Counterfeit Chinese Cables


I thought that I would write this for those who are curious about one of the many counterfeit Chinese interconnect cables that are available these days. I know that there have been threads about the subject before, and I was always curious because they seem to be such a bargain. I don't really recall much about what any members actually said about the performance of these counterfeit cables, and I didn't look back and do any research, but a couple of months ago there was a thread that came around to discussing the quality of Chinese made components, and oldhvymec said something that made sense to me.

He said that people that say that what they are making is junk should consider that much of what is in our gear, and a lot of our American brands are actually manufactured there. I decided shortly after that that I would take the chance on a set of interconnects, because I suspected that the interconnects going from my pre to my amp were the weak link and needed upgrading. The interconnects going from my DAC to my pre were Kimber Select which are very good, but the other set were LAT International (now defunct) which had cost $500.00 when new, but I had reason to believe they were lacking because I have one of their digital cables that turned out to be very poor sounding in comparison to others I own.

I decided on a one meter pair of counterfeit Nordost Odin interconnects for a total of $104.00 from Aliexpress. I received them a couple of weeks later. They appeared to be well made, and the locking fake WBT rca's were very impressive and are very tight. 

First impressions after installing them were light, thin sound, lacking bass. Each couple of days brought improvements, but from the beginning I noticed that they were quieter. Now, weeks later, I can say that they are drastically better that the LAT's in every way. Detail and ambience are much better, but it's the focus and separation of instruments that is most noticeable. 

I have no way of knowing if they are really a copy of the Nordost design, but I am impressed enough that I am going to try a counterfeit Nordost digital cable.

Obviously, this isn't a comparison that is useful to most, because there probably isn't anyone here using the LAT's, and everything is system dependent. I just wanted to relay my positive experience. 

Nordost ODIN&2 RCA Fever Audio Signal Cable Double Lotus Sterling Silver Audio Cord Video CD Amplifier Tube Cable High Quality| | - AliExpress

roxy54

Showing 50 responses by roxy54

Thanks @ditusa ! That explains everything. He was an early troublemaker on this thread, (and many others). My advice to everyone here that he has attacked is to stop engaging with him. Like all pot stirrers, he loves attention and gets it through provocation.

@thecarpathian 

He was calling tubeguy tube thing as an insult I suppose and calling him out on his previous post.. 

@audphile1 

Get off of your high horse. If you don't like them, don't buy them. As far as the aftermarket sales are concerned, bad guys will do bad things when given the chance. Most of us have no intention of reselling them as genuine.

@tweak1 

I'm not surprised. They clearly show you a cutaway of how their cables are constructed, and the materials that are used, which is not the norm. One thing that really impresses me is that their RCA's are all copper, not brass. Most importantly, they really let the music through. 

I think that we're all tired of hearing that this or that cable "blew away" another without a description of what is actually so good. I am sure that there are digital RCA cables that better this somewhere, but the price is likely far more. From treble to bass, this cable lets all of the color, texture and dynamic impact in the music through, more so than any other digital cable I have used, and the price for what you get is ridiculously low.

I have recommended the Xangsane brand before (available on Aliexpress), and they are not a counterfeit of anything. A few weeks ago, I ordered and received this silver digital cable that I had been looking at for a while. I had already had the silver interconnects for a while and been mor than happy with them. The same goes for this. If you are looking for a superior digital cable and you aren't rich, this cable is very well made and sounds great. It is well balanced from top to bottom as well as very organic and dynamic. 

Pay no attention to the "subwoofer cable" in the title. If I had looked closer sooner, I would have bought it sooner. That's just Chinese language error.

Digital Audio Spdif Subwoofer Cable | Coaxial Digital Audio Output Cable - Silver - Aliexpress

@czarivey 

If Russians were so brilliant compared to Americans, why is it that so many Russians don't have flushing toilets? 

@czarivey 

"Most American engineering schools have TRAINING material, not LEARNING."

Oh, so American engineering schools are no good, right? More unsupportable nonsense. Anyway, weren't we talking about Africa?

@jerryg123 

"Why is this so upsetting for you people?"

It's not upsetting to me. There is a customer for those expensive cables, just as there's a customer for imitation versions that use a similar design and give good, if not identical results. It's all good.  

@bigtwin 

Thank you. I forgot to mention the Furutech comment, which is something only a nouveau-audiophile like Jay would say. How could he possibly think that that would be genuine Furutech? Also, he owns a genuine Nordost power cord, but doesn't mention that he, or anyone else could confirm its authenticity through the serial number.

I just watched that video...what a hoot! So, Jay just discovered counterfeit Nordost cables, and now he thinks that he's giving us all the news for the first time. Maybe someone should give him the news that the fake ones have a good number of satisfied customers who use them, and also have enough money left over to buy a nice new car.

So glad that he quit audiogon when he saw that there was no money to be made here. 

@mihorn 

Anybody will hear differences in the videos based on the gear, the room that they were recorded in, and the microphone used. If this is the way you think, I would never buy anything from you.

@milhorn

The very fact that you believe that an audio system can be evaluated over computer speakers with YouTube as a source discredits anything else you could say. As far as all samples of the same cable sounding different, well maybe the ones you make have that problem, but I don't think that you can give any proof that this is the case with other brands, and I haven't heard other members complaining about it either.

It does look very good, especially if everything that they're saying about the way it's made is true. It would be an interesting gamble for someone with disposable income. I would like to try it.

Don't pretend that you don't get it Jerry. You took a "holier than thou" stance towards members that buy Chinese cables, plain and simple. I knew at the time that some of those who were criticizing would end up buying, and I'm not surprised that you are among them.

You can use sophomoric name calling all you want, but the facts are the facts.

@jerryg123

I have to give you some credit. After chiding myself and others for buying from the Chinese for all of this time, and supporting counterfeiters, here you are admitting to caving in and doing it yourself! A least you’re an honest phony!

Also, I’m sorry to tell you that if the packaging is the same as shown in the link you provided, it is probably not genuine. I don’t think that Furutech would use a term like "High end performance grace", although I could well be wrong about that. Someone here who has purchased other Furutech products is welcome to chime in.

@juanmanuelfangioii 

The saying that everyone knows is the one that I quoted, not the one you cited. And if you use your Mandarin obscenity again, it will be removed again, like I had it removed last time.

@juanmanuelfangioii 

When you quote a saying, try to get it right next time. The saying goes:

Two wrongs don't make a right.

That's the opposite of what you said.

@juanmanuelfangioii

To begin, I wasn’t talking to you Juan, but that’s fine, I’ll answer your questions as I have before.

I love America, and I have bought many American made audio products, and will continue to do so. A small number of the products on Aliexpress are counterfeit, and actually, after buying two of those, my favorites are actually other brands sold there that are not counterfeit at all.

You know nothing about my ethics or integrity, but I’d like to know about yours. As far as you not buying used cable, nobody asked you to. I got it, you’re a spotless saint. Go home.

@nasaman

Pretty disingenuous John. Would you feel the same if the cords sounded great to you? And then you mention Amazon. I buy a lot of stuff from them too, but how do you think that is going to help America? That stuff is coming from China too. If you felt that strongly about trade with China, why did you buy them to begin with?

@thyname 

Thanks for the link.

@clearthinker 

It's way too late for them to tow the line. They make the majority of things that we buy except cars of course. We should never have let that happen, but those decisions were made 30-40 years ago. Might as well enjoy the few good things to come from it. 

@bigtwin 

Thanks, I thought that might be the case after I had looked around the site for a while.

@nwres 

Can you please provide the link for the Odin silver power cord that you mention? I don't see any that are silver, just copper or silver plated copper.

Thanks

Whew! I had to read that twice, and I still don't think I get it. Some creative spelling though... 

Because it's a tiny fraction of the price and therefore worth trying. That's what the thread is about.

@juanmanuelfangioii 

What are you talking about Juan? Who said the Chinese are paying taxes. He meant US taxes.

I'd like to do an audit of all of your possessions and see how much you have supported the CCP.