2. cables
  3. 155823-140523

10 Audio Cable Myths and Facts


In a sea of audio cable industry snake oil, we’re sure you’re wondering, What really matters when buying cables?Save your money by avoiding overpriced cables with outlandish claims. Below are some common myths to look out for and some important things to consider when buying audio cables.
 
CABLE MYTHS1. Conductor skin effect

In some applications like power transmission lines, an electric signal tends to travel through the surface of a conductor and avoids traveling through the center of the conductor. Many cable companies claim that their design limits the skin effect and measurably improves your sound.

The TruthWhile skin effect is a very real issue for large scale power transmission, audio signals are in such a low-frequency range that the skin effect is negligible at best. The skin effect is only an issue in high-frequency applications. 20kHz is the highest frequency that humans can hear. If we calculate the skin effect on a 12 AWG speaker cable like Gene from Audioholics does in this article, we find that the skin effect results in a loss of only -.014dB. Your speakers, room acoustics, and the human ear have a much larger effect on your sound than the skin effect.
2. Cable break-in

Don’t be fooled - any company that claims this thinks they can trick you into hearing better sound after a month or two. “Break-in” is a commonly used term throughout the industry. It is the idea that the dielectric of a cable changes and aligns itself to the electromagnetic field of the signal traveling through the conductors.

The Truth

There is no scientific evidence to support the idea of cable break-in, but there are still those who claim it improves sonic qualities. We’re not against optimism. We’re just not full of crap. Don’t drink the audio industry kool-aid and save your money for legitimate cables.
 

3. Cryogenic treatment

Cryogenic treatment is the process of freezing cables to -320 degrees Fahrenheit before use. The claim is that freezing the conductors of the cable at ultra low temperatures aligns the crystalline grain structure of them resulting in desirable improvements.

The Truth

Again there is no scientific data to support this notion. Cryogenic treatment can improve the durability of certain metals, usually steel, by stabilizing impurities. For example, the process is used to create strong tools or car parts.  

But, steel is a terrible metal to use for audio cables. It is one of the least conductive metals out there! Copper and silver are the best conductors of electricity and the preferred metals for audio cables.


4. Cable signal direction

You might hear this phrase tossed around quite a bit. It’s the notion that a cable has an established signal direction, the direction in which it was initially used, and that this signal direction should not be reversed.

The Truth

The reality is, assuming the connector ends and terminals are the same, the cable will work in both directions and the performance will be equivalent.

5. Cable elevators, risers, or lifts

 

The claim is that the cables’ magnetic field can interfere with the surface it is laying on. Essentially, the magnetic field can “reflect” from the surface back into the cable and cause distortions.

 

The Truth

There is no evidence to support these claims, and these unnecessary devices are merely for looks. They are in no way proven to improve cable performance.  

    CABLE FACTS1. Shielding is Important

    In the modern age, wireless signals are all around us all the time. The rapid growth and spread of technology means that these wireless signals will become more widespread and more likely to cause unwanted interference. Cellphones, wifi, and Bluetooth signals can enter your cables, but shielding can block these signals and preserve your sound quality.

    2. Length is a Factor

    No matter how well a cable is designed, cable length will always impact performance. As the length of a cable goes up, so does the risk of unwanted interference and signal loss. We always recommend keeping your cables as short as possible, but we understand that is not always possible. A well constructed and shielded cable will help combat this issue.

      3. Conductor material plays a role

      The best conductors to use for audio cables are pure silver or pure copper. Both are valued for their high conductivity, but copper is more widely used due to the high price of silver. Additionally, some variations are constructed with silver-plated copper. However, because the metals have different conductivities, the sound is more likely to travel through only the silver plating and not the copper.

      The purity of the conductor will affect performance more than anything. Look for Oxygen-Free High Conductivity (OFHC) conductors. This means that a significant percentage of oxygen and other impurities have been removed from the conductor resulting in high purity.  

      4. Wire gauge should not be overlooked

      The amount of wattage your system is using will determine the total gauge size needed for safe and optimal performance. The standard is 14 gauge wire minimum for the transmission of 250 watts of power. Many electronic devices use much less than this, but some speakers and listening setups may be using more. If your system uses more than 250 Watts, we recommend a higher total gauge cable.

      5. Quality connectors matter

      Truly, the best connectors are no connectors at all. But, if you can’t hardwire your system, gold plated connectors are the industry standard. Gold plating exhibits great corrosion resistance when exposed to oxygen and has good conductive properties. Connectors range from basic to extremely high end and flashy.

      The bottom line is:
      Choose connectors based on your personal needs and the type of connection being made. Overall, always choose quality connectors.  

      We hope these myths and facts will help you choose quality, reasonably priced cables to complete your listening room, studio, or whatever your setup may be.

      Share your setup with us in the comments below!
      128x128shieldedaudio
      prof
      3,469 posts
       

      cd318

      By the way prof I understand your zip cord is obviously phenomenal sound wise, it must be because you told us, but is it directional (just in case), and what insulation material does it use?

      All that stuff doesn’t matter. I mean, it’s always enticing if there’s a technical story for my wires, but ultimately I’m not trying to help verify my subjective impressions with measurements or technical mumbo jumbo. All that counts is what I hear.

      And my ears tell me that when I did a shoot out between zip cable and various brands like Nordost, the upgrade in sound quality with the zip cord was obvious. Like, it’s a joke if someone tries to tell me otherwise because I heard it so obviously.

      To those who are skeptical about zip cord sounding so much better than expensive audiophile cables: HAVE YOU TRIED IT? If not, you have no grounds for voicing an opion.

      But if you have tried it and tell me you don’t hear the superiority of zip cord, then all that tells me is you are not a very acute listener.


      I feel sorry for those who say "I can’t hear the increase in transparency, richness, detail, soundstage etc" with zip cord. The best explanation has to be that they just haven’t developed their hearing skills like some of us have. But those who know....know.
      :-)
      andy2
      1,545 posts
       
      It's getting to basic ... errr ... I meant getting back to zip cord.
      millercarbon's avatar
      millercarbon
      12,531 posts
       
      To those who are skeptical about zip cord sounding so much better than expensive audiophile cables: HAVE YOU TRIED IT? If not, you have no grounds for voicing an opion.

      Of course I tried it. Zip cord was all we had back in the day. Its what we all used. Its what Julian Hirsch had us all convinced was all anyone needed. Learning that expensive audiophile cables are in fact superior and worth the money was neither pleasant nor desired. Because like everyone else I would rather have better sound for free. 

      But this was not to be. First zip cord was compared to shot-gun zip cord. This seemed unlikely but cost next to nothing so I tried it. Sure enough, better. Not a lot, but enough to notice. The fact this simple test proved a difference means if you follow the evidence then you have to keep following it. 

      A whole series of cables were compared. The best were chosen from among many. The most expensive were not always the best. Sometimes much less expensive cables were far better. The differences were in all cases easy to hear. Never once in at least a hundred comparisons was it the least bit difficult to hear differences. It was never even that hard to decide which among several was the best.

      Its been posted here before but bears repeating in the current arrogant obstinance that my first serious comparison between freebie and spendy cables was so startlingly glaringly obvious I thought I had somehow accidentally broken the dealers amp. That's how great the difference is between free crap and quality wire. That's how easy it is to hear.

      But if you have tried it and tell me you don’t hear the superiority of zip cord, then all that tells me is you are not a very acute listener.

      Acute means sharp. Did you know that? I have to wonder. Because, if there's one thing all the above (and some three thousand posts) demonstrates its sharp listening skills. What you mean is you prefer zip cord to better wire. Well if that's your preference, fine. All this really tells me is you are not a very acute writer.

      Post removed 
      Post removed 
      More to discover