Speaker cables - Bare copper vs. tinned copper

My impression of the Belden 8471
To put it mildly I wasn't really satiated with the Klotz LY225S particularly with the low end hence I borrowed the Belden 8471 from FM rikhav who very kindly obliged. I wanted to try out this highly touted cable and see if it would make any impact in my setup.
The 16awg 8471 is basically the same cable as the thicker 12awg 8477 so I had to use a pair of these for each channel. It was a real pita trying to twist 2 strips together so I hooked them up separately as advised by rikhav following the arrow direction. 8471 cable.jpg
8471 connection.jpg

My setup leans towards the warm side of neutral and being quite resolving, this can be an ethereal listening experience with good recordings but won't absolve a badly mastered CD or LP. After extended listening sessions with quite a few of my favourite songs I was simply enthralled. The moment of truth had finally dawned and I had to reconcile with the fact that the LY225S is just not best suited for my bass-heavy 3050i. The unassuming but magical 8471 has rewarded by taming the shrew! The bass is now just how I like it-pleasingly tight, deep and articulate without overwhelming the spectrum. There's more punch and depth to the mids with an airy but non-aggressive treble.
As an aside, Q Acoustics always recommends slight speaker toe-in to strike that tricky balance between a focused stereo image and sound stage width. Toeing-in the 3050i brought about a lush precise imaging without sacrificing on width. Of course vocals have always been the USP of these floor standers. So this is my short and sweet experience with the 8471. I've begun burning-in the new 8477.

belden 8477-2.jpg

@jls001 THANK YOU for being the ever abiding inspiration with your breadth of knowledge and experience.
@Fiftyfifty THANK YOU for starting this thread and to all FMs who shared their experience with the 8477.
@rikhav THANK YOU for lending me your 8471.Those listening sessions helped me to unanimously adjudge tinned copper as the winner in my setup.

Let me say that expectation bias wasn't playing mind games. Neither have I visited an ENT specialist nor do I have golden ears. The difference between the bare copper LY225S & tinned copper 8471 was instantaneous, appreciable and long-awaited.

Undoubtedly, Mr. Murthy's tinned copper power cables and the tinned copper Belden speaker cable have been THE game changers in my system. Musicality now reigns supreme! :D
 
I recently changed from Belden 8477 to Dueland 12AWG. Only had them playing for 3-4 hours now. There is a noticeable improvement in mid-range clarity and sound staging. Base, I somehow feel, needs to open up a bit more. I will have to clock more hours and see how things shape up. Overall, very engaging and musically rich experience!

But I would still say, 8477 is the VFM king here!! For the price, its an absolute steal!
 
I recently changed from Belden 8477 to Dueland 12AWG. Only had them playing for 3-4 hours now. There is a noticeable improvement in mid-range clarity and sound staging. Base, I somehow feel, needs to open up a bit more. I will have to clock more hours and see how things shape up. Overall, very engaging and musically rich experience!

But I would still say, 8477 is the VFM king here!! For the price, its an absolute steal!
Hello there
Any source for the duelunds in India
 
How does one order Belden 847* cable from Kiran Sales? Is there a minimum order quantity? How much do they charge for shipping? Do they ship on the same day? Any other details?
 
Managed to source Belden 8477 from Cinetekk, thanks. A few queries:
a) I see arrows marked on the cable in the images above, is it to ensure that we connect them in the same orientation every time or is there any other logic?
b) For devices with only 2 prongs in the IEC power socket (no earth), I am wondering what will the experience if one hooks up Belden 8477 as the power cable? Did anybody try this? I will do this once I get hold of an IEC plug.
 
Hello FMs. I am in the market for budget speaker cables for a stereo setup. Based on forum feedback, I am considering Belden 8477 vs. Mr. Murthy's cables. Can you kindly let me know which one is better...?
 
Hello FMs. I am in the market for budget speaker cables for a stereo setup. Based on forum feedback, I am considering Belden 8477 vs. Mr. Murthy's cables. Can you kindly let me know which one is better...?
Firstly, Mr Murthy's speaker cables are twice the price of Belden 8477. So it might not be a fair comparison. Belden 8477 is excellent value for money but is not neutral by any means. It sounds more richer and full tonally and slightly tiltled both at the lower and higher frequencies. Mr Murthy's cables are much better made. Overall tone is more neutral, slightly leaner than Belden 8477 but more open and detailed with a wider soundstage. Belden 8477 seems a little congested in comparison.

At the end it boils down to the partnering equipment. If you have an analytical and cold-sounding setup, then Belden 8477 might infuse some fullness to the setup. I wouldn't recommend Mr Murthy's cable for such a setup. It is more ideal for neutral to warmish kind of partnering equipment.

Just a caveat. Mr Murthy's cables are a new buy and haven't been burned in yet. Not sure if the presentation would change significantly.
 
Mr Murthy's speaker cables are twice the price of Belden 8477. Mr Murthy's cables are much better made. Overall tone is more neutral, slightly leaner than Belden 8477 but more open and detailed with a wider soundstage. Belden 8477 seems a little congested in comparison.
Can anybody let me know whether Mr. M's cables are tinned copper or bare copper (OFC)? 12 AWG? Or 2 pairs of 14/16 AWG? @SEANDSILVA

What are the direction arrows on the Belden cable? @rikhav
 
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Can anybody let me know whether Mr. M's cables are tinned copper or bare copper (OFC)? 12 AWG? Or 2 pairs of 14/16 AWG? @SEANDSILVA

What are the direction arrows on the Belden cable? @rikhav
It's tinned copper and the one I have seems to be 12 AWG inside seperate sleeves/insulation for each terminal. I don't think there are two pairs inside each. I have seen other designs from him where a pair of 12 AWG are twisted and enclosed inside a sleeve. Not sure if it is sonically very different from the one I got.

WRT Belden 8477, I don't think they are directional.
 
Firstly, Mr Murthy's speaker cables are twice the price of Belden 8477. So it might not be a fair comparison. Belden 8477 is excellent value for money but is not neutral by any means. It sounds more richer and full tonally and slightly tiltled both at the lower and higher frequencies. Mr Murthy's cables are much better made. Overall tone is more neutral, slightly leaner than Belden 8477 but more open and detailed with a wider soundstage. Belden 8477 seems a little congested in comparison.

At the end it boils down to the partnering equipment. If you have an analytical and cold-sounding setup, then Belden 8477 might infuse some fullness to the setup. I wouldn't recommend Mr Murthy's cable for such a setup. It is more ideal for neutral to warmish kind of partnering equipment.

Just a caveat. Mr Murthy's cables are a new buy and haven't been burned in yet. Not sure if the presentation would change significantly.
Well, that was the reason to discuss it here. Murthy's cables are tinned copper and your sonic impressions are spot on. I too found them to be a little leaner than my existing Amazon US cables (https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-12AWG-Ultra-Speaker-Cable/dp/B01CYGMD4I).
 
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