Cables Don't Matter That Much, It's a lot of Hype

[1KW]

Ok,
I really did it now, I shook the branch with the big hornets nest . I am going to get a big
It won't be long before the moderator's come down from heaven, here to edit this forum. Let me tell you why I say this.

Yesterday, I went to Hi Fi House and compared Audioquest mid-low level cables retailing for around $400 for two to Transparent high level cables which retail for $2000 for two. I could not hear any difference between the two, nada. I am now convinced that resistance is the most important part of a speaker cable; as long as you have the proper gauge that can handle the current and runs are short ie less than 10 feet it is hard to hear any differences. How can we have a cable thread and not have this come up ?

[1KW]

nothing ?

[PHC1]

Not sure what you definition of a "difference" is. If you expect Diana Krall to jump out of the speakers and do a lap dance for you, forget it, it's not going to happen.

There are differences but you have to really spend some time listening and have a trained ear to recognize those differences and often they are pretty subtle, sometimes rather profound. If you simply listen to a few tracks, you are not going to notice, especially in an unfamiliar system.

Having said that, there are other priorities in one's system as well as room acoustics that should be addressed first.

[1KW]

[QUOTE=PHC1;2241]Not sure what you definition of a "difference" is. If you expect Diana Krall to jump out of the speakers and do a lap dance for you, forget it, it's not going to happen.

Damn


Whoa, thanks for taking it easy on me, I thought I was going to get a beating

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by 2uberoller

Whoa, thanks for taking it easy on me, I thought I was going to get a beating

You are & here it comes

Remember the analogy about a chain being as strong as the weakest link. I have found the following to be true in all the systems I have owned & built for others.

When an upgrade is put in "such as cables" and no difference is heard it is usually due to the fact that the benefits of said cables are being lost else where in the system; hence the weakest link. For example if your pre-amp is not able to pass along or resolve the improved imaging, depth, air etc. then the gains are negated.

It relates back to synergy, everything has to gel together. I have consistantly found everything in the audio chain including the room has a sonic signature or impact on the final product, music reproduction.

Some for the better, some just different, some worse. An even better example that makes this easier to understand would be plumbing. Think of your audio system as a maze of 1" tubing passing water under a consistant pressure. If you just put a 2" pipe on the last ten feet (symbolizing speaker cables) do you think the water would flow any faster?

I hope this helps a bit. Cables really do matter!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

You are & here it comes

Remember the analogy about a chain being as strong as the weakest link. I have found the following to be true in all the systems I have owned & built for others.

When an upgrade is put in "such as cables" and no difference is heard it is usually due to the fact that the benefits of said cables are being lost else where in the system; hence the weakest link. For example if your pre-amp is not able to pass along or resolve the improved imaging, depth, air etc. then the gains are negated.

It relates back to synergy, everything has to gel together. I have consistantly found everything in the audio chain including the room has a sonic signature or impact on the final product, music reproduction.

Some for the better, some just different, some worse. An even better example that makes this easier to understand would be plumbing. Think of your audio system as a maze of 1" tubing passing water under a consistant pressure. If you just put a 2" pipe on the last ten feet (symbolizing speaker cables) do you think the water would flow any faster?

I hope this helps a bit. Cables really do matter!

+1 Ivan.

I've been to 2ube's house. I helped him optimize his setup. He knows he's got some work to do before he can reap benefits of cables. The acoustics in his otherwise great room need some serious help. Only then can he even begin to discover what some cables can bring to the table. I think he just wanted to stir the pot a little tonight.

[-E-]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

You are & here it comes

Remember the analogy about a chain being as strong as the weakest link. I have found the following to be true in all the systems I have owned & built for others.

When an upgrade is put in "such as cables" and no difference is heard it is usually due to the fact that the benefits of said cables are being lost else where in the system; hence the weakest link. For example if your pre-amp is not able to pass along or resolve the improved imaging, depth, air etc. then the gains are negated.

It relates back to synergy, everything has to gel together. I have consistantly found everything in the audio chain including the room has a sonic signature or impact on the final product, music reproduction.

Some for the better, some just different, some worse. An even better example that makes this easier to understand would be plumbing. Think of your audio system as a maze of 1" tubing passing water under a consistant pressure. If you just put a 2" pipe on the last ten feet (symbolizing speaker cables) do you think the water would flow any faster?

I hope this helps a bit. Cables really do matter!

Ivan,

While I completely agree with you, and have used that line as a sales pitch in the past, I believe crtyckl was making a comparison between a $1000 cable and a $28000 cable - not the freebie in a box vs WireWorld.

The law of diminishing returns definately applies, and just how much additional extra cash you may have lying around to really try and hear that little of a difference.

Now if you do the freebie in a box vs WW comparison and still can't hear a difference, either you are deaf or you are listening to Bose; wait that was a redundant statement.

[Haurock]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

You are & here it comes

Remember the analogy about a chain being as strong as the weakest link.....
I hope this helps a bit. Cables really do matter!

+1

I have to agree with this philosphy. Actually there are 3 factors that, in my opinion, determine the 'quality' of a person's sound system:

a: synergy between components,
b: the weakest link,
c: the law of diminishing returns.

If you insert a new peice of audio gear that is 5 times the quality of your other gear (assuming all the other peices are equal) you're sound will not improve 5 times, despite the new gear.

For me, when I upgraded and switched from my standard cabling to Nordost, there was a noticeable difference. My wife, who was frowning on the expense I was laying out for the cables, concurred that the sound improved, and she's always my sounding board. As I have said elsewhere her ear is my sounding board so to speak.

So, I do think cables make a difference.

[-E-]

For $28k, I could probably get at least 12 Diana Krall look alikes to give me lap dances all night, and still use some WW cables with change to spare...

[Taylode]

Originally Posted by Vesuvius

For $28k, I could probably get at least 12 Diana Krall look alikes to give me lap dances all night, and still use some WW cables with change to spare...

+1