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3 things I learned from using MANY interconnect cables

At last, I am posting here for the first time! I got so much help from this forum and always felt a bit guilty about not contributing.

Over the past several years, I have used the following interconnect cables: Audioquest Golden Gate, Audioquest Columbia, Audioquest Sky, Monster Interlink 300 MkIII, Harmonic Technology Pro Silway (I have used both Mk I and Mk II), Silnote Morpheus, Anticables (the original version), Tara Labs RSC, Nordost Heimdall, Straightwire Crescendo, and Chord Anthem. They were all purchased used and I always had 2 or more pairs to compare at a given time although I didn’t have these cables all at once. Through the journey, I learned the following:

1. The price was NOT indicative of the sound quality unless you go very cheap (less than $100). I think this point is self-explanatory so I am not adding any elaboration.

2. Disconnecting and re-connecting the cables had a very positive impact on sound quality, which will affect any AB comparison. If you are comparing two pairs of cables that had comparable sound quality, the new cables will sound better because the connection would be fresh.

3. In my experience, the cables were NOT system dependent. This might raise some eye brows as it goes against the commonly held belief so I am going to explain a bit here.

All I am saying is that I have never seen a case where my preference order of two sets of interconnect cables got reversed when tested on two or more components (e.g. cable A was better than cable B on amp X but cable B was better on amp Y, etc). With any AB comparison I ever did, the better cable always won no matter what component I was testing them on.

Oh in case someone is curious, the best pair of interconnect cables I have ever used was Chord Anthem. It had a wider frequency range and a more natural tonality than others. And I would rather not add the qualification "but it was the best only in my system" because of the 3rd point I made above. Cheers!
johnson0134
richopp
88 posts
 
@clearthink:

Yes, and so do each and every specific instrument that the musicians play and so do their individual choices of "stuff" they use to enhance their instrument to get the "sound" they want.  As the writer of "The Buddy Holly Story" film had the actor who played Buddy say,  

"Because he doesn't know what it is, and I can't tell him. That's why. How's he going to produce what I hear? It starts with me. Your complex system here-Heck, it works fine for you guys. But we're a little band, three pieces. I write the songs. There's no formal arrangement. We'll make a sound together, and when it feels good, we put it on a tape. Now, if your producer could do that, then you'd owe him $75,000, not me. Is that right?"

Read more: https://www.springfieldspringfield.co.uk/movie_script.php?movie=buddy-holly-story-the  

So, what you are saying is that a person needs to set up a system in his or her ROOM and listen and make changes until they get the "sound" they like.

"Sounds" about right to me.  And sorry, I still don't buy the cable thing, but whatever turns you on is fine with me.

Cheers! 
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
" suum cuique pulchrum est "      
A truth in audiophilia.
gpgr4blu
810 posts
 
Clearthink
Agreed. All components have their own sound. Sometimes the manufacturer of a component claims its component provides neutral sound, others do not. My point was that cables too have their own sound and should be utilized to work with the system that one has to reach the result that one desires
steakster
720 posts
 

Its actually kind of funny people thinking cables are system dependent. Like the laws of the universe aren’t really laws, they’re a little different every where you go.

Laws of the universe are created by one designer.

Audio components are manufactured by many designers:
- who partner with other designers of gear at audio shows that bring out the best in their product.

Also, these designers of audio components:
- hear differently.
- use different parts in the component build.
- use different speakers when auditioning.
- have different power delivery in their shops.
- have different listening rooms.
- etc, etc.

Capacitors with the same values from different manufacturers cause sound to vary. Different materials are used. Same with cables.

What’s really weird is engineers who think that all laws of the universe are known.  Or that the known ones are fully understood.
johnson0134 OP
17 posts
 
@roberjerman

For me the runner up was Harmonic Technology Pro Silway. But I have a feeling many people would prefer Audioquest Sky or Columbia actually. To me, they sounded a bit too smooth, pleasant and soft compared to other brands
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