How good does my system have to be to realize an improvement with cables?


I've heard the difference power cables and interconnect cables in a highly resolving system so that's not the question.  $200 for cables  on a $500 DAC doesn't make sense to me.  Wouldn't that $200 be better spent on a better component?  At what point is an expensive cable the best choice?  Spending $500 on a $15,000 DAC does make sense as the transparency and resolution of the component could be better realized with a better signal / power source.

My question is what's the  percentage of the overall component's cost should be the cabling and at what point should it even be considered?

Or put a different way How would you know if your cables are your weakest link?

 

128x128danager

Showing 2 responses by mceljo

For context, here's my system with approximate retail prices:

Bluesound Node 2i ($600)

Audioquest Cinnamon Digital Coax ($100)

Maverick Audio TubeMagic D2 ($300) with Sparkos Labs OpAmps ($150) and 1950s Western Electric Tube ($100) and Pangea AC-14XL power cord ($250)

Audioquest Sydney Interconnects ($200)

Pathos Classic One MkIII ($3,000) with 1960s Mullard Tubes ($100) and Waudio Power Cord ($50)

Blue Jeans Cable 10AWG speakers cables with ultrasonic welded banana plugs ($100)

Focal Chorus 836v speakers ($3,000)

I had used all Blue Jeans Cable cables until I decided to see what differences I could hear in my system by swapping some cables.  I started with a couple of Waudio power cables that I picked up on Amazon.

Power Cords: The Waudio power cable on the Pathos Classic One MkIII is the only power cable that's resulted in a clear audible difference in my system.  I have tried a Waudio and now Pangea power cords on my DAC and cannot say that I've heard a difference.

Interconnects: I started with Audioquest Chicago and was impressed enough to upgrade again to the Sydney and again heard a clear difference compared to the BJC.

Digital Coax: I did not hear any difference between the Audioquest Cinnamon and the BJC.

Speaker Cables: I have not tried any different speaker cables because they are sub-optimized in my system out of necessity with a custom switch that allows me to connect both my Pathos and home theater receiver to my speakers.  It would take two sets of cables and I would still have the switch, so it doesn't seem like a high value proposition.

I didn't start playing with cables until I was pretty set with my components.  Prior to the tube rolling in the Pathos, I don't think it would have been possible to hear the differences in cables.  That upgrade really took my system to the next level.

 

 

@stevewharton - I used all Blue Jeans Cables for a long time because they are very well made, affordable, and they are fairly local for me so overnight delivery is almost the standard.

I was surprised at the difference (improvement to my ears) that I heard between the BJC LC-1 ($50) and the Audioquest Chicago ($100) and then Sydney ($200).