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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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

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?

shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,491 posts
 
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.


grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,645 posts
 
Actually good builders test the sound of various wire both in the power supply and low voltage circuits. The type of wire used changes the sound just has various types of connectors, capacitors, and resistors do. When I build I also test wire and have spend a few hundred dollars on great sounding wire in point to point wired tube amps. The wire used certainly makes a difference. But, to have knowledge of this you must have actually taken the time to listen to different wire in the circuit/amp and that takes quite an effort. Most designers don't make this effort and operate under the assumption all good wire, in spec for the job at hand, sounds the same. They are wrong as many of us know. 

andrew9405
225 posts
 
Cable threads, without question, are the most entertaining in the forums. 
jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,397 posts
 
Sautan , the truth expensive cables do sound better than most cheap cables, this is not hype,Nordost kimber MIT Audioquest cardas this company would have been long gone if true audiophiles can't hear the differrence, For music lovers who are happy with their $10 cables, cool. I wish I could be happy as well, but sorry Since I have the means of buying good cables that performs on my system, Iam bless with good ears as well, I enjoy music more with my revealing musical system, with good price cables, My advise to you is be happy whatever wire you use, with those expensive gear you order, you posted  here, agoners are here to share their  opinions, you can either agree or not, your gain or your loss, that's your choice, I just hope your post is true, otherwise you wasted all our time here, even though I laugh at times, I still have fun reading grannyring post...I like the oil n cotton granny on the cable, I will experiment with Kimchi....

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