2. cables
  3. 179634-87782

How good does my system have to be to realize an improvement with cables?

I've heard the difference power cables and interconnect cables in a highly resolving system so that's not the question.  $200 for cables  on a $500 DAC doesn't make sense to me.  Wouldn't that $200 be better spent on a better component?  At what point is an expensive cable the best choice?  Spending $500 on a $15,000 DAC does make sense as the transparency and resolution of the component could be better realized with a better signal / power source.

My question is what's the  percentage of the overall component's cost should be the cabling and at what point should it even be considered?

Or put a different way How would you know if your cables are your weakest link?

 

128x128danager
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

I am totally “out experienced” here.
I probably only have 40 hours all in, with determining what to get, ordering it, physically making the cables, and the time I needed to work to get the funds… but I figured if the studios that are recording and mixing are using Mogami and Cardas by the kilometer(s), then if I use the same I should not loosing a  lot… Any loss would already be gone before I got the album.

However most of those studios are probably on XLR now, so maybe consider selling you gear and getting the XLR based gear, which is less fussy with cables.

 

 

tablejockey
3,923 posts
 

danager-the smartest, most cost-effective way to address your concern is to enjoy listening to music and stay away from audio forums.

danager's avatar
danager OP
957 posts
 

@tablejockey +1 to that.  Where were you when I started this thing?  For every minor change I have hours and hours of research. The good part is that I can listen while I study.

 

holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 

@tablejockey +1 (very wise and sage advice there.)

if it sounds good, then the “fear of Missing Out” (FOMO) is mostly coming from reading the forum.
So if it sounds good, then just enjoy it.

tmccarthy's avatar
tmccarthy
31 posts
 

FWIW, the best cables I've found for my system are Anticables. The speaker cables in particular made a dramatic difference over my previous Blue Jean Canares. Interconnects are also excellent. The Level 3 cables, which I use, were a very reasonable $350 for the speakers and $200 for interconnects. Levels 1 and 2 are even more affordable.

More to discover