Do Costly XLR Cables Make A Difference?

Hi @ryder

I’m skeptical. No, not a "cable skeptic", as I have spent significantly more money on cables than any true skeptics ever would, and believe that they can indeed make noticeable differences. But I am also a strong believer in diminishing returns, and am skeptical that a very expensive XLR could be significantly better than an expensive one, assuming that the materials and build quality of both were what one should expect for the price levels that you mentioned.

I suppose that if one cable employed silver, or silver and copper, while the other was pure copper, there could possibly be some difference in SQ, but that would be more a function of basic design, and not necessarily cost.

Like you, I don’t A/B in the classic sense, mainly because it would be extremely difficult and expensive to do so. But like most audiophiles, I have listened to a variety of cables for extended periods of time on my own system, and with music that I am very familiar with. I don’t consider confirmation or expectation bias to be significant factosr, as there have been instances in which I really would have liked to have preferred a recent acquisition, but found the opposite.

Over the past ~20 years I have used Audience cables more than any other, and, after a couple of fairly recent "grass is greener" forays into other brands, have returned to the fold. I use Au24SX speaker cables, and Au24SE XLRs, both of which were purchased used. The SX was the previous top Audience model, and the SE were one step below. So, would a pair of Au24SX XLRs make a difference? Or a pair of their current top model, the Front Row?

I don’t know the answer to those questions, but I am skeptical that any differences would be significant. I say that partly because when it comes to cables, I believe that even well-established companies with products made with good materials and based on good design principles typically feel compelled to create model hierarchies, with the top-end, of course, being targeted to those who can afford to spend serious money in a quest to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of their systems. So I assume that the differences between the top models, and those a step below, are very likely to be small, if they even exist!

My two cents.

I do not know what you are currently using but here are some points of consideration. At your price range you can check some cables from Acoustic Revive (triple c reference or absolute) Furutech (nano flux pcocc), Acrolinc (mexcel ducc), even though some of them are near or out of your budget. That's where i would look, for the best copper around. Since this territory is costly i would suggest to try before you buy and probably check the possibility of using the entire cabling from one manufacturer, it will be less costly in the long run.

In brief; it depends entirely on the build and performance,,( and intuitively a matched price point …) of your bespoke system as a whole. Synergy of the WHOLE system matters.

In detail: it depends on whether you have the top-tier strata high-end electronics with the requisite resolution, slam, and dynamics, actually worthy of the new high-end cables performance capabilities to do their thing.

Plunking in a high-end cable in a budget or a middlin’ strata equipment system is a recipe for disappointment and a predictable poor choice. The analogy would be say …putting on high-end MICHELIN PILOT SUPER SPORT high-performance tires worthy of a JAG or VETTE on your Honda Civic….…they just won’t work to improve your ride as hoped for ,…full stop.

My experience: When I upgraded my system to a 5-figure digital source and stablemate 5-figure integrated amp… then presto …. Yes …. upgrading from $250 supplied cables to NORDOST FREY XLRs first , and then ultimately further uogrsde to CARDAS CLEAR XLRs was a sequential step and immediate audio performance improvement that was not subtle.

In addition to the now added audio performance resolution, slam, and dynamics full capabilities revealed in the electronics, the occasional annoying sibilants and any digital “edge” was removed.

NOTE: they are NOT tone controls to introduce any kind of new coloration slant to the audio performance.The CARDAS CLEARs are a neutral keeper for me.

I have never used XLR cables.  But in another thread I gave my recollection of what the person I consider the subject matter expert had to say.  Quoting myself:

According to Ralph (Atmasphere), if both components use true balanced architecture, there is minimal benefit in using uber expensive balanced interconnects.  Ralph, if I have misinterpreted the above feel free to correct me.

And in the same thread @gdnrbob added:

Though I might have read it wrong, I believe Ralph's (Atmasphere) belief in using equipment that adheres to the AES standard is that it minimizes cable artifacts (sound differences). Given that recording studios use such equipment, and their cables can stretch of long distances, it makes sense to use it.

So, if your equipment follows the AES standard, then XLR cables will/should not 'color' the sound as much as RCA cables. (And, from my limited experience moving between Mogami and AQ, there was very little difference in sound quality).

The key issue, again according to others with professional experience, is whether or not your equipment adheres to the true AES standard, versus just having balanced connectors.