Intro
Contents
Following the mega interlink test, we also measured and listened to 32 speaker cables. This to determine whether certain elements we hear are also measurable. This turned out to be quite a challenge. Curious about the results? Then read on!
Now – as with the interlink test – we think it’s important to mention that we didn’t do this test alone. We had a great deal of help from our ‘technical hotlines’. We have already described this in detail in ‘Part 1’ of this undertaking, but we would like to repeat it now.
In other words: our thanks go to both Cees Ruijtenberg and Guido Tent and of course to all manufacturers who sent their products. Without them this research would never have been possible!
The speaker cables
We wrote to all the manufacturers we have in our system for this test. Not all manufacturers had the right speaker cables lying around or were willing to send stuff.
We ended up measuring and listening to the following cables:
- AQ Firebird
- AQ install cable – a little shorter!
- AQ Robin Hood
- AQ Rocket 11
- AQ Rocket 88
- AQ William Tell
- Art Speak WE speaker cable
- Audiomica Dolomite Reference
- Chord Company EpicX
- Driade 405
- Driade 808
- Dyrholm Vision
- Kimber 8PR
- Kimber 8TC
- Kimber Carbon 8
- Nordost Frey2
- Nordost Red Dawn
- Nordost White Lightning
- Ricable Dedalus
- Ricable Dedalus Elite
- Ricable Invictus Reference
- Ricable Magnus
- Ricable Primus
- Stock Cable 2,5mm2
- Stock Cable thin
- Supra Basic speaker cable
- Transparent Plus
- Transparent Wave
- Van den Hul The Cloud 3T
- Hul The Hybrid
- The Nova
- Yeti Speaker Ultra
We would like to thank all participants for sending us their products. Without them this test would never have been possible.
Hi team,
This is quite an amazing project that you have done.
I am trying to use this information to help my selection decision making on some new cables. My conclusion is that the Audiomica ones which you tested seem to be the best value in terms of price vs your feedback about their sound. And from the qualitative feedback it seems like those cables would play well with most systems. Is this a correct conclusion to draw from the testing?
I understand that I would probably want to try the cables out on my system to make sure that they fit with the sound that I like.
I am relatively new to hi-fi so I apologise if this is a question that is a philosophically wrong way to think about things.
Hi Leon,
It is corrent that the Audiomica hits a sweetspot. They deliver very decent quality for a decent price. They are not cheap, but they are very good sounding. And yes: we estimate that they will work in most system.
It is always wise to first try a couple of cables and – if you found your match – buy them. We never advice to buy anything ‘blind’. Always try before you buy!
Thank you for the response and thank you again for putting together this review!
Welcome!
I wonder, if the impedance of the cables would not provide a more significant perspective instead of individual values of R, C and L ?
Well. We measured impedance. So check it out.
Here (impedance vs phase):
https://www.alpha-audio.net/review/megatest-speaker-cables-32-cables-listened-to-and-measured/attachment/audioquest-impedance-2/
is one cable data incomplete!
I see. Slp 14/4 phase. It was accidentally measured in rad. That’s why i left it out.
Hey Jaap, that is a really nice test with lots of information, thanks for that! Would it be possible to have it all into one table for a good overview, instead having to scroll through the individual pages? May be too much to ask 🙂
Keep up the awesome work!
Standard cable of 2.5mm2… I am using 16mm2 “standard wire”, 3m long. Very low resistance. That ticks one box. I guess I can theoretically calculate the inductance and capacitance. Wonder if these are of significant consequence at 20kHz. Maybe I can twist the cable to reduce the inductance if it has some impact.
Let me know how it turns out… ;-).
This is beyond – need to study it – not just read, to understand.
Thanks for including the “peasant” installation cable AudioQuest 14/4 – I use the more expensive version XTRM 14/4. My question is – how did you terminate the cable and in what configuration? I have it terminated with nakamichi bananas and connected in a star-quad configuration.
Martin
It is terminated with spades.
And, just like that, Alpha-Audio shoots to the top of the audio reviewer heap! The GOAT of tests and shoot-outs. Well done kind sirs, that was an impressive and Herculean effort!
Thanks,
Eric
Thank you Eric.