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Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?

I recently ordered high end speaker, power amp, and preamp to be installed in couple more weeks. So the next search are interconnect and speaker cable. After challenging the dealer and 3 of my so called audiophile friends, I think the only reason I would buy expensive cable is for its appearance to match with the high end gears but not for sound performance. I personally found out that $5K cable vs $10 cable are no difference, at least not to our ears. Prior to this, I was totally believe that cable makes a difference but not after this and reading few articles online.

Here is how I found out.

After the purchase of my system, I went to another dealer to ask for cable opinion (because the original dealer doesn't carry the brand I want) and once I told him my gears, he suggested me the high end expensive cable ranging from $5 - 10K pair, depending on length. He also suggested the minimum length must be 8-12ft. If longer than 12ft, I should upgrade to even more expensive series. So I challenged him that if he can show me the difference, I would purchase all 7 AQ Redwood cables from him.

It's a blind test and I would connect 3 different cables - 1 is the Audioquest Redwood, 1 is Cardas Audio Clear, and 1 my own generic 14AWG about 7ft. Same gears, same source, same song..... he started saying the first cable sound much better, wide, deep, bla...bla...bla......and second is decently good...bla...bla...bla.. and the last one sounded crappy and bla...bla...bla... BUT THE REALITY, I NEVER CHANGED THE CABLE, its the same 14AWG cable. I didn't disclosed and move on to second test. I told him I connected audioquest redwood but actually 14AWG and he started to praise the sound quality and next one I am connected the 14awg but actually is Redwood and he started to give negative comment. WOW!!!! Just blew me right off.

I did the same test with 3 of my audiophile friends and they all have difference inputs but no one really got it right. Especially the part where I use same generic 14awg cable and they all start to give different feedback!!!

SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?
sautan904
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Douglas,

You keep attacking the others. Why not provide all this evidence that you speak of?

If a Boulder amp at a cost of 99K needs a special power cord in order to function then surely the power cord is included in the box with the amp?

Seriously why would anyone sell a 99K amplifier and skimp so much on the design that the power cord it comes with is totally inadequate and it requires the user to buy a special power cord to function correctly?

I dont doubt that these ridiculous issues actually exist, as your experience and Fremer’s have confirmed it.

However, my questions still stands - why buy extremely expensive equipment so poorly made that it is inadequate out of the box? Where is the sense in this? Isn’t an amplifier supposed to maximize source reproduction and minimize everything else that is extraneous - isn’t that what a great amplifier design ought to do?

(I do understand that it is possible to design something that is highly sensitive to power cords and speaker wires and interconnects but WHY would a designer build a 99K amp based on such a terrible design)


mapman's avatar
mapman
22,200 posts
 
I’d return my 90k amp if I found out they cheaped out on the cord.

If if you can do a 90k amplifier right and then get the cord wrong and the cord matters then guess what you screwed up and credibility gone.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

mapman
I’d return my 90k amp if I found out they cheaped out on the cord.

If if you can do a 90k amplifier right and then get the cord wrong and the cord matters then guess what you screwed up and credibility gone.

If you were buying the 90k amp which cord would you insist they put on it? Just curious.

nutty
2,867 posts
 
For your guidance, the Boulder 2150 monoblock power amplifier’s have stock power cords included. Mr. Fremer asked Audioquest to modify their Hurricane power cords to match the 2150's 32 amp IEC jack.




N
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,842 posts
 
All of this dancing on the head of the pin and there’s still MORE room to relive the same arguments that seemed to have been settled many, many threads ago.

As this titanic thread sinks painfully into icy waters to a (justifiably) certain death, one can take solace if one were to look to the east and see yet another one on the horizon, steaming closer to eventually meet the same fate: another dance. This has to be a circle for audiophiles in Dantes Hell. Yes? Where’s Bill Murray when you need him? Or is it Rod Serling?

All the best,
Nonoise
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