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
If a system is resolving of or highly sensitive to the wires then it is designed incorrectly. I don't invest in audio gear to hear the wires - I prefer to hear the source music.
*Yawn*  Hasn't this topic been 'discussed' to death yet?

Here's the stake and the hammer.  Put this vampire down once and for all.

Y'know, just for grins and the 'ell of it....I'd like to see a truly 'blind' A/B/C comp between a 'high end' cable (pick one...you're 'fav', why not), a decent 12AWG copper line with tinned ends ('horrors!'), and a good Bluetooth link  'twixt amps and the speakers.  Pick the speakers and other equipment by a lottery...although that'll probably please nobody.  But that's democracy for you....;)

I'll bet that if it's done Correctly, Truly Blind, that the opinions that would come out of it would be all over the board.  There would be no agreement as to what was best.  Again, MHO....and everything I know is wrong...

Until then...I'm going to ignore cable forums.  Reminds me of how many angels can be on the head of a pin.
Funny thing I just realized about blind testing: it can prove that those that think they see are really blind, but it cannot make those whom are blind see.

Dave

shadorne
If a system is resolving of or highly sensitive to the wires then it is designed incorrectly. I don’t invest in audio gear to hear the wires - I prefer to hear the source music.

do you invest in the internal wires of the component that connect all the electronic parts, the internal speaker wires, the wires of the transformer, the wires in the capacitors, the internal wires in stereo cartridges and tone arms? Why don’t all the high end manufacturers just use coat hangers? Wouldn't that be more profitable?

Coat hangers would be very difficult to work with as they are quite rigid and lack an insulation jacket. In theory they might work electrically but are very impractical compared to ordinary wires suitable to the task.

For sure there are several dollars worth of wire in most components and a few dollars in connectors too. I don't see many manufactures putting $5000 worth of wire inside but I guess most manufacturers would never be that stupid when ordinary wire will do.