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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
dalebeshansky's avatar
dalebeshansky
12 posts
 
Some things are better than others, plain and simple. It gets down to degrees and how significant the difference really is.
Most of us know a ’quality’ cable from junk, or a lamp cord. I don’t put a lamp cord in the junk category, because it works just fine and does not rely on mediocre workmanship along with cosmetics so it LOOKS like it should be better. It is an HONEST cable even if used for hifi.

Some decades ago, there were a lot of junk cables, poor workmanship, etc. Monster was one of the early ones that actually proved a well made cable is better. That is long before they got too big for their britches, kept the same basic cables but found they could keep jacking up the price as long as they used gold plating and cool looking sheathing. Well, the formula worked for them, and still does to a smaller extent today.

BJC cables meet my criteria of a cable that does not have to be better than this, and if it is, I sincerely doubt i will see or hear a difference. But that’s me.

I’ve said before, when esoteric cable companies get a hold of well regarded artists, musicians, composers, recording engineers, etc. to promote their cable based on what the professionals claim to experience, I will start believing there is more to it than that.

dill
2,533 posts
 
" BJC cables meet my criteria of a cable that does not have to be better than this, and if it is, I sincerely doubt i will see or hear a difference."

Now, don't try to experiment or anything, you already know the outcome.
Bet if you substituted solid silver cables for your BJC, you would hear a difference.
audiozen
831 posts
 
dalebeshansky-good point using well regarded artists in the entertainment industry. During the past 50+ years every major TV station, radio station and recording company in every major city have all purchased  their speaker cables and interconnects from local broadcasting supply houses. Back in the early 60's when radio stations were recording and broadcasting at live events, they were using long runs of shielded speaker cables and interconnects. These type of cables were only used by the broadcasting industry at the time and were not used or available in the stereo retail stores since high end was still in its infancy. You could get cheap RCA interconnects at the time for your Fisher or Harman Kardon receiver. Bruce Brisson of MIT/Monster Cable was directly influenced by that industry which led him to start Monster Cable with his designs in 1981. Here in Seattle all the radio, TV stations and recording studios get their cable and wire from Radar electronics who have been around for 60+ years. These broadcasting supply houses in your home towns are great places to get high quality speaker and interconnect cable at any length you want and they have a wide variety of connector's and will terminate them for you. 
raytheprinter's avatar
raytheprinter
1,234 posts
 
Be happy you hear no difference,and spend the money you saved on something else.
willemj
1,036 posts
 
My +1 a few post above is unintelligeable now that the post I commented on has been removed. I do not understand why it was removed because it made perfect sense.
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