Cryogenically treated cables

Cryogenic treatment of steel for mechanical properties and thermal properties is well understood, and applies to other metals, though they typically do not have the significant changes that steel does.


Some of the properties that are stated for steel after cryogenic treatment, i.e. transformers, are not as well accepted, at least whether the cost justifies the improvement or if it can be accomplished by other means. Even small improvements in electrical transmission efficiency can justify fairly significant equipment cost increases, at least for transformers.


We do know that cryogenic treatment of copper does increase the conductivity, depending on the initial copper quality and processing method, from 2-4%. That would of course be the same as increasing the cross-section 2-4%, or in the case of high frequencies, increasing surface area 2-4%.

If a cable vendor has a very specific construction, that they claim has some specific impedance control, whether we believe that is effective or not at audio frequencies, then cryogenic treatment of those cables is going "break" that design by changing the properties of the conductors.

The corollary is that all those implied "impedance controls" don’t really do anything at audio frequencies at least if cryo-treating the copper always has a positive effect ..... well that or the cryo-treatment provides no audible benefits.

millercarbon1,879 posts11-04-2019 1:26amCryo is another one of those things that have been around and known to work for a very long time now, and yet still it goes on on an the people who haven’t yet learned. My first cryo was brake rotors on my 911. They modulate better at threshold, respond more consistency at temp, and last a lot longer compared to identical factory non-cry rotors.

Which is interesting because when I went looking for someone local to try cryo with my stereo the closest one turned out to be a shifter kart racer who me being a PCA track Instructor we hit it off and he told me all about his business.

Sorry if I’m being too harsh but that last post is mostly pure speculation. The history of cryogenics for audio is long and colorful and well documented. There’s no reason to be so skeptical and reactionary. Heck, I broke three Laws of Physics today already and it’s not even lunchtime.

Skepticism is a basis for advancement.

Feel free to point out what specifically as "jibber jabber". Your post is jibber jabber. You are trying to dismiss my arguments out of hand, but you cannot even address them. Why is it that you cannot actually address my arguments? Is it that you cannot? That makes your post text-book jibber-jabber.


I am neither skeptical nor reactionary. Again, based on your last post (and others before), I would say you are projecting your own emotional mindset on me. Addressing my arguments would go a long way to prove I am not right. So have at it ... address my arguments.

What you call skepticism, I call reality. Given the number of industries and scientific endeavours that require signal transmission properties far stricter than audio, surely there must be a body of work discussing the benefits of cryogenic treatment of cables for signal transmission?

You like quotes, here is one for you:

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”

– Mark Twain

geoffkait17,964 posts11-04-2019 10:38amSorry if I’m being too harsh but that last positive a whole lotta jibber jabber. If you don’t know just say you don’t know. There’s no reason to be so skeptical and reactionary. There is no basis whatsoever for your speculation except you skepticism. No offense to you personally.

“It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.”

– Mark Twain

Hold on, geoffkait likes to use that one. He is getting a copyright on all the quotes he can find. Quotes by other people, I mean. His were rejected by the ethics committee.