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Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?

I recently ordered high end speaker, power amp, and preamp to be installed in couple more weeks. So the next search are interconnect and speaker cable. After challenging the dealer and 3 of my so called audiophile friends, I think the only reason I would buy expensive cable is for its appearance to match with the high end gears but not for sound performance. I personally found out that $5K cable vs $10 cable are no difference, at least not to our ears. Prior to this, I was totally believe that cable makes a difference but not after this and reading few articles online.

Here is how I found out.

After the purchase of my system, I went to another dealer to ask for cable opinion (because the original dealer doesn't carry the brand I want) and once I told him my gears, he suggested me the high end expensive cable ranging from $5 - 10K pair, depending on length. He also suggested the minimum length must be 8-12ft. If longer than 12ft, I should upgrade to even more expensive series. So I challenged him that if he can show me the difference, I would purchase all 7 AQ Redwood cables from him.

It's a blind test and I would connect 3 different cables - 1 is the Audioquest Redwood, 1 is Cardas Audio Clear, and 1 my own generic 14AWG about 7ft. Same gears, same source, same song..... he started saying the first cable sound much better, wide, deep, bla...bla...bla......and second is decently good...bla...bla...bla.. and the last one sounded crappy and bla...bla...bla... BUT THE REALITY, I NEVER CHANGED THE CABLE, its the same 14AWG cable. I didn't disclosed and move on to second test. I told him I connected audioquest redwood but actually 14AWG and he started to praise the sound quality and next one I am connected the 14awg but actually is Redwood and he started to give negative comment. WOW!!!! Just blew me right off.

I did the same test with 3 of my audiophile friends and they all have difference inputs but no one really got it right. Especially the part where I use same generic 14awg cable and they all start to give different feedback!!!

SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?
sautan904
bigkidz
1,784 posts
 
Cabling IMO is system dependent.  What sounded better?  How did it sound better in your opinion.  What type of front end do you have in your system that can allow you to hear the differences, etc.  You can change a cap and resistor in any component and hear a difference, even for the better but you have to know how something can make a difference first.  I don't disagree with you in any way but the better the front end or source, the more you can hear what the differences are and if they pleased you.  There are many factors to listening tests so in general you may not hear a difference but from your post, I don't know what you listened for.  I would imagine something sounded a little different in some way.

Happy Listening.
bpoletti
1,004 posts
 
I'm in the low cost club.  NOT necessarily the anything works club.  There are inexpensive 12ga and 14ga cable solutions, but they are not all created equal.  And there are 10ga and 8ga solutions that sound very good but most are impractical and, in some cases, just dangerous do to their inflexibility. 

The biggest keys to inexpensive speaker cable are to use stranded, untinned pure copper (never anything else), never terminate, keep them short, experiment with how many twists per foot of one conductor around the other.  If the cable absolutely must be terminated, use crimps, never solder.  IMO, NEVER USE SILVER IN ANY AUDIO CIRCUIT.  I think it can cause a brittleness and brightness in the treble.
gnostalgick
88 posts
 
ahendler & grannyring

Is their a power cord equivalent to the Belden 8402 ICs & Western Electric/Dueland speaker cable?
limniscate
233 posts
 
I’m still on the fence about cables. I started with cheap Groneberg Quattro Reference cables (~$200 per power cord and $300 per IC and speaker cables). I’ve now tried: Shunyata Alpha HC power cable, Shunyata Zitron Python XLR IC, Sablon Panatella IC, Blue Jeans RCA IC, Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme blue power cable, Cerious Technologies Graphene Speaker cables, Oyaide Neo d+ USB, Belden Gold USB, Argento Flow Master Reference power cable.

I can’t say that I’ve really noticed a difference in my system and do think it’s very system dependent. Confirmation bias is definitely real. The first time I heard the Argento Flow Master Reference (~$6000+), I would have sworn that the difference was a big as switching from my Odyssey Kismet monos to the Sanders Magtech. The second time that I switched it out, which was a couple of months later, I heard no difference.

I heard no difference with the Shunyata Alpha HC power cable on my system, but when I took it to my brother’s system (Vandersteen Treo, McCormack HT-1 amp, Acoustic Zen Tsunami II power cable), the difference was very noticeable even at lower volumes.

I’d say you should experiment and just go with what you think sounds best in your system.
glennewdick's avatar
glennewdick
702 posts
 
its not really a blind test anyway as you told them what cable was in the chain regardless if you didn't change it or not. should have been cable A,B and C with them making comments on each cable then tell them what cable they liked and didn't.
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