Does Your System Sound Like the Real Thing?

and onhwy61, how far am I willing to go? That is a GREAT question that I keep wondering myself. I had another epiphany a week ago when an audio friend lent me 2 pair of ic's to listen to. Unfortunately these cables are not cheap and DEFINITELY an amount I would never consider spending prior to listening. But the difference in the system was not subtle, a moment of realization over what is possible.

My wife heard it IMMEDIATELY, another audio buddy who heard it was also floored. Since you ask the question how far, I am trying to determine in real time whether I'm going ahead with these cables. The price seems more than commensurate with the improvement based on my experience but its a cable for crying out loud. Why should a cable have to make such a significant difference and cost so much to boot?

Why should a cable have to make such a significant difference and cost so much to boot

Have experienced this and, as a diyer, it's VERY frustrating!

For the 1st part, obviously the transfer function and noise reflection/rejection -- why/how? I don't really know, wish an RF person could chip in here...

For the second part (the cost), well... two points: a) small proprietary wire runs are VERY expensive
b) when a cable geometry WORKS WELL (remember, a rca cable is asymmetric, so more complicated) one just indexes the prices vs other outrageously priced products.

I'm trying to work out the Valhalla. I still have a way to go...:)

Tubegroover, your response in the another thread is the reason I started asked this question. It's the 2nd 6/8 post by Tubegroover.

I figured as much and these cables were definitive in some of my responses on that thread.

On some kinds of music: yes, in particular on percussion, voice, and smaller ensembles. A distant perspective (meaning the microphones were relatively far away from the instruments they recorded) also helps the illusion of realism.