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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
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
368 posts
 
In my opinion, the differences in cables (if any - for comparable resistance and length) are very subtle.  So subtle that by the time you swap our to a different set your audio memory (the accuracy of which is extremely perishable) will not be able to recall the previous audio parameters sufficiently to note a difference.

The common response to this (from exotic cable makers, retailers and lovers) is that you need to spend more money on better equipment so that you CAN "resolve" the differences.  Hogwash!!
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
as @chayro points out on another thread:
For the millionth time, why does everybody ignore the fact that the Aczel crowd never maintained that all cables sound the same. Their theory was that all differences between cables are due solely to inductance, resistance and capacitance values, which are easily measured and can drastically change the frequency response of a speaker. So, yes - cables with the same LCR values will sound the same. So they maintain. Whether it’s true or not is another story.


In other words, all cables sound different unless they measure exactly the same. For those who are strictly in the measurement camp, have you measured the LCR of the various cables that you say can't sound different? 

And for the latest posters on this already, beaten to death meme, double blind listening tests are nothing more than a cheap parlor trick. One has to listen over a period of time in order to ascertain anything. Listening is an emotional event. You can do the same thing with two different TV sets with one being measurably and visually better but by swapping them out over and over you can arrive at a 50/50 chance of picking the worse over the best and it wouldn't prove a thing. All it would prove is that you could trick someone under the right conditions.

All the best,
Nonoise
willemj
1,036 posts
 
There are indeed tiny differences and they can be measured. But they are differences, not necessarily improvements. Good speakers are designed to be neutral with just ordinary cable. That is what Peter Walker of Quad and Alan Shaw (Harbeth) have always argued. If you want to tinker with frequency response (because that is what these tiny differences involve), all you need to do is use a tone control/equalizer.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
1,457 posts
 
So we should all go back to lamp cord?
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
368 posts
 
Heck no....lampcord will never look as cool as even the cheaper cables available from Monoprice.  Not to mention the colorful garden hose sizes you can buy for mucho $$$$$$.
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