Chinese fake cables How fake, how good?


I have noted a number of warnings about cheap Chinese fake cables on this site but curiosity led me to the Aliexpress site where I found a number of presumably fake big name cables from predominantly Cardas, Nordost and Siltech at about 15% of the USA or Australian price. I found Cardas Clear Light interconnects at about US$100 and decided what the heck let's give them a try at that price. Before buying I asked the seller the daft question as to whether they were genuine and got the reply that they were an OEM and constructed the interconnects from genuine Cardas cables and connectors. They arrived in a plastic bag rather than the Cardas box , not a great start but the cables looked real, and when connected, much to my surprise, they sounded really good. After 100hours or so burn in they sounded great and better than the Nordost Quatre Fils I had been using. I then took them to an Australian hi end dealer who sold real Cardas and asked rather ingenuously whether my cables were the real deal. The dealer would not commit but agreed to compare them to the real thing on a set up costing at a guess around A$100,00. Neither I nor the sales person could tell any difference so he then tried them against the Cardas Clear. Then there was some difference, not extreme but subtle, and certainly IMO not worth the price difference even if you bought the genuine Cardas Clear Light. So are these cables really fake and even if they are given my experience they are well worth a try. Maybe I'll try Nordost Odin or Siltech 770i next.
128x128mazian

Showing 11 responses by boxer12

Hey gochurchgo,
Just curious what the brand name (& model name/number if applicable) of the $40 Chinese cables are, that were purchased on ebay & you're happy with.

Please advise

Thanks
LOL Jim. I have had a lot of experience with Lucas. None of it good.

Now back to fake Chinese cables...
Okay, that explains it. Thanks

gochurchgo,
Since they are leaking oil, they may be British, not Chinese. (sorry) 
" everyone has a right their opinion on ethical matters"

Seriously(!) mazian, there is no middle ground on this issue. 
cd318, It's hardly the same thing... Japan improved upon a given design (car, watch, whatever) and put their own name on it.  
It would be one thing if they were making their cables under there own name & marketing them that way to see if they could compete. But misrepresentation of a product is wrong on so many levels, it's pathetic.  
" I only wear Chinese shoes. The tears of the children manufacturing them makes them so supple. I like to wear them while drinking the blood of bald eagles. Makes me feel so young again"

Winner (LOL)
213, What china is doing with fake products identified as authentic products is wrong on so many levels. Absolutely despicable.