Hello,

Any suggestions for speaker cables to use with the low power EL84 amps. I assume this question would apply to all of them.
My amp is the Zkit1 with Klipschorn speakers. I was using Speltz anti cables (magnet wire) with good results on my previous speakers, big tube amp. A local dealer said keep it simple with horns and low power SET / SEP amps, so I put in some generic Radio Shack speaker cables. Haven't had a chance to compare although I will in the next few days.

Thanks - Mike

Sebrof, I also have a ZKit1 and horns. Just prior to building the kit I bought a 50m spool of 0.5mm annealed 99.99% silver wire (50ukp) and teflon tubing (another 50ukp). It was a couple of evenings work, and you need a steady hand in a surgical glove, but after poking the wire into 4m lengths of the tubing and braiding to 6 strands per wire (3 out 3 in) I had two 4m cables. Silver bananas added using Silver solder, and my Horns are internally wired with 1mm silver in Teflon.

I previously used JPS Labs Ultraconductors (Alumiloy and fairly well reviewed), before that braided CAT5, enamelled magnet wire, Nordost Flatline Gold, Kimber something ... Bottom line is the braided silver is exquisitely detailed, clear grain-free highs, musical, has lovely and very extended bass, is an all round improvement on the JPS Labs, and better than everything else I have tried.

I found magnet wire slightly rolled off at both ends, otherwise OK; braided CAT5 a hint of smeared throughout, Nordost Flatline Gold had a weird tuneless mid-bass and a very 2d presentation, JPS Labs generally OK at everything but always sounded like there was more to come.

My budget, DIY recommendation. Personally it puts that cable thing finally to rest.

Silver seems to be a big part of the magic.

After I bought the Decware Zen Styx, I stopped even thinking about speaker cables, takes some time to settle in but then. . . wow.

I am currently using a single strand of 30 awg bare solid core silver wire.  It sounds terrific.  Plenty of bass.  Surprisingly it seems to have more bass than thicker wire.  The Zen Styx seems way to fat.  I think because the Select is sending minimal current through the wire that you can get away with ridiculously thin wire and it sounds better. Less skin effect and with bare wire there's no dialectric absorption.  No smearing of the music whatsoever.

Jags, I used to run single strand Cat-6 wire with my Select and Monoblocks. . . and I agree that they're a great match. I also used Tara Labs solid core wire that was not really fat and had little insulation. Sounded quite nice with the Decware amps.

I won't deny that the ZenStyx are fat, that's plain and apparent! But they don't sound like "fat wire."  They outperform all other wires that I have used.  As Steve notes correctly, they just sort of make you stop thinking of wire, you get what the amps put out.  I was actually skeptical for a while before buying them. . . I thought I loved copper more than silver, but this silver plated wire and the geometry has what it takes.

To tell the truth I have not done much Speaker cable
experimentation.  I only own a pair of Mapleshade speaker cables
(the double helix) & they look like they are about
20 guage.  

I may have to try some other cables (maybe even the Styx)
Because the highs on my system just dont sound right.
Bass & Midrange are very good,  But the Highs
are terrible especially on Cymbyls.  and some female vocals.

I have played around with everything but the speaker cables,
& still having issues.

what ever cables I get,  They are not going to be high dollar.
well $250.00 max.   Zen Styx fits in for sure.
those Speltz anti cables have been getting lots of attention
on the discussion forums & They too are
priced on the sane side,  But They look alot like the Mapleshades
I have now,  So may very well pick up
some Styx since they are competely different being a fat, & stranded
as opposed to being Thin & solid.

I would have to believe that the zenStyx are probably pretty damn
good just for the fact that Steve says He has been using this wire
for something like 10 years,  & It has slayed the big boys in His
tests.

Wow, am I out of the loop.  Hmm.  Oh, well.  My somewhat inefficient speakers may not be revealing enough to hear any differences, and I'm a skeptic regarding the advantages of expensive wire.  Just don't flame me.

My speaker wire consists of ~12', 12g silver plated copper; it cost just a few cents/foot and came from a large spool at the local electical supply wholesaler.  All said and done, I think I spent about 15 bucks.  This wire is typically sold to mobile-audio retailers/installers for subwoofers.  These leads don't seem to add or subtract anything from the sound and perform as simple wires should.  I'm also using ~6" pieces of the 10g as jumpers for the monoblocked zens.

Why not try it, and report back?
Don

I think Mapleshade answers my question. I took a close look at a set of their Clearview Golden Helix wires and they appear to be nothing more than lacquered bare wire twisted together. They may use something other than lacquer but I think that would work. Their wire is silver coating over copper.

The varnish works very well just be sure to scrape the ends of the wire before terminating them. If you are into cool looking stuff try sleeving each wire with a different color then twisting them. I took a simple pair of Mapleshade golden helix and sleeved them and they look fantastic, same for my Kimber 8TC. I really do need to try Steve's cables.