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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
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
445 posts
 
Ha!  Busted!!  Just couldn't resist after reading Roger Russell's "history" of audio wire.  

There is just something fascinating about how people, that I will assume are otherwise intelligent, can get duped into giving excessive money for a product that cannot possibly "work as advertised" and then (maybe subconsciously) convince themselves that they can actually hear an improvement where none is scientifically possible.  Even when proven over and over again that listeners (without a monetary investment in said wires) cannot hear a difference....or at least tell the difference.

Those with this compulsion feed the industry that continues to up the ante and now bring you wires and interconnects that you can, if you like, spend $176,000.00 on a single stereo system.

And....I really don't think I am being "snarky;" but feel free to take it that way if it helps you sleep.
rodman99999
6,188 posts
 
It's amazing how much one can type, without saying anything!   What's a, "snarky" anyway?
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
445 posts
 
@rodman: assuming that derogatory comment was directed at me, I'd reluctantly counter with: "It is amazing how much one can read without, in any meaningful way, understanding."

Now....if you have nothing of significance to contribute to the subject ($5K expensive cables), why just just sit in the crowd and refrain from useless, personal comments.
randy-11
1,913 posts
 
people can be intelligent, and get duped into giving excessive money for a product that cannot possibly "work as advertised" when they lack technical knowledge

and I suspect that includes most audiophiles - science & engineering majors are less likely to get duped than an otherwise intelligent liberal arts or business major


nonoise's avatar
nonoise
10,928 posts
 
I don't recall being that impressed (to put it kindly) with McIntosh gear regarding their status as high end, resolving gear. They do have the looks and their laurels to rest on to further their product line but aside from that.....

The point is that high end gear is necessary for the ability to hear differences and yet doesn't have to be costly. We've all (hopefully) traveled that path and are now at a point where a small change can and will extract it's pound of flesh.

Trained ears and the discipline developed to hear differences serves as a base point for all critical listening, which allows just plain old listening for pleasure's sake.

For every Roger Russell who's in the "all cable needs to be...."  crowd there's a Professor Hawksford who says otherwise:
"I am not trying to say that this effect is necessarily significant, only that an error component is predicted by our theory and is shown by our measurements to exist."

Citing someone will only bring up someone else.

Who's to say that those differences aren't audible? I don't know of any study that says ALL cables measure the same. I've yet to see one. They are always different, albeit to small and varying degrees.

Our ears are incredibly refined instruments and like any instrument, can be tuned to detect differences of very small magnitudes. Tests show this to be true. I think what harms intelligent discussion is the standard yardsticks we use to measure, or rather, that some of us insist that those standard yardsticks are the ONLY measurement to go by. They are nothing more than gross generalizations. Rounding errors for simplicities sake.

Just as no two wires will measure identically, no two ears will either. I can hear small differences and have learned to appreciate them over the long haul. Others can too. 

"Nuff said.

All the best,
Nonoise




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