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

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.
@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
@jtcf 
"do you mean if you swap ic A between various components in your system that it always sounds the same?For instance ic A between Dac and pre sounds exactly the same as between pre and amp?Just curious:)I always have a preference as to where the cable sounds best. "

No that's not what I meant and I don't have a lot of experience with putting in the same pair of cables at different points in my system as I usually have a DAC directly connected to a power amp.

What I meant was that when I had two different amps and two different pairs of IC cables, one pair sounded better than the other on BOTH amps, and it has been always the case. That's ALL I am saying.
@jayctoy 

Yup I know. And I don't mind people disagreeing with me :-)
And maybe my understanding of the definition of "system dependent" is different from that of others and maybe even wrong. I am just trying to report my observations in case they are helpful. Proving that I am right doesn't...interest me much.