Silver-plated or single metal IC's?

Something to consider: Silver Plated Copper was never developed for hi fidelity home audio. It was originally developed for harsh environment applications.

I believe it began to be popular for audio back in the '80s when at least one company I'm aware of saw an opportunity to sell "silver" cables more competitively by promoting their silver plated copper as "...silver cables" - pretty misleading. Not sure if that company is around anymore.

Silver plated copper exacerbates the skin effect phenomena and usually sounds kind of "zipper" to my ears. I suppose that can work to advantage if one is stuck with an overly warm system.

Really, in my view, copper plated silver would offer a better balance sonically but then that introduces other problems.

Simply plating silver over copper does not give the "best of both worlds" as some might conclude. There's more at play than just trying to combine the perceived virtues of silver and copper.

In my opinion and experience, high purity silver (done right) or a high purity copper will have a better tonal balance compared to silver plated copper.

Ah....forget it. I'm probably all screwed up. ;)

Happy Holidays!

Robert
RSAD

What about any comments on the sonics of hybrid interconnects that use individual copper and individual silver strands in each interconnect,[NOT silver-plated copper], such as Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway Mk.3?
Advantages or Disadvantages over pure silver or pure copper interconnects?
Thanks alot.

I have owned HT Magic cables and they are some of the best non-networked cables made bar none. Pure silver is not musical, nor are plated formulations. Pure copper is musical..pure silver is for the hard of hearing. If you do not frequent live concert halls, then your opinion should be suspect.

Everyone is forgetting one fact, you cannot have copper wrapped with Teflon. If you want Teflon surrounding copper, the copper must be silver plated.

There are cables that are silver plated that have a reputation for being neutral to dark, Purist Audio is an excellent example.