Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 stars(16 gauge, 100 feet) Flexible and high quality, I couldn't be more pleased!
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2019
I bought this cable to replace some speaker cables on my computer; I had originally used some cheap solid doorbell wire I found laying around my shop, and while it worked okay, I didn't like the look or feel of it. I wanted something better, and I also wanted something I could use to carry DC power if I needed it.
When this cable arrived, my first thought was "Uh-oh. 16 gauge might be a bit too large for my application..."
I thought I'd try it anyhow. I'm not an audio professional by any means, but I know that thicker wire can be better, so I decided to go for it. I am glad I did!
Right after unwrapping the roll (simple cling wrap), I could feel the cable, and it's texture was amazing. Once I undid the end (held on by a piece of tape), I could see why: The insulation was so supple, so soft; If I didn't know better, I'd swear it was silicone insulated cable. Seriously, that's what it felt like! Like I had something in my hands that would easily exceed 4x what I paid!
It made it a joy to work with; I measured out 2 arm spreads (I didn't need much), cut it off, then folded it in half and cut it in two equal lengths. I used my trusty pair of small dikes, but I swear you probably could cut it with scissors (though the metal wire might stop you there, or at least damage the scissors). It was easy to split down the middle, strip off a half-inch or so of insulation, twist to bind it (I may wick some solder on later, or get some crimp ferrules), then hook it up to my speakers.
The cable was easy to drape and route behind my desk to my subwoofer-amp, no binding or anything like that. Seriously, this cable is grade-A stuff in my non-professional opinion. I also don't see it having any problem with wear, though others have expressed doubts; the insulation is supple, but not thin. I believe it could take a lot to compromise it. Just don't overheat it (again, it isn't silicone, but it sure feels like it). If you need extra protection, put it inside some spiral wrap or something. There are plenty of products out there for that application.
Finally, not only did it install easily and feel great, but it's easy on the eyes, too. The red and black insulation is just slightly translucent, and the wire inside shimmers. But it's not distracting. Rather it's muted, matte in texture; in a way, it looks how it feels: Smooth, supple, unassuming; yet seeming to indicate it's much better than anything else out there. I found that it looks much better with my system than the inflexible white doorbell junk I was using before; that kind of wire has it's purpose, but it's not for speakers.
This cable only has one downside that I can see, and that's easily remedied: The spool doesn't have any easy way to stow the loose end. Of course you can tuck under a previous wrap, but what I'd do is drill a hole on the edge of the spool to tuck the end into. You could also use a zip tie, or a twist tie. It's such a minor thing, but I thought I'd mention it.
Overall, I don't think you'll be disappointed in this cable after everything I've noted. Give it a shot, you may fall in love with it as much as I have!