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
@ gillatah:

Not sure I get a "burn-in" on cables that were used for three of the past five years.  Do they "un-burn" when not in use?

You talked about improvements in  decay, soundstage, clarity, presence, vocal inflection.  I don't believe cables/wires/interconnects can "improve" anything in the media.  All I think they could possibly do is (maybe) mitigate other outside influences that might interfere with the transmission of the signal from playback source to speakers.  And I'd opine that any cables of proper length and impedance will do all that just fine. 

I use a mix of WireWorld, Kimber and Monoprice and they all work just fine....none better than the other.  And no "burn-in" (a myth) was required.
Per Transparent cable will revert to its original condition if no current is present, for a long period, something about molecules in the dielectric changing when a current is present. I'll take their word for it as my ears have proven it to me. I was as much of a sceptic as anyone. Believe as you wish. I was not attempting to convince only stating my experience. 
Geoffkait, I'm not done with this evaluation. Stated my experience at 60 hours of burn in. I don't have a clue if it will improve from here or not. All I can say for sure is the cable improved from 0 hours to 60 hours quite a bit and has also improved on the audible experience. I'm no novice at this. All equipment is in a dedicated and treated listening room. Maybe that's why the JW wire sounded also very good.