DO CABLES REALLY MATTER?

prof wrote,

“The first is that, whatever amazing detail you EVER get through the most expensive, best audiophile cables you can buy - all that will ever tell you is about the sound quality that was passed along a large number of non-audiophile cabling to make that source (in the vast majority of recordings).”

Well, that argument actually misses the point. On several levels. Nobody says you can’t also improve upon whatever other wiring and cabling is in the system. Obviously you can’t improve whatever damage has already been done in the studio. Although most good studios probably take much care with everything including cables. Let’s call that a constant. You can only do what you can do. No reason to go crazy. It’s important to keep in mind there’s no Absolute of sound, everything is relative. But there is much that can be done on the home front. You’re either on the bus 🚌 or off the bus. That’s why some, perhaps many, audiophiles go to the trouble to upgrade internal speaker wiring including crossover network wiring, internal amplifier wiring, etc. It is also worth ensuring ALL wires and cables are in the correct direction, you, know, if one wants to go all the way. Interconnects, speaker cables, power cord wires, fuses. After all, we’re 99% sure directionality is real. Aren’t we? 😳

prof also wrote,

“Every time someone puts $10,000 of new Nordost cable or whatever in to their system and gasps at the soundstage information, glorious amounts of subtle, organic detail, realism of the highs etc, they are gasping at the sound quality sent through numerous run-of-the-mill cables that were likely used in making that recording.”

>>>>>Obviously, as one upgrades various links in the system certain improvements should be heard. But there’s no guarantee. And not everyone thinks Nordost cables are AMAZING sounding. It all depends quite a bit depending on a number of factors. I suspect you’re using this somewhat outrageous example, off the top of your head, not experience, you’re just guessing, for effect mostly as folks have rather differing opinions of Nordost cables. Nice try though. Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

Naysayers + their objections =  ad nauseam

Oxygen free copper cable is very difficult to better. In fact any copper cable is difficult to beat.

Solid core, silver plated, directionality all seem to make no difference to me. In fact I recall a demonstration by QED at a Hi-Fi show in London where they attempted to reveal the differences between < £1, £5 and £25 per metre cable through a well respected Arcam system. Almost everyone agreed that the only sonic difference heard was between the bell wire and the £5 (Silver Anniversary) cable.

It was difficult to be sure that the £25 cable wasn't making things worse as it certainly didn't make them better. 

It's worth bearing in mind that a good hypnotist could have easily had most of us believing that the bell wire was superior to the £25 cable AND vice versa.

Audiophiles are not particularly known for their resistance to suggestibility. That usually only comes, if it ever comes, from bitter experiences after many years. 

It's also a good rule of thumb that if something isn't immediately and obviously better, it ain't. You should never ever have to strain to hear improvements. Its a crime against nature.

Good points. Unfortunately they only reinforce my position that demos, tests, shoot-outs, blind tests, etc. are unreliable especially if the results are NEGATIVE. And it doesn’t matter if the tests/demos/shoot-outs are fast, slow, over the course of hours or days, or whatever. They are still unreliable. Otherwise any group of all thumbs hearing challenged pseudo skeptics would be the arbiters of sound, which they actually aren’t. And while it’s a shame you personally aren’t able to distinguish certain differences in wire, direction, etc. those results should not be extrapolated to generalize about anyone else.

+1 prof! Thank you again for your cogent thoughtful response!