Run cable through metal stand?

Cables do sound different. The open questions are:
1. Is the firms explanation real or marketing hype? (e.g. some kind of special construction). AND
2. Do these sonic differences really matter a lot, AND
3. Are these differences due to simple measurable characteristics such as impedence and capacitance?

I have heard, in extreme cases, one change in a pair of interconnects make a night and day difference in a system (adding Cardas to an extremely lean harsh system), but in general the difference is audible but not earth-shaking.

As for cable lifters, I tried them and did not hear a difference but I liked them so I used them for a couple of years, then sold them.

Art

Chris, for the record, I wasn't endorsing the use of cable lifters. I too think they're hype. I just mentioned them for the sake of completeness. If a speaker cable is properly designed, issues of inductance should have been solved internally. The cable should be able to lay on or next to anything (except parallel to electrical lines) without deterioration in performance IMO. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.

Although this doesn't belong to this thread I would like to respond to Nsgarch: I think these unscientific issues regarding cables, for example the lifting cables off the ground thing and cable jackets are just hype and a way to make money. That cables could make (big) differences is to many already a questionable issue. To come around with various gimmicks to make those few feet of cables sounding "better" is way overdone (and a bit of hype too in my opinion). Art, I think the theory is right to protect cables for RFI by using a form of Faradayan cage (your metal corridor), but in practice it wouldn't give any difference at all soundwise.

Chris

Would not worry too much, Art. Put them in the pipe.

Actually running the cable in a metal raceway (that's what they're called) can provide additional shielding from RFI/EMI.

The problem is that if the stand is grounded, i.e. if it has spikes that go into a concrete slab-on-grade floor, (not a wood floor) it can allow the cable to build up some inductance. That's why some people use cable-lifters to keep their speaker cables off the (concrete) floor. Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about that since the raceway probably isnt more than a couple feet long?