I’m pretty sure I’ve lost my mind...


I brought some Analysis Crystal oval 8 speaker cables home and I can’t justify spending that much $ on cables, yet I can’t take them out of my system...

My setup is pretty modest, Audio Quest Red Dragonfly DAC (Tidal), McCormack Micro Line Drive, B&K reference 4420, Kef LS50, Rel T9i...

I’m having a huge dilemma here because these cables make everything sound so natural, real, detailed yet less bright and less sibilance, great imaging, bass, and timing.  The music fits together better.  

I’m comparing them to Signal Cable Silver Resolution, which wonout over some $1100 Tara Labs, and some $900 Clear Day Cables (which did sound better by the way, I just couldn’t justify the price difference for the sq difference), BUT, dang these Analysis Cables....

I think if I got this upgrade in SQ on any component for close to this $ I’d go for it but I’m having a hard time spending this $ on speaker cables because, well they’re just cables.

And now its in the back of my mind how inferior my beloved signal cables are and how they’ll make any component from here on out be short changed.

Please, someone chime in and let me know that lamp cord actually sounds just as good so I can go on with my life.

Happy New Year!
b_limo

Showing 2 responses by french_fries

Well.... you wrote to tell us you're debating the wisdom of this purchase, which indicates to me at least that while they're good they're not worth the money. These wires are not speakers which tend to be much more in the "keepers" category or an amplifier you really love. When I bought a (demo) Rowland preamp many years ago I could afford it after saving up awhile,
and it was pretty wonderful and I kept it for a long time. I wanted a Rowland amp also, but I had to walk away because it was REALLY expensive. I could never afford the speakers I wanted either, so I waited
(and waited...). Saying "no" is no crime. Right now I'm listening to a pair of "terrible" speakers in my bedroom while I recover from surgery, but they're not that bad really. They don't play symphonies but they still do a lot of things. And my Tivoli stereo radio is a remarkable component also.
It's not Magico M3's but so what (no insult to Magico of course).
Rule #1- Have fun, but don't forget to put food on the table.
WITH all due respect to dcevans, better cables almost never mask anything- they bring out more of everything. Better and a more solid bottom end, better upper midrange (read- better separation of instruments, better stage), and more extension on the treble end.
So if your tweeters aren't really superb, you're heading for room treatments, new speakers, rearranging the room, etc. A class-A amplifier can sweeten things up too, after you buy an expensive digital front end...
The high-end is good for one thing- trying to attain the absolute sound.
Then you find out you need a new gadget or super-speaker because it makes what you have sound "broken".  Sorry, that comment went a little long, but I must repeat- have FUN, but don't get stressed out.
P.S.- Oh, I did buy lamp cord at first (a long time ago), and it sounded fine. Then I upgraded to stranded OFC cable in clear jackets, and it looked better and was inexpensive. I don't remember any big differences, but it was "the least I could do".  next I...