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Chinese Cables that sound good

Please share your chinese cable purchases that sounded good, and even horror stories of cables that didn't work out.

People get lured into aliexpress and other sites when the see expensive looking cables that appear very similar to well-known audiophile high-priced units, but at a fraction of the cost.

THIS THREAD IS NOT ABOUT IF ITS RIGHT OR WRONG TO COPY OTHERS' DESIGNS.  ITS ABOUT WHICH CABLES SOUND GOOD AND/OR PERFORM WELL.

There are lots of chinese cables to choose from:

- Power cables 

- USB cables (separating signal and data)

- Speaker cables

- Interconnects

- HDMI / IIS cables

 

I've tried a pair of Xansane silver plated copper, braided, speaker cables, to replace generic 12AWG copper that I was using.  The pair cost around $230 CAD.  It appeared to be made well.  However, I didn't notice any difference in the sound of my speakers.  2nd however, I also didn't take notes beforehand or do critical listening...I was just expecting to be blown away somehow but I wasn't.  I will be DIY'ing my future cables (power, interconnects, USB, and maybe speaker) using the DIY Helix cable information found on this site (link to thread).

But for now, I want to see what worked for other people.

 

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Showing 3 responses by melm

melm
1,057 posts
 

I'm very happy with the Viborg VP1606 power cable I used to make the cable for my amp.  It can now be bought with terminations.  Highly recommended.  It replaced a very good Supra cable and the difference was apparent.

Most branded cables are made in China anyway.

melm
1,057 posts
 

I recently terminated a pair of Chinese copies of Kimber 12TC.  They are not advertised as Kimber but seem to be a very close copy.  In a post here someone wrote that Kimber can tell the difference between its braid and that of a Chinese copy.  I'm not sure I can.  I'm not sure it would matter.  

The sonic results are excellent.  Of course I cannot swear that the results would be the same if I bought a 2M pair of unterminated Kimber cable at $644.  But I would say that if I did and the sonic results were the same I would be satisfied.  But then if I bought Kimber cable I'd have them terminated.  Terminating these braided cables is a trial.

As most "American" cables are made in China these days, including these I believe, I am happy to go to the source.  I don't need Kimber to do it for me.

melm
1,057 posts
 

@antigrunge2 

I also bought a fine Chinese power cord, Viborg VP1606.  But what I find objectionable is Kimber buying Chinese loudspeaker cable for $15 and selling it to us for $644.  There is nothing very special about braided cable.  It's been around forever.

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