Maybe it's not so much what the wires themselves "do", but what the components connected to the wires make them "do". |
Wires are like ice cream. They come in all different flavors. The good ones are the ones that sound best in your system. Cost is not an effective determiner of end performance. Great sounding wires might cost just a few dollars or thousands.
One feature that clearly matters in many cases is whether the wire is shielded or not. Unshielded wires can pick up noise from nearby electronic devices more easily. Digital devices, switching amps, and power amps or other household devices with large power transformers and RF noise from radio waves are the common sources. LOw level signals like that from MC or even MM phono carts are most susceptible, though line level sources including the signal from pre-amp to power amp can be affected in a quite negative manner that may or may not be apparent from listening by these kinds of EM and RF fields.
I also tend to like wires with network devices that attempt to maintain constant electric properties like impedance by design regardless of length, etc.
It gets a lot greyer after these few things to me.....
DNM reson ICs are inexpensive, simple, and golden in my estimation however are not the best choice in some applications where a shielded wire is called for.
Even teh inexpensive networked ICs from MIT are very good. These are also shielded I believe. |
Kijanki, what's sad is I understand. Thanks for the offer, but I like "shake and bake" KFC. |
"is this when "quality" electrons make a difference??"
That's right. As we know electrons only shake in place at AC when electric charge moves. Young electrons shake eagerly while old stale ones don't want to shake. All is in the electrons! Wanna buy some? |
Kijanki, is this when "quality" electrons make a difference?? They really improved the performance of my bucket of steam. |
Exactly what I was trying to convey. Differences in naterials, insulation, conductor size and composition, and manufacturing result in measureable differences in impedence and capacitance. These differences will alter the sound from dark to bright, and from slurred through smooth to detailed. I recommend starting with a well made, good copper, affordable cable and then adjusting for what one wants in the sound . . .brighter and more detailed (consider silver). . .darker backgrounds (consider AQ Midnight). . (more bass consider larger conductors)..and lots of others to one own taste and budget. However, I would NOT attach a $2000 cable to a $350 amplifier and expect a megashift in amplifier performance. I would consider dedicated lines well BEFORE I spring for expensive power cords; I am sure others will weigh in on this, but please let common sense and blind listening tests direct your choices. |
I believe much has to do with the dielectric used to insulate the conductor and the manner in which it interacts with the formulation of the conductor. Certainly there are reproducible sonic differences between designs and mnuafacturers. I personally have seen this demonstrated to both uninformed or inexperienced, as well as knowledgable and experienced listeners on several occasions. |
Llanger - I'm afraid you won't find an answer here. It was asked many time before and every time cable nay-sayers jump in while audiophiles who actually own and enjoy better quality cables are wise enough to stay away. |
Cheap Bic and Golden Dupont cigarette lighters serve the same purpose, but one is 'a-bit' more expencive:-)
Many people like Prada, LV, Cavalli, but Polo is just as good and serve the same purpose.
I bet that if you're able to alter labels RadioShack to Cardas, you'll have a great profit(never seen any serial numbers on wires LOL!) as many chinese manufacturers already stuffed up with Pradas, Cavallis, LV etc... |
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This must be "loaded" question since I cannot imagine that you haven't checked "Cable Theory" at one of most popular makers - like this one on Audioquest site:
http://www.audioquest.com/pdfs/aq_cable_theory.pdf |
Nearly everyone would like to think he or she has made the best choices, if not, certainly the most cost effective ones. The more one pays for something, the higher its perceived value. Better cables should have shielding from RFI. This likely costs more than unshielded cables. Other cables will vary in capacitance and impedance based on length, materials, configuration etc (more expensive materials and production costs will increase the cost of a cable). Signal conveyance can also be affected by the way a particualr cable is insulated as wellas by the gauge of the conductor and how it is twisted. The variations in capacitance and impedance will slightly change the sound, for better, or for worse, in someone's own opinion. If they paid alot for the cable, it would likely sound better than if they paid less. If they like the looks of a particular cable, it likely also sounds better too. Just my opinion on this one. Try starting with a basic cable within your budget, and then consider what you might be looking for (detail? bass definition? imaging?) and try to tweek you system accordingly before auditioning different cables. Happy Listening, |
No. No one can explain it. Perhaps it is all in the mind. |
Some attribute it to skin effect,
some say its conductivity of the material (therefore the ned for 7N copper or silver),
some say it's the way the strands and the dielectric minimizes capacitance and shield RF.
I once entered into a discussion on this topic with a well-respected gentleman in the high tech field who supposedly invented the piezoelectric print head and has 90+ patents under his belt.
He started the topic yet soon afterwards he tore me an asshole and that evening went downhill real fast.
Voodoo or not, keep an open mind. Start with reasonably priced stuff and let *your* ears be the judge. |
