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
Hi grannyring,
I am using mine in my second system unmodified.  I was going to have it modified, but read online a number of people who say the mods change the sound, but that whether it is for the better is subjective.

My go-to audio electrician tipped the scale towards not modding.

I am sure that the Cary sounds better, there always will be something.

Happy New Year,
George
I like the ST70 and MK4 Dyna monos a lot and have had and modded both. I also modded the Cary Rocket 88r and it really is very special. When I say mod I am referring to better parts quality and replacing suspect parts due to age. 

The Cary can be had for $1000 -$1200 used and is a superb value. The Dynaco amps were a lot of fun for sure. I liked the MK 4 monos a little more than the ST70, but both were nice.
I haven't read every post here, but one thing I've learned after spending the first half of my life as a musician and being conservatory trained is to never assume someone else cannot hear something just because you can't.  OTOH, I congratulate you for deciding with your own ears as opposed to taking someone else's opinion.  If you cannot hear the value in owning a more expensive component, you would be quite foolish to purchase it. 
Whoa! What? Nobody’s mentioned $25K cables. Surely they’ve GOT to be better than generic 14 ga cables, no?

Kraftsound, thanks for the leveling this thread dearly needed. 
One point you made re: "stability of amp dependent on the impedance of the load" has been made before and should be used in every thread on cables. Not every cable can fulfill the need when there are so many variables involved. 

Everyone should just use common sense and experiment. I've kept most of the cables I've ever bought and occasionally try them out whenever I change something in the equation (amp, speaker, tone controls, etc.) and use that as a guide.

Just a few days ago I stated, earlier in this thread, that the Zu Event mk1 speaker cables sounded the best in my system. My newish speakers gave me a Dickens of a time as the Accuton drivers are a bear to break in. I finally gave up after settling on the Zu cables and just yesterday, turned the treble boost all the way up on my Marantz and used the Ayre test CD to burn in the tweeter, cables and circuits at that setting. Now I was getting somewhere (all those variables). 
 
It resulted in a much more relaxed treble as opposed to a boosted sound. The burn in helped tremendously. Not being satisfied, I tried some Tempo Electric speaker cables I had since they worked so well when I had the Tonian Labs TL-D1s. Viola! Treble extension is even better extended and defined without any sibilance. Mids are purer and not as forward and bass is better defined with lessened rear port emphasis in the room.

The Tempo Electric cables are just plain old 9 gauge, 4 nines, soft annealed, solid silver core cables in a larger gauge teflon jacket making air the primary dielectric. The sound I'm getting is so much closer to that of the Tonians that I'm somewhat shocked. That, and the price was about $280 back when I got them.

Everything is system dependent and there are no shortcuts. If one is truly into this hobby, then one must be open to and explore all possible avenues available to them. 

All the best,
Nonoise