Why Do Cables Matter?

https://avahifi.com/products/abx-switch-comparator

https://www.dagogo.com/audio-by-van-alstine-abx-comparator-review-part-1-audio-store-wiring/

this is a very useful tool for comparing components or cables (no xlr connections though) ... mine has been very helpful over time

they used to be $999, when i bought mine, prices have certainly gone up... for reasons we can all understand

whether one can hear differences reliably among cables depends on a lot of factors, one’s hearing acuity, resolution of one’s system, what is being connected, and so on... one must really try for oneself to determine if different items make a sonic difference, not just for cables, but anything we try to improve our sound

folks arguing here, asserting their view, is no different than one person insisting their food item ordered is too salty... but will that same item be too salty for me???

All very subjective thanks for sharing JJSS

charliech

Oh, I will add that if you want to get nice cables just because they look nice, that is a valid reason. 

Anyone can select any cables for their system and the choice will be valid. No one here needs your permission or blessing.

An objectivist is just a subjectivist who thinks he/she has the better argument.

So you guys are trying to tell me that in a blind listening test I would not be able to tell if my system had cables connected or not?  Preposterous.  Now could I tell in a blind test if it was the power cord that was missing vs. speaker cables?  Probably not.

My point is after 40 years of arguing about this topic don’t you think the cable business would have died out by now if they provided no sonic benefit?

I can hear the difference in the direction of my network cable into the music server.  It is not subtle either.  I really wish they would put arrows on those cables.