Cables do matter

[Shorty]

I had decent components in my theater but something was always off.
B&W speakers, Mcintosh Amps. and I cycled out processors over the years. Mcintosh MX119 to MX150 to Anthem AVM60 to Lyngdorf MP40 always with Kimber kable throughout.

The main catalyst for upgrading my components was I was having to turn volume to 80% or higher for it to be at a decent listening level in my theater. So I bought bigger amps- I achieved a better sound but had the same issues with volume. Next I bought better speakers I swapped B&W CM9's for Focal Sopra 2's, Sopra Center and Surrounds - This achieved more detail and bigger sound stage- but with the equipment I have I knew something wasn’t right. Next I treated the room acoustics I figured it had to be the reflection, again better but still not what it should be. So I messaged back and forth with the engineers at Lyngdorf and they said it had to be the volume reference level when I was doing my roomperfect calibration so I re ran it multiple times using different starting points all yielded the same result. Very frustrating when with 13 speakers it takes over an hour each time. While all this was going on I had been communication with Ivan- Not about my volume issue - but to upgrade my speaker cablers for the Focals - He suggested Wireword. I Immediately noticed the detail the WW brought out and was pleased. Next i ordered more cables for my surround speakers so it would all match. Next I thought lets go all in on WW and asked him to recommend xlr interconnects to replace my Kimber PBJ. They arrived last night and as soon as I put them in I had to turn the volume down from my regular listening level. At first I really noticed the little extra they provided on the high frequencies - but then I was floored by what they did for the mid bass it just wasn’t really there before. Prior I only heard the bass when it was directed to my subwoofers. Now I can listen to 2 channel with out subs. Truly amazing!!! IT was the damn cables all along.

certain things are subjective like how a cable can change the sound - but an increase in volume level is measurable - CABLES DO MATTER!

In any event - dealing with Ivan is an absolute pleasure - if you need anything I would defiantly reach out to him without hesitation.

Time to swap out my video cables now...

[Masterlu]

Outstanding, happy to help!

[Formerly YB-2]

Shorty - you've got that right.
Discovered the value of good cables in the previous century. Is one of my "audio epiphanies". Am 100% WireWorld for ICs & speaker cables & Shunyata for power cords. Could not be happier.

[JoeN]

I know it’s a debated issue, but cables do matter. We have Albedo cables and have heard nothing better to date.please ask Oz for a demo if you are interested. There’re costly but worth it.

I’m experimenting in our second system. We may have something different, just to have it different. However, different doesn’t necessarily mean better, as with all audio equip!

[McMan]

I recently switched from a Wireworld mini Eclipse 7 speaker cable to an Eclipse 8 Speaker cable. The Eclipse 8 significantly improved the sound stage. Wireworld makes excellent cables. Congratulations!

[Puma Cat]

Here's what is going on from an systems engineering perspective: our stereo setups are a system that mediates a...transfer function, Y=f(x). Electrical signal energy (from the source) is amplified and ultimately tranposed into mechanical energy driving loudspeakers or headphones (in systems engineering, this is referred to as the "functional response")

The various components, including the source, amplification, are the control factors and "drive" the functional response heard by listening to the transducers, and their departure from "ideality" is due to...noise factors.

The cables in the system connect the various "energy sources" together, and the propogating signal is an EM wave, it is not a "flow of electrons" like water in hose or marbles in a tube. Source cables, e.g. digital cables, interconnects, etc, are susceptible to a whole class of noise factors. Just as one example, sources cable are susceptible to low- and high-source leakage impedance current, deterministic jitter, threshold jitter, phase noise, triboelectric noise, and longitudinal EM wave noise, as well as ground-plane noise.

Speaker cables are susceptible to current resonances and vibration imparted to the cable, and power cables are susceptible to noise from vibration, noise on the AC mains, and noise from the full-wave bridge rectifiers of the power supplies of the amplification components themselves (e.g. impulse noise, etc.)

All the cables tie the source, amplification, and transduction componentry together into a SYSTEM, as such, this system is susceptible to all these NOiSE factors combining together, and causing the transfer function to depart from IDEALITY, which results in the blur, slur, buzz, hash, grit, grain we all can hear. As well as the impact on transient response, neutrality, tonality, timbre, and dynamics.

Well-designed and engineered cables maximize their respective type of energy transfer (the control function) while miniminzing the impact of the all various noise factors that cause the control function to depart from its ideal functional response, add variance, or both.

So, from a system engineering perspective, that's why cables matter, because they are just as much a part of the system as the componenets themselves. Ultimately, at the end of the day, it always comes down to...PHYSICS.

Cheers.

[McMan]

The engineering perspective of WireWorld led me to the Eclipse 8 Series, and I have been thrilled with the results.

I find myself intrigued by Shunyata Research and wonder how their designs would impact my sound compared to the Eclipse Series 8.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by McMan

The engineering perspective of WireWorld led me to the Eclipse 8 Series, and I have been thrilled with the results.

I find myself intrigued by Shunyata Research and wonder how their designs would impact my sound compared to the Eclipse Series 8.

Rent some in and see what you think. I’d suggest Alpha v2 or Sigma v2 as compared to the Eclipse 8.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by McMan

The engineering perspective of WireWorld led me to the Eclipse 8 Series, and I have been thrilled with the results.

I find myself intrigued by Shunyata Research and wonder how their designs would impact my sound compared to the Eclipse Series 8.

We need to talk…