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,

I think frame11 was quoting the audio critic and the statement is entirely correct from an engineering design perspective. Go to any reputable University and study electrical engineering or physics and the professors and text books will only use R, L and C for calculations at audio frequencies. These are the only factors that need to be considered in these analog circuits at these frequencies because they encompass and describe the entire behaviour as far as reputable science is concerned.

Now anecdotally what people claim to hear can be an entirely different matter; unlike scientific laws and procedures in science that require repeatability of measurements by anyone and everyone to be accepted, there is no need to demonstrate or prove any of the wild claims about special wires...so audiophile dealers and audiophiles can and do make wild unsubstantiated claims all the time. These claims are quite similar to many unproven wild or crazy claims about incredible benefits of certain health foods or certain diets or any multitude of anecdotal claims that just might be influenced one encouraged by the potential profit from selling the "magical" products.

shadorne
Geoffkait,

I think frame11 was quoting the audio critic and the statement is entirely correct from an engineering design perspective. Go to any reputable University and study electrical engineering or physics and the professors and text books will only use R, L and C for calculations at audio frequencies. These are the only factors that need to be considered in these analog circuits at these frequencies because they encompass and describe the entire behaviour as far as reputable science is concerned.

I do hate to be argy bargy about this but if the statement regarding RLC was actually true then how come cables that measure the same sound different? That’s right up there with the bullet headed dude from Audio Review’s opinion that all amps that measured about the same sounded the same. Any reputable University? Huh? That’s like the most obvious Appeal to Authority I’ve seen all week. You know, as in phoney argument.

Now anecdotally what people claim to hear can be an entirely different matter; unlike scientific laws and procedures in science that require repeatability of measurements by anyone and everyone to be accepted, there is no need to demonstrate or prove any of the wild claims about special wires...so audiophile dealers and audiophiles can and do make wild unsubstantiated claims all the time. These claims are quite similar to many unproven wild or crazy claims about incredible benefits of certain health foods or certain diets or any multitude of anecdotal claims that just might be influenced one encouraged by the potential profit from selling the "magical" products.

Typical anti cable rant, signifying nada. In fact observations of the sound are perfectly good evidence in the scientific sense. Didn’t you know that?

"Cables that measure the same sound different". You state this as if it were fact but it is merely an anecdotal claim. Unfortunately your claim is not enough to cause curriculum changes globally in Universities. If you can provide verification or design an experiment to demonstrate this then you will become famous for discovering a new parameter in circuit design.
how about teleportation tweaks?   That's not even anecdotal unless one considers the seller saying it works enough to qualify. 

mapman
how about teleportation tweaks? That’s not even anecdotal unless one considers the seller saying it works enough to qualify.

Glad you brought that up, Moops. In fact there’s a bunch of "anecdotal" reports on the Teleportation Tweak, you know, given that it's been around a while. Give me a second and I’ll link you up.

Here you go, Moops

http://machinadynamica.com/machina39.htm