2. cables
  3. 155823-140523

10 Audio Cable Myths and Facts


In a sea of audio cable industry snake oil, we’re sure you’re wondering, What really matters when buying cables?Save your money by avoiding overpriced cables with outlandish claims. Below are some common myths to look out for and some important things to consider when buying audio cables.
 
CABLE MYTHS1. Conductor skin effect

In some applications like power transmission lines, an electric signal tends to travel through the surface of a conductor and avoids traveling through the center of the conductor. Many cable companies claim that their design limits the skin effect and measurably improves your sound.

The TruthWhile skin effect is a very real issue for large scale power transmission, audio signals are in such a low-frequency range that the skin effect is negligible at best. The skin effect is only an issue in high-frequency applications. 20kHz is the highest frequency that humans can hear. If we calculate the skin effect on a 12 AWG speaker cable like Gene from Audioholics does in this article, we find that the skin effect results in a loss of only -.014dB. Your speakers, room acoustics, and the human ear have a much larger effect on your sound than the skin effect.
2. Cable break-in

Don’t be fooled - any company that claims this thinks they can trick you into hearing better sound after a month or two. “Break-in” is a commonly used term throughout the industry. It is the idea that the dielectric of a cable changes and aligns itself to the electromagnetic field of the signal traveling through the conductors.

The Truth

There is no scientific evidence to support the idea of cable break-in, but there are still those who claim it improves sonic qualities. We’re not against optimism. We’re just not full of crap. Don’t drink the audio industry kool-aid and save your money for legitimate cables.
 

3. Cryogenic treatment

Cryogenic treatment is the process of freezing cables to -320 degrees Fahrenheit before use. The claim is that freezing the conductors of the cable at ultra low temperatures aligns the crystalline grain structure of them resulting in desirable improvements.

The Truth

Again there is no scientific data to support this notion. Cryogenic treatment can improve the durability of certain metals, usually steel, by stabilizing impurities. For example, the process is used to create strong tools or car parts.  

But, steel is a terrible metal to use for audio cables. It is one of the least conductive metals out there! Copper and silver are the best conductors of electricity and the preferred metals for audio cables.


4. Cable signal direction

You might hear this phrase tossed around quite a bit. It’s the notion that a cable has an established signal direction, the direction in which it was initially used, and that this signal direction should not be reversed.

The Truth

The reality is, assuming the connector ends and terminals are the same, the cable will work in both directions and the performance will be equivalent.

5. Cable elevators, risers, or lifts

 

The claim is that the cables’ magnetic field can interfere with the surface it is laying on. Essentially, the magnetic field can “reflect” from the surface back into the cable and cause distortions.

 

The Truth

There is no evidence to support these claims, and these unnecessary devices are merely for looks. They are in no way proven to improve cable performance.  

    CABLE FACTS1. Shielding is Important

    In the modern age, wireless signals are all around us all the time. The rapid growth and spread of technology means that these wireless signals will become more widespread and more likely to cause unwanted interference. Cellphones, wifi, and Bluetooth signals can enter your cables, but shielding can block these signals and preserve your sound quality.

    2. Length is a Factor

    No matter how well a cable is designed, cable length will always impact performance. As the length of a cable goes up, so does the risk of unwanted interference and signal loss. We always recommend keeping your cables as short as possible, but we understand that is not always possible. A well constructed and shielded cable will help combat this issue.

      3. Conductor material plays a role

      The best conductors to use for audio cables are pure silver or pure copper. Both are valued for their high conductivity, but copper is more widely used due to the high price of silver. Additionally, some variations are constructed with silver-plated copper. However, because the metals have different conductivities, the sound is more likely to travel through only the silver plating and not the copper.

      The purity of the conductor will affect performance more than anything. Look for Oxygen-Free High Conductivity (OFHC) conductors. This means that a significant percentage of oxygen and other impurities have been removed from the conductor resulting in high purity.  

      4. Wire gauge should not be overlooked

      The amount of wattage your system is using will determine the total gauge size needed for safe and optimal performance. The standard is 14 gauge wire minimum for the transmission of 250 watts of power. Many electronic devices use much less than this, but some speakers and listening setups may be using more. If your system uses more than 250 Watts, we recommend a higher total gauge cable.

      5. Quality connectors matter

      Truly, the best connectors are no connectors at all. But, if you can’t hardwire your system, gold plated connectors are the industry standard. Gold plating exhibits great corrosion resistance when exposed to oxygen and has good conductive properties. Connectors range from basic to extremely high end and flashy.

      The bottom line is:
      Choose connectors based on your personal needs and the type of connection being made. Overall, always choose quality connectors.  

      We hope these myths and facts will help you choose quality, reasonably priced cables to complete your listening room, studio, or whatever your setup may be.

      Share your setup with us in the comments below!
      128x128shieldedaudio
      jet88
      62 posts
       
      Well, guess I figured right on a fair percentage of this crowd. It's a shame bad apples spoil the barrel as it were. As for me, I'll stick with actual engineers and people who have spent a lifetime steeped in the science than a group of cultists. And I thought that kenjit guy was an outlier.

      So long, it's been fun, enjoy the magic kool-aid.
      fleschler
      1,923 posts
       
      I have had the experience of moving and reinstalling cables, with one pair misdirected.  After a few weeks of allowing the system to settle in, I really couldn't determine if there was a difference in sound quality.  I redirected them and found they were off sounding for a few days.  I conclude, possibly wrongly, that cables can learn new directionality over time.  Are there studies to dispute that possibility?  So many are sure that wire is directional or non-directional, but concerning learning directionality through use is apparently not a discussed subject. 

      As to not auditioning cabling costing in the $100s ($300 to $900) and not the $1,000s-$10,000s, that is foolish and I consider snobbery. 

      Many consider my 25 year old speakers antiquated.  Good high end speakers of that period are better than most $5,000-$10,000 currently made.  The reason could be in the tuning of them using the best technology at the time to sound musical, not just reproducing sound.   My speakers are still being used in sound studios, including some high end ones in New York and L.A.  They are not SOTA but are a real bargain for those building a high end sound system, sold around $2,500 (efficient, full frequency range, wide soundstage and gets the timing of music correct).  
      alaric62
      76 posts
       
      I parted ways on the opening shot. Most people's hearing cuts off around 20,000 kHz, and that doesn't mean higher frequencies don't color those below them. I have heard a super tweeter change the character of the overall sound regardless of whether or not I could hear its contributions a capella. 

       Skin effect: Just because other factors can influence the sound more doesn't null and void the smaller things. Whether or not it's plugged in will affect an amplifier's performance. Plugging it in doesn't negate the need for a decent preamp, however. My experience with cables has been that good ones (upper end Nordost, for example) are a waste of money-unless used in a system of commensurate quality. Those same cables, which do make a difference in very good gear, will do nothing for lower end equipment. Every field has charlatans and snake oil salesmen. Too often the audio arena gets naysayers because their experience says it's impossible for everyone, or their budget makes them wish nobody else could get better sound than they do.
      bobedwards101
      176 posts
       
      I’ll probably catch a lot of flak about this. But, IMHO if you buy .999 OFC copper with quality gold-plated RCA, or regular balanced XLR to 1/4” phone plug cables; paying over $250 for a pair of twenty footers is just wasted money. If it’s no object (boy, do I wish that were the case for me!), then get four nines fine silver instead. You can get a twenty foot pair of stereo speaker cables with solid silver RCAs for $7,095 plus tax and shipping from Tempo Electric.  
      oldhvymec
      5,101 posts
       
      The quote is "One bad apple, spoils the whole barrel" One, not 75%, (and growing) with an edigicated HiFi community. The naysayers are in the vast minority not majority..  I agree with one thing. Cable prices do VARY, and so does quality..

      Second Kool-aid refers to a sweet drink with poison in it..
      Jonestown.  The only poison here is the misinformation.
      Magic Mushroom, different story.. No magic Kool-aid!
      Poison kool-aid.
      Magic mushroom.
      Mushroom, maybe.
      Kool-aid, NO!
      "I don't know. so You CAN'T be right... Head in the sand group, I'm deaf group, Basshead group, all the same group..Can't hear, don't want to hear, it's all BS.. Crack me up!

      Rule # 1 your only as smart as the technical information you have access to. 

      Lots of hype in the cable world, on both sides. I haven't heard of one maker of cables say, EVERYONE else is wrong, but, not only wrong, 
      but "Myths".
      Roll another one, Dude!!!Calie rules! yea! Empty beer can smashed on forehead, WIND!!!, yea back to work man..How long was that, ahh DUNO!!! 3, 30, or 300 foot, seems a little long, exhale! Dude were out of # 16...Belch!!!

      Respectfully and with some regard
      More to discover