Let's talk about Silver...


We got off on a short tangent in another discussion about the merits of silver in cables, but we did not want to derail that conversation. So I thought I would start a general discussion where folks can share their experiences, and opinions of course, with silver cables. This can include solid silver, silver plated or alloys, wire, connectors, analog, digital etc.

The knee jerk reaction in the audio world is to say that silver is bright, and in some cases that may be true, but I think it is not a universal truth. I am currently trialing some solid silver interconnects, and I have had some good success with silver in the digital realm. Please share your experience, and opinions of course.

 

zlone

I have a coaxial switcher with 3 coaxial inputs and 1 optical input. This allow me to plug multiple coaxial sources into my DAC’s single coaxial input. Being I prefer coaxial’s sound this works great for me. I was able to achieve synergy connecting my Bluesound N130 to the Coaxial Switcher’s input using a silver plated cable, then to my DAC, then from my DAC to my PreAmp using another Silver Plated Coaxial … But was not able to get any sort of synergy connecting my Blu-Ray’s Coaxial out to my DAC the same way. At first I did not like any of the sound when I connected the N130 but gave some time for the cables to burn in and now sounds great. As for the Blu-Ray, I ended up going optical out of the Blu-Ray to the COAXIAL Switcher’s Optical input being it converts Optical In to Coaxial Out then to the DAC and sounds much better.

Great conversation, thanks all for sharing your experience. 

There have been some comments, but any more thoughts on the merits of pure silver over pure copper in digital cables?

@slaw my post wasn’t directed at you. In fact, I didn’t see your post before I posted.

 

My post was merely to point out that many buy alot of disparate gear and drop in a cable without any basis for doing so other than “I wonder if these will work”. I’ve heard Shindo systems with Shindo silver IC’s and speaker cables and there wasn’t a hint of brightness.  Same with Kondo and same with Audio Note UK. Well designed, properly matched gear supplemented with well designed and properly matched cables/IC’s compliment one another.

@zlone 

any more thoughts on the merits of pure silver over pure copper in digital cables?
 

I’m using Purist Audio CAT7 (silver) Ethernet cable and like it.
I’ve also used AQ Diamond USB (silver) and it was good. I actually found it to be smoother than the copper Audience FrontRow. 

I don’t have silver for my digital cable, but did try the Zenwave D4 last fall and it is a remarkable IC in my system. The new D4 is all UPOCC silver. It has incredible resolution and body and no brightness at all. I compared it to the Iconoclast UPOCC copper cable, which is also excellent across the board, but the Zenwave cables had more resolution, incredible sense of space and imaging, and very natural timbre. I was shocked at what the silver cable did in my system. I bought the Zenwaves and am now trying their power cables as well.