2. cables
  3. 127600-2130

Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?

I recently ordered high end speaker, power amp, and preamp to be installed in couple more weeks. So the next search are interconnect and speaker cable. After challenging the dealer and 3 of my so called audiophile friends, I think the only reason I would buy expensive cable is for its appearance to match with the high end gears but not for sound performance. I personally found out that $5K cable vs $10 cable are no difference, at least not to our ears. Prior to this, I was totally believe that cable makes a difference but not after this and reading few articles online.

Here is how I found out.

After the purchase of my system, I went to another dealer to ask for cable opinion (because the original dealer doesn't carry the brand I want) and once I told him my gears, he suggested me the high end expensive cable ranging from $5 - 10K pair, depending on length. He also suggested the minimum length must be 8-12ft. If longer than 12ft, I should upgrade to even more expensive series. So I challenged him that if he can show me the difference, I would purchase all 7 AQ Redwood cables from him.

It's a blind test and I would connect 3 different cables - 1 is the Audioquest Redwood, 1 is Cardas Audio Clear, and 1 my own generic 14AWG about 7ft. Same gears, same source, same song..... he started saying the first cable sound much better, wide, deep, bla...bla...bla......and second is decently good...bla...bla...bla.. and the last one sounded crappy and bla...bla...bla... BUT THE REALITY, I NEVER CHANGED THE CABLE, its the same 14AWG cable. I didn't disclosed and move on to second test. I told him I connected audioquest redwood but actually 14AWG and he started to praise the sound quality and next one I am connected the 14awg but actually is Redwood and he started to give negative comment. WOW!!!! Just blew me right off.

I did the same test with 3 of my audiophile friends and they all have difference inputs but no one really got it right. Especially the part where I use same generic 14awg cable and they all start to give different feedback!!!

SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?
sautan904

Showing 2 responses by mtrot

mtrot
804 posts
 
IMO, the question is not, as you posited it, who thinks an expensive cable is "better" than a cheap cable?  The question for an audiophile is, can you hear a difference between cables?  If there is indeed a difference, then one of them may very well sound better to you.

I recently compared two relatively expensive cables, both at a dealer and in my room, and the difference is obvious and easily heard.  One is Cerious Technologies Graphene Extreme speaker cables, and the other is Douglas Connection Alpha 12AWG OCC Speaker Cables.  Now, the GE cables are composed of silver, copper, and graphene, while the Alpha 12 cables are made of Furutech FS-Alpha OCC ≒12 AWG conductors.  The GE cables immediately present a wider, more open sound stage, with more highs and with more clarity and detail.  The Alpha cables immediately render more bass slam and warmth.

Now, the question of which is better is entirely up to the listener.  I like the slam of the Alpha cables, but the clarity, sound stage, imaging, and vocals of the GE cables is just addictive.  I'm still evaluating so as to be able to soon make a choice.
mtrot
804 posts
 
@almarg
Thanks for injecting a bolus of reason into this thread! 

The basic premise of the cable deniers here seems to be well summed up by shadorne:

"Surely the wishful thinking is on the part of any person believing that a mere piece of copper wire (even some wire costing a ridiculous $5000) is going to transform their system in a SIGNIFICANT way?"

Well, for one thing, it seems to me that shadorne and other take it upon themselves to presume to know what is "significant" for others.  Well, who are they to know what is significant to someone else?  Who are they to presume to know the acuity of another's hearing, and how their brain perceives sound?

Also, in speaker cables, we are dealing with an analog signal, not 1s and 0s, as with digital signals.  We're told that, with digital, the device on the other end of the cable either gets the digits and decodes them, or it doesn't.   But the situation is totally different with speaker cables.  Actually, it seems absurd to me to think that cables constructed of widely differing materials and physical designs would sound alike at all.

So, back to "significance".  If a person is willing to purchase pricey cables in order to obtain an additional 5% of realistic presentation of the system's signal, why can't some people just accept that they can indeed hear a slight difference and that the product is worth it to them?
More to discover