This cable game is making my head spin

@decooney

I’ll have to look around and see what WireWorld I still have around. I have gone through a purge of the ridiculous pile of expensive cables I was not using.

Long ago I used to take notes… came up with a detailed rating system. Spent hundreds and hundreds of hours evaluating cabling (speaker cables, interconnects, and power cords) in different configurations of components. I learned a lot. I don’t bother any more.

There were a couple things I was surprised at the consistency of across time, one of which has been at the consistent warmth of Cardas. Every time, in every system (this works well in many, many systems) they are warm in comparison to all but notably warm cables. My dealer carries Cardas, and loves them… so he keeps dropping them by for me to try. I recognize everyone has different systems, preferences, and perceptions… so there are lots appropriate observations as there is no real empirical ruler… but this generality of mine has been reinforced repeatedly over decades… so I feel somewhat obligated to say so. Just trying to be helpful to the general community.

I will say that until you get into very highly designed cables the greatest predictor as to the sound character is Copper (a hierarchy of the actual CU quality / character within this category), silver coated copper, hybrid copper/silver wire, all silver… tends to be warm —> cool / detailed. Which it sounds like you are alluding to.

@ghdprentice Thanks for your thoughts and responses.  Actually, I'm referring more to varying levels of cool/warm within higher quality copper ICs. I bailed on silver and silver over copper a few years back. Nice, but not my cup of accentuated tea. Most silvers were not a good match for my last two pairs of tube/mono amps or prior SS amps. Your results may vary of course.  

I've probably wasted a lot of time trying too many over a few decades like you, and learned a lot too. I've done some factory beta version demos for a few MFGs over the years too. Past few years I've come across some occ/ohno cables with non-soldered machine-crimped connections that lean more towards silver sound, and TheCableCo has confirmed similar findings in their knowledge base. Today, I may go back and revisit a few over again.  Probably a waste of time, but it can be fun too. Thanks again for your responses.  👍 

@decooney

Thanks for your response. Yes, it can be fun.

Cool about you zeroing in on the occ/ohno cable. I completely understand your interest. It is really fascinating to zero in on subtle differences in the materials and isolation techniques. I spent a lot of time noting the difference with earlier systems of mine with different formulas of copper. My systems at that time we’re high resolution and mostly solid state. Copper was usually the best solution. As my systems evolved, then silver coated copper struck the right balance.

I have to say that my experience has been that as components get better one can move up on the metal scale. The very best cables I have heard are Nordost Odin 2. Heavy silver. Upper end Nordost are incredible… lower level not so much. The Nordost Odin 2 are just frighteningly good with the right components. But the average cost of my components is $20K and the Odin 2 interconnect $17K… after a week… I had to yank them from my system as they were starting to sound too good.

I guess what I have learned is that you work with and carefully differentiate the materials / technology that works with your current system and close variants. As you move up in the compliment of components to really high end stuff the components require greater neutrality to sound the best. This is why the upper tiers of Transparent, Nordost, and some of the other brands exist. I use almost all Transperant now. I remember connecting a set of Transparent speaker cables (and Straight Wire interconnects) to my system thirty years ago and clasping my hands over my ears in horror… but in my current, much better system… the same interconnects sound great. So, it all depends on your current system.

An update on the situation. I've decided to stick with audio sensibility as I only need one short pair of interconnects and two power cables to complete a full loom. I can then use this as a baseline for any further upgrades. 

As for speaker cables for the time being before deciding if I want to go really big in the future I got a pair of raven audio soniquil cables. Banana plug connectors. Now I can't tell if its the fact that they were replacing dollar a foot classic Belden 9497 speaker cables or that they are just that good but damn I was heartily impressed at $184 for a 6ft pair. Immediate opening up of sound and have gotten better over time now. Not sure if going big on speaker cables is as much of a top priority now lol!

Oh one additional thing I did that had a dramatic improvement was replace the 1980s withered wall receptacle with an orange outlet from home depot. It even said recommended for computer and audio applications on the package which gave me a good chuckle. $9.95 but low and behold there was a noticeable difference. Before there was a slight audible hum within 3 inches of the speaker when everything was turned. I had assumed that was just a casualty of running the all tube preamp and was fine with it as at my listening level its not an issue at all. With the orange outlet now though it is dead quiet. You have to practically dig your ear down into the speaker to hear anything. Not sure if this means lowering the noise floor or something but it sounds better to me so all good!