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
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FWIW....

I sincerely do not see any argument about run in on wires.

What I see is an argument pro or con on the notion run in will change things or not, and promoted so one or the other side of the coin has to be accepted by the opposing theorists.

There’s the real argument. Forcing someone to adopt a different perspective.

Good luck with that.

Why all the rebuttal if both propositions are offered merely as personal experience only?

If listening to a system can be improved by rubbing drawn butter on my bare feet while sitting naked in an Appalachian Rocking chair wearing a fireman’s helmet, I’d give it a try. Or not.

Probably not.

I don’t have the helmet.

Who loses? Who wins? Who cares?

It doesn’t matter.

A person convinced against their will, remains unconvinced, still.

Resistance is futile. They will seldom be assimilated.

I’ve tried $5 ICs. I’ve tried $2K ICs. Same with power cords.

I was really pulling for the $5, $100, $500 wires to be better than the $750, $1000 and $2000 wires. Really I was.

Why? Not being rich played a significant role I think.

It does take honesty. A lot of honesty. It takes notes. Honest notes. Then if the mo spensive wires is better…. A whole lot of justification and a fair time to save up to buy them.

The point is if the ‘ears’ have it, and not the heart, there is a bonafide winner. Science aside. Science was or was not working all along in the testing. It had to be. Its science. Science doesn’t take days off.

The only descrepency is no one took notes on the science portion of the process. Just the honest results of time and materials gains or losses or unnoticed changes, during the examination period.

Where then is the real proof?

IMHO? Metallurgy. Possibly ‘alchemy’.

Otherwise, please refer to the sales feedback on sold items, and or the current system lists in a member’s profile.

If the suspect was not sold, it may have trickled down into another rig. Or been traded off site. Which is my preffs budget permitting.

Proof enough for me is a $1200 wire replaced a previously adored $400 wire. Just as the $400 cable supplanted the hereto fore beloved $250 wires. Etc., etc., etc.

You can bring an audio nut perspectives, but you can’t always make them switch.

Forcing the point breeds only bad feelings and resentment. Then things get less appropriate as the less civil will go straight into the gutter with their words and inferences. Or jibe and poke adolescent inane crap. Hiding behind a faceless web, and hoping Admin won’t see it.
Directionality, fuses, wires, run in, tweaks, etc., have merit if you believe they do. If you do not, super. Good for you! in fact, good for either!!!

Real maturity reminds happiness is a greater worth than being right. This is indeed, a choice.

That said, I’m most happy when I’m right. But I’ll not sacrifice happiness so I can.

I say, buy the better cables--find a nice used set at half price, and they will be with you through many improvements of gear.  The cheaper cables will be left behind at your first upgrade, and you will be left wanting. Try to make your own power cords--not difficult at all. 
Suttle improvements in cable changes can represent a milestone for many. However I can change interconnects and hear a noticeable difference providing this is done on the same day. One time I ordered a new pair of Cardas interconnects and was such a revelation that it was as if I purchased a new power amp and or preamp.