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

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Uberbrown

I just installed a pair of Shunyata Altair XLR Interconnects into my system between the Pre/Pro and Amp. I am not ready to say they are staying yet (I still want to pick up a pair of Kimber Select KS-1111s to try). But all I can say is that there is a HUGE difference between the Shunyatas and the Monster Cables that were in there. HUGE difference, that was immediately apparent. The highs became more forward and crystal clear, the mids became more pronounced, and the bass got tighter and had more punch. I have just been listing to all sorts of stuff and I can easily say that replacing one pair of interconnects made a HUGE difference. This is not a review of the Shunyatas, but just a testimony (can I get a witness!!!) that replacing 1/3 of the cables in my 2 channel rig completely altered the sound of the system.

Some people say they cannot hear a difference with different cables. I dont know what to think about that. It may be that their system isnt able to convey a difference, or that their hearing isnt able to hear a difference. I will say that my hearing is very sensitive, so it was very easy for me to hear. It may be that they the type of music they listen to doesn't convey the difference. All I know is that it was easy for me to hear a difference in the cables.

Uberbrown.......I couldn't agree with you more. Cables do make a difference, often a sunstantial difference. Through the years I have read many different opinions, both for and against wire having an audible influence on sound reproduction, including the infamous Wirebusters article on Roger Russell's site Speaker Wire . Opinions vary, and are strongly debated in both camps. For me, I embrace the concept of wire construction, metallurgy, and insulation types effecting how electrons flow and react. I have heard differences in my sound system every time I have changed cables, whether it was interconnects, speaker cables or power cords. That others do not hear differences is not my problem. I am not listening to their sound system, I am listening to mine.

I would be the first to agree that pricing for different interconnects, speaker cables, and power cords has gotten completely rediculous. There is value there, but pricing seems to have little relationship to it. Ultimately it is up to the end user to decide whether the cost verses value is in relationship with each other when compared to audible improvements in ones sound system.

[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.

[tony-w]

I like the look of certain expensive cables and would own them for that reason alone, just haven't noticed any improvement in sound quality when I've used them. Maybe a few double blind tests would be in order.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by tony-w

I like the look of certain expensive cables and would own them for that reason alone, just haven't noticed any improvement in sound quality when I've used them. Maybe a few double blind tests would be in order.

I take it you haven't tried Wireworld cables yet.

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by tony-w

I like the look of certain expensive cables and would own them for that reason alone, just haven't noticed any improvement in sound quality when I've used them. Maybe a few double blind tests would be in order.

Voodoo is alive and well in the world of IC's and speaker cables. Very few actually deliver on their promises.

In my experience, how well the IC's/speaker cables are terminated are the deciding factor and not the actual wire, however it's important to use wire that does not corrode/rust over time like oxygen free copper/silver/gold as this will affect the sonic performance.

These products actually work in my opinion: Eichmann Bullet Plugs(RCA's), Bybee products, Kubala-Sosna products, DNM speaker cables/interconnects.

[tony-w]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

I take it you haven't tried Wireworld cables yet.

No, not yet.

[Still-One]

I would have to say that that Transparent Reference Power cables I have been using the last few days have made a far more noticeable improvement in my system than the C-1000, the Power Plant Premiers or the MCD-500. In my humble opinion, if you don't hear the difference it is because: 1) you don't want to 2) you are trying the wrong cables.

I don't want to buy them but they are so good I will have to.

You may not like what they do to your system but the right cables will do something.

[1KW]

Well as the original poster of this thread let me tell you what I have learned. First I want to say that I have no conflict of interest to disclose ie I was not put up to saying anything good about any particular cable or anything bad about another. I was not offered any kind of incentive for what I am about to say. I have been a real cable skeptic . It is true that I could not hear any difference between audioquest and transparent cables. One of the marketing ploys that bothers me with both of these brands is that when you ask someone in sales which cable to buy they say something like how much do you want to spend ? Wireworld's has some of this philosophy as well but compared to the other 2 companies midlevel cables are more affordable. When I put the wireworld speaker cables in my 2 channel system I noted a improvement in the midrange and high frequencies. The speaker wire that was replaced did not sound bad; the wireworld speaker wire sounded better to me. A few weeks earlier the MC501's were added to my system resulting in a bass boost which at times sounded a little heavy, now the sound is more balanced. Speaking of balanced when I installed the balanced cables to the 501's I initially did not flip the switch on the amp. to balanced. When I realized that the switch was on unbalanced and changed it to balanced I did not hear any difference. I am not sure for short 3 - 4 foot runs if the balanced unbalanced thing makes much of a difference in my system. My conclusion is that speaker wire can make a difference , the best explanation can probably be explained due to changes in measurements of impedance, shielding/insullation affecting both inductance and capacitance. Having said all this I would recommend getting the speakers you want first , then the source, amp. and pre amp and finally your speakers wires and interconnects. In short runs a good pair of RCA and balanced cables sound very simillar when background noise is low. I have dedicated 20 amp. lines for my amps and the run is about 3 feet from my circuit box. My sources and pre amp go through a panamax line filter/surge protector which may account for the reason I could not hear any difference between balanced and unbalanced.

[gregswaim]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Well as the original poster of this thread let me tell you what I have learned. First I want to say that I have no conflict of interest to disclose ie I was not put up to saying anything good about any particular cable or anything bad about another. I was not offered any kind of incentive for what I am about to say. I have been a real cable skeptic . It is true that I could not hear any difference between audioquest and transparent cables. One of the marketing ploys that bothers me with both of these brands is that when you ask someone in sales which cable to buy they say something like how much do you want to spend ? Wireworld's has some of this philosophy as well but compared to the other 2 companies midlevel cables are more affordable. When I put the wireworld speaker cables in my 2 channel system I noted a improvement in the midrange and high frequencies. The speaker wire that was replaced did not sound bad; the wireworld speaker wire sounded better to me. A few weeks earlier the MC501's were added to my system resulting in a bass boost which at times sounded a little heavy, now the sound is more balanced. Speaking of balanced when I installed the balanced cables to the 501's I initially did not flip the switch on the amp. to balanced. When I realized that the switch was on unbalanced and changed it to balanced I did not hear any difference. I am not sure for short 3 - 4 foot runs if the balanced unbalanced thing makes much of a difference in my system. My conclusion is that speaker wire can and does make a difference , the best explanation can probably be explained due to changes in measurements of impedance, inductance and capacitance. Having said all this I would recommend getting the speakers you want first , then the source, amp. and pre amp and finally your speakers wires and interconnects.

Why not put the source as the #1 priority? Your system will only sound as the source that feeds it, in my opinion.

[1KW]

Originally Posted by gregswaim

Why not put the source as the #1 priority? Your system will only sound as the source that feeds it, in my opinion.

The reason I say speakers are the most important part is because they introduce the most amount of distortion second only to the room itself. Put a good MCD500 on crap speakers you have bad sound. Put a $400 cd player or computer with good speakers and the music will sound better then the first combo.