2. cables
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What do audiophiles want from a cable?

What should a high quality interconnect or speaker cable do to the sound of a system? Make it more transparent? Improve the sound stage and focus? Soften unpleasant highs? Tighten the base? Bring out the mids?

To me, a good cable should reveal more of what is on the recording and more of the true nature of my components. So when trying new cables, I look for more detail and accuracy without becoming cold and clinical. This seems logical, and yet after reading reviews and trying a few of the cables in the reviews, I find that the cables that have received glowing endorsements are not especially transparent or revealing. They modify the sound, but they don’t take me where I want to go. I wonder if the reason I don’t hear what the reviewer heard is that I don’t know what to listen for. Am I too focused on cable accuracy and resolution, and not enough on actual sound quality? Or is it just a case of no two systems sounding alike so why trust a review anyway? Thanks.
mward
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

hifiman5
285 posts
10-28-2016 7:48pm
"My guess is that audiophiles see cables as similar to water hoses, and the goal is to increase the flow and remove the constriction. That’s at odds with reality, since we’re not dealing with electrons flowing into preamps, amps or speakers."

I hope the above is a typo! If its not electrons flowing along the cables into our components and speakers then what is it? Little fairies?

............................

sorry to put a damper on the water hose theory of cables but electrons move at a rate of only a few centimeters per minute, in AC circuits they move to and fro, with net zero gain. The audio signal itself, you know, the electromagnetic wave, on the other hand, travels at near light speed.
dlcockrum's avatar
dlcockrum
2,190 posts
 
Good morning Mr. Kait,

Good point. So we should be describing how various signal transmission products handle the electromagnetic wave. I will buy that. Perhaps that is why some of the latest higher-technology cable/powercord/power treatment products have moved in this direction (EM cells (SR) and magnetic enhancement (HF), for example) and away from massive windings of large-gauge conductors long thought to be indicative of a superior conductive interface?

Best to you geoffkait,
Dave





melbguy1
1,438 posts
 
jmcgrogan25,498 posts10-29-2016 10:15pmHello David,
How are you? Did you get your new S5 Mk II’s set up yet?
How’s the rig sounding?

Cheers,
John
Hi John, i’m well thanks. I recently came back from holiday, so I need to do some cleaning up after my break in the next week. I’m aiming to get a basic setup in the next 2 wks & do some solid run in for about 3 wks, before taking up an offer from my Dealer’s room setup consultant to run some room sweeps, get a final setup & spike my speakers. It’s been a helluva year, but i’m now starting to put myself first again!
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
@geoffkait Might your electrons need testing for ADD/ADHD??  For gods' sake man organize your electrons.

 Look at what's going on at the quantum level here.  Is this reality or are all of us really in the Matrix?

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

hifiman5
286 posts
10-29-2016 4:17pm
@geoffkait Might your electrons need testing for ADD/ADHD?? For gods’ sake man organize your electrons.

Look at what’s going on at the quantum level here. Is this reality or are all of us really in the Matrix?

Thnx for pointing that out as I forgot to mention - you know that electromagnetic wave I mentioned, the one that’s the audio signal? It’s not electrons, it’s photons. ;-)

Cheers

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