker cable run to the mains into a 15' run. I get there by putting the two channel rig on its own rack stage left, while the HT rig stays on its own rack at stage right.

The 25" XLR cable does not need to be high end since it is really just for movie information on the right and left mains. I do not listen to multi-channel music, which might have yielded a higher requirement.

But here is the conundrum. Conventional wisdom says use Cardas Golden Reference with the BAT/Wilson combo. Other conventional wisdom says use Transparent. I happen to like the design of the Wireworld Silver Eclipse loom. I am attracted to the price/performance ratio of Kimber Kable Hero/8TC. I presently use Blue Jeans interconnects and Tributaries speaker cable, so about anything I do will be an improvement.

I have neither the time, nor the patience to try a bunch of cables. And I am too cheap to buy Transparent. For me that leaves the choices as follows:

1) Safe money bet: Kimber Hero/8TC;

2) Old school: Cardas Golden Reference interconnects and some other speaker cable (allegedly a bit warm); or

3) Attractive design topology: Wireworld Silver Eclipse 6 interconnects and speaker cables (allegedly neutral).

When I first got the Wilson Sophia 2's I thought they were very dynamic, but a tad dry/lean in the mid-range using my Emotiva gear. I had auditioned them with ARC tube gear and knew they did not have to sound that way. So I bought the BAT gear for power and lushness - and got it in spades. Still, I have worried the long speaker runs were attenuating some of the signal, especially the very high and very low.

What does all that have to do with cables? I am not trying to "tune" the system with cables; I just want good synergy. A touch of warm would be alright, but I am really looking for more air and presence, so neutral would be fine. Or maybe (to be honest) I just want to eliminate the possibility that the cables are a problem. Also, I would like to avoid buying twice in the near future.

What do you all think: Kimber, Cardas or Wire World?

[Doug Lax]

All I can say is that I really like my WW interconnects. Kimber 8TC is great cable though. Maybe the WW Eclipse would be a better comparison with the 8TC
Copper vs Copper

I will let Jdandy take it from here

[Masterlu]

Randy.... "Aficionado" members get free in home Wireworld cable trials!

Just PM me what you would like to try!

[jdandy]

Randy.......I have been a fan of Kimber since I bought my first 20' of speaker cable from Ray Kimber himself back around 1981, and then toured his factory in Ogden, Utah at his invitation. Since then, I have upgraded to Kimber 8TC, and use it in both my main system and my studio two channel system. Kimber 8TC is a true sleeper product. By that I mean the 8TC sounds so good, is neutral in all lengths to 40 feet, and is still priced at a point that you don't need your financial advisor's permission to buy it. I have auditioned any number of other speaker wires, Cardas and Audioquest to name a couple, but found them less thrilling to listen to than my Kimber 8TC. It is the way to go.

As for interconnects, purchase Wireworld Silver Eclipse. They are superb sounding, open, dynamic, and clear as a bell. Again, before I settled on Wireworld I had Tributaries Silver Series in my system for years, and had auditioned Cardas, and Audioquest among others. I even auditioned the Wireworld 5.2 Silver Eclipse interconnects, and did not like them. I was a bit reluctant to try the Silver Eclipse 6.0 interconnects, but I am thankful I did. They are excellent, without the exaggerated highs that the 5.2's were prone to delivering.

Ultimately it will be your decision, and of course this is merely my opinion, but with two premium sound systems wired with Wireworld Silver Eclipse balanced interconnects, Wireworld Silver Electra power cords, and Kimber 8TC speaker cables, you can put me in the happy camper column for sure.