Have audio cables really improved in last 20 years?

@paulcreed - YES! cables have improved immensly over the past 20 years

There have been improvements in:

1. type of wire now used
   • Pure copper, OFC, UP-OCC copper and UP-OCC silver
   • The higher the Conductivity Rating the better the wire
2. type of insulation now used
   • PTFE, Foamed Teflon, Cotton/Silk etc...
   • they have a lower value of Dielectric Constant, which improved clarity and details
3. advanced cable geometries
   • this is how the conductors are situated within the cables
   • A good example of Geometry is the braided approach used by Kimber Kable
   • for examples of more modern geometries take a look at Zavfino, In-Akustik, Hijiri and the Helix DIY cables below
   • they have a lower noise floor due ot their geometry and insulations
4. Advanced connectors
   • pure copper is now used a lot more vs. the more manageable/machinable copper alloys (beryllium,teryllium) of of "yesterday" which have a lower level of conductivity than Pure Copper or UP-OCC copper
   • Low Mass RCA connectors have emerged and are far superior to those massive WBT RCA’s from the past

Compared to the more conventional wires that ARE still being sold as TOTL products, the newer cables are far superior and provide

• improved clarity and details
• an expansive and enveloping image
• more neutral sounding
• faster dynamic performance
• have the ability to make speakers "disappear"

With the right design approach and materials, today’s cables (some mentioned above) will get you closer to Audio Nirvana that anything from 20 years ago.

Unfortunately, just like anyting else in this hobby, YOU have to do your homework.

You can ask for opinions, but that will get you 100’s of recommendations, making the choice very difficult

But here are a couple of threads about some great sounding cables to be going on with and lots of comments from other members

• Zavfino
• Hijiri

You can of course, be like many other members and DIY your cables - in which case these threads may be of interest

• Helix DIY Cable Design
• Helix DIY - what other members think
• The Helix Cables are exceptional performers and can be built for a fraction of the cost, and will compete with some exceptional branded products

There is a lot of science behind the latest cables, but because many brands use unique terminology to advertise their products, and the advances can seem more like "snake oil". This can have a detrimental impact on possible customers, so they end up confused and will ignore the real breakthroughs in cable development

Hope that helps

Regards - Steve

@grannyring, like myself, is just one of many Audiogon members that has experimented with many different facets of cable design over many years.

• We investigate the latest claims from various sources
• We try things for ourselves i.e. if they seem to hold some merit
• We trust our ears to tell us when something is working - or not
• We prototype and refine our cable solutions,
• We learn from our journey

From my perspective, if a company does not reveal the "science" behind their cables then they are not worth considering.

The basic "Cable Science" that should be considered in order to achieve a very good product - as stated in my previous post, is

1. metlurgy of the wire and gauge
2. insulation
3. Cable Geometry
4. Connector design & implementation

Incorporating the best of these four facets into a cable does not come cheap and the very best cable companies, like those I have mentioned in my previous post, adopt further refinements of those four basic design elements, in order to achieve outstanding levels of performance from their cables, so their cables can get a little pricey.

The next time you are looking to update your cables, see how the company that you are condicering, adresses those 4 basic design elements. If you are unable to discover them in their advertising literature - move on to another company.

Worthwhile cable companies reveal their designs. But you do have to understand some basics - it's just like buying any other component.

Regards - Steve