it's beyond silly to suggest that all Chinese cables are average. There are plenty of products from other countries around the world that are average at best. However, if one is expecting a sub $100 cable to be great, that is a crap shoot. My personal experience with Odin 2 speaker cables, XLRs and S/PIDFs, they are exceptional value
Revisiting Chinese Knockoff Cables
Why I don/t know, but the first thread has been removed recently. So, having benefited from it greatly, I felt compelled to recap my journey, so that others of limited budgets might make a huge leap that they otherwise could not afford:
When I first got my EVS 1200 I was using Series 8 WireWorld interconnects, speaker cables and Pangea Premier XL 1.5m coax cable. As you mentioned, I was extremely happy with the amp (compared to PS Audio M700s). Eventually I came across the Chinese Cable knockoff thread and first tried the fau-Nordost Odin 1.5m coax which was/is amazing: as they were so cheap compared to the $169 1.5m Pangea, I also bought a 1.0M Odin, but didn’t try it until after I replaced both the WW cables with Odin 2 XLRs and cables. Then I replaced the 1.5m with the 1.0 and was kinda blown away that 0.5m of the same coax could be THAT much better.
While my all SS system sounded very good, it was a bit too sharp, so I ordered Odin Gold speaker cables (at ~ $170/2.5m). Unfortunately one leg must of had a bad solder joint as it barely sent the music . It took a couple months before they replaced it, which I finally installed 2 days ago: BAM. Even immediately, but of course it needs break in time. The weather here (Ft Lauderdale) has been really bad, I have only left for short quick trips. Today we are under a tornado watch, so won't leave, but as soon as I can get out for a few hours I will put on my XLO burn-in disc, which I use on everything I insert, including the M 700s, EVS, and Voyager which expedites break in, which still takes a good 50-100-200 hours!
Summing this up: cables can/do make or break a system. If I had these cables when I first got the EVS, I probably would never have gotten the Voyager, which of course I am itching to compare again, but could still be awhile
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Agree the Odin 2 and gold cables are an exceptional value. Would like to add the flat Audiocrast (identical to the Valhalla ones) speaker cables are as well. Better than the Odin 2 silver in my systems. These cables are the best cables I have heard in my midfi systems. Easily better than Mogami, Morrow MA3 ic’s and DH Labs AQ-10 speaker cables and others. Granted…I have not experienced true high end cables which should sound better given their pricing. I’ll Leave those to the more serious Hifi systems with deep pockets. |
Yes, Odin Gold IC's are really quite good-can only imagine someone being disappointed with them if they have an overly warm system to start off with. I sold off much more expensive IC's (as in 7X-8X more expensive) and also preferred them to real Nordost Valhalla V1 in a friends system when we evaluated them there. So $100 for two IC's vs. about $4000 Cnd used for the Valhalla V1. Disclaimer: I did have the Odin Gold IC's cryoed and burned in on Audiodharma cable cooker.
The Accuphase 40th Anniversary power cable is a steal at between $25-$45 U.S. per 1M to 2M lengths. I now have 5 of them and they've relegated Viborg 1501's to the secondary system. The Accuphase (bought mine from Audio Connector Store-it is really not identified as the Accuphase cord there for some reason) is unbelievably smooth and refined-just a really natural sounding power cord. A crazy good buy! My guess is it can compete with many of the $1K power cords out there. Hard to believe.
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Yes, most people choose products with big brand names, but at the same time there are some inexpensive products that are ignored by most people. I started out with some of the big brands, but when I was introduced to some of the products made in China, I realized that a lot of the money I was spending was completely unnecessary. I currently use EBXYA wire at work, and the price is basically $5/ft. |
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