How high end must your system be...


...for you to be able to notice the differences different cables will make. I've always said that I have ears of tin until a friend of mine came to my house and said that my system was just not high end enough to be able to hear the differences different cable will make. My system isn't the newest but it wasn't that cheap. My system is valued at several thousand dollars and I don't think I have anything in my system that you can find at just any audio store.

So, how high?
matchstikman

Showing 2 responses by knownothing

Gee, I can tell differences between wires I don't even want to tell in systems that cost as little as $1K or so. For example, I find some cheap cables sound much better or at least as good as some expensive ones I have already bought. And sometimes some expensive cables I have not bought yet (or actually could not buy) sound better to me in demos than the less expensive ones (I can buy). Furthermore, reviewers will often remark about how they have set such and such a budget piece up with wire that costs as much or more than the gear itself, and that it makes a noticeable difference. And its not just wire that can make a difference in these more modest systems, physical set up, room configuration and treatments and component isolation can all contribute to improving sound of lower to mid fi gear.

I say give different cables a try in your system if you want to with demo wires from The Cable Company and see for yourself if your "tin" ear resonates differently with a different piece of wire connecting your gear together. I like the idea of inviting the teenager from next door to see if they hear a difference, but you might also want to invite one of their parents too so folks don't start to wonder whats up with Mr. HiFi and the neighbor kids. LOL.
While you are at Radio Shack picking up the zip cord Mapman suggested, also buy a set of their Auvio interconnects. Very nice sounding for under $20, compare favorably in my experience to wires from usual suspects that cost more.