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

@stephen141111 i can’t see how some can say they don’t but I do have to understand that I can hear their systems. Cables definitely make a difference in the system. A good set of cables in a good system icing on the cake. 

@calvinj 

I suspect that many naysayers:

  1. Haven’t tried it themselves 
  2. Tried on an audio chain not transparent enough, the noise floor including ambient is not low enough, or their hearing is not sensitive enough.  This is tough to point out as it can be interpreted as insulting 
  3. Have an exaggerated ideas - they complain about expensive cables vs what we normally advise - “only very conservatively buy cabling to match the level of the audio chain”.
  4. It greatly bugs them not knowing justification for costs above basic wiring.  We have conductors, Dielectric material(s), Dielectric geometry, Shield design/material, Jacket design/material.  They’re stuck on the price vs cost.  They are fixed on emotional resentment usually stemming from unaffordability.
  5. They complain that cable manufacturers aren’t forthcoming in providing justification data, but downplay/ignore the fact that if they reveal their processes, copycat companies would steal sales.  

I simply look at cost/benefit within my budget.  Griping rarely does any good, it won’t change how cable manufacturers operate.  

I’m getting better at ignoring naysayers- they’ll always be around so it’s fruitless to try to fix- maybe might help some, but there will always be more

@kennyc GOLD STAR FOR KENNY C. I couldn’t agree with you more.  You hit every point. Man this is the best point I’ve seen in a while. You hit every point. I agree. 

@kennyc if you try to,tell them that they become offended and they shouldn’t. I think I have been in a position by hard work and happenstance to hear a lot of gear and learn about cables, equipment, design and experiences with some really high level equipment. I remembered one of my earlier experiences with a veloce Ls1 battery operated pre amplifier. Because it wasn’t plugged in to a wall. It absolutely had a zero noise floor. The music came from a black background. It was airy and buttery soft but with detail. I knew then that there were levels to this . I think I have found that sound again with my current set up. Low noise equipment. Clear and quiet cabling that’s transparent and lets the music flow. My set up isn’t the only way to,get there but a way to get there. Some will get offended but there is some really good stuff out here.  Some of it is just cost prohibitive for most.

@skeptikal 

From Wikipedia:  "many marketers of high-end speaker cables cite electrical properties such as skin effectcharacteristic impedance or resonance; properties which are generally little understood by consumers. None of these have any measurable effect at audio frequencies"

 a lot of stuff that I researched and all of it is pretty much bogus. 

Skeptics need to read less and listen more.

There is nothing out there you can read that will yield proof that different cables sound different.

Just go to a hi fi store, be upfront and tell them you are not buying anything, but you are a cable skeptic and see if they will prove to you that more money spent will present a higher quality listening experience. I don't think they will decline.