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Opening a can of worms

Here is the can filled with opinions. It's been hashed and rehashed to infinity and beyond with no clear result. Since I am a seeker of truth I'll post my thoughts here for the yea and naysayers to debate over. Question is: Are expensive speaker or any other cable in a system worth the exorbitant cost over a reasonably priced cable loom? I thought I'd  experiment myself to find out. My comparison is between Transparent Ultra cable loom and Blue Jeans cable loom on a pure stereo system comprised of Proceed PAV,  Proceed PDSD,  Krell Kav 250, Musical Fidelity A3cd, Sony Ps4300 TT and B&W 803D2 speakers. All sources were used by this experiment using identical playback material. Cables had in excess of 200 hrs burn time and all were identical in lenght. The only variation were the connector manufacturers.
One change that occurred during this 4 week long endeavor was that I'm firmly seated on the sharpest picket on the fence.
My result is that I'm now a believer that there are audible differences in cables. I also believe that these differences are minute and one has to really listen carefully and for a long time to discern these differences.
Now to the crutch of the matter, $$$$$, As we all know Transparent Cables would reside in the upper tier of Audio Cable expense.  Blue Jeans Cable on the other hand falls into the lowest tier of expense (well maybe not lowest but low nontheless )
One would think then that the Transparent would be far superior to the BJs. Not really! Yes the highs were a little cleaner, mids a little tighter and lows a tad more pronounced but not by as much as one would expect. Soundstage was somewhat more open and airy and depth was somewhat more defined with the higher priced cable but again less than one would expect. 

Now for my personal opinion regarding the cable debate: expensive cable looms are slightly better than reasonable priced looms, if a dollar equals a penny to you then by all means opt for the higher priced loom, if a penny equals a penny don't be ashamed for opting for the best you can do. The differences are so minute that it's not worth going into debt over. BOTH looms sounded superb on my test system and I would be happy with either loom.

Now let the debate begin, just know I'm a fence sitter and not in one camp or the other
128x128gillatgh
oharchie's avatar
oharchie
31 posts
 
There are definitely audible differences in cables. But you can only hear them when you have the other variables in alignment with them.

I have a pretty revealing set up currently and have just started swapping interconnects and have heard major shifts. With my system 5 years ago I probably would not have heard a difference.

But I only do 2 channel stuff and I'm pretty particular to using class A or at least class A/B components. So I can't knowledgeably comment on your current rig.

I do think that your B&W speakers should really be performing well and definitely be able to show a clear difference between cables given the right power and source.

I'm going to take a wild guess but if you put a relatively simple and well built  pre amp at the top of the chain you might start hearing what you want.



roxy54's avatar
roxy54
8,066 posts
 
I would say the experiment was worth it for the OP, since now he knows that he definitely should not buy higher priced cables.
nicotico
187 posts
 
Debate? The Transparent cables cost X, the Blue Jeans cables cost Y, and you have concluded which ones sound better. Is the difference in sound worth the difference in price? Everyone can opine but only you can answer. At the end of the day it is your system, your ears and your bank account, none of which anyone else’s opinion can take into account.
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randy-11
1,913 posts
 
Correct, with some speakers (cones) there are audible differences in cables, because they change the complex impedance that the driver "sees."

One could call the difference minute - it is certainly not as large as using a different speaker.

And, there is no reason whatsoever to waste a lot of $$ on expensive cables - just keep swapping them at a cable rental place until happy (or until worn out, if you are the type of audiophool who is never happy).

The use the $$ you saved to build a new listening room, constructed for the very best SQ.

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