cable dielectric cause of artificial sound


Hi folks, I would like to know what your opinion is about the following issue. About 90% of high-end cable manufacturers use PTFE as dielectric. Many of their cables sound much alike and they have a few of these characteristics in common: clean, relaxed and laid back sound but at the same time very dynamic (though a bit artificially), very quiet ("black background"), very good (also artificially) left/right separation. But I think albeit these traits, they tend to sound "technicolored", "sterile" and unengaging (lacking PRaT also). Some cable manufacturers are using bleached cotton as dielectric. These cables sound different: they have more natural dynamics, a mellower sound, more intimate soundstage, more tonal colors and so on. Are these differences mainly due to the dielectric material used? Why is for so many manufacturers PTFE still the ultimate dielectric for the use in audio cables?

Chris
dazzdax

Showing 3 responses by dazzdax

Hi Sean, is this phenomenon you've described the reason for some manufacturers to "energize" their cables with 24V (or higher)? Audio is full of unexplained phenomena.

Chris
Although this is a controversial and a bit off topic I would add another statement: twisting wires within an audio cable (interconnect or speaker cable), although fine for rejecting RFI en EMI, can make the sound lifeless and unengaging.

Chris
Tplavas, so the matter is more complex when you regard RFI and EMI as independent factors. Some cable manufacturers are twisting the conductors very tightly (with almost 90 degrees angle). I can imagine this adds an extra measure for rejecting RFI, but the EMI field is quite dense around the conductors, so it also can negatively interfere with sonics. Or is it beneficial to get the EMI that strong around the conductors? If that is the case, maybe the philosophy behind Rick Schultz' Virtual Dynamics cable is right: making a dense electro-magnetic field around the conductors by using magnets.

Chris

Chris