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Cables 101, new student, first question

I have a simple question if I can get it worded correctly. For simplicity, let's say my system has four interconnects in a "stream," all from the same manufacturer, some from the top of the line and some from the bottom. Example: Wireworld's Eclipse 8 line, four different versions, the least expensive starting at $325 and the most expensive starting at $1700. In general, will the system's sound be defined by the weakest (cable) link in the chain, in which case all the more expensive cables are a waste of money? Or will a mix of cables that includes some really high-end ones sound better than a consistent run of the cheaper stuff? 

To put this a different way, if I'm buying a couple new interconnects (again, for simplicity's sake from the same maker), might buying better ones improve the sound or will I not hear a difference until I've replaced them all? (Here's the stream analogy: if I put a dam upstream, the flow in the entire river will be reduced.)  


northman

Showing 4 responses by northman

northman OP
271 posts
 
I appreciate the response. I'm sorry that anyone thought I was talking about the relationship between price and the subjective listening experience. I was trying to ask, simply, whether cables in a system are victim to the weakest link in the cable chain. I'm interested in how systems work, abstractly, and I'm also interested in practical applications.  That is, I'm interested in "the big picture" (and I wouldn't say we're anywhere near the big picture most of the time out here; to get there would require some serious attention to what is meant, in both philosophical aesthetics and cultural studies, by terms like "subjective," "value," and "pleasure"), but I'm also interested in praxis. I'm adding a unit to my system and need new interconnects; what is the relationship between the new cables and the existing ones? I think that was answered and I'm grateful.
northman OP
271 posts
 
@soix , YES, this: "Adding a better interconnect improves the sound of my system even if there’s a lesser one elsewhere. But it also matters where you install the cables in your system." That answered my question! Thank you!

I appreciate the advice all around. I should say that I’m not upgrading my cables. I’m adding a couple things to my system so I need *new* cables. I’m trying to decide whether to move up the ladder a bit and get some nicer ones (by review and reputation) than my others, and that would only make sense if ... "adding a better interconnect could improve the sound of my system." It sounds like it does, and I will. And believe me, I'm not talking about $$$! 


northman OP
271 posts
 
When I first started reading Audiogon with some real attention, about two years ago, I was flummoxed by the differing opinions to questions that I took to be straightforward. Of course I knew that in the wider world there was plenty of debate about whether people could hear the difference between cables and amplifiers, but it interested me just how nuanced those debates could get out here. So I truly appreciate that there are differing opinions about the *application* of cable theory, but I also appreciate that there seems to be some consistency in this thread about my original question. 

In short, thank you again!


northman OP
271 posts
 
Thank you, @terry9; I've got an account with the Cable Company lending library and I might indeed do that.

And thank you, @hobo1452; I know exactly what you mean about those "incremental" improvements. Your first point is something I've wondered about; I didn't want to complicate this thread (any more than I already have) but I'm interested in your comment that you like having the cables come from the same manufacturer. I should probably admit that one of the contexts for this thread is that I have no consistency at all. In my current system I have Kimber Kable, Cardas, Audioquest, and Pangea. And now I'm looking at WireWorld! Maybe it's time for me to settle down and pick a path.... 
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