HAVE CABLES EVER TAKEN YOUR SYSTEM FROM SOUNDING JUST OK TO SOUNDING GREAT? Experiences ?

@gavman i literally have tried a lot of cables since I started in this 20 years ago. Cables make a difference in all the systems I have tried. Our Infigo Audio cables are what I run in my system. I have loaned them out to people to try because I believed they have a positive affect and improvement on most systems they go in. I let people try them before they buy them so that they determine if it’s worth it to them without the risk. Some people like them so much they never get sent back annd they don’t come out of their systems.  Our ears  in our  systems should be the deciding factor. If you look at the cable deniers most shoot it down without even trying. I stay away from those guys. If you look at my original post it tells you share your EXPERIENCES! They come on the thread to share their scientific opinions and to snake oil name call. Never telling anyone what they tried and on what and when! You should never let someone he will never hear your system tell you why you won’t hear a change in a system that they don’t have and will never! THAT’S NOT SCIENCE THAT’S AGAINST COMMON SENSE! You are the one listening not them!  The other thing is the arrogance that exudes from their comments basically calling the rest of us stupid and deaf if we hear a change. Interesting 🤔

@amitynick just sent a loaner out to a long time audiophile that I have grown to know. He literally is kicking himself for even listening because he said he thought he was done now he has to have them because they match his system so well. Sometimes it’s matching and sometimes the cable’s just get out if the way and let you get the best out of your equipment. 

Yes, I am experiencing this right now.  And it involves several cables in my system with the key to unlocking this experience being a Shunyata Alpha Zitron HC power cable on my power distributor.  When I replaced a Shunyata Venom HC with the used Alpha I was at a loss to understand what I was hearing at first.  More detail, better timing, better spatial resolution in the soundstage, more textured and nuanced bass, just across the board more musical.  This was true for both my digital and analog front ends.

I had previously done some blind testing with a handful of different coax SPDIF cables and decided it was worth making a big upgrade to connect my streamer to my DAC.  I bit the bullet and bought a used Chord cable that cost a lot (for me) with no regrets.  But before the Shunyata Alpha went in the very front end of my system the difference in sound between my best optical cable and the Chord coax was not so great that I couldn’t have been happy with the optical cable.  After putting the new power cord in, the distance opened up between the performance of the good coax and the optical cable is a listening chasm that I just can’t bridge.  The coax cable is much, much better.

My most surprising cable transformation experience that came after adding the Shunyata Alpha has to do with changing analog interconnects from my DAC.  I was using Nanotec #207 cables with Furutech rhodium plugs as my reference for years on both my digital and analog front ends.  I have a number of other interconnects ranging from $200-$500, nothing special and all clearly beat in my estimate by the Nanotecs.  

I started to have problems with the left channel of my digital front end dropping out, and since my DAC was less than a year old, I suspected the interconnect.  I pulled out my box of wires and started going through all the possible replacements and I was stopped short when I put in a $23.81 knock off cable from China.  It had the same mysterious and wonderful effect that the Shunyata Alpha had on the sound.  It just sounded completely different than any of my other interconnects.  Huge and wonderful bass, warm but detailed midrange and treble and enveloping soundstage.  Over time the sound organized and the bass receded to just right.  This is a terrific cable and just what my system needs right now.

The reason I was so surprised by this result is that I had previously listened to this cable in both my main system and another decent but modest system and had rejected it from both as very nice looking and good sounding for twenty bucks, but not the final solution.  After significant run in time it is now my best sounding interconnect, besting wires from Audioquest, Wireworld, Nanotec and Silver Shadow that cost 10-25x the price of the Chinese wire. Someone who listened to my system recently and had been familiar with its sound before was so impressed they bought a whole loom of cables to try in their Naim/Rega/ATC set up.

Wiring is an important part of my system, and the effects of improved wiring are additive and highly system dependent.  

kn

Essentially cables are a sort of tone control, and they are system dependent. Yes, they do make a significant difference whether it's good or bad. Just be prepared to shell out some bucks to experiment.

I did a full loom of expensive cables….when back and forth with the Blue Jean cables I had…sent the expensive cables back saved thousands of dollars…the difference was hardly noticeable….