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What do audiophiles want from a cable?

What should a high quality interconnect or speaker cable do to the sound of a system? Make it more transparent? Improve the sound stage and focus? Soften unpleasant highs? Tighten the base? Bring out the mids?

To me, a good cable should reveal more of what is on the recording and more of the true nature of my components. So when trying new cables, I look for more detail and accuracy without becoming cold and clinical. This seems logical, and yet after reading reviews and trying a few of the cables in the reviews, I find that the cables that have received glowing endorsements are not especially transparent or revealing. They modify the sound, but they don’t take me where I want to go. I wonder if the reason I don’t hear what the reviewer heard is that I don’t know what to listen for. Am I too focused on cable accuracy and resolution, and not enough on actual sound quality? Or is it just a case of no two systems sounding alike so why trust a review anyway? Thanks.
mward

Showing 7 responses by jmcgrogan2

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
ALL cables modify the sound, it's just a matter of do they modify the sound to suit your tastes/equipment or not.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
@maplegrovemusic , thanks for the new information!
That breaking news changes everything!

You do know that brainwashing works both ways, don't you?
If you don't want to hear a difference, you won't.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
@waxwaves , make that 0 for 3. ;^)
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Hey what did you think of the Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker cable John??

Hi Adam,
I liked the Satori Shotgun cables, a good value cable. Reminds me a bit of the Purist Audio sound, full, warm, musical, great 3-D sound-stage, only less expensive.
For my tastes it is a bit too warm though. I prefer the AZ Absolute, still has powerful bass and large sound-stage, but offers a bit more resolution.

Let me know what you think of them.

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Years from now, you will re-read your posts and regret.

No he won't Dave. I know folks like randy-11, who derive such pleasure in life by bringing irritation to others. The more aggravated you get, the more enjoyment they get out of life. They are the pebble in the sandal of life.

randy-11 comes from a long line of internet trolls. His father and grandfather were internet trolls. In fact randy-11 is the 5th generation of internet trolls in his family.

One day randy-11 hopes to pass these well learned skills down to his children and grandchildren.

randy-11, I know you are but what am I? 
Great argument dude, thanks for stopping by. Don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you on the way out. 

jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Hello David,
How are you? Did you get your new S5 Mk II's set up yet?
How's the rig sounding?

Cheers,
John
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I want my cables to pass the signal from one component to the next exactly as it was transmitted. Can't understand how anyone would want anything different.

Perfection is not an option. No cable exists that passes information exactly as it is transmitted.
Therefore, people tune the sound of their system to suit their musical tastes. Whether they decide to use gear (speakers, amps, sources) to tune the sound of their system to their tastes, or cables/cords, is up to each individual to assess.
I believe that many folks find it easier to change cables than to change gear when tuning their system.

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