Canare cables, any good?

[bomt697]

Hello, looking to "slowly" upgrade all the components to my HT system and came across the Canare speaker cable line
Has anyone used these or know someone who did? How was their performance? Worth the money?

Please advise, thank!!

 

[NINaudio]

If you're already running good 10-14 gauge cable, depending on your cable run lengths, there is no need to change out your cables.

Speakers and subwoofers are going to account for the majority of the sonic performance in every system. AVR/processor upgrades are usually done for allowing use of the newest connection types and audio formats.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish by upgrading "all the components"? If you told us what you have we'd be able to give you suggestions on where to make the most significant improvements.

 

[NINaudio]

I see in some of your other posts that you've already got some quite capable speakers and subs, so the question that remains is what is your current speaker wire?

 

[Mark E. Long]

I went to canare 4s11 on my whole front stage I like them and made most of my own rcas with canare 4e6s not an easy task for me . The 4s11 is a good speaker cable is there a difference that’s subjective to each individual but I did notice my amps run cooler at movie listening levels and to me and again this is subjective to each user and listener better soundstage on movies and music .
Do the research on any your interested in most every body here is going to say it don’t really matter but there are a few here that use canare cabling .

 

[KenM10759]

I like it because it's big and thick, so makes for some cool-looking homemade cables. A little TechFlex sheathing, some heat-shrink tubing, and some locking banana plugs from Blue Jeans cable and there you go. I don't have the means to measure inductance or capacitance, but they sound great on my KEF Reference 1's.

 

[Mark E. Long]

I like it because it's big and thick, so makes for some cool-looking homemade cables. A little TechFlex sheathing, some heat-shrink tubing, and some locking banana plugs from Blue Jeans cable and there you go. I don't have the means to measure inductance or capacitance, but they sound great on my KEF Reference 1's.

I believe they measure very good from the research I’ve done as good as cables that cost hundreds more .

 

[BMXTRIX]

Hello, looking to "slowly" upgrade all the components to my HT system and came across the Canare speaker cable line
Has anyone used these or know someone who did? How was their performance? Worth the money?

Please advise, thank!!

Speaker cables are speaker cables are speaker cables. I don't agree with @Mark E. Long at all... THIS IS NOT SUBJECTIVE!!! This has been stated time and time and time again on Audioholics. Measurements of components is not subjective. It is measured. We get actual results. There is tons of data supporting the results. Everything beyond that is so much nonsense that it gets ridiculous.

Now, if you just want to upgrade to go from something ugly, to something pretty, that's your money to spend. But, if you have a capable solution currently, then you aren't going to get an improvement, you will just be moving sideways and any improvements will be almost entirely psychological.

You can buy cables which also measure 'very good' which cost a good deal less. So, hundreds more, or less, who cares as long as they perform as they are supposed to for the system that they are being used in?

EDIT: This said, the Canare cable is well made and Canare isn't horrendously overpriced. You can get their 4S11 cabling for about $1.16 online. Maybe $1.50 at the high end side of pricing. B&H sells prefab cables and they sell it at a flat $1.50 a foot for each foot beyond 6' in length. So, most of your cost is in the cable ends and manufacturing. That's reasonable. The cable itself is a decent 14/4 cable. So, if you want a pre-fab cable, then Canare is certainly quality. It's just not any better than this stuff which is 65 cents a foot...

Monoprice Speaker Wire, CL2 Rated, 4-Conductor, 14AWG, 100ft, White - Monoprice.com

Get the most out of your home audio system with high quality, pure bare copper speaker wire from Monoprice™!Pure Bare Copper is a superior conductor to the copper clad aluminum (CCA) conductors

www.monoprice.com

So, you know, it's twice the price. But, in a world that often charges ten times or more the price, it's not a outrageous product. Plus, it may have a higher strand count and better jacket/construction, which could matter in some situations.

 

[Mark E. Long]

Speaker cables are speaker cables are speaker cables. I don't agree with @Mark E. Long at all... THIS IS NOT SUBJECTIVE!!! This has been stated time and time and time again on Audioholics. Measurements of components is not subjective. It is measured. We get actual results. There is tons of data supporting the results. Everything beyond that is so much nonsense that it gets ridiculous.

Now, if you just want to upgrade to go from something ugly, to something pretty, that's your money to spend. But, if you have a capable solution currently, then you aren't going to get an improvement, you will just be moving sideways and any improvements will be almost entirely psychological.

You can buy cables which also measure 'very good' which cost a good deal less. So, hundreds more, or less, who cares as long as they perform as they are supposed to for the system that they are being used in?

Perhaps my use of the word Subjective don’t suit your use of the wording in my response in the end every body has an opinion I just give mine . Have a coffee and a great day Sir

Best regards!

 

[BMXTRIX]

Perhaps my use of the word Subjective don’t suit your use of the wording in my response in the end every body has an opinion I just give mine . Have a coffee and a great day Sir

Yet, the measurement equipment in use doesn't care about your opinion, my opinion, or the OP's opinion. It just gives us measurements. If the measurements are the same, then not a single opinion will improve the sound of your gear, make it run hotter or cooler, or anything else.

If you want to find out if your equipment runs hotter or cooler, try a thermometer instead of applying your subjective mindset, it may reveal what is called a 'fact'. Same with how the equipment sounds using different cables of the same length, gauge, and construction.

That IS what this site has been saying for years and years now. Countering subjective opinion is a principle I will continue to rail against even if it offends those who really love their opinion over facts.

 

[highfigh]

Speaker cables are speaker cables are speaker cables.

I think you missed one.

 

[bomt697]

I see in some of your other posts that you've already got some quite capable speakers and subs, so the question that remains is what is your current speaker wire?

No name stuff the original installer used. I think it’s 16g wire, gonna have to double check

 

[BMXTRIX]

No name stuff the original installer used. I think it’s 16g wire, gonna have to double check

Certainly the biggest difference you will get is if the length of the run exceeds the recommendation for the current gauge of the cable. So, if it is a longer run of 16AWG cabling, then jumping to a thicker gauge, like the doubled up 14/4 (11AWG when combined) would potentially provide a real improvement to your setup. If spending $30 for generic looking cabling, I might drop an extra $30 or so to have them look nice if they are exposed cables. Completely up to you, but follow the science and ensure you are buying at least the right gauge for the distance that you need, and shop around a bit. Canare is just the cable, many, MANY places assemble their cable into a custom finished product. Kind of like Belden cabling that is often used.

 

[Pogre]

Outside of a possible placebo effect you're not going to gain anything from swapping cables. There is absolutely no science to back the claims of some of those manufacturers and in fact, some have been found through measurements to be objectively inferior! Specifically inductance in at least one case.

Pure copper of the proper gauge for the length of the runs is all you need. Speakers, room acoustics and subwoofers are where it's at. I don't know what you have for speakers now, but it looks like NINaudio approves, lol. That leaves room acoustics, or possibly even some eq. I know a lot to purists cringe at the mention of eq but there's no shame in using it for say, just your subwoofers. Room treatments could go a long way too. Your money would go a lot further toward some substantial improvements if you switch gears.

 

[lovinthehd]

Lots of good information about speaker wire here http://roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

Canare makes good cable stock, so do others that concentrate on pro audio like Mogami and Belden. It's about using appropriate cable, not the brand particularly. There's a lot of silly audiophool cable out there, stay away from that stuff unless you just like to overpay for looks.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...

If you want to find out if your equipment runs hotter or cooler, try a thermometer instead of applying your subjective mindset, it may reveal what is called a 'fact'. ...

Also need to make sure the same signal and level is used not just the two gage difference.
And, one can also calculate the energy lost in the two cable gages and if that would increase temp noticeably to matter.