@harpo75 You have said you purchased some fake AudioQuest and Furutech cables that have amazed you with their quality. What store in Aliexpress did you buy them from? I am eager to test these near copies of the originals to see for myself if they are as great as stories have been told.
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.
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@roxy54 is this your go-to store in AliExpress? |
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. 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. |
IMO the store you should use is RM Digital. There are various cheaper versions of these Odin knock offs but the build does not look as as good as the ones from that store. My experience is with the power cable only.
I would also avoid the Odin Gold knock offs. Its not going to be using gold conductor like the real Odin Gold. All they are doing is coloring the connectors and internal conductor shield of the Odin 2 to a gold color. On the power cables you can even see they have dipped the shield in a fake gold paint and it is flaking off inside the clear teflon tube exposing the silver underneath.
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Wow! I just read most of this thread. It’s disturbing to say the least. Sooner or later, if not already, someone US based with figure out a “business” out of this, buy these cables in bulk, and sell them as used genuine cables “bought from authorized dealer “. My guess is it’s easy to secure genuine boxes and original cases. Very sad |
Yeah, that is my concern. On the other hand I would not buy a +$10K cable used, except from a reputable dealer. While, they may say Nordost… the wood blocks are a joke… any dealer would know the difference.
Honestly, I am interested to hear one in my main system… having heard a real one. The real one was the best interconnect I have ever heard. |
@rolox Which AliExpress sore did you get your Odin cable from? I understand not all of them are the same, some stores have better products. |
@agisthos so did you get that Neardost cable yet? How do they compare to the real thing? |
@harpo75 Thanks for the advice, appreciate that. |
Just received my Odin Gold 2 interconnects today. Build quality seems good, the only dislike is the tubing around the cable. I don’t know if the real Nordost has that? It’s like aquarium tubing. Connectors sound metal when tapped together. Also includes a serial number. Sound is unbelievable and I couldn’t wait to plug them in otherwise I would have taken more photos. More air and detail, nice smooth relaxed presentation. Just waiting on my PC and I had ordered the Valhalla speaker cables but now going back to order the Odin speaker cables.
Don’t know why pic doesn’t show |
Further impressions of the power cables. Firstly, I purchased the better build quality Odin2 from the RM Digital store. I did not like the look of the cheaper cables from other stores, of which there are a few. I have had all Heimdall2 power cables for a while so can only compare to that. The fake Odin2 was slightly better on audio, but slightly worse on the digital/video. I am a videophile as well as an audiophile, so its touch and go as to which I will keep using. Considering the cost, a 1.5m is $125 USD shipped, this is a no brainer for anyone wanting high level power cables at basement prices. You could not even buy the 2 connectors of that quality for that price, let alone an entire cable with this performance level. |
An even better value in a power cable is a Chinese cable available from Amazon. It is the Viborg MBU1606 HiFi Power Cable 5N OFC 6mm² /Core, 16MM Copper Shielding + 2 Layers Foil US Hi-End Power Cord with Pure Copper US Power Plug + IEC C13 Connector (3.3FT/1M) at about $55 I bought one and then 2 more. They are great. For the amazing internal construction of this cable look here and scroll down. The only slight negatives are that it is plain looking and stiff. |
I had Cullen then 4 Wire World Electra 7 Power conditioning Cords @ $260 and now 2 of these * (one from wall to Core Power conditioner, the other to the Audio Alchemy PS 5 outboard PS for the DDP-1. dac/pre) + 2 Odin 2, one silver, one gold conditioning. And 2 (see link below) from Amazon. They are excellent are excellent
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Valhalla speaker cables arrived today, and they are well built. I didn't realize they are so wide at least 4 inches. Bass is more defined, and vocals are more recessed in the sound stage. To me that is a good thing. I've been using Clearday shotgun speaker cables. Can't say better but a different presentation. Let's see how this turns out |
Came across this flipping threw Mono Stereo Alas, no copy. Tried the email link but not working. Maybe somebody can dig for it and report back Odin Gold versus Odin 2 cables shoot out at 3mA Audio showroom, Houston, TX, United States.
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tweak12,887 posts Came across this flipping threw Mono Stereo Alas, no copy. Tried the email link but not working. Maybe somebody can dig for it and report back https://www.monoandstereo.com/2022/09/nordost-odin-gold-vs-odin2.html#more
Odin Gold versus Odin 2 cables shoot out at 3mA Audio showroom, Houston, TX, United States
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@evank do you have a pic/link of the speaker cables? |
You got it. I have worked in China for decades. If you are a naive American that contracts in China and gives your proprietary design to contract manufacturer… well you are stupid. Any world savvy business person understands proprietary info and knows they must protect it. Notice that Apple produces most of their stuff in China and they do not have “Apple” knock offs, well, anywhere. If you have proprietary stuff you need to protect it. I have worked all over the world in high tech manufacturing for over thirty five years. You quickly understand different cultures. Or you don’t. |
Just looking on Ali Express at Nordost Odin 2 7N sterling silver flagship audio speaker cable HiFi main speaker amplifier cable gold-plated plug. The claim to be using pure Sterling Silver seems a bit rich (on un intended). At the cost of silver today, does anyone expect us to belive the claim, given an 8 foot pair is only +/- $75 U.S.? Ayone bought these and if so what's your experience with them? Thanks. |
I think that if you look closer at the description, you might see that it actually says copper. I don't know which ad you were looking at, but I've noticed this discrepancy with several of the ads, and then sometimes a photo of the product will actually say copper on the cable. I don't believe that any of the fake Nordost are silver. They might ne silver plated copper at best, and the use of the word "sterling" is in itself probably inaccurate. I believe that silver used in cables is always as pure as possible, or as pure as the customer can afford. |
Anyone bought the HiFi Dragons from Ali Express? They don’t say “Audioquest “ in their description, but the Audioquest name and logo is all over the place in the pictures. On another note, I wonder what the deal is with those counterfeit cables. Are they done from third party cable makers, copying the design, or are they “back door “ products from the same China factory/ workshops the real cables are made? That’s the real question is my guess. In any case, buying and selling used cables in Audiogon or USAM will for sure be much more difficult. Nobody will trust any individual seller on the authenticity of a cable with all these counterfeits around and readily available. And someone will surely find “innovative “ ways to make this a business, buying them cheap from Ali, and selling them here as “used” authentic cables. If not already happening that is, which I suspect it is |
well, this is not about deliberately buying the fakes from Ali, but to the point where @thyname makes - sometime back I bought 3 PS Audio AC12 power cords from authorized PS Audio dealer when they sold through dealership (this dealer was also listed in their website). When I received the cables, they looked very "genuine" superficially but sounded so so after given a long time with breakin. At the same time, there was a fake power cord thread on the PS Audio forums and I wrote to PS Audio asking if they would do an inspection of their cables which they gladly accepted. I sent just one. Within a week, I get a message from PSA that its a fake cable and asked me to sent the other two and so I did. As in turns out, all 3 were fake cables. The dealer had no idea how it landed in his stockpile. I have also bought DS DACs, BHK Preamps and Power Plant P20 from this dealer as well, so there is absolutely no reason for me to suspect the dealer. Being PSA as they are with their customer service, they replaced all 3 with the genuine ones free of cost. The bottom line is you never know what’s happening in the background, especially in the cable business where there is a huge profit margin with a fraction of the production cost. |
You were lucky. Maybe because you could prove it you bought them from an authorized dealer. I know with Audioquest, if you send a cable over for authentication, and it’s found counterfeit, you will never get it back. Or any replacement. Audioquest will however provide a detailed technical report on that cable, but only if you were to dispute the purchase with the seller and trying to get the money back via legal manners (I.e PayPal dispute, or credit card). |
No, they did NOT ask for any proof of purchase. When I wrote to them, I mentioned that I bought from so and so dealer. That's it. They did not sent the fake ones back as they would destroy it (any company should do that). I have AQ cables as well and their is a lot of difference in customer service between PSA and AQ. PSA just goes above and beyond. Very few in this industry does that.
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Well if you are marking your product as made in the USA and they are actually made in China you deserve a flood of counterfeit product in the market.
To your other point I will never buy a used cable here or on USAM after reading this.
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Does Audioquest say “made in USA”? It’s been a while I have owned any Audioquest cables, so I truly don’t know. I also know “made in USA” can mean a lot of things. Including final assembly in USA, but with parts (I.e wire, materials) made in China. And truth is lots of stuff is made in China nowadays, like it or not. I bet almost every single product has at least a few parts made in China.
Yup. Which is a bummer for everyone involved with trying various cables, buying, selling, etc.
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+1
I really don't care who makes them or where. If I can buy a cable cheaper that sounds as good as a multi thousand $ cable, that's all that matters to me.
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