Componets first, cables second?

There are a myriad of perfectly rational and sound reasons why one particular cable will work better than another.

I would like to see this myriad of explanations and data to prove it. Perhaps I live in a hole and have missed it.

From down here in my hole, it appears that for analog audio applications (at audio frequencies), wire capacitance and inductance are generally regarded as being so small as to be unimportant and can be ignored. Resistance only barely begins to become a factor at greater lengths, such as extremely long runs of thin speaker cable. Simply put, the wire characteristics pale in comparison to active elements in the speaker crossover and acoustic transducers; furthermore, most electronics is designed to be insensitive to these small variations in typical wire parameters.

Ok, so let's assume for a moment it is true that "there are a myriad of perfectly rational and sound reasons why one particular cable will work better than another." Surely this would make wire so crucial that equipment manufacturers would publish formulas or guidelines for calculating the correct length and type cable necessary for each type of component being connected. (such as recommended precise amounts of capacitance, inductance, or reactance ...just like a cook book which recommends precise guidelines for each seasoning). The absence of strict well accepted guidelines suggests that either;

A) Manufacturers and equipment design engineers are irresponsible and just don't care about the final sound of their gear.

or

B) It is just not true that cables matter to any significant degree. By significant, meaning so as to make it actually worthwhile for the majority of high end manufacturers to issue more precise guidelines than the very basic broad guidelines that exist today (well shielded in some cases, appropriate AWG etc.)

hi snofun3:

perhaps, in your infinite wisdom, you can enlighten me why such a thread is useful.

also, perhaps you can state why other people's opinions are more valuable than one's own experience.

i stand by my statement. if one auditions combinations of cables and say a cd player, one can answer the question posed by this thread without having to request opinions.

See what you did Peter? Your thread has disintigrated into a subjectivist vs. objectivist pissing contest.

What a shame, as these issues are never resolved, and never will be. Those that believe they hear differences will hear differences, those who believe they cannot hear differences, will not hear differences. Pointless really, a waste of time and space. Might as well start another thread now....how about digital vs. analog, or tubes vs. SS. Lord knows those two subjects haven't been beaten into the ground yet. 8^0

Cheers,
John

+++ Most electronics is designed to be insensitive to these small variations in typical wire parameters +++

True. And most folks buy those electronics from Best Buy and K Mart i.e. most (audio) electronics are so bad that I wouldn’t want to actually hear them ... ever.

Audiophiles listen to very specialized equipment that portray even the lowest level of detail in music. These very low level signals are not immune to cable reactance. Inductance and capacitance will attenuate said detail. Not only does it attenuate detail, it causes phase anomalies also.

Ditto for lack of shielding. Airborne electrical interference destroys the lowest level details.

This is obviously not a problem if said signals are absent from the source, like if you feed your system with a el cheapo $200 CD player for example. With such a system the boom-boom-boom still comes through regardless of cabling, and you will have zero low level detail no matter what cabling you employ.

+++ Surely this would make wire so crucial that equipment manufacturers would publish formulas or guidelines for calculating the correct length and type cable necessary for each type of component being connected +++

Some manufacturers (Krell for example) make use of proprietary cabling for just this reason. Others, like Coincident, actually sell cables to use with their products. They most certainly recommend that you use their cables for optimal performance. Cable companies like Goertz make different cable models depending what length of run you need. I believe Cardas NR is also recommended for long runs?

Having built a number of kit amps, the vendors have w/o exception always recommended which hookup wire yield the best results. The effect of component quality in amp building is beyond reproach.

After a number of years of building I can tell you outright that I can clearly hear the difference when I wire my amps with stranded (non litz) copper vs. litz or solid core copper. It’s as clear as day. That said, my front end is somewhat more capable than a cheap CD player.

+++ The absence of strict well accepted guidelines suggests that either A … & B … +++

There is no absence of guidelines as you state, and your two options hardly corner the market.

Many manufacturers (for example Manley) suggest that you use aftermarket cables (just read their manuals) but for a number of reasons refrain from picking a particular brand.

Regards
Paul

"i stand by my statement. if one auditions combinations of cables and say a cd player, one can answer the question posed by this thread without having to request opinions."

Which applies to virtually every thread about everything being discussed here, so apparently we should just cease and desist, unless you deem it useful?

This person is asking for the guidance of the assembled masses, regarding their experiences and what the results are.

Your dismissing of any value of the discussion or the guidance being supplied with your condescending tone adds less than nothing, at best.

You make Carlos seem benevolant with your smary comments.