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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
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mapman's avatar
mapman
22,915 posts
 
I heard HFC room at Capital Audiofest last year. Was looking forward to it greatly given all the hype.

Small room, giant speakers, magnets everywhere, pretty good sound but nothing special except lots of gear and sound in a very tiny room that frankly most any good system, even smaller good quality monitors should be able to handle. it was definitely designed for sensory overload. Like that guy listening in the old JBL ads X 10. Whatever the magnet wires did or did not do, they had a lot of help from the oversized system (for that room) they were part of.

I liked other rooms with no magnets much better. Go figure!

Press covering the event seemed indifferent as well. Not many if any mentions.

I was turned off admittedly when I walked in and saw such a huge system set up in such a small room. Far from the norm and tons of overkill.

I do not doubt the magnets do something to the sound but with all that there was still no inherent superiority with the sound resulting though there was lots of it to spare. Did not live up to the hype.

Maybe if my expectations were lower going in and the wires were not given so much help impressing in that small room.

Very strange.

IMHO.
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mapman's avatar
mapman
22,915 posts
 
benjie you are putting words in my mouth. I heard no difference at all. Just results that did not live up to the hype no matter how much gear was packed in there.

Granted I was not impressed enough to stick around long given my limited time there. Maybe with a longer audition.

Plus I would have had to hear something I never heard before to even consider those expensive products. Didn’t happen. I was actually hoping it would. Magnetic wires are different hence interesting to me. But I was not sold even with teh tens of thousands of dollars worth of HFC products that were in the room.

That’s just my unbiased impression. I am not in this industry, just a customer, and have no business associations otherwise at all with anyone.
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