Speaker cables: $3000 or $380. What do you get??

Sunnyjim, after reading this thread, I briefly looked at some of your other threads about cables. This statement of yours in one of them just jumped out at me when I read it.

The issue is which model of these brands provides the most bang for the buck, that is, transparency, musicality, and smoothness, and most importantly speaker compatibility.

If you are still using the Acoustic Zen Adagios, then for synergy and compatibility, nothing can be better than the AZ cables. The Adagios are wired internally with Satori, and I have to believe that in the design and “voicing” of the speaker, Acoustic Zen would have used their own cables. It just seems like good common sense to use AZ cables, and stay off the speaker cable merry-go-round.

I also have speakers from a company that offers speaker cable, a somewhat plain, inexpensive one. So surely something high tech and more expensive would be better. Well a few years ago, I tried numerous cables to over $3000 per pair, and the system always sounded good, but never eliminated that desire to try something different. Then why not try the cable from the speaker company. No doubt it is very logical to have the same wire from the amp to the speaker terminals, then through the cabinet (especially a tower) to the actual drivers. After installing the cable, I did experiment with a few interconnects, found one that worked well, and for quite a long time have just spent time enjoying the music. The upgrade bug was exterminated.

Agree that for the majority, Zd542 is correct, “there really is no easy path to take.” However with the Adagios, there is an easy path. You just have to decide to take it and stay on it.

BTW, I do still have the Adagios, and only want the best cable within a budget, for this extraordinary and often overlooked speaker.

I would love to hear a reason how any other cable could create better synergy than the AZ Satori, since this is used for internal wiring. Think of this as taking 2 components, speaker and cable, then making it one, a speaker with a dedicated connection to the amp.

I am happy in my madness, like Captain Ahab, chasing the white whale of perfection

Nothing wrong with that, and anyone here that says they haven't spent time sailing those seas is lying. I just think the fishing should be in different waters, interconnects, amp, preamp, source.

Tls49's point "that there really is no easy path to take" is well taken

Let's give credit to Zd542, he actually said that. I said you have an easy path, but just have to decide to take it.