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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
tyray
582 posts
 
geoffkait, I first saw a couple of of your posts on 'The ups and downs of tube vs. SS...' And they were so sarcastic and funny at the same time, I didn't know which one it was. Until I read one of your post here.  

'Sorry, we’ve eliminated placebo effect through careful testing (long ago). Better luck next time'

Needless to say it cracked me up and not only would I take the $5000 speaker wire, I'd take the solid platinum rca male/balanced jacks too!
Over the lamp cord... 

Thanks for steering me to take a look at Goertz speaker and interconnects. Extremely fair prices. I hope one day to upgrade to Morrow Audio interconnects. The 50% and 40% sales they have make them affordable to my budget and yes you can hear the differences. 
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Re Goertz speaker cables, their combination of ultra low inductance and ultra high capacitance, together with the Zobel networks they often have to be used with to prevent potentially destructive amplifier oscillations that may otherwise result from the ultra high capacitance, will certainly make a difference compared to most other speaker cables. Whether that difference will be for the better or for the worse, though, will depend on various characteristics of the particular amplifier that is being used, such as how much feedback it uses, its output impedance, and its bandwidth, and also on the impedance characteristics of the particular speaker, especially the speaker’s impedance at high frequencies. Cable inductance becomes most significant at high frequencies since the impedance presented by an inductance is directly proportional to frequency.

Regards,
-- Al
coldears
76 posts
 
The signal passes through so many different types of metals as it passes through your equipment it’s hard to believe that a cable and its content becomes such a debate. I have heard differences but none substantial enough to justify the cost that some charge. 
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markalarsen's avatar
markalarsen
649 posts
 
IMHO, if you cannot hear the difference between 14 gauge lamp cord and good speaker cables and interconnects, there is something wrong with your equipment or set up. 
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