Thread: So, which cable sounds best?

Cardas Clear Cygnus cable has a list price of $840.00 per meter


Duelund 12ga 2x12awg cable has a list price of $52.95 per meter. Purchase price USD $31.95 per meter. I'm using 1.5 meter cables.


I've lived with the Cardas Clear Cygnus speaker cable for about three years. Love what this cable does in my system. I've used Cardas cables for over twenty years. I'm a big fan.


Just got in the Duelund 12ga 2x12 awg yesterday. Sale price $31.95 per meter. Hooked up with just bare wires on both ends.

Duelund vs Cardas.jpg

I'll take this weekend to play with both.

I personally have found the following
1) cables do make a difference
2) cables are system dependent
I have tried the Dueland cables, both speaker and interconnects and look forward to your impression.

i will be very interested to hear your results.

i have used duelund 2x16 awg and 4x16 awg (which is aprox equivalent to 10awg) for speaker cables and just loved the sound. i now use cables made with with 12 awg western electric ks-13885 tinned copper conductor wire which i find a touch more lively / dynamic in my system.

have not heard the cardas but if i were not so fond of tinned-copper conductor wire for audio cables i would most certainly give them a try.

something to read while you are doing the A/B testing: Duelund Coherent Audio DCA

I use the Duelund 12ga tinned copper myself for speaker wires

Originally Posted by aKnyght

i will be very interested to hear your results.

i have used duelund 2x16 awg and 4x16 awg (which is aprox equivalent to 10awg) for speaker cables and just loved the sound. i now use cables made with with 12 awg western electric ks-13885 tinned copper conductor wire which i find a touch more lively / dynamic in my system.

have not heard the cardas but if i were not so fond of tinned-copper conductor wire for audio cables i would most certainly give them a try.

something to read while you are doing the A/B testing: Duelund Coherent Audio DCA

Thanks for the link. Very interesting read.

Looking at the Western Electric website I see they only sell 100' spools of 12 awg for $368.00. That's much more than my need of four 1.5 meter cables. I would like to try the WE just to compare. I'll have to do a greater search for a shorter option.

As far as Canare cable that will have to wait until I finish this adventure.

I have to say that just listening this morning. I'm impressed. I don't hear a drop off from what I like about my Cardas cables. Very natural energy and clarity in vocals and instruments.

I switched to 16 gauge Duelund last year. Favorable comments about the 12 gauge made me make the switch. I later took the 16 and did the DIY Transparent Audio hack tweak to them. It consists of a small value inductor on the + lead and a cap and resistor across the two wires further down the run. I think it made a big improvement so when with that.

Originally Posted by Kingsrule

Pretty sure it is Mundorf wire, at least in the M series

A unrelated conversation with Jim Smith made me want to try the Duelund cables. I'm not really interested in trying every option of affordable cable out there.

I've been listening to the Duelund 12 ga cables all weekend. The only noticeable adjustment I make is to increase my volume by a couple of clicks on the Diablo 300. The sound output seems more in line with the Cardas listening level. I kept asking myself all weekend one question. What does the Cardas do that these cables don't do? And I've yet to pin down anything at this point. I thought the Duelund settled in after a day. But, that might just be me settling in.

So, at this point if this was a blind test. I don't think I could tell which cable is hooked up.

Originally Posted by Darrel

A unrelated conversation with Jim Smith made me want to try the Duelund cables. I'm not really interested in trying every option of affordable cable out there.

I've been listening to the Duelund 12 ga cables all weekend. The only noticeable adjustment I make is to increase my volume by a couple of clicks on the Diablo 300. The sound output seems more in line with the Cardas listening level. I kept asking myself all weekend one question. What does the Cardas do that these cables don't do? And I've yet to pin down anything at this point. I thought the Duelund settled in after a day. But, that might just be me settling in.

So, at this point if this was a blind test. I don't think I could tell which cable is hooked up.

That’s interesting and not doubting what your hearing. I was curious on the Cardas build and read the use 4 15.5 AWG conductors that are wrapped and terminated using their process. Is the Dueland sleeved or jacketed at all, and assuming not terminated?


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Originally Posted by UltraFast69

That’s interesting and not doubting what your hearing. I was curious on the Cardas build and read the use 4 15.5 AWG conductors that are wrapped and terminated using their process. Is the Dueland sleeved or jacketed at all, and assuming not terminated?


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Ed, there is just a simple oiled cotton cloth on the Duelund cable.

wow!! quite high praise for the cardas

seriously though, i would have expected some tonal difference... have not heard the cardas but have heard cables made with neotech copper conductors which are up-occ ultra-pure, mono-crystal copper. there was a pretty significant difference along the lines of that in the jeff day review.

any next steps or is curiosity satisfied?

I still have nothing but high praise for Cardas cables and products. They have yielded great sound for all these years.

I plan on leaving in the Duelund for awhile and then switch back to the Cardas and decide where to go from there.

Western Electric does sell pre cut lengths to order. I may give those a shot at some time.

sounds good -- let us know how it goes when you make the switch back.

fwiw, the experiment is not complete until you try the WE wire.

So, two weeks have passed. And I brought back the Cardas Clear Cygnus speaker cables.

I guess I would have to use the example of going from a fine wine to a inexpensive wine and back again. The complexity and subtle layers of a great wine is a tall order for a inexpensive wine to pull off. You can be surprised and pleased at what they do at its price point. But, then going back to a known quality wine and all of its many layers of complexities can make you realize why some wines just cost more.

But, by putting back the Cardas cables I heard the subtle details within the vocals and instruments of so many of my go to tracks of music. As well as how the tonal quality and complexities of instruments can be presented using the Cardas. Sometimes you have to mix things up in order to appreciate what you have. And what they do. That doesn't mean I'll never try other cables. I'm pretty sure I will. The energy, detail, soundstage and clarity make the Duelund a fine cable at its price point. But, in my system I'll stick for now with my preferred Cardas.

Experimentation like this makes for an interesting and fun hobby. A good learning experience.

Originally Posted by nikonf

Hello, This is a great thread. Which speaker cable would you recommend for excellent soundstage depth and width?
I am also interested in natural placement of instruments in excellent recordings.
Female voices are always a priority for my listening.

Best,
Mike

Can you describe a bit more of your setup? Speakers? Amps? DAC?


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Like others here I use Duelund 12 gauge oil / cotton twin core cables for speakers. This was originally recommended by Jim Smith, which for me is good reason not to look further - and certainly not to spend more on speaker cables. Not an easy cable to work with and both cores have black sleeves, so care needed if self-assembling.

In my view the cable that IMPROVES sound has yet to be invented – and it never will be - so minimising cables count has always been my aim in achieving best sound. If a DAC module is the size of a matchbox, then put it in the amp enclosure and you save a power supply, a fancy enclosure with associated sockets, and of course cables - interconnects and power varieties. Makes 100% sense to me! But I accept there are many here who take pride in their box collection and fully justify to themselves that the cost is rewarded by better sound – and a snake-pit of cables that have cost a fortune – but cannot actually IMPROVE the sound.

I use esprit eurêka for all my cables in my system, they are wonderful
use in akustik 4004 series in my 2nd system, they are wonderful as well

Originally Posted by Speedskater

So what are your loudspeakers (and their impedance curve)?
How long are your speaker cables?
* * * * * * * * *
In most cases, any 12AWG copper cables will be great.

Not Impedance alone but the RLC make up of the cable ..!


Regards