Cables more hype than value?

Al, I of course agree, and called out cables needing to be application-appropriate earlier (only to have Nonoise twist my words around), but you know full well that's not what many of these folks are arguing for. They're arguing that two cables that measure alike can sound different. That even connectors can sound different.

To everyone else, regarding what we can and can't measure, I've got news for the non-technical among us, the level of design sophistication that goes in audio system cables, the frequency range and the voltages involved, are just so much child's play in modern electrical engineering. If you've got a new Intel-based PC you have 8 giga-transfer per conductor signals in it, using some incredibly complex signaling techniques. Just coming us with the design rules for circuitry like that takes years of research. Audio cables are first or second year BSEE stuff.

The only thing underlying the controversy with cables, IMO, is that one can interchange them. I don't hear anyone pondering audible differences in circuit board materials, single versus double-sided circuit boards, or the gauge or type of internal wiring, and I think that's only because you can't interchange them. Otherwise I think I would see posts about low-loss versus FR-4 circuit boards.

"I think that's only because you can't interchange them. Otherwise I think I would see posts about low-loss versus FR-4 circuit boards."

So True! They worry about the stuff that's 'easy' to 'upgrade'.

I just picked up a set of interconnects(installed between receiver and my McCormack amp) that made a pronounced improvement to my sound. If anybody could not tell the difference, they may as well just buy a setup from Best Buy and be done with it.

@ chayro,Hi,I was a professional musician for years my self!,good cables even make a difference on microphones versus cheap ones,I know I was the singer!,thou not as a big of difference than with cables for high-end audio systems!,@ rok2id,To tell you the truth I like Belden cables!,They are very good for the money,back in 1997 I had a krell fpb 200 amplifier that came stock with a beldin a/c power cord,me and some friends put alot of money together to rent alot of after market a/c power cords from the cable company,I recall we rented 5 different brands at the $600.00 price point,cables are very system dependent!,on that krell amp,the beldin stock cord was better sounding in every way!,the other cables sounded like crap!,still here, we have a difference in the sound of cables!,rok2id you have a good cable for the pricepoint you paid!,better than alot of cables costing a little more!,obviously you had to have heard a difference with the blue jean beldin cables versus lowes hardware store brand cables,I believe this,you bought the blue jean beldin cables..cheers,and happy listening to all!

I can't comment on the value of high priced cables because my money would be better spent buying better gear, but I suspect they can tweak sound one way or the other. In my mid-fi priced system, 12/2 Romex unterminated sounds good. Easy to find too.

One question I have: when you crack the cover on your gear, have you seen the wiring on the input/output terminals? Does it look like Purist or Anno Domini or Cantibile Beatificus or whatever? Mine looks like 14 gauge automotive wire. I then wonder why I would finish the circuit with an expensive cable when it starts and ends with basic copper cable?