Why not?


I have always wondered why if better cables produce better sound, as appears to be the consensus, I am not aware of any manufacturer that provides an aftermarket quality power cable with their product. If I am wrong please tell me. There may be instances I am not familiar with.

Wouldn't they be in the best position to test or design the optimum cable for their component? Wouldn't it be a great marketing angle to say to the customer does not need to worry or fret about selecting this expensive accessory.

"We know these cables show off our component to best effect and there is not question of listener bias or self interested market hype. We offer you the best cable to use with our components." 

They could make it optional if they wanted to remain price competitive. This same thinking applies to interconnects, especially with manufacturers who make multiple interconnected components. I pose these questions in all sincerity, not particularly wishing to stir the cable controversy pot. But because it is precisely the absence of this practice that most makes me doubt the objective superiority of the whole cable enterprise.

Mostly I would like to know if I am wrong and there are some examples of manufacturers who either include, offer or recommend specific power, interconnect and speaker cable for their products. Thanks community members for offering a place to ask this question that keeps gnawing at me.

Ag insider logo xs@2xbruce19

1) AQUA includes a decent power cable with Hubbell style terminations.

2) The dealer channel would prefer manufacturers not include upmarket power cords as that is a significant profit center for the dealer.

If I may @ghdprentice  you commented earlier on that this problem had occurred to you as well. You have spent a lot more time and money than me in the pursuit of sonic excellence and I think you said in another thread that you had been in the tech industry. Given your experience, doesn't it seem to you there could be a better way to help people shop for cables than our current situation?  It is very daunting to any newcomer or even those more experienced but time and budget limited. Industry pundits bemoan the lack of new blood entering hi-fi. Certainly the cable market is a part of the impediments to feeling like you know what you are doing. 

@lalitk  and @soix  Perfectly fine to disagree, honestly. I don't think anybody would force you to buy cables you don't want and I don't think this thread was aimed at those with your extensive knowledge of the subject. It is for people like me who struggle with the whole cable thing and would like some help or who want to make the system better. However, our hobby occasionally is criticized for being elitist and snobby and that is also something worth thinking about.

And lastly, "Cable denier" is an interesting term @thyname , I assume you weren't referring to me because I indicated earlier I am agnostic at this point. I would accept the label of "cable rationalist" however because I would dearly like a reasoned way to find the best most affordable cables for my systems without having to bump around at random wasting time and money.

 

“Cable denier “ is a term attached to people who declare (and for some reason pollute all audio forums) cables do NOT matter without even trying them. I hope this helps. Best regards

Which Cardas or Kimber cables did you try Sherlock Holmes that did not make any difference? And on what?

@thyname
My dear @Watson)

The tone of your post makes it look like you are invested in the idea of power cables, and I trust the manufacturers to make their power supplies robust enough not to require special power cables.

I have not tried either of those power cables on the Nagra front end gear, nor on the Audible Illusions Modulus preamp.

If I found one to try I would be open to that, but I am pretty happy with the sound.

And in reality there is no way that the power cord is going to make it sing. If I was going to piss away that kind of money, I would be more likely to just go for the Nagra battery pack and not run any power cord into the Nagra gear.

The power supply supplies 12V, so unless I can see some smoother 12V, I am not likely to be swayed by well crafted creative writing.
But I would be open to trying it if it were readily available.

I would be even more likely to try these things if they showed the power supply voltage being more stable with their special cable than without it. But without some evidence, it devolves into the world of prose.