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
wire or cable effects will be LESS significant in interconnects than speaker wires

anyone who understands physics or even rel. basic electronics will figure this out - the freq.s involved are simply too high to hear

the only other possibility is that a very high (usually RF) freq. will be injected into a component - if that affects the sound then the component would have to have a very odd design; most likely a design by someone who is not very competent

The controversy arises mainly by greedy charlatans (one of whom trolls this forum) who are able to convince well-off but unsophisticated consumers to buy their over-priced cables.  There is also the confusion among electrostatic speaker owners who do hear differences from different speaker cables, and electrodynamic speaker owners who are likely not hearing differences, but do not do blind testing.

In general, run digital as far as you can; run interconnects in fully balanced mode to the amps, and keep speaker cables as short as possible (amps close to speakers).  Use good quality Cu wire of at least 14 gauge (almost everything  is "oxygen free) anyway, so that is not a worry).  Belden has been making quality wires of all types for a very long time.  China is known for food, martial arts, culture, and philosophy -- not (yet?) for quality consumer products...

The big SQ increases come from good speakers, room treatments, and quality masterings of source materials.  After that, select an amp that can really control your speakers and their impedance curve.  Pre-amps, DACs, etc. will prove to be less rewarding on a cost/benefit curve (tho I do like my ARC pre-amp).

If you have already spent $70,000 on your speakers, built a new listening room, and done everything above, then it is time to buy different speaker cables from a place that allows returns.  Evaluate on a selected subset of your music library for esp. difficult issues where the recording & mastering is known to the be of the highest quality using double-blind testing.  Once your speaker cabling is as you desire, you can then waste time on interconnects.

if the above is too much trouble then just buy a green pen and use it to treat the edges of your eyelids.

mapman
Its abandoning some high end costs, not necessarily high end sound.

shiver me timbers, moops. I did not realize you were in the high end. You really should tell a person these things. Welcome aboard, sailor. It’s getting harder and harder to recognize fellow travelers. Maybe we should wear name tags.
GK I am high end compared to you for sure.

I’ve spent tens of thousands on hifi gear.

How much does your Sony Walkman cost again?

You have a lot of nerve I must say trolling others here about high end. Its a good comedy routine at least.

mapman
GK I am high end compared to you for sure.

I’ve spent tens of thousands on hifi gear.

How much does your Sony Walkman cost again?

You have a lot of nerve I must say trolling others here about high end. Its a good comedy routine at least.

My goodness, Moops, your strange outburst aside, it appears we have totally different ideas what the High End is. You obviously think your money buys your way into it. Whereas my High End cannot be bought.

A rich audiophile has about as much chance of getting into Audio Nirvana as a camel has of passing through the eye of a needle. - audiophile axiom