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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
 
dlcockrum says (regarding the DR. Waldrep article/test): "My point exactly. Based on his opening, the author was intent on proving there are no differences, thus he proclaimed to hear none."

What you failed to mention, in over site, is that  other audio professionals were involved in the test; to wit:

 "A group of professional audio engineers that work in other studios in the building (including a Grammy award winner) couldn’t detect any difference — and neither could I! I simply let them listen and switch between the DACs — and no one reported hearing even the slightest change. If the designer of the cable notices a “dramatic” difference at his place, I don’t know how he does it. In my “high resolving” studio, no one could hear any fidelity change when using a $3000 power cord vs. the $1.50 one that is supplied by Benchmark (and which they recommend!)."

Dr. Waldrep has a Masters and two Phd's in music and computer science and over thirty years as a recording and mastering engineer.  Who do you think I'm going to put credibility in?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Appeal to Authority Alert!!

"Dr. Waldron has two Phd’s in music and computer science and over thirty years as a recording and mastering engineer. Who do you think I’m going to put credibility in?"

Sorry to say, that just screams Appeal to Authority. You know, an illogical argument. An excellent example, actually.

cheers
213runnin
914 posts
 
To be sure it's clear, my previous post was not making or implying an argument against silver.

It was simply saying that the fact that silver has a slightly higher conductivity/lower resistivity than copper, which is often cited as an argument in favor of silver, is very unlikely to be the reason for whatever sonic differences may occur between a silver cable and a copper cable.

Thank you, Al, I understood your points.  I'm saying that I've heard them before, they are common arguments(or points, or whatever you'd like to call them), and we could go back and forth on this for weeks.  Seriously.  Just like this thread.  I wouldn't want to waste your time, however.  You seem quite knowledgeable and polite to boot.

In my simple comparison, you are saying that something else was at play that gave me the better sonics.  Also not a new argument.  But I've compared 7 or 8 different pairs of interconnects in my system.  It can't be RCA connectors, or shielding, or the building line supply or other devices in the branch circuits or my hearing or the room sonics or the rest of the system.  

At the end of the day, you believe whatever you feel led to believe.  That's fine.  But I'm not going to ignore jaw dropping results with solid core silver conductor cables because someone on the internet thinks otherwise.  I know my system, I know what the results are and I'm happy to let others think whatever makes them happy.  

But for those who have heard differences in cables, and want to improve on entry level cabling for cheap, look into solid core silver cables from Stager Sound.   I'm not affiliated with them in any way, just impressed with what they've done with silver at the price point.
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
445 posts
 
goef...sorry, I do not get your comment: "Sorry to say, that just screams Appeal to Authority. You know, an illogical argument. An excellent example, actually."

What does this mean?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Dynaquest4

No worries. here's the explanation of what I posted.

Argument from authority, also ad verecundiam and appeal to authority, is a common form of argument which leads to a logical fallacy.[1]

In informal reasoning, the appeal to authority is a form of argument attempting to establish a statistical syllogism.[2] The appeal to authority relies on an argument of the form:[3]

A is an authority on a particular topic
A says something about that topic
A is probably correct
Fallacious examples of using the appeal include any appeal to authority used in the context of logical reasoning, and appealing to the position of an authority or authorities to dismiss evidence,[4][5][6][7] as authorities can come to the wrong judgments through error, bias, dishonesty, or falling prey to groupthink. Thus, the appeal to authority is not a generally reliable argument for establishing facts.[8]

Forms
General
The argument from authority can take several forms. As a syllogism, the argument has the following basic structure:[5][9]

A says P about subject matter S.
A should be trusted about subject matter S.
Therefore, P is correct.
The second premise is not accepted as valid, as it amounts to an unfounded assertion that leads to circular reasoning able to define person or group A into inerrancy on any subject matter.[5][10]


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