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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 9 responses by wgutz

wgutz
85 posts
 
Silver is not bright after it is fully broken in which I over-estimate at about 20,000 hours.
wgutz
85 posts
 
Dynaquest4
Actually I can hear a silver fuse added to the power of my tube amps for about 4 evenings of 5 hours listening, and then the effect just disappears. That's a 1" piece of silver rated at 120V 5 amps. So with interconnects running a low voltage and amperage, burn in is a LONG time. How long? Two years is a possibility.

I was just trying to break out the argument in this thread as it is beyond stupid to argue that the entire high end cable industry is somehow just an expectation bias. Audiophiles with real systems and decent ears hear and pay for the real sonic advantages of modern, well designed and engineered cables.

So I would ask, does the common inexpensive beer in the 24 can case taste the same as a good craft beer on tap?  Yep, by the 20th they do. And this is based upon my own double blind testing.


wgutz
85 posts
 
Just to have something to argue about, I find every component, every tube, every solder joint, every resistor, every capacitor and very piece of wire requires a break-end period. And hopefully, it sounds better afterwards, but this is not always the case.i have had 6 different pots for volume controls to find one that has the sound after break-in that I seek. And i only changed them out every few years after they began to degrade. Today, I have hand-made ball bearing, single resistor in path, dual mono gold plated stepped units that sound neutral. Interconnects? AQ solid silver and silver covered copper. The full silver 1 meter interconnect to between DAC and preamp cost about 3 times the price of the DAC. And yep, I can hear the amazing quality of this cable.

And i bought almost every cable here on Agon and have sold a few too. So, buy a few and if you don't like one, sell it. The cost is minimal and you can keep it as long as it makes sense and swap a much as you like. I bought 4 DACs here and resold 3 and I think the total cost was under $300 all-in, not including the Wadia I kept. 

One caution for AQ is that there are fakes out there, If yu have ever owned a real AQ, you will know the fake almost immediately. I have bought 2 of these fakes and they has a very soft, velvet like cable finish that look like AQ in pictures, but every AQ is more of a hard finish tightly woven nylon. And those fakes sound like crap. Fortunately, both Seller's provided a full refund and I believe they did not know or they would not have offered them for sale. 
wgutz
85 posts
 
Geoffkait and Dynaquest14, thank you for you supportive insight. I have been very fortunate to work with some very knowledgeable and open minded audiophiles that have very impressive backgrounds in electronics. And we have tried so many things over time to develop better sound. From building circuits to match various tube requirements including amps with full sized transmission tubes. And stuff like tracing over copper circuit boards with silver just to see if it improves the sound of a solid state preamp. And on and on. 

So, I may not be an "expert" but i have spent more time and money chasing better sound than I can even believe. But it is the journey that is the fun of this hobby and stops in between are enjoyable. So, when some say that the journey leads nowhere and is waste of money, which implies we are mere stupid fools, perhaps they are correct. I just don't see it that way. 
wgutz
85 posts
 
Wow, that's great to know.

And I thought it was  DELIRIUM TREMENS.
wgutz
85 posts
 
TEO - That was some great info on the mind, intelligence and hearing relationships. I have a more technical question for which you may have some insight. I have been thinking about why vinyl and some Ethernet cables can have relatively lousy stats, but sound better than the more technically (verifiable test data) correct. Could it be that more cross-talk is beneficial? Or are there multiple issues that have yet to be measured that result in improved sound quality?
wgutz
85 posts
 
I feel slighted - My speaker cable only cost $3K. Bummer that I'm not part of those who would spend "real" money on cable. Now, about that Ethernet that can't sound any better either....
wgutz
85 posts
 
Money comes and money goes. At least I don't have to worry about my investment portfolio, because I invested in better sound instead.
wgutz
85 posts
 
I had a new Rolex, Breitling, two seat Benz rag top, 6 BMW's (3 cars and 3 motorcycles), two homes on golf courses and a great stereo.

Now I have an even better stereo and all of the other stuff is long gone. I haven't missed any of it, but I would really miss it if I didn't have music.
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