WHY CABLES MATTER!


I have seen the argument over and over again on why cables matter and the that wire is just wire and how scientifically it’s impossible for them to make a difference. The thing that surprises me the most is that different materials are used. Different shielding is used. Different connectors are used. Different braiding methods of the cables are used. Materials are sourced from different manufacturers and put through different creative processes but I always get some guy who comes on and says. WIRE IS WIRE AND YOU ARE NOT HEARING WHAT YOU ARE HEARING? To me it’s pure arrogance to think you know more than everybody else to the point where you tell me what we are hearing through my ears and we are not smart enough to know when are minds are playing trick on us. But using all these different materials, process and shielding and creative processes don’t make a difference. I spent the last 15 years trying all the cables I could try.  Thoughts anyone?

calvinj

The general question of the new paradigm which had changed science in the last years since Turing , Marvin Minsky and Kurzweil, from materialism to techno-cultism and transhumanism is this one : will we change man to became a tool for A.I. or go on with the human genomic and biological integrity as superior ?

A.I. is not a tool like printing machine was, A.I. is like the fire and more impactful on the long term than fire ; it will change our body and society on a scale which will exceed the discovery of fire impact...

I had decided that human are superior for reasons i will not discuss here, then i trust my ears to decide which cable satisfy me ...

I could not repeat Rodman reasons nor the others opinion here . This is mine rooted in acoustic basic training. I also know that the difference cables make are minor compared to the set of acoustics factors huge impact by modidfication of the acoustic parameters of the gear or and of the room and of the listener ..

Of course cables matter...they are bridging one component to the next one. I don't want to drive over a weak bridge.

For my $.02, I have a set of DIY 13 gauge, 4 conductor cables from Parts Express, marketed as speaker cable. The gold plated banana connectors are soldered on with silver solder. They're bi-wire, but only to eliminate the bridge connector between the binding posts. They don't sound remarkable, they carry a signal to the speakers.

 I have a set of Kimber 8TC speaker cables, same length as the PE cables. In comparison, the PE cables sound like the signal goes through a layer of gauze. The Kimbers are clearer, cleaner, more detailed, and present a more open and coherent soundstage. Sure, a $600 pair of cables should sound better than a $20 pair of cables. And they do-in my rig, in my room. Whether or not a stranger on the internet agrees with me is irrelevant. Two of my uncles were engineers so I take them with a grain of salt. One uncle insists I should get Bose Cubes and an Acoustimess because "It sounds just as good". He's never heard my stereo. So being an engineer in no way makes one the final authority on anything-and frequently gets in the way of actually learning something.

@alaric62 man you are speaking truth.  You got to try for yourself.  You can’t let random strays tell you what you are hearing or not hearing. 

@alaric62 "One uncle insists I should get Bose Cubes and an Acoustimess because "It sounds just as good". He’s never heard my stereo."

And another engineer might tell you to scrap it all and get good headphones with a good headphone amp instead. Whatever floats your boat, and trying is learning.

A good test comparing the PE vs the Kimber cables to get ideas and differences. As you try other vendors and designs, you may detect new differences yet again.

And those who cannot tell a difference, that’s okay, maybe they can stick with the PE cables or others for lower cost. Only the listener can determine if/why different cables "matter" more for them or not. Point is you have to try them to know them, as you did here. For those who try very little and rant on forever, just ignore them.