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
You have to listen to something in order to ascertain something. It cannot be done on the fly. It takes time. Swapping out cables in a blind A/B test is nothing more than a parlor trick meant to beguile.




"Cables need to SETTLE."  Really...now they need to settle?  Is that after they are burned in?  Before they are "elevated?  Holy Moly!  I am still chuckling at the comparison with flowers growing.
gbmcleod-

nice point of view and I concur that most dealers/retailers have poor sounding rooms.  Happy Listening!
Yes, Dynaquest, "cables need to settle." 
And your comparison with flowers is quite apt, since my mother was an expert flower grower. And anyone who with any gardening experience past a 3- year olds (apologies to the expert younger gardeners) would have told you, the soil around the flower needs to be left alone. Surely you know that when you plant even a lawn, you are not supposed to walk on it until well after the grass has grown a bit. Soil should not be tamped down. All you have to do is read the bag to learn that. It's not a mystery.
So, in essence, you've answered your own question, although I suspect  you didn't intend to. And it sounds like you have not experienced the higher priced spreads and their quirks. They have quirks. Shunyata, on their website, even shows diagrams of how the cable should not slump, but should be perfectly level at all points. 
At some point, novices need to listen to more experienced users before registering  disbelief. And, my training was: do the experiment yourself to see the results (did you skip high school chemistry?) You also skipped the experiment, as recommended above, didn't you? Naughty boy. You get an "F".

Oh, and  speakers need to be PERFECTLY level, too. Not 1/8" off. PERFECTLY. Small inflections, inner detail will disappear. So dealer's showrooms are not the last word in authority. I'm sure that will cause  you chuckles, too. All for the good.  After all, laughter is the best medicine, non? 

"Cables need to settle!" Actually I thought this was presented as a joke. Now I see it is just another snake oil input into the overall high-priced cable joke. Do not be offended. My beef isn’t with those who who are unknowingly victims...but with the manufacturers, distributors and dealers who perpetuate the scam. My $10.00 12ga Monoprice cables do a fine job. Or...I could spend $137,000.00 on Nordhost Odin cables. Yep, I’m still chuckling.