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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
zephyr24069's avatar
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zephyr24069
1,245 posts
 
" Over age 64, 30% of you guys suffer hearing loss. Over 74 that goes up to 50%."

That also means that over age 64, 70% don't suffer hearing loss and over 74, there is still about 50% that also don't have hearing loss...could be that you are dealing with folks that despite our respective ages (I'm 54 as an FYI) still have perfect hearing according to yearly tests.  Guess some of the results could be valid after all :-) !!!
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dynaquest4
445 posts
 
No need to get all jacked up; just making a point that perhaps some 30 to 50 percent of those here likely, in addition to experiencing expectation bias, couldn't hear differences in exotic cables even if they did exist.  My point is based on the fact of age related hearing loss...while most claims regarding wire-related audio improvements are nothing more than suppositions.
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cleeds
6,040 posts
 
dynaquest40
... most claims regarding wire-related audio improvements are nothing more than suppositions.
Oh no, that's simply not true. Almost always, those making claims provide very specific information about the wire and even details on their systems.

The nay-sayers who claim no audible differences, however, rarely provide details because they typically don't have first-hand experience. 
willemj
1,036 posts
 
With these things it all depends on how you define functional hearing loss. In a practical sense there is no hearing loss if your hearing is fine up to, say, 12K, and more or less stops there. For the ability to hear slight sonic differences between cables, that does make a big difference, however.
It is well documented that adult males lose their ability to hear the highest frequencies, the older they get. Females do rather better here. So yes, I think the question mark was a very legitimate one, and not at all in bad taste, unless you think reality itself is a bad joke.
willemj
1,036 posts
 
In fact, it has been argued here and elsewhere that the high frequency hearing loss of the audiophile demographic may explain the rise in the number of modern speakers with shrill top ends. Those attempt to bring back some of the 'air', 'sound stage', or 'detail'  lost because of reduced high frequency hearing.
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