What do $2500 speaker cables sound like?

For high-end interconnects. I always go into a set of interconnects with great skepticism. Normally I will have just upgraded one or more components, so I am calibrated as to what it cost me for the component (cost per sound improvement) I just bought. So, the sound of the interconnects need to make me feel like it is worth the money... like I have no alternative.. because of the improved sound. It is always a question of bang for the buck... get the most out of an existing component, or save it for a component upgrade.

.

This is why it is best to try interconnects either from a dealer or rent. Or just buy some fairly inexpensive ones that are well reviewed. Just yesterday my dealer brought by a $2,500 digital interconnect for fun for me to try (my current interconnect was $2,000 Transparent). It made my system sound bad... brittle, glasslike, not better. Did not need to do any thinking about it... it sounded terrible. This is not common, but sometimes high quality interconnects do not sound better in your system. It should not be a hard choice... it should be easy, or it is a waste of money.

They sound FAR too expensive for me.

@devilboy,
Good additional point and further incentive if someone like @jumia truly wants to sort out the issue of cable performance/sound quality. The opportunity and resources are readily available.
Charles

Plus, I believe that whatever money one has spent on renting equipment from Cable Company, that money gets put in a "pot". If you decide to purchase something now or down the road, that pot money gets deducted from your purchase price.

@jumia,
Reading your comments it difficult to ascertain how interested you are in exploring your inquiry. As several posters have wisely suggested, you can essentially "rent" /audition cables of interest via the cable company. They are very good at accommodating this type of scenario.

Select several cables that interest you and patiently listen to them intently in your own system. Trust your ears and just listen and compare in a very familiar home audio system. How do they compared with your current speaker cables. Buy some zip cord wire and judge how it matches up with the more expensive audition cables.

I believe that you will find some cables are clearly better than others (Like any category of audio products). Most expensive is not necessarily always the best but ’generally’ speaking you’ll get what you pay for. I believe that the higher quality the audio system (Resolution and transparency) the easier it will be to hear differences amongst the various cables.

This method is the most direct and effective way to satisfy  genuine curiosity.
Charles

To me its all sooo convuluded.

It seems an understanding of how the signal is lessened as it progresses thru a cable.

therefore, to minmize this, it requires great design to overcome complex tech challenges, and this costs money, otherwise we could all use telephone wire. 
So please focus on how the signal is impacted if not treated better via more costly cabling.

1+++++ for Silversmith Fidelium!!!
$1200 for an 8’ pair. $175 for bi wire adaptor.
I replaced $6K great cables that are now junk.
 Read that others have replaced $20-$30K cables in $600K and $1 million systems. Fideliums smoke all.
They were the biggest improvement in my system ever!
30 day return policy. I am only surprised that I am only the third to rave about them in this thread. 

" Malman, it’s not surprising that you are in the zip cord camp, IF your system is setup for listening as it is pictured in your system profile! "

One of the more amusing things to me with people that stop in from the Klipsch forum who followed the Super MWM build thread there is the expression on their faces when they first hear these while they watch the hair stand straight up on their arms at times. My goal was very high fidelity, great efficiency and to sit right next to the 32’ organ pipes or the Cellos or anything else, which it does quite well. It is like that sleeper daily driver hot rod that just waxed your $350,000 supercar. It may not look real pretty but it is all business. If you are near southern middle Tennessee you are welcome to PM me and stop in for a listen and see for yourself.

It's a pity we have a resident clown who creates new accounts over and over again for the sole purpose to irritate those of us who try and engage in honest debate.

I suppose this is the only way he can get some attention. 90 odd posts in 7 days. What a loser ...

Depends on your system.

If your system has sufficient focus and is detailed enough, it will benefit from good cables. If not, it won't. Good cabling may make a mediocre system sound worse.

Speaker cables are no different than any other component in your system--you must try them out in YOUR system to hear the results.

It is true that you can pay thousands on cables and it can be a complete overpriced waste. But this is true of EVERY component in your system. That is why you TAKE YOUR TIME and try stuff out without committing huge loads of cash.

When we upgraded our cables (interconnects and speaker) from a carbon wire to Cardas Clear, the difference was so substantial that even my audio-pessimist wife DEMANDED we fork over the $10K for them.

When we AUDITIONED the Cardas BEYOND cables, she again DEMANDED we trade up to this $20K set.

And I agreed.

TRY THEM OUT. SEVERAL SETS.

Keep in mind Nelson Pass’ advice on cables, however: the cables should cost several times LESS than the component they are hooked up to. We have $30K monos and $60K speakers, so the cable cost made sense.

You can listen to someone like who can't provide any justification for a statement like "use low capacitance cables for high efficiency speakers", be taken in, lose your money, or you can accept some basic realities. The efficiency of a speaker has no bearing on how a cable will interact with it. The impedance of the speaker may, the output impedance / dampening of the amplifier may. The efficiency not at all.

Cable capacitance is like putting a capacitor across your output terminals. I would love for someone to justify how that impacts high impedance speakers as a rule?   Cable inductance can roll off your high frequencies though. Unfortunately, to get low capacitance, you need high inductance. So if you like rolling off the top end, go for it. Realistically it is not going to make much difference to likely older ears.

The problem jumia, is some people will say black, just because someone else said white, even if there is no reason. When you raise the question, they don't address it, they just make insults like the last 4 posts.

sugabooger"There is no reason for low capacitance for high efficiency speakers."

This is the sort of funny misinformation and error that is becoming increasing common and frequent from the "new" users who have recently welcomed themselves to this site with odd unusual "scientific" rules, pronouncements, and assessments - all straight from the "bible" of what some now call scientism or measurementalism. 

I try not to buy into these post, but OK, here goes. A lot of people saying about lamp/zip cord: well you are certainly free to do what you feel is best for you and your system, and if you want to run .10 cents a foot lamp cord between your several hundred dollar speakers and likewise components, feel free. Or maybe your system is just not resolving enough to hear the difference, or maybe your ears are beyond their years or you have some hearing loss, its understandable. 
Or bigger, maybe you don't know what to listen for? When I was in my early audiophile years, my late teens and early 20's, I always swore I  could not hear a difference in MOST cables, not all. Then a friend who was older and in the hobby for a long time taught me what to listen for, we did some blind A/B and listened for other details. At first I was listening to see which piano note sounded better, or which bass note sounded deeper, that was it, I didn't know any better. That is one part of it and cables will make a difference in those things, but often the differences are much more subtle. However, when I learned how to listed I heard a whole new world and I heard individual instruments open up with separation between each one and clear focus, I heard a soundstage. For the first time I could hear notes coming right out of a sound hole of an acoustic guitar. The differences I hear on notes was also more natural, less edge, now there was a clean defined note with a black background. Now I could hear the differences between a $500 pair of cables and a $1000 pair of cables. Yes, I agree when you get into that price point of cables, the differences are more subtle and you have to know what to listen for and your ears and system have to be equipped to hear and transmit those subtleties. These differences are things you can't measure or show on paper.
I recently spent $2500 on a bi-wire pair of Purist Audio Venustas Luminist, replacing my 20 year old Purist Audio Musaeus and I am glad I spent the difference, the benefits were worth it for me and what I heard.

Uh, I would guess they SHOULD "sound" like nothing. Otherwise, you paid 2500 for something to add "sound" to your system?

Exactly what "sound" were you looking to "add?"

My customers were always trying to NOT "add" to the sound of their systems, but hey, that was in the 1970’s, so what do I know?

Here’s a crazy suggestion: Have your dealer set up a pair of Magneplaner speakers IN YOUR ROOM and see what you "hear." My guess is that, depending upon what other "sounds" you have added to your system, you will hear the music, period.

Imagine that.

Cheers!

There is no reason for low capacitance for high efficiency speakers. Low capacitance only matters for speaker cables if your amp has stability issues and possibly high damping factor. Most low capacitance cables are high inductance and can roll off highs.

10% as good as $25,000 cables.


Not.

Sounds about the same as a $50 speaker cable.

The only difference between a $200 speaker cable and a $2500 speaker cable is the number of zeroes in the price!

Please decide which cause i am confused.

They won’t sound like anything until you actually try them.  Hopefully you have access to a decent system.   Borrow some good cables.  You can find great cables for $1,000. 
And you definitely won’t learn anything from members of this forum who have already decided what they sound like, without trying.   

Never thought cables would make any significant difference due to the short runs.  But with all the talk about how quality cables improved the sound, bought used Sonoran interconnects and Morrow phono cables off sellers on the Audiogon web site. Well to my pleasant surprise both made a significant difference.  The noise floor lowered and more music and subtlety emerged.  The notes are now distinct and seem to come from a deep black space.  My speakers are a 30 foot run away from my system due to room aesthetics, so super high end speaker cables are out.  But one way to go is to buy used (broken in) and see if you hear a difference.  Takes out the high price must be better because I just spent a ton of money bias from your cable audition.

Cables and interconnects can and do make a significant difference. Anyone saying different is either deaf or just doesn’t have the resources to purchase same. Period

My cables cost $6700. When I put them to my ears, I hear nothing. 
So the answer for the $2500 cables is the same. Nothing. No sound.

One more thing--the romantic thinker side of me is impulsively pushing my decision maker to buy some Fidelium cables.   If I got out of this for $1400, AND the upgrade felt like a component upgrade, I would be happy as a clam spending that. 

Looks like I need to try these!

Malman, it’s not surprising that you are in the zip cord camp, IF your system is setup for listening as it is pictured in your system profile!

This post interests me. I’m kind of middle of the road on the subject, yet I get super tempted to spend more. I have Analysis Plus something or other loudspeaker cables. I cannot even recall the model. Price was likely <$300. I’ve also run and made Canare and Mogami cables. They made me pretty happy too. So curious to what I may be missing. No question, though, and outlay for me of $500 to $1500 makes me cringe. I can afford that but it feels like buying an actual component. ’

I suppose pro cable folks would say, You got it! Treat cables like a component. And that creates my dilemma: Even though I can appreciate that a cable can sound better as you spend more.... If I treat them like a component will I be swapping cables for a few years ’til I figure that out too? I’ve spent a ton of energy and time finding component symmetry, and it took numerous purchases, education, buying/selling, FUN, and at times meaningful frustration. This part of my audiophile journey feels a little out there for me to spend thousands on cables trying to figure out a match.  I cannot be alone!

Just thinking aloud here but if spending more on cables is sufficient to make a buyer believe their system sounds better,  then the secret of improving our systems is revealed. Wish it were that simple. 

More seriously, invest in some samples from the Cable Co as Ghosthouse says above, and have at it.  Nothing like comparing different cables in your own rig and room to learn how much impact cabling might have for your ears. You'll save money in the long run and give yourself an education.  If so inclined, try some A/B testing with friends too, but don't confuse that with relaxed listening, unless of course your idea of relaxed listening is cable testing. To each their own. 

“what can someone expect?”

A lighter wallet. 

Sounds about the same as a $50 speaker cable. 

In double blind testing, it’s amazing to watch all of these supposed differences vanish 

Why hasn’t somebody made a grid that shows how  s stereo system I is affected by their speaker cable? If you buy a system and it’s too bright and you want to warm it up what brand do you buy? Or do you just look at the cable that looks like the packaging is nice and warm and then take that one home and hook it up and hope that it warms up your system? Is that how it’s done? I’m trying to figure out the logic. Isit like gambling you go into A dealers place and you ask the dealer what does this cord act like? Is it like when you buy weed can you smoke a little bit of it before you take it home to make sure that it’s good weed? Seriously somebody please express the logic to me of how this works. I don’t know because I have Macintosh equipment and it has tone controls

"...I am in the zip cord camp and clearly unenlightened..."

I can forgive the unwashed but try not to express your unenlightenment because it reeks of a person without the experience to comment on this topic. No offense, in the early years I was in that camp but now I am an experienced cable user and have formed more enlightened opinions, to use your words.  

Sounds the same

@jumia

Rather than rely on the informed and hugely helpful opinions of geniuses like JasonBourne, spend $125 (5% of $2500) with The Cable Co. and rent some cables made by the likes of Audioquest, Cardas, or Analysis Plus and the like.  Let your ears tell you what they sound like....in your room with your gear (results do tend to be system dependent).  Even a good list of characteristics like WillieWonka put together is no substitute for your own experience.  

" The only difference between a $200 speaker cable and a $2500 speaker cable is the number of zeroes in the price! "
  Well there is another difference. The number of suckers goes down as the price tag goes up. You can still find labels on some high dollar wires as the proud owner wants to make sure you know they are better than your zip cord. You see you are to stupid to grok the wonderfullness of the audio voodoo in front of you so the subtle $$$ reminders of your ignorance must be displayed. Golden ear syndrome.

  I am in the zip cord camp and clearly unenlightened.
  Really enjoying the sarcastic topics here lately and hope they go on.

2500 dollar cables are a revelation in the right system but on most systems you will not hear much of a difference but when you have good enough equipment and speakers the difference can be quite amazing and stays that way.

Maybe i just use telephone wires.

soooo many brands. Cant be with all of them, my cable love is limited.

I agree—They sound like money flying out the window 

$2500.00 cables emit no sound by themselves :). But when connecting high quality amplification to good speakers, the sound should be more transparent, in some cases dramatically so. You should be able to pick up little details in the music that were muddy or not even detectable with the old cables.

There is a great debate over cables. I do not need to be a "believer" in cables because upgrading cables has produced objective proof for me.

They sound like money flying out the window...

They sound like $20 speaker cables

"...@russ69  Inside amplifiers and speakers, is there $5,000 Kimber?  ..."

As I said before many manufacturers have or offer Kimber or Cardas cable in their products. Is it 5000 dollar Kimber? I don't think so but it is "boutique" cabling. 

Let me throw one more cable in Clarity Cable Organic SC's.  I have both the CCO's SC and jumpers.  I have loved the sound since they arrived.  I've had ample opportunity to try other great speller cables for s few weeks each in my system and room--Cerious Matrix, Silversmith Fidelium, Audioquest $4500 SC--can't remember the model, sorry.  All were great cables, BUT...I like the live quality of the CCO cable along with this--every other cable inserted sounds thin in comparison.  Not that the CCO's are thick or heavy sounding.  They just sound more like real instruments with body and texture than other cables I've heard.  I have a pair of VMPS RM40 BCSE speakers and a pair of SP Technology Revelation Mk V's.  Both are extremely transparent and dynamic, with excellent bass.  I also had the TRL DUDE as a preamp and with the upgrades done there, is a total buttkicker.  Amps are the Nuforce Ref 9 V3 SE mono amps w' TDSS level 3 upgrades.  I do not have Clarity Cables anywhere else in the system.  Do use the Schroeder method with all ICs though.  Teo GC II's and JW Reference ICs used.  I guess I'm breaking the rules in cooking my own combo up--I'll live with it.

Bob





 

It depends on many factors including the source and amplification quality going through the speaker cables and the speakers themselves.

I noticed a significant change using Kimber Kables over Blue Jean Cables with my current system and prior to the testing and audition of different cables I was happy with the sound.

So I'd suggest to you its about the 'system' versus just the cables.

@russ69  Inside amplifiers and speakers, is there $5,000 Kimber?  $10,000 Purist? $20,000 Nordost? Is there big, huge, anaconda thickness cabling woven in specific geometries with specific shielding and silver plated copper wrapped in Teflon etc, etc, etc?

When you add those cables between an amplifier and a speaker you are also adding a certain signature of sound. Those cables are not getting out of the way of the music. More specifically, they are not getting out of the way of your amplifier or speakers as if they weren't there.

"...The wire inside your amplifier and inside your speakers is NOT your boutique speaker cable. Remember that..."

Sorry, you are wrong. Electronic equipment manufacturers and loudspeaker manufactures often promote the use of "boutique" cabling in their products. 

The whole notion of cables "getting out of the way"...or, having neutral or "no sound signature of their own" is ridiculous.

I’ve never heard my system without speaker cables or interconnects. Have you?


P.S. obviously there are wireless speakers...but this is about cable.

@ghdprentice 
You mentioned that your cables get out of the way. In my opinion, boutique cables do not get out of the way of the music. Quite the opposite actually. They're doing something to give the listener the illusion of more this or that or less this or that.
The wire inside your amplifier and inside your speakers is NOT your boutique speaker cable. Remember that.

Just my opinion.

"...Whatever happened to tone controls? That solves any problem you have..."

I haven't owned any equipment with tone controls since about 1972. Never needed to use tone controls but it doesn't mean I can't put the final tune on my system(s) by selecting the correct cable. 

akg_ca and williewonka said it best.Also the most expensive cabling absolutely is not the best match for every system. The signal from the amp to the speakers never arrives unscathed.Finding one that does the least harm and allows the components to perform as designed takes trial and error.

Perhaps this has already been stated, but it will be only as good as the weakest link.
Quality cables will only help your system sound as good as it is capable of.

ozzy

schubert7,140 posts05-18-2021 5:19pmWill sound FAR better in your system as your brain won't let you are a complete fool.
Not a joke .
*********************

:-)