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Cable Upgrades or Better Components???

I know...I know...but hear me out

Yes the quality of components is obviously important and can make staggering differences. The catch 22 is that if the cables aren't capable of the highest levels of transparency done in a neutral way, you will only be hearing a fraction of the differences higher grade components are capable of. If the cables are colored with distortion you can't tell what the upgrades are really doing. The details and life are not being delivered with lower resolution cables.

I used to use both entry level tube and solid state systems by Balanced Audio Technology, and their highest end tube mono block amps and preamp and their best solid state system to prove to people the value and importance of wires as well as one other thing, what power cords could do for a system.

Using one manufacturer's range of cables from entry to their statement cables the best goes in the entry level system and the entry cables in the $80k system (using Meadowlark Audio speakers from the Shearwaters to the Nightingales or Blue Herons). What you think the outcome is comparing an entry level system with the best cables or the statement equipment with entry level neutral cables will indicate what your understanding of the relationship cables have in a system.

Getting 100% of the potential of quality entry level equipment gets you all of the detail, ambiance, depth, and audiophile qualities, that is better than getting a throttled back fraction of the performance out of hardcore equipment. None of the audiophile quality and life we are looking for is delivered without great cable. The life of great equipment can't happen without the right cable.
holygrailaudio
inna
7,296 posts
 
Some of you guys are very suspicious unforgiving and quick to judge. Personaly, I am not concerned about different biases including selling particulat things. Many here are trying to 'sell' their own narcissism in various forms. Question is who is 'buying' ?
The man's thread is completely legitimate.
Cables are components. Yes, it is stupid to change components before trying your best to extract most of them. If the components are good enough, I mean. I have $1800 speaker cables on $1500 speakers, none were bought new.
And I have $800 interconnect on $1000 phono stage.
No, I doubt that I would put $10k interconnect on $3k phono.
Some equipment responds less to cables and cords, some more. But everything does respond.
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"Some of you guys are very suspicious unforgiving and quick to judge."

There's a reason for that.

"Cable questions of the profound "what is the meaning of cable" are always entertaining by right of how many clueless people are going to give you their profoundly ignorant and useless advice. Unfortunately far too many dealers and "experts" will give you advice that is almost as useless."

That's the first thing he says.

Clueless, Profoundly ignorant, "Experts", useless advice. You wouldn't call that unforgiving and quick to judge?
rja's avatar
rja
2,371 posts
 
Aintitgr8,
I'm in full agreement with your statement concerning y-adaptors.
IMO: Cable comparisons using them would/should be highly suspect.
xti16
1,525 posts
 
IMO Cables should be the last tweak to your system once it is complete. I say complete because 1 high end cable may sound much better than another (possibly cheaper) should you change components later. It's all about total system synergy to get the best out of everything.

That said I recently upgraded my original Nordost Frey SC's to the Ansuz Ceramics. Flipping the cables in pairs I didn't hear anything earth shattering. But when I put one of each in I heard how dry and lean the Nordost sounded.

In conclusion I would recommend a cable that sounds great without breaking the bank until you've decided to call it quits and enjoy the system you have.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Upgrading a component is first then get great cables.
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