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How accurate are cable descriptions for your system?

Steve Huff, whose videos I typically like on YouTube is now reporting this about some cables:

SVS Ultra Cables can be found at Amazon for just about $100 for an 8 foot pair. These will bring a bit more bass to your sound but are less refined. 

Tuneful cables are light and have a nice design. They are leaner, and faster but also very good. You can find them for $79 for a 12 foot pair at Amazon HERE.

QUESTION: To what degree can his descriptions be taken as "likely true" for any given (sufficiently resolving) system?

I ask this for people who have found that cables DO make a difference (to their ears, in their system) and deniers will be ignored.

https://www.stevehuffphoto.com/my-fave-speaker-cables-under-100-hifi-quality/

128x128hilde45

Showing 1 response by williewonka

williewonka
3,071 posts
 

@hilde45 - the answer to your question really is - you get what you pay for !

$100 cables are generally mediocre performers because

  • they may be built using bulk cable that may not really suited to Audiophile use,
    • i.e.  no advanced cable geometry is used
  • they are lilkely made using OFC copper - UP-OCC copper is much better
  • they will likely have mediocre connectors and insulation

If the budget allows look at Zavfino cables - for a little more money you will get

  • cables that will sound noticebly better than most of the competition
  • they are better made with quality parts
  • they adopt more recent wire types and cable geometries
  • and you can upgrade to higer grade cables as you feel it is required for even better sound

Take a look at the Zavfino thread for more information about them

These are very good cables to start out with

Arcadia OCC Interconnect Cable - ZavfinoUSA
Nova OCC Speaker Cable

Fina OCC power cable

As for your question

When you hear cables described in a certain way -- but not specific to your system -- how accurately do you find those descriptions matching up to what you eventually here, if you try the cables?

I do not pay any attention to cable reviews because...

  • I am not hearing the music being played - I trust my own ears only
    • the reviewer could be deaf as far as I know
  • reviewers are paid for their reviews,
    • so they sorta have to say something nice
    • or they will not be asked to ever review again
  • If the reviewer descibes the cable geometry and wire/insulation being used I might consider he is at least aware of what makes a good cables
    • if the reviewer does not mention these aspects then I would not consider the cables.

This hobby is very subjective

  • no two systems are alike
  • no two listening environments are alike
  • no two individuals hearing are alike
  • no two musical tastes are alike

Also, we tend to review any component/cable using our favourite tracks, which may not bring out the best in their performance

  • I have over 70 audition tracks for reviewing anything
    • some are extremely dynamic and punchy
    • some are live recordings in very large venues
      • with lots of micro venue acoustics
        • those little echoes and reverberations 
    • some are live recordings in very small, intimate venues
      • where you can hear a pin drop
        • or the truck passing by outside
        • or the creaking of a person’s chair
    • some have studio engineered environments with an exaggerated (i.e. overly wide) sound stage
    • some have just voice
    • others are full on orchestral pieces that allow me to hear individual instruments
    • and one track recreates a superbly realistic small music hall from the 60’s in some back alley location

The secret to reviewing anything is to find tracks that cover a wide selection of sounds and not just favourite tracks

Hope that helps - Steve

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