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Are older series speaker cables a bad investment??

Obviously several of the used speaker cables on AG have been discontinued and replaced by the next super-improved series. However, why assume an older series cable provides less quality sound than its newer sibling.

I have a friend who has a pair of Straightwire "Maestro" speaker cables that are about 8 years old. He claims they are the best sounding cables he has ever heard. I don't totally agree, but they do sound very good in his set-up. He has used Nordost, Analysis Plus, MIT, Crimson, Tara Labs, and Harmonic Technology

So, he is no slouch when it comes to speaker cables auditions which he sources through The Cable Company, and other audiophiles He did grudgingly admit that the Harmonic Technology Pro 10 and Pro 11 had somewhat better soundstaging and solid imaging ( I thought it was more than just "somewhat better" !!!)

However, the main question is:.... can a previous ( or two series before) series speaker cable sound better than a new improved version.?? I don't think most manufacturers would answer that question with a resounding "NO"
sunnyjim

Showing 2 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
However, the main question is:.... can a previous ( or two series before) series speaker cable sound better than a new improved version.??

Absolutely!

Many folks make the assumption that newer = better, which is a common misnomer. Companies introduce new models of anything to stimulate sales. They know their clientele well enough that their customers will demand the latest and greatest. LOL!! Thereby feeding their coffers and stimulating their business. Companies come out with new models when they want more money....it's not because they have come across some revolutionary discovery, despite what their marketing folks will have you believe.

That is one of the reasons that tubes and vinyl remain so popular today, because newer is not necessarily better. Different maybe, better, maybe, worse, maybe.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
04-19-14: Bifwynne
Got a serious question, ... really. Has anyone bot cryo'ed speaker cables? Results??

I have owned speaker cables that were cryo treated (Jena Labs), and they sounded very good.
However, I have never heard the same cable before and after the cryo treatment, so I can't say what affect the cryo treatment process itself has on the sound.
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