Spending crazy money on cables is not the answer. There has to be balance. Better equipment has to usually be fed better cables. I went up the chain in high fidelity and they do get better going up the chain. There no way I would spend more on cables than actual equipment. I have a challenging room that affects my sound as well. Hardwood floors, odd shape and reflections. I also can only put my speakers so far apart.
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People feel the need because to them it makes the system sound better. I think if you hear a difference and it's worth it to you then you do it. Cables and equipment are always going to be priced high because the demand in the market is there. I once was in a room where there was half a million plus dollars worth of equipment and cabling and the owner flat out enjoyed it. Did his system sound better than anything I heard? Yes! Would I spend that amount in audio equipment and cabling? No! However, I would never criticize someone else for doing it. Yeah you can get by with cheaper cabling and equipment and enjoy it. However, the sound of the equipment and cabling in that room I heard that day was flat out amazing. It's still in my head two years later. Enjoy your cables! 1.00 or $10,000. If it's worth it to you! If others have something to say about it. Cut your system on and drown out the noise. Don't talk just listen.lol. Audio is a need! We all are nuts! |
Every man should have a good hobby. Audio is ours. Some people drink drug chase women and gamble. We have our audio and most of our wives understand and give us our needed space. They shop we listen to audio. Anyway. Way off subject. Once you get to a certain point you got to have good cables and they are going to cost a little extra money. Lol. |
They usually sound better. How much better ? It depends. Maybe not what most people would pay. But it's up to you. If it's worth it to your ears. If you got great equipment feed it the best you can. If you can afford it do it. If you can't don't get mad at the people who can afford it and choose to do it. Don't count another man's pockets. |
Why do others feel the need to ask why? Hmmmm? Watching another man's pockets! Oh no it's worse at Hong another man's cables!!! |
It really not a need. It's a want and if you want it and you got the money you can buy it. If you have a great system you do what sounds right to you. For some people they have not been exposed to amazing sound quality. I remember when I started this hobby it was some years before I heard amazing sound. The late David Baskin of designaudiovideo in whitehouse Texas had an amazing listening room. He had great equipment and cablesIt was expensive but outwordly amazing. Rick Schultz of high fidelity had an amazing voxativ system with great cables. When you get to a certain point sound quality is supreme. Your ear becomes trained to want steak not spam. I can never get those kind of systems but I will not put substandard cabling in my really good system. I'm not justifying my own cable expenditures but I can't go back once I have heard realism and musicality and some cables do that for the owners. I think ultimately some people can do it and others can't or don't want to. Those who don't maybe they need to! Lol. Then they will understand! |
I think you should have cables relative to what you spend on your other parts of your system. I have about 9k worth of cables. However, my system components retail at about 32k. For me that's something that's about right. I wouldn't out put 32k worth of cables on 9k worth of equipment. To me that doesn't make sense. However, that just my opinion. If you like your system and that's what works for you go right ahead. You should do whatever sounds good to you. I used to minimize the importance of good cabling till I heard really good cabling. I never wanted to be a guy who set back and said "Wow look at what he spent on cables!" He is a grown man who made his own money. Don't get mad at another man because he drives a Mercedes and you are still driving a pacer! Then you justify driving a pacer because you don't have the drive to go get a better car or you choose to save your money to waste on something else! We want the best audio sound we can get. Everybody has their own ceilings. |
@zephyr24069 well said I agree. It's a balancing test between equipment and cables. You should definitely get the best equipment you can first. Then get the proper cable match but your cables should cost more than your gear. My system is very niche because I have a KR audio va900 and gato fm6 with a resonessence Dsd mirus dac and a e.a.r. Acute CD player. It's a system that demands really good cabling but I don't have to have the top of top to get what I want sound wise but I would not place under performing cables and cords on it. The cables make up 20% of the cost of my system. I'm not going past that. I think that's a good place to be however sometimes it system synergy and recording quality of your music that you mainly listen to. We have to be mindful. For example for guys who have those 50k plus systems you are at a point where you are seeking maximum performance and you are willing to overpay again! We all are overpaying! But it's your money and your ears. I hate when people tell me what to do with my own money! Audio is big business now so you get the best you can can at a price you can afford and live with it. Don't point to others who can and will do more simply because you can't or choose not to |
@mikelavigne you are missing out on a lot of performance. Audiolabyrinth is telling you right. You got to have a full loom. You can learn from this thread. Lol. Man on man. You got to do better. Lol. I'm busting a gut laughing right now! |
I needed to laugh right now and I am. System synergy means nothing. Equipment means nothing. If you ain't got a full loom you are missing out. After my cowboys lost I needed to laugh and the full loom comment has given me the laugh I needed. This is why people think we are cable crazy. You have to have good quality cables but I in no way believe that you get there with cables alone. No way get great gear and good cables and you are there but you can't put new Pirelli tires tires on moms old pacer and race Porsche. |
Yup! We are way past sensible. I will admit it. We are willing to pay so much more for small improvements. If it brings you joy. Why not? |
Tara lab defense stops the winning basket again. Lol. Enjoy!!! Anyway I'm a little different music wise. I love 80's r&b. My uncle gave me Alexander o'neal first album on vinyl. O'neal is the first solo artist to sell out wymbley stadium six nights in a row. The recording is amazing. Jimmy jam and terry Lewis former members of the funk band the time. Anyway we always forget recording quality in these arguments. Those guys knew how to record. Cables are part of it but recording is too. Taste is important. We all are so different. Just enjoy your system. I did today just like college. I was 11 when I got that album. I still listen to it today. Music is a joy. Enjoy it. Expensive or cheap cables tap your feet bob your head and zone out! |
@mikelavigne, you are slacking on your cable game. You got to get better ones. Lol. I'm rolling on the floor again laughing. On a serious note you seem to have an amazing system. Cheers!!! Lol. |
@mikelavigne. Your system looks great. I bet you it sounds great. I'm going to have to hear it one day. Looking at the pictures makes me want to hear it. I know you have spent a lot of time and resources making it sound great. I was just kidding you earlier. Lol. I know you have made great choices in equipment and cabling. |
@mesch. Your comments are right on point. No matter what you spend on cables the synergy has to be right. I think you should have decent cabling. Chicken wire is not going to work despite what others may think. Some folks have cable envy!!! Lol!!! It's funny. I think you put good cables on good equipment. I agree that if you can get a better component you do that instead and long as you have reasonable cables. I'm not going to put cheap cabling on great equipment. |
@mikelavigne. I know you have spent a lot of time and resources on your all out assault of achieving the best sound in your system possible. Enjoy it. I used to look at audio and said I would never spend this much or that much. I heard a raidho system with solutions electronics( and yes it had Tara labs cabling) lol!!! And it was amazing. The sound of that is stuck in my head. A lot of audiophiles will never hear something that mind blowing ever. It changes your perspective. If you enjoy it then do it. I'm pretty sure you have researched you system extensively and you know what you are talking about. You made some great points in your post. System synergy and cost are tricky. I think that those who can't do an all out assault on audio wish they could. Man keep living the the dream and enjoy it. There is not a need. You want it and you enjoy it. Go get the things you want and for those who can't do it. Do the best with what you are willing to spend. I told somebody once I spent 300 on speakers back in the day and they thought I was crazy. Everybody. We all are crazy quit trying to act like you have sanity and everybody else doesn't. There is no voice of reason on this thread. In this hobby there is no reason we all are nutty. Lol. Don't talk just listen. |
Yes I'm going to keep extras from now on to mix and match I just found a match when tube rolled my CD player. You just never. If you can afford the best get them. If you can't be resourceful as possible and get the best you. Or if you think chicken wire works do that but don't judge others because they can do what you can't or choose to do what you won't. lol you know in this hobby we all have to have our music meds. We are all medicating of the music juice. We are not normal Chris Rock plays a drug addict in a movie called New Jack City his eyes are buck wide and his famous scene goes. " I be trying to kick the habit but it be calling me. It be calling me" |
What we are willing to spend for treble extension, bass response and midrange magic. |
Yup funny. We think we are the voice of reason. Lol. Just like I thought. Lol |
Yup.lol old people like me. I still use my CD player too.lol. Anyway things can be really system dependent. Some cables are a system match for your gear. Recording, room, acoustics, equipment, type of music, recording quality all play a part. I think when you have heard a really high end system you understand how good it can get. So folks never get to hear the real high need systems. I have. Is it worth what people pay. It depends on you. You put the best cables you can afford on it and roll with it. |
Reading this thread has made me realize a few things. You have guys who either can't afford or won't buy expensive cables calling the guys that do crazy or foolish. Either they envy or think they are smarter than the guys that will. Which brings up another question. Why does it matter if someone else pays for something with their own money? Some people buy houses, cars, jewelry and watches etc. yup! Everyone values things differently. The way it sounds to one's ear sets what someone is willing to pay. It's laughable that anyone thinks what we pay for speakers is reasonable or equipment or cables. Buy what you can afford or willing to pay for. Don't let envy set in if you can't do it. Don't think you are smarter than what you are because you won't do it. We all are addicts when it comes to this music. Accept it don't try to find reason why you are different. Just different levels. The truth is you are no different from the guy who do buy the expensive cables. It's laughable that you think you are. Twwritg. Lol. Yeah lol. I'm old. |
@kijanki. Thanks for you response. I see it all the time. I spent last night listening to a jazz track by Marc Cary called 7th street North and changed power cords and interconnects out. I had three different power cords and sets of interconnects. I listened to the same sound for about 3 hours while doing the switching. You get all different flavors of sound it's depends what you personally like and can hear. I enjoyed almost all of them but like some better than others. I went by my friend Bill's house yesterday. He used to have a carpeted room now he has hardwoods and it changed the entire sound of his room. I have an odd shaped room with high ceilings and wood floors and I know that's part my challenge room acoustics. There is not a lot I can do because it's our main area. I make the best of it.@david12. Your answer is simple and well thought out. Very informative on ways to look at your system and what you are willing to spend as well as other things you can do to tweak your system. I'm actually going to change my rug position in the room and do a couple of tweaks as well. Has anyone here ever used still points? @others we are all crazy accept it. Lol. We are not normal! |
@kijanki. Well put. You are righ on the king cobra. A long time ago I replaced them with a Nordost tyr and it wasn't even close. They do make a difference. You just have to decide what it's worth. At the time I got the tyr used so I got a deal. I understand. It depends on want your hear and if it meet your own requirement. |
In my post I put the initials twwritg. The means the one who responds is the guy. The guy who thinks that we all are fools and he is the smart guy of reason. Typical I'm right and y'all are crazy and wrong. Typical of audiophiles who thinks they are normal and reasonable. The fool tells someone else what they should do with ones money. Typically you ended up with the money because you were smart enough to put yourself in a position to even have a system and afford the hobby. Lol. Will every high end cable be better than cheaper ones? No. It depends on the match in your system. Purchase a higher priced match and in most cases it will sound better. |
Lol. You have to figure out how to keep enough of your own. In Texas, you get it or you don't. Anyway. Thanks for telling us we are all fools we didn't know that. You are so smart. Pure unadulterated genius!!! We are so gullible. We can't spel or cownt done here. Lol. I'm glad we got people like you to tell us how foolish we are with the money we make. Obviously we can't hear either. |
Yup there are those who enjoy the information and the banter. Any way I have been testing a loom of atlas mavros. They are pretty good. They are from Scotland. They do a really good job sound wise. They see to work better with speaker cables and interconnect both implemented. Pretty pricey but they sound a lot better than the Audioquest Rocket 44 I had back in the day.
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@nonoise. Point taken. I guess we should by and enjoy what we want and can hear. We all have opinions and different hearing. Enjoy your system as well as the other points of view on the thread. Hard to read for me too. |
@everyone. If somethings sounds great and it's cheaper it's a no brainer. Get what you can afford and enjoy it. Some cables perform way over their price points. It depends on your system. A cable will not always sound better if it costs more. However, we set the market. If we are paying they will keep selling. Enjoy what u have! |
I used to be a I'm not spending on cables guy. I remember when I first went from Audioquest rocket 44 and I put in clarus Crimson. Big change. Then I went the high fidelity ct1 brand and it was even better. Expensive but I enjoyed them. I still have them and I enjoy them. I can't go back to the other stuff. The higher priced cables sounded better 90% of the time to me but all of our hearing can be a little different as well as tastes. I've been blessed to try lots of cables cheap and expensive. In 8 years I've had extended auditions of more than 20 different brands. Some good. Some bad but system matching is important. You have to know what you like most. Your type of music is important as well. I listen to a lot quicker faster jazz. Speed, decay and detail is important. It's just depends on what you like and what you are willing to pay for it. I'm not going to down people that don't spend on cables. If you can hear the difference that all that matters.
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I would like to add some cables bring me closer to the music. Some of the cheaper cables sound like you threw a blanket over the music. That is usually the case when I have compared. It just depends on the what you've heard I've heard some really great stuff. Some people never have the opportunity and I'm thankful that I've had the ear candy that most people never have the chance. We all have different experiences. Enjoy yours.
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@jazzonthehudson I agree, your ears have to be the judge and I have actually heard or have owned the cables I speak of for extended sessions. I can't speak on those I have not. I just know that I have came a long way from the Audioquest diamondback back in the day. I guess you have to be careful. They sound like blankets to me now
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So many components, combinations and cables. Find what works, what you like and enjoy it. Best advice is that if you can't stop listening that's a great sign. If your component or cable gets you there then great. It's funny how we value the opinion of folks who will never hear our systems or who stop by for a session every now and then. Trust your own ear. |
I meant will not guarantee great sound but opens up more options.sorry for typo |
It's a process. I think you have to be patient. I also think you are the judge of what your system needs. Find something that's good. Find a match and live with it. I think those who have more income are able to try the higher priced stuff. I'm glad that I have been able to own some of the high fidelity products as well as listen to Rick's system. I also listened to the late Dave baskin's system. Both systems were uber expensive but they sounded great. However they were polar opposites and sounded nothing alike. We have to appreciate the music and what your system does and enjoy it all. Not obsess over it. |
@lohanimal I think you make a great observation. It is a business and sometimes creating innovation costs money. It takes time and a lot of trial and error. Differently materials in different ways. I recently tried to replace a cable with something less expensive and I realized that the innovation of what I had to me was special sound wise. I'm not saying you can't do well using cheaper I'm just saying that there is a lot of innovation and increased performance in the cable arena. Some of it is costly. If you can't or don't want to try it then so be it. I just hate the us vs. them in this area. I'm happy for those who can afford it. I'm also happy for those who find great sound on the cheap. Enjoy everyone. |
Well when you hear better you fell like you need better and when you have heard some of the more expensive cables help systems sound really good as audiophiles we want whatever we think helps us get there sound wise. I got spoiled early because I got to hear some the best and some very cutting edge technology equipment and cable wise. That's what creates the hunger to try the really expensive stuff. Curiosity killed the wallet of the audiophile
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We buy these cables to listen to our rap music! Ah duh. Any way I enjoy my jazz and my cables help with the realism and transparency. |
Because the cables are usually better. How much better depends on what makes your ears happy and how much you willing to pay |
I think if you want a different sound that you think is better. If It's worth it to the buyer then it is. If a cable or two gets you a higher level of enjoyment then it's worth it to that person. Why criticize those who do or those who never will.
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Synergy. Recording quality, room acoustics, source, amplifier and preamplifier, type of music, speaker placement, personal preferences and ear condition. These are all factors in deciding what you like. I do find that typically the more expensive cables sound better to my ear more often than not. But not all the times. I guess that if you got a lot of money into your gear you want to get the best you can afford for your system. I think that if it brings you the level of enjoyment you want then do it. I tried to go back to cheap stock cables and it didn't work for me. I also went back to cheaper cables. That didn't work either. The need is not the question. You have to want better cables. If you want to spend your money then do it. If not don't criticize those who do. Some people like cars houses watches etc. it's worth what you are willing to pay. Ear happiness is the most important to the majority of us. Enjoy the music. Don't talk just listen. Lol. |
Trust you trust your ears forget all the damn graphs
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Why do we pretend to be normal. Lol. All of us are audio obsessed to different levels. Some can buy more expensive cable. Some who can will not. Some of us who can't afford them will anyway. Some of us will think everybody else is crazy except for themselves. We feel the need to buy expensive cables because it probably gives us the sound you we want or hope to get. We need a great sounding system and will get there anyway we can. Enjoy going in circles fellas. Lol |
Well here we go no other this no other can do that. Well the best system I ever heard was the late Dave Baskin's system. He owned designaudiovideo. Was it crazy expensive yes. Was it no holds barred yes. It had high end cables and equipment. But it was all a match for what he liked and for his listening room. 500k in equipment. Was it crazy yes! Will never hear a sound that good again. Never. But is sounded so good it's stuck in my ears a whole year later! We all like to experiment. Measure this measure that. Lol. Let your ears decide. |
A good medium priced Cable is the least you could do pending on your system |
System dependent. If you have great components and sources. You should get quality cabling. It depends on what you like. I have a system that consists of that I have 35k in components and speakers retail. I have about 7k retail in cabling and power cords. I’m extremley happy with my system. Cheap cabling didn’t work for me. I’m extermley happy and I’m done. All I do is look for music now. Do what works for you. If you have a system that’s not resolving and transparent then cabling is less of a factor. |
Well to each his own. I use clarity Cable interconnect and power cords , atlas mavros speaker cables. One high fidelity power cord. Works fine for me to each his own. |
High fidelity is more transparent quieter backgrounds and better prat. . Clarity has a more extended top end with a little bump in the upper midrange. Which my system needed a little of. I like my cymbals to ride a little bit!
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Bottom line cables make a difference. If you can’t hear the difference don’t buy them. If you can’t hear the difference then you shouldn’t try to comment because your hearing is probably off some or a lot! |
If you can’t hear the difference then your ears are broke! |
@joeylawn36111 if you choose to use chicken wire that’s fine but the right cable makes a difference. |
