Revisiting Chinese Knockoff Cables
Why I don/t know, but the first thread has been removed recently. So, having benefited from it greatly, I felt compelled to recap my journey, so that others of limited budgets might make a huge leap that they otherwise could not afford:
When I first got my EVS 1200 I was using Series 8 WireWorld interconnects, speaker cables and Pangea Premier XL 1.5m coax cable. As you mentioned, I was extremely happy with the amp (compared to PS Audio M700s). Eventually I came across the Chinese Cable knockoff thread and first tried the fau-Nordost Odin 1.5m coax which was/is amazing: as they were so cheap compared to the $169 1.5m Pangea, I also bought a 1.0M Odin, but didn’t try it until after I replaced both the WW cables with Odin 2 XLRs and cables. Then I replaced the 1.5m with the 1.0 and was kinda blown away that 0.5m of the same coax could be THAT much better.
While my all SS system sounded very good, it was a bit too sharp, so I ordered Odin Gold speaker cables (at ~ $170/2.5m). Unfortunately one leg must of had a bad solder joint as it barely sent the music . It took a couple months before they replaced it, which I finally installed 2 days ago: BAM. Even immediately, but of course it needs break in time. The weather here (Ft Lauderdale) has been really bad, I have only left for short quick trips. Today we are under a tornado watch, so won't leave, but as soon as I can get out for a few hours I will put on my XLO burn-in disc, which I use on everything I insert, including the M 700s, EVS, and Voyager which expedites break in, which still takes a good 50-100-200 hours!
Summing this up: cables can/do make or break a system. If I had these cables when I first got the EVS, I probably would never have gotten the Voyager, which of course I am itching to compare again, but could still be awhile
@nasaman did this question cross your mind when you were buying these Chinese produced fakes? And if it did, walk us through your thought process please… |
@hdm Absolutely, thank you. It will be posted and stated clearly as counterfeit and from Aliexpress, China @audphile1 Yes, it did cross my mind that buying them fake, try them out and resell them if they didn't work out. Most of my cables and cords were purchased used here or from USAmart, ranging from $300 to $1,300. Except for 1 HFC Orchestral XLR I bought from Rick for $6,600 (currently for sale). The reason I decided to try these fake Odins is that, given the price and performance ratio, they could be a bargain and if they were actually authentic from Nordost, I’d hit the jackpot. So I bought 1, and because it looks and feels acceptable and decently sounding, I bought 5 more. However, in my main system, they don’t perform as well as my other brands like Sablon Audio, Cerious Tech, Virtual Dynamics, HFC, MIT, Harmonic Tech, Acoustic Zen (very similar sounding), Kimber Kable, Verastarr, and Iced Age Audio (best bang for buck but it is what it is) These fake Odin cords didn’t stay long in my main system but quickly got moved to my 2nd HT system for burn-in and have stayed there since. Occasionally, I bring 1 up to my main, but it is what it is—(very) good sounding but lacking in soul and musicality. Still, very good cords, great material, and very well built structure, they can be valued over $100. |
@nasaman I would either 1. stuff them in the closet or 2. run some non critical audio video crap with these cables or 3. tie the next few garbage bags with them or 4. dissect them to see what’s inside then tie the next few garbage bags with them
I don’t think I would throw them into a circulation on a used market. |
