Let's talk about Silver...


We got off on a short tangent in another discussion about the merits of silver in cables, but we did not want to derail that conversation. So I thought I would start a general discussion where folks can share their experiences, and opinions of course, with silver cables. This can include solid silver, silver plated or alloys, wire, connectors, analog, digital etc.

The knee jerk reaction in the audio world is to say that silver is bright, and in some cases that may be true, but I think it is not a universal truth. I am currently trialing some solid silver interconnects, and I have had some good success with silver in the digital realm. Please share your experience, and opinions of course.

 

zlone

Showing 2 responses by ghasley

Such a humorous topic. By nature and in general, audiophiles are prone to mix and match with very little empirical data to go by. Brand A preamp may sound ok to your ears with Brand B amp and Brand C speakers. Then, there is a guy making speaker cables and interconnects in his garage in Spokane and we are absolutely convinced that they should work wonders in our systems. Let’s ignore the fact that the guy has a midfi setup in said garage and it sounds good to him.

 

Lets contrast that with a company like Shindo who had their own silver IC’s and speaker cables which sound glorious in a Shindo system while sounding equally marginal in another setup. How could that be? That’s why I chuckle when someone gives an absolute endorsement without ever experiencing the system in question.

 

Shindo spent alot of time experimenting and arrived at an optimal match. Kondo did. Audio UK did. I have all silver litz speaker cables and interconnects in one system and all copper litz in another system and both sound natural and right. I swear by these cables and interconnects in my system and yet, they would probably sound wrong in another setup. Bright and tipped up? Not even close…in my system. 

@slaw my post wasn’t directed at you. In fact, I didn’t see your post before I posted.

 

My post was merely to point out that many buy alot of disparate gear and drop in a cable without any basis for doing so other than “I wonder if these will work”. I’ve heard Shindo systems with Shindo silver IC’s and speaker cables and there wasn’t a hint of brightness.  Same with Kondo and same with Audio Note UK. Well designed, properly matched gear supplemented with well designed and properly matched cables/IC’s compliment one another.