Favorite cable brand.

I do not know how to listen to a cable.I can only hear a system in which there are cables and which is in a unique room.  Innumerable variables in the system, the room, the ears.In my system into my ears and my own personal brain based decoder it is Purist Audio Design.
My whole loom, everything, is Purist Dominus Luminist except for one power cord which is LE Praesto.  I was never satisfied listening to a mix of brands/manufacturers.  Never quite coherent.  For me, most sonically and emotionally most satisfying listening to one brand.
Before you scoff, never could I afford Purist Audio retail.  Everything bought over several years used or dealer demo at steep discounts.
Enjoy what you enjoy.

I do not know how to listen to a cable. 
I can only hear a system in which there are cables and which is in a unique room.  Innumerable variables in the system, the room, the ears.
In my system into my ears and my own personal brain based decoder it is Purist Audio Design.  My whole loom, everything, is Purist Dominus Luminist except for one power cord which is LE Praesto. 

I was never satisfied listening to a mix of brands/manufacturers.  Never quite coherent.  For me, it is sonically and emotionally most satisfying listening to one brand.

Before you scoff, never could I afford Purist Audio retail.  Everything bought over several years used or dealer demo at deep discounts.
Enjoy what you enjoy.

Interconnects and speaker--Audience
Power--Essential Sound Products 

Without question I prefer Swisscables, I have their Reference interconnects, Reference speaker cables and their incredibly good Diamond power cord. 

Audience 

Each component has a different impedance requirement.

Different cables have different configurations and that interaction is what you are hearing

To optimize waveform transmission, and that is your goal I hope, each cable has to be designed for that equipment. Every other electronic discipline employs this, and any EE will reiterate the same thing.

Wonder who would build a cable for your particular impedance and application? It took me 3 years of calculations and building 150 cables (down to even forming the conductors) to perfect it. Not easy, but it ends the upgrades.

I don’t have a lot of experience with entire looms, as opposed to mix-and-match, but I have had Zu Cable and Acoustic BBQ looms. Audiogoner Bill Dion used to make the Acoustic BBQ; while I gather he no longer does, you still can find some of his products in the used market. Although I have used individual Kimber, Audience, and Morrow cables that were more expensive than the Acoustic BBQ, it was only the latter that made me want to acquire a full loom. Unless I make wholesale changes in my system, which I don’t expect, I don’t anticipate buying anything else, as the Acoustic BBQ sound that good to me.

My methodology re. cables has always been KISS. - low capacitance, low inductance and low resistance, with as short of run as possible.
I have no desire to tune my system with ridiculously priced cables. Speaker cables:Ted’s "INTEGRITY" 8’ - 24AWG single strand OCC coper in a PTFE sleeve for ea. lead - one pair doubled (as per D. Schroeder) for ea. speaker. IC cables: CABLEPLEX C1 Silver. Power cable: what ever the manufacture supplied with, or recommends for their unit - effectively and safely getting 120V power from your outlet to a component is not rocket science.....Jim

Quote:

douglas_schroeder3,018 posts04-27-2021 10:46amAny recommendations where the cables were used in mixed sets should have a qualification. The house sound, how the cables were designed to sound as per manufacturer, is not obtained unless, and ONLY unless they are used in a complete set. I have demonstrated this with many systems (i.e. dozens) with several genres of speakers over the past 14 years of reviewing.

I would like to point out that Mr. Schroeder has not changed all of the wiring in his components and speakers, so is not getting the full "house sound" that he refers to. He never will because all components and speakers are a mix of parts, each having their own metals and materials.
"House sound" is ambiguous anyway, because almost all manufacturers strive for realistic sound reproduction.
Bottom line is whatever mix sounds good to you is the one you should keep (for the time being anyway).

With that said, I really like MIT Oracle interconnects, Zentara interconnects, Silnote interconnects, MG Audio and Sablon speaker cables, and for power cords; Triode Wire Labs, Shunyata, Synergistic Atmosphere (source components), and a few others depending on the component. I have not found one brand to be best for every component.

I’ve owned and still own a lot of systems and throughout all of them the one combo that works time and again is the Audioquest DBS interconnects and MIT speaker cables. There is a synergy with these two that as one ascends each line produces more image solidity and 3D imaging down into the bass range. 
The new MIT EVO one speaker cables are something to behold...

rilbr, I have, in fact compared internal cables in speakers, and I write about such things in my reviews. There can be quite an improvement when the speaker is involved in matching brands. The argument about components is nonsense, a desperate ploy to find an objection in order to write off the recommendation.  Legacy Audio did an upgrade to the Whisper DSW and the article involved changing the internal wiring to 10AWG Clarity Cable, and Clarity Caps (no company relation to Clarity Cable) for what was called the "Clarity Upgrade". As a result, Bill Dudleston measured a 2dB improvement in the bass response, which he was not expecting. I also discuss working with the "internal" wiring with the PureAudioProject Trio15 Horn1 Speaker. 

I am actually working on speakers currently to assess the effect of changing the internal cables to make them homogenous with the IC and SC. I have been encouraging speaker manufacturers to give more attention to the internal cabling - which the community will benefit from - with some success. I am not naming brands at this point, but will share some in reviews. 

Let me guess; you have never actually compared sets of cables, but are simply using a flimsy, fallacious argument in an attempt to discredit my recommendation. Your argument has the same force as those who attempt to discredit the efficacy of aftermarket cables by referring to the miles of power lines, transformers, house wiring, etc. This is some of the most inane logic offered by audiophiles, thinly disguised skepticism, cloaked in high minded logic. And, it's wrong, just as your comment is wrong as an excuse to not work with sets of cables.

As I have said previously, most audiophiles are too cheap (or, conversely, are limited in terms of budget), too lazy or too skeptical to actually do it, so they will not learn for themselves. They will keep trotting out the received wisdom. Can they get great sounding rigs? Sure. Will they optimize them? No, not a chance. You do not get optimum performance from random, undirected activity, i.e. ad hoc mixed sets. Reference to the speakers and components will not change that. The community needs to stop pretending they are so fastidious in making their rigs when they pay no attention to cables, but simply mix them up without regard to any baseline. 

It sounds, oh, so thorough, "I have not found one brand to be best for every component," but that does not mean you even know how to assess the varied cables. I assert that you do not, if you have not worked with entire sets. Now, perhaps you did acquire sets of all these cables and compared. But, something tells me that if you had, you would have been quick to point that out. Ergo, I think you have little experience in the matter, and very high skepticism, which essentially means all you have are weak arguments, just like everyone else who has not worked with complete sets of cables.   :) 

Am I interested in further debate with you, if you find that assessment dissatisfactory? No, not at all. Enjoy your system.  :) 

WOW!!!  Just think of all of this creativity devoted to, um, "imaginative" names for cables.  Makes a person's head  spin.  Can't help but wonder if some of these cable companies hire the same consultants as political folks do to name the bills they seek to pass.  Think about it.

FWIW, I  believe there is a LOT of snake oil involved in both politics and cables.

Cables MAY make one's system sound DIFFERENT, and it is understandable that is what some may be seeking.  If that is what one is after, all well and good.  Others may just want accuracy.

High Fidelity Cable.  Each, and every time I added a HFC cable (or anything made but HFC) in to my system it just got better.  

For my less revealing system. Nordost Heimdall, Tellurium Black ll,Audioquest , Teo Audio Cables.Virtual Dynamics pc.Audio Envy phono Cable. My gear Sutherland 2020 phono pre with LPS. Amps Plinius sa 100 modifies, Viva 300b integrated.Jr scout vpi tt, Ares dac, Marantz 8005 sacd, Yamaha s1000 sacd player.audio Research ls2b preamp.I also use Marigo apparition digital, Kimber d60 digital, Kimber Palladian pc, On my Norh biwirable Speakers I use 4 kinds of brand of cable ,the most dynamic sound I ve heard using 4 brand, and different length ,  ps12 Tekton speakers and the magnificent Klipsch 600 monitors.Honestly Iam not that lucky using the same brand.

For my revealing main system .. I used Tellurium black diamond ic and speaker cable, tq black ic, audience power chord. Kimber Palladian pc , Kimber ascent , aq Diamond ic.Nordoest Heimdall ic, cerious graphemes ic, Dons pc DCCA?  Audio Envy pc ,Speakers Andra Eggleston, Tekton impact monitors. Amp Tsakadiris apollon monoblocks, pream Krell, sources , Marantz SA10, SME 10 tt. 

FWIW (and quite honestly, I don’t think very much!), with my somewhat limited exposure in the big scheme of such things, I seem to marginally prefer; ribbons and co-axial designs from Alpha-Core, Straightwire and Wireworld.

These posts can be bewildering to those new to this hobby.  I can see how the less experienced just walk away in frustration and go back to their iTunes.  It's not just about cables.  Everyone's comments are valid from their background of experience and monies invested.  The comments here range from cables that cost a few dollars to cables that cost many thousands of dollars.  Add to that audio systems that the users posting here have that range from modest to full out ultimate professional studio level.  So many levels of systems here.  How to find a common thread or standard to start from.  It is likely not possible.
Back in the day, we would walk into a hifi shop and the salesman would play a record with a $10 cartridge.  After agreeing that it sounded very good, he would demo a $100 cartridge.  Oh boy, did that sound awesome.  We just had to have that $100 cartridge.  Now imagine justifying a $100 phono cartridge to your friends and family.  No way any cartridge is worth that, they would say.  Oh, you had to be there.  It is the best cartridge ever.
And that is how this hobby goes...

Over the years I have used many cable brands
I currently have two systems with all Inakustik cabling
One is a full silver set up and one is copper
The thing I love about these cables is the neutrality
These will not help if you are looking for tone control
I have tried from mid to the top tier and I feel in the cable world they represent great value at each stage
Just my thoughts

+1 for Cerious Technologies!
I use Graphene Extreme power cords throughout and love them!
Haven't tried the interconnects yet.
I use Cardas almost exclusively, 1 set of Wireworld.🍻

speaker cables 
Audioquest Oak

Analysis Plus 

I have had very good luck with Paul Speltz' anti-cables, as well as Analysis Plus.  They are reasonably priced and sound very neutral to my ear.

I have been using the Inakustic cables as well.  Very neutral cables.  They open up your system to hear deeper into the music without adding anything.  

I really like in-akustik USB cables, particularly the Reference line. They not only sound great but are very well made. 

My favorite cable brands are from Europe.  The American brands such as Nordost and Transparent, Kubala Sosna, etc leave too much on the table performance wise.  As do cables designed by 'first priciples'

While I still love Purist Audio Cables (they were the first 'cray cray' money cabling I bought for my system)  Jims stuff is no longer SOTA, and High Fidelity Cabling, while good, do not represent value for money at even the insane prices that even I look at with doubt (I always remain open minded however.)

As with most audio gear IMO, the best of the best cabling wise now comes from Central and Eastern Europe.

Inakustic cabling is amazing.  It has a combination of design features and TRUE air dielectric construction that NO ONE else is doing.  Their prices are reasonable for the technology and outstanding for the sound and represent excellent value/performance at the upper echelon of the segment.

For everyone's reference, I had too many cable brands to mention; Cardas, JPS, a compete loom of Nordost Valhalla V2 in my system for several months.  I sold it all to a nice man in Switzerland before slowly moving to the Siltech brand, which I eventually migrated to their 35th Anniversary Silver. 

The top of the line Inakustik cabling is better than my previous reference Siltech 35th Anniversary Silver and gives the Siltech Double Crown a run for its money at a small fraction of the cost. (While the Siltec Double Crown and TC are beautiful sounding, the Inakustik is actually much more neutral than the DC and TC IMO)  

There is a reason the Inakustik cabling names their best cables "Air".  Nothing in my experience does ambience and detail better.

If there is better, I've yet to hear it.

I prefer used cables.  List price for some of these cables is ridiculous.  Cables are high margin items for sales folks.  I’d rather save money and buy a lightly used pair second hand.
I use Audioquest rocket series in my system.  I like the way my systems sounds.  So I don’t spend money or time swapping them.

If it sounds good, be happy.  

Signal cable 
Affordable yet excellent!
improved my sound greatly

Ansuz C2 power cables, Sablon Audio USB and ethernet and WAVE Storm BNC. Considering trying Sablon Audio power cable and XLR interconnects as I have been impressed with the Sablon Audio cables I have tried so far.

I use Cardas cables throughout my system. I have tried several other brand of cables, but I seem to gravitate back to the Cardas sound and build quality. I am currently using Cardas "Clear" interconnects, coaxial, and USB cables with an old set of Bi Wire Quadlink speaker cables. I would like to move up to their top level "Clear Beyond" cable but that will have to wait for a while. lol

I am very impressed with these cable lines:

1) Zen Wave...Dave's cables

2) Graceline by Black Cat

3) Nordost.

Blue Jeans Cables are my go-to for interconnects and speaker cables, and Pangea for power cables.  I had a set of AudioQuest Evergreens but I sent them back because I thought they sounded thin - I don't know if that's even possible, but in this hobby if something bugs you it's better to resolve it to your satisfaction and move on.  The Pangea cords I use because when I run a voltage tester along them it doesn't detect voltage as opposed to my OEM cords.  Changed out the Bluesound Node 2 power cord for a WireWorld C7 cord.  Thought I heard a difference, don't hold me to it.

Over the years I have used, Transparent IC and Speaker. Audio quest IC and Speaker. Cardas IC and Speaker, Pangea PC, Nordst, ....

A couple years back a friend gave me a set of Raven Soniquil IC to try and now I use all Raven IC, XLR, Speaker and Power. 
Love the No Fairy Dust philosophy, just quality cables at a fair price and you are not waiting 6 weeks (Signal)

+1 Inakustik

Transparent largely used both interconnects and speakercables.
Revelation Audio Labs cryo silver  rj45 i2s ethernet
Wireworlds platinum silver starlite usb

I am a Transparent Audio guy through and through I have tried some other brands and, in my system and to my ears, they fell flat in comparison to similarly priced TA. 

Neutral sound-GroverHuffman.com handbuilt, patented air core insulated, embossed platten rolled wire, etc. power cables, ICs and speaker wire.
Warmer sound and High resolution brighter sound - Verastarr all copper ribbon and the all silver ribbon power cables.  Haven't tried ICs or speaker wire.

Many worse sounding as I am a beta tester.  Worst-High Fidelity cables (all types, many versions).  Dark sounding - Magnan and Kubala Sosna cables

Matching cables to system is important.  Use the Verastarr for COS Engineering D1 DAC, Grover Huffman for rest of the system.

I like the blind Lama cables there real hairy.

Whatever is under $300 

Cullen Cables makes excellent interconnects and speaker cables.  I love them.

Maze audio makes very good sounding interconnects. 

So far, after owning quite a few over the decades is Wire World, especially series 7 & 8

Blue Jeans cable. Affordable, high quality, excellent customer service.

Listing time…that’s helpful!  NOT

For DIY: Neotech, Ramm Audio, Oyaide, Furutech, Viborg

Favorite Brands Nordost (Heimdall and up) Siltech & Crystal Cable.

Brands that I need to check: Black Cat, Silversmith, In-Akustik, Townshend.  

Furutech all the way for my DIY cables...

Shunyata, Transparent Audio and Audio Art have consistently be part of my system at one time or another. 

Nordost.

I’ve been in the hobby since about 1985 and was in retail for 12 years. I’ve personally owned many of the usual suspects, and when in retail many companies would send us cables, hoping we would promote them. Also, trade-ins.

Nordost, to my ears, in a wide variety of systems, simply passed more information and editorialized the least.

Of course, I have not heard everything and I don’t dismiss anyone else’s different preference. But Nordost has proven itself to me and I subscribe to the "complete loom" approach; I have a smattering of Heimdall2, Frey2, Tyr2, and Valhalla2.

Love me some Argento Organic Reference cables.

ballhog

I have an audition with Swisscable later this week.

Happy Listening!