Counterfeit Chinese Cables

nyc_ben - Yes that is one of them but I’ve pretty much purchased from whoever had the best price.  Although some companies put different connectors on so you need to make sure that those are the same Furutech connectors.  It’s been several years since I’ve purchased the Audioquest.  My last ones were Audioquest Sky and that was like 14 or so years ago.  I really like what the Furutech cables do.  They just sound great.  Fast and detailed yet full and smooth. Bass is fantastic with great impact but not thin.  You can really hear the character (textures) of vocals and instruments.  Imaging is truly excellent  

this is the last ones I bought:

https://m.aliexpress.com/item/3256802772422007.html?spm=a2g0n.order_detail.0.0.21a9f19c9sVNoN

I also bought raw speaker cables and made my own as I only have 4’ runs.  Purchased some Rhodium spade lugs and rubber jackets. 
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/3256803444397858.html?browser_id=46dfce44b70b485286deead1fd572ad6&aff_trace_key=b85a4958c0df41ad95e5438ecf09a76f-1658171196343-00735-UneMJZVf&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=nwucgzgatxicayg4183280c7302348ffb2dce37235&gclid=&pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%2166.0%2149.5%21%21%21%21%21%402103255a16628242480911449e07c5%2112000026573820284%21sea&curPageLogUid=i7Vu8ahi4bz6&algo_pvid=2f9379b6-e08b-4e64-a23b-dc70a87f8888

Im very pleased with the cables.  In my system I’ve tried many high end cables because I used to work at an audio equipment mfr.  Tara Labs, Audioquest, the top MIT (with the big boxes), WyWires Platinum (which is what I gave up to use the Furutech, Cardas, Kimber Kable solid Silver interconnects (directly from them, detailed but thin).  The Kimber Silver top end speaker cables were good, and there several others I’ve been able to take home and test for a while. I don’t remember all the names from over the years.  I’ve rarely found a cable that I just found perfect.  Usually they excel in certain areas and give up something else.  I really like the PCOCC or OCC or whatever companies label they stick on it. 
I’m not trying to say it’s THE best.  Everyone likes and looks for something different that matches there system and taste.  It’s just extremely good and especially for the money and better then anything I’ve ever tried.  I even rewired the insides of my speakers with FS-a36 speaker cable. Then rewired the short wiring in my amps and preamp with FA-as22 interconnect wire.  Each made a dramatic sonic improvement and was very noticeable.

Here’s a little story for you.  I worked at a very high end audio equipment manufacturer for many years.  The owner decided he might want to release their own cables to sell with their systems.  Good idea of course.  The company’s CD player’s were already being turn-keyed in Hong Kong.  Designed, built and packaged there with our name.  So while over seas he visited a large cable manufacturer.  They sat down and discussed what kind of cables he wanted.  The manufacturer pulls out a big book with samples and shows him all the cables they already manufacture for various well known high end companies (I won’t say the names but you know them all) and tells him they can make the same thing with maybe a different color or whatever and says “we can put your name on any of them”.  This is the way much of this stuff works with the fakes.  Not all of course.  Some is pure crap!  But some is made on the identical machines with identical materials and sold to whoever will pay for it.  Maybe they put different connectors on it or maybe identical ones.  It is true the soldering/weld may not be the same if a company just buys the wire and does their own thing, or it may be the identical cable made in the same factory as the name brand with identical materials.  That’s the problem with counterfeits is you don’t know what your getting until you get it.  No box.  No paperwork.  Just the cables. 
 

I have purchased several counterfeit cables to try out and have been completely happy with them over the years. Yes I have a “champagne taste on a beer budget”.  I have purchased many high end cables directly from the manufacturer’s for 50% off when I worked in the industry.  So yes I have a variety of cables that are the real thing lying around from some great companies.  Some of the top of the line Audioquest, Cardas, Kimber Silver, etc.  I have also purchased some fake Audioquest and Furutech cables that have amazed me with their quality.  Right now I’m running all Furutech PCOCC (or OHNO) speaker and interconnects and getting some of the best, most balanced sound I have ever had and it was cheap. 
 

So are these identical in every way?  I don’t know for sure but the sound quality is amazing!  Can you get a crap counterfeit?  For sure, yes.  
As someone said you roll the dice.

Good point.  It would be nice if they advertised that way.  Although on some cables I’m not all together sure they are not the real thing, made with a “run” of the real cable, at the same factory.  Just not “run” for the brand name company.  
 

It is crazy the prices these companies are charging.  I know there is R&D, advertising, supporting they’re lifestyles, etc.  But $2K, $5K, $10K or even $100K for a 1 meter pair of cables!  Come on.  I remember one advertising executive at a audio company I worked at many years ago said “we have to charge more to show we’re the best”.  Well I love the audio biz and I really love listening to music but I never made the big bucks.  So I have to buy what I can afford.