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Looking For 90% of the performane of the super expensive cables for much less money

I currently have a system which consists of Vandersteen 5A's, THor Audio TP-150 tubed monoblocks, Thor Line Stage and Thor phono stage, Marantz SACD player SA-114 and will take delivery of the VPI Prime Scout with a Sumiko EVOS 3 Cartridge. I am currently using LAT International Speaker Cables, Power Cords and Interconnects. (They are no longer in business). I am in immediate  need of turntable cables and would like to update my new speaker cables and interconnects. Not willing to spend thousands on this upgrade. Seeking to capture as much of the "magic" that the super expensive cables deliver but at a more realistic price point. I understand that I have really good quality equipment, but at this stage of my life cannot allocate mega dollars towards cables.
 Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 
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geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
How does a cable get outdated? Fair enough question. Let’s see if we can figure this one out, shall we? Let’s count the paradigm shifts to see just how far behind the power curve some people are, shall we?

1. Oxygen free copper 
2. High purity copper 
3. Long crystal copper 
4. Cable geometry optimization
5. High purity silver wire
6. Teflon and air dielectrics 
6. New welding techniques and materials for connectors 
7. Cryogenic treatment of cables
8. Controlled directionality of cables
9. Addition of graphene to cable conductor 
10. Contact enhancers, e.g. silver/gold and graphene 



teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
Don't forget that solidus lattice structures, wire,  (OCC, etc)

Amorphous metals, with different structure.... 

Then liquid metal....

That all three are different in how they handle the delta of the complex physics of electrical function. That the OCC vs amorphous are very close on a 1 to 10 scale, like 1 and 2. Where the liquid is like a 8 or 10 in that scale -- in it's difference and distance from the other two.


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Uh, Teo, you’re not supposed to pump your own products here, you silly goose. I left liquid cables out on purpose to see if you’d react. 😬 I left off carbon cables, too. I could have mentioned lead conductors, fiber optic cables, and I’m reasonably sure I left some other variables out, too, MIT cables, gold tainted silver cables, etc.

pop quiz, what happens when you cryo liquid cables?
fleschler
2,021 posts
 
A $50,000 mousetrap is overkill.  It could be better but not 200-300% better than existing methods to kill mice.  In audio reproduction, $50,000 to obtain 200-300% better sound is wildly appreciated if it can be done.  As of now, I haven't heard a high end system which can improve that much for $50,000 unless it could be the Masterbuilt cables of $400,000 replaced with $50,000 in cables.  That is reverse of what mousetrap analogy is.  Then the best system I heard would be only $1,050,000.  I still couldn't afford it.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Sorry, I’m not impressed. I’m sure I’ve heard much better systems than you have. And the cables were nothing special. Do you think these hands have been soaking in Ivory Liquid? It actually sounds like you might have accidentally fallen in with some kind of cult. 😛 Also, the very best mouse trap is a block of wood and a hammer. Works every time! 100%.
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