What do you recommend for speaker cable?

[_tom_]

I need to get myself a new cable to go from my head (when I eventually get it) to my cab. I just dont really know what to look for in speaker cables.. Currently the ones I use from my amp to Hotplate then to speaker are just some plain red and black ones with jacks either end. Are pre-made speaker cables just a waste of money, or would I be better off getting something like this and putting some Neutrik jacks either end and cover with some heatshrink-

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=27041&criteria=speaker%20cable&doy=18m10

?

cheers for any help

[TwilightOdyssey]

I use Whirlwind cables.

[_tom_]

For some reason I dont seem to be able to find any Whirlwind speaker cables in the UK, only their instrument cables.

[DeanS]

Tom, you should always use a good speaker cable (unless your amp is very low wattage) as instrument cables are not rated at the sort of power levels we're talking about.

Have a look at http://www.leadsdirect.biz

[_tom_]

Tom, you should always use a good speaker cable (unless your amp is very low wattage) as instrument cables are not rated at the sort of power levels we're talking about.

Have a look at http://www.leadsdirect.biz

Yeah I knew that, hence why I'm asking for speaker cables   So wouldnt just some plain cable like in the Maplin be any good? Been using just normal cable with my HRDx for over a year now with no problems..

Thanks for the link to that site, looks pretty good to me. I'll have a look through then come back with some links to products which seem good, then have you all tell me if my choices are good or cr@p  :lol:


OK on there, I found the following item - https://sslrelay.com/s75376715.oneandoneshop.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=154536480c806c1/shopdata/0140_Musical/0210_Speaker+Leads/product_details.shopscript?article=0190_1m%2BJack%2Bto%2BJack%3D2C%2BMetal%2BConnectors%3D2C%2B2%3D252E5mm%2BCores%2B%3D281JM-SPK2%3D252E5%3D29

Neutrik jacks apparently.. theres a choice of 1.5 or 2.5mm cores. Whats the difference? 2.5mm are quite a bit more expensive, is it really worth the extra money?

[DeanS]

Well, without being too anal I'd always recommend the very best you can afford- why pay for top of the pile pickups/guitars amps etc and then use inferior leads?

FYI I use the 2.5mm ones and they'll last forever.

[_tom_]

Ok cool, I'll order one of them soon. Thanks for the help.

[FELINEGUITARS]

We deal with Whirlwind so we can probably help there

Although I say you can use mains flex  which is dirt cheap and just as good as almost anything short of boutique cable.

George Ls is supposed to be good as is Dimarzio and Monsster cable

I went to Richer Sounds HiFi and bought some huge Monster cable speaker wire and also some huge jack plugs and made my own super speaker cable


Number 1 in the image above- switchcraft model 70 jack plug

[fps_dean]

I use a 2 or 3 foot Monster cable.  Was pretty expensive, but it still works fine and for 16 ohms or 8 ohms, I better not be getting any tone loss (you only get tone loss if the impedance of the cable drops below the impedance being carried over it.  Having a cable with much lower impedance gains you nothing).

However my Monster patch cable died pretty fast on me... and I wouldn't ever pay that much for another cable again when I can get Dimarzios for less than half the price which are every bit as good.

However, I would avoid planet waves because they oversize their cables a little bit and they can get stuck in jacks or bend your jacks.

[snipesace]

I use planet waves myself, for both instrument and speaker cables. Can't say I have ever had any sort of problem with them, but everyone has their own experiences.