2. cables
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Budget cable chaos??? Is River Cable the new star?

Sometimes, I wonder that some audiophiles waste more time trying to determine what "budget" speaker cable to buy, than a cables costing 5 to 10 times as much. I include myself in that inglorious lot

Budget cables keep popping up on Audiogon almost daily. And, "The Cable Company" has few to none to loan out for audition in your system.

Let's see to date: there is Anti-Cable Reference, Clearday, Clearview, JW Cryo, Canare, etc, etc.... Now, I have uncovered a new budget cable company called RIVER CABLE an internet company. Their speaker cable looks well made and attractive to display, AND PRICING is ridiculously inexpensive. They basically offer three models: the entry level "Starflex". Flexgyny 6 and Flexgyny 8 (top of their line) The few reviews I found, claim that the latter two speaker cables are very good for the money, but sound distant in the midrange. The Flex 6 model I was informed is a better choice for longer cable runs because of the extra copper used. Not sure what that means or is even accurate. I have garnered that copper based speaker cables tend to sound warmer,and often more musical than the more analytical and cool silver based cables

So again begging the patience of the membership, has anyone auditioned or owned these RIVER CABLE speaker cables, and if so, how do they rank in sound quality with the others in the ongoing "budget buffet"???. I think the industry should put a moratorium on the number of so-called "budget cables" issued each year. There would probably be less buyers's remorse,and suicides among audiophiles

NOTE: Please, don't just respond by saying: "you will have to JUST try them to see what works in your system" Oh, bollocks!!! as the Brits say. The Audio business is not a consortium of roving Renaissance Faires tossing cables to the crowds for personal use. Get Real!! Thanks, Jim

sunnyjim

Showing 6 responses by zd542

zd542
5,339 posts
 
I'm not sure I understand what you are looking for here.

"NOTE: Please, don't just respond by saying: "you will have to JUST try them to see what works in your system" Oh, bollocks!!! as the Brits say. The Audio business is not a consortium of roving Renaissance Faires tossing cables to the crowds for personal use. Get Real!! Thanks, Jim "

Ok, but what's the alternative? Are you just looking for someone to tell you to buy them? If River Cable is a fairly new company that has yet to find their place in the market, maybe you should try a different approach. Why not look at budget cables from companies that are more established? At least you'll have more opinions to read about if you don't want to demo the cables first.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Why not look at budget cables from companies that are more established?"

That was what I said above. I really have no idea how long River cables have been in business, but they're not as well established as companies like AQ, Kimber, Cardas etc.. If someone is going to make an effort to not audition cables and buy blind, there's a lot more info in the form of comments and reviews with the bigger names.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"09-02-13: Sunnyjim
I knew I was going to take it on the chin with this thread.
Zd542: I know you "don't take prisoners" in your comments but I wish you would not come on like gang busters. This is an audio blog, not a national security meeting"

I'm kind of disappointed here. I really don't see how you can come up with the above statement.

"NOTE: Please, don't just respond by saying: "you will have to JUST try them to see what works in your system" Oh, bollocks!!! as the Brits say. The Audio business is not a consortium of roving Renaissance Faires tossing cables to the crowds for personal use. Get Real!! Thanks, Jim "

I had no idea that statement was a joke. It doesn't sound like one and I don't read Stereophile. It looks to me like you are asking for advice, but at the same time telling us not to give answers that you don't want to hear. Most people with experience are very consistent in saying that the best way to evaluate a cable is to try it in your system. I really can't think of a better way to do it.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
For what its worth, after reading your last post,I think I figured out why you are having a hard time with cables. You're expecting too much from them. Also, its very likely you are not giving as much consideration to the other components in your system because of this. Cables are easy when you match your components properly. I could be wrong, but that's what I think the main problem is.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Sunnyjim,

I hate to say this but the more you post, the more confused I get. I honestly don't know what you are trying to do here.

"I never in any of my posts or threads stated that I was crying myself to sleep because the sound of the system was mediocre."

That's good. You really shouldn't be crying yourself to sleep for any reason.

"However, I would like to squeeze out a bit more sound quality, that is, musicality, naturalness, euphononic whatever. I know there are two major component weaknesses in the system, but nothing major that I can't live with."

You start to lose me here. You have 2 major components weaknesses in you system but they are not so major that you can't live with them. I take that as, even though you can live with the weaknesses, you would still like to fix them, if you can. If that is the case, what are the 2 weaknesses?

I think you will get better suggestions if you explain the problem with a bit more focus, and not limit the solutions to cables.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
Sunnyjim,

Your last post provided some very useful info. Up until this point, you didn't appear to be very clear as to what the problems in your system are. Everything was just too general. The info on your amp and CD player is great. You know what you have and you have a pretty good idea where you need to go. I feel that how you are going about this is not the best way to get your system sounding right. You need a different approach. And because of this, I see a lot of negativity and/or disappointment in your posts.

"ZD542, I have spent more time than you can imagine reading reviews, and so have put an enormous amount of time into finding the kind of sound I prefer. It might be unavailable to me at my price range. I know there are members on AG who have invested large sums of money for super high end components, cables, etc.and have achieved the sound they want. I cannot do that."

I can definitely imagine what you are going through because I've been there myself. I did the same exact things, as do many others. That said, I see no reason at all, why you can't get your system to sound great without spending a fortune. Just throwing money at a problem in no way guarantee’s success, though. Same thing with reviews. You really don't need them.

I don't have time to post more now, but I'll think things over and see if I can't come up with some ideas that may be of use to you.
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