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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
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.
dekay's avatar
dekay
2,959 posts
 
The fact (in doubt) that you purchased an expensive McIntosh/Wilson based surround sound system tells me that you need major help.

Forget your cabling rant.

Just my opinion.

DeKay
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 

The "common" wisdom is that silver works well with tube electronics, copper with solid state. And that that is because silver tends to sound bright, copper warm. But that assumes that tube amps sound warm, solid state bright, therefore tubes with silver and solid state with copper are synergistic matches, possessing complimentary distortions.

But if the goal is neutrality, going down that path leads to a dead end. Change one component, you have to change them all. If your amp is slightly bright, better you find one that isn’t than to get warm cables to offset the amp’s brightness.

So, are silver cables inherently bright, copper ones warm, and tube amps warm, solid state bright? If I’m not mistaken, users of Clear Day pure silver speaker cables find them to be not bright, just very, uh, clear. Same with the pure silver Kimbers, though they might be just a bit too "clear" for solid state that is itself very clear ;-). I don’t think anyone would pair silver Kimbers with a Krell amp! But with a Pass? No problem. Lots of ARC dealers are Cardas dealers, as well as Audioquest.

I bought 50’ of the Western Electric 14g speaker wire (cotton-wrapped tinned-copper) on ebay, from the retired WE employee. About a buck and a half a foot! Gonna try it myself soon, with my tube and ss amps, and ESL and Magnetic-Planar loudspeakers.

xti16
1,495 posts
 
Funny because I upgraded my Nordost Frey SC's to Ansuz Ceramics (3.5K vs 16.4K) and tried a/b-ing them. Couldn't really hear much of a difference. Until I put one of each cable in. What I finally determined was there was no difference in tonality ( which is what I was expecting). There was a huge difference in openness and 3d sound. So I was listening for the wrong thing. What surprised me it didn't jump out and bite me in the nose until I had one of each in the system.Then I stared to think what could I replace to get that sound. Um nothing other than the cables. I like my system too much to change any components. The next step up in electronics or speakers would be a lot more than the cable upgrade.

Short story try one of each cable. If you still hear no difference stick with the cable that costs the least. But don't stop demoing cables. They are very system dependent.
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