2. cables
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Have audio cables really improved in last 20 years?

I feel audio components have improved in last 20 years. Better caps, resistors and so on but is there a really a jump in wire production or technology?  I need to buy some more wire. Is it really beneficial to buy new current wire or will older 10 to 20 year old used high end wire be almost as good. I still have my old Acoustic Zen silver ref 2, JPS Superconductor, XLO signature and others and think they sound very good.

paulcreed
czarivey
5,946 posts
 

Not sure about the cables, but advertisement, propaganda and info-wars really did.

williewonka
3,098 posts
 

@grannyring, like myself, is just one of many Audiogon members that has experimented with many different facets of cable design over many years.

  • We investigate the latest claims from various sources
  • We try things for ourselves i.e. if they seem to hold some merit
  • We trust our ears to tell us when something is working - or not
  • We prototype and refine our cable solutions,
  • We learn from our journey

From my perspective, if a company does not reveal the "science" behind their cables then they are not worth considering.

The basic "Cable Science" that should be considered in order to achieve a very good product - as stated in my previous post, is

  1. metlurgy of the wire and gauge
  2. insulation
  3. Cable Geometry
  4. Connector design & implementation

Incorporating the best of these four facets into a cable does not come cheap and the very best cable companies, like those I have mentioned in my previous post, adopt further refinements of those four basic design elements, in order to achieve outstanding levels of performance from their cables, so their cables can get a little pricey.

The next time you are looking to update your cables, see how the company that you are condicering, adresses those 4 basic design elements. If you are unable to discover them in their advertising literature - move on to another company.

Worthwhile cable companies reveal their designs. But you do have to understand some basics - it's just like buying any other component.

Regards - Steve

 

 

 

 

paulcreed OP
566 posts
 

Looks like everybody has different views, I have a couple old Tara Labs The One power cord from long ago just looked it up there still making it. I have JPS Superconductor plus speaker cables and Superconductor 3 speaker cables and interconnects there is a nice difference the JPS 3’s are over 10 rears old, they are now on 4’s. So 4’s must be better right. I have some old Verastarr power cords and some much more current and there is a difference. Have these company’s finally reached a ceiling since some here think there has not much improvement over the years. I can’t help but think one day there is a point there is only so much you can do with wire. 

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