2. cables
  3. 179495-134895

Why not?

I have always wondered why if better cables produce better sound, as appears to be the consensus, I am not aware of any manufacturer that provides an aftermarket quality power cable with their product. If I am wrong please tell me. There may be instances I am not familiar with.

Wouldn't they be in the best position to test or design the optimum cable for their component? Wouldn't it be a great marketing angle to say to the customer does not need to worry or fret about selecting this expensive accessory.

"We know these cables show off our component to best effect and there is not question of listener bias or self interested market hype. We offer you the best cable to use with our components." 

They could make it optional if they wanted to remain price competitive. This same thinking applies to interconnects, especially with manufacturers who make multiple interconnected components. I pose these questions in all sincerity, not particularly wishing to stir the cable controversy pot. But because it is precisely the absence of this practice that most makes me doubt the objective superiority of the whole cable enterprise.

Mostly I would like to know if I am wrong and there are some examples of manufacturers who either include, offer or recommend specific power, interconnect and speaker cable for their products. Thanks community members for offering a place to ask this question that keeps gnawing at me.

Ag insider logo xs@2xbruce19

Showing 2 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,465 posts
 

Good question. I have pondered it off and on. But, do not know of any companies doing it. A number of speaker manufacturers use wire internally made by high end manufacturers. But I haven’t seen it go further.
 

Maybe the “best” varies so much from system to system it is difficult game? But, I will say that clearly Audio Research products have a large synergy with other brands Audio Research components… so, they could theoretically follow that paradym and make or recommend the ideal cord to achieve their “best” sound among ARC only components… with a chosen speaker. 

ghdprentice
6,465 posts
 

OP… @bruce19

Thanks for your comment. Really interesting question.

You know, at this point in the evolution of technology there is not a solution.

 

Originally, when I got into this I was a practicing scientist, and quickly I realized there were too many variables to even begin to solve this as a scientific problem… to optimize some stuff and provide an answer. You have to listen. Which, by the way is what science is all about… first observe… this is the foundation. Human hearing is truely amazing and values are highly varied and change over time.

I am fascinated with the pursuit because of a real attraction to music… but remained glued to it because of the positive feedback I received by my decisions that provided improvements in sound quality. I am fascinated by really complex and ambiguous problems… my career follows highly ambiguous complex stuff.

I remember driving at 60 mph across the Black Rock Desert a couple decades before Burning Man rocking out with the highest end Sony Walkman and high end headphones… returning to my motel room in the middle of Nevada (Winnemucca… love the town) and getting immersed in Miles Davis with my 100 wpc stereo with speakers 8 feet apart and incredible imaging. Or hanging my head out the window in Atsugi Japan listening to the best headphone system imaginable (CD player, huge portable head amp) listening to ERA. The rewards, from such effort and commitment unraveling such a complicated problem.

‘Some day I suspect technology will mature and you will buy something that can provide any sound you like. But I don’t think we are close. Fifty year? One hundred? I guess it will happen. But for now… we have to work for what we get. Some folks like the challenge, most think it is a waste of time.

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