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Do Costly XLR Cables Make A Difference?

Serious question here. I currently own a rather good XLR cable that goes between the amp and DAC. I’m considering a better XLR cable to improve things, basically all the good aspects of sound reproduction such as deeper and more defined bass, better separation and detail across the frequency spectrum and an airier and more 3-dimensional sound in the midrange and treble. Will a different XLR cable supposedly one that’s costlier bring me to that direction?

My current XLR cable costs about $2k actual price paid.

I’m looking at an alternative pair up to about $2k perhaps $3k tops if it is proven that the cable is able to bring a noticeable or worthwhile if not significant difference. I am actually looking at the Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 and Gold Eclipse 8 XLR.

Any experience would be appreciated. 

 

ryder

Showing 2 responses by mitch2

mitch2
3,725 posts
 

You already own "costly XLR cables."

Try and obtain loaners of the cables you want to purchase through a dealer, friend, or The Cable Company, and then listen to them and compare directly with your current cables in your own system. If you really want to verify the value, have a friend randomly change the cables between your current cables and the new cables and then try to choose which you are listening to, or which you like better, without knowing/seeing which cable is in-place. Do that at least 10 times and if you cannot pick the same favorite at least 7 times out of 10, then don’t waste your money.

mitch2
3,725 posts
 

“…for dedicated audiophiles who sometimes change their equipment, it is good to treat a selection of cables as tools in a tool kit for final tuning.”

@jjss49 

I agree, and with the rest of your post too.  
The cables need not be expensive but it helps if they are different and bring their own unique strengths.  For example, I keep SCs by Harmonic Tech (lots of OCC copper, fine gauge solid core, and individually insulated), Furutech (super fine strands of OCC copper in foamed PE), and NOS WE (annealed, tinned, stranded copper), and a few others that all result in a subtly different sound.  Same type of deal with PCs and ICs.

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