Chinese Cables that sound good
Please share your chinese cable purchases that sounded good, and even horror stories of cables that didn't work out.
People get lured into aliexpress and other sites when the see expensive looking cables that appear very similar to well-known audiophile high-priced units, but at a fraction of the cost.
THIS THREAD IS NOT ABOUT IF ITS RIGHT OR WRONG TO COPY OTHERS' DESIGNS. ITS ABOUT WHICH CABLES SOUND GOOD AND/OR PERFORM WELL.
There are lots of chinese cables to choose from:
- Power cables
- USB cables (separating signal and data)
- Speaker cables
- Interconnects
- HDMI / IIS cables
I've tried a pair of Xansane silver plated copper, braided, speaker cables, to replace generic 12AWG copper that I was using. The pair cost around $230 CAD. It appeared to be made well. However, I didn't notice any difference in the sound of my speakers. 2nd however, I also didn't take notes beforehand or do critical listening...I was just expecting to be blown away somehow but I wasn't. I will be DIY'ing my future cables (power, interconnects, USB, and maybe speaker) using the DIY Helix cable information found on this site (link to thread).
But for now, I want to see what worked for other people.
their interconnects are an abomination. Had some in my cheapo system and waited forever for them to develop any sort of dynamic contrast. Total blandsville. Gave up and replaced with home constructed twin shielded inters using decent off reel cable from local Audio dealer. Sonic relief. |
I'm not a big "cable guy". I tend to buy more based on need - length, flexibility, quality and type of connectors, etc. than as system "upgrades" as I don't notice major differences in sound quality from different cables. BJC speaker cables were however detrimental to sound quality of my system, there was a loss of detail and dynamics. I wouldn't recommend them. Some of their other cables are OK, I have some subwoofer and coax cables that are fine, however their RCA interconnects are also a little lifeless. I don't really care where the cables are made, but I'm not going to buy cables that are intentionally knock-offs of someone else's design. |
I recently terminated a pair of Chinese copies of Kimber 12TC. They are not advertised as Kimber but seem to be a very close copy. In a post here someone wrote that Kimber can tell the difference between its braid and that of a Chinese copy. I'm not sure I can. I'm not sure it would matter. The sonic results are excellent. Of course I cannot swear that the results would be the same if I bought a 2M pair of unterminated Kimber cable at $644. But I would say that if I did and the sonic results were the same I would be satisfied. But then if I bought Kimber cable I'd have them terminated. Terminating these braided cables is a trial. As most "American" cables are made in China these days, including these I believe, I am happy to go to the source. I don't need Kimber to do it for me. |
