has anyone tried chinese cables?


Some of the cables on Ali Express, for example, look nice.  Of course, things like "Odin 2" cables for a few hundred dollars aren't legit, and the number of Cardas copies are legendary.  That doesn't necessarily mean they all suck.  They probably aren't all trademark-infringing ripoffs.  Lots of good hifi products are made in China, and those factories need to stay busy.  Asking if anyone has actually tried them; there's no way to tell visually what lies inside the insulation, or whether occ 7n copper really is only 6n. 
128x128lloydc

Chinese cable =/=bad

I bought Accuphase 40th anniversary cables (power for my amplifier, RCA interconnect, speaker) from China.
Very good cables for my system (VMV DAC - Kinki Studio EX-M1+ amp. - Focal electra 1038BE)
The sound is in a word: "natural". Good soundstage, good details, very good bass etc.
The sound is not tiring. You can be listened to for any length of time.


Are these fake cables? I don't know but the build quality of cables is perfect and these are very good for my system.

Are these fake cables?

They are absolutely NOT original Accuphase cables. Guarantee you that. Now... "fake" is a bit harsh 😁. I'd call them "replica" 😂

 

Agreed with thyname "ghent" is a great vender.Have several dealing with him and no booger's here.He will work with you to look for something as well if you dont see it on his site.

@lloydc - having been involved in DIY cable construction over the past 10 years, here are some basic things I have found makes a signficant difference

  1. Cable Geometry i.e. how the wires are positioned within the cable
    • e.g. Braiding is an exapmple of a cable Geometry
    • the more advanced the Geometry, the lower the noise floor of the cable
  2. Metalurgy i.e. what the wire is made of
    • e.g. OFC Copper, UP-OCC copper, Silver, and UP-OCC silver
    • The better the metal, the faster the dynamic performance
  3. Type of Insulation
    • each insulation has a specific Dielectric Constant e.g.
      • A Vacuum - Dk = 1.0
      • Air is 1.1 = Dk = 1.1
      • Cotton or Silk - Dk = 1.3
      • Foamed Teflon - DK = 1.45
      • Teflon - Dk = 1.2
    • a HIGHER the value of Dk - results in more distortions being "injected" into the signal carried by that piece of wire
    • Lower Dk values result in
      • improved clarity
      • significantly improved micro details
      • ​​​​​​​more expansive and detailed image
  4. ​​​​​​​Connectors
    • ​​​​​​​I prefer silver plated pur copper connectors - they provide
    • faster dynamic performance
    • more details
    • improved clarity

So armed with that inforamtion a person can assess how well ANY cable will perform

  • from any country
  • provided the brand/cable you are looking at makes the information known in theri advertizing literature.

Some Companies that use the above techniques include

  • Zavfino - they make excellent cables that start at a reasonable price
  • In-Akustik - very good cables with a very interesting geometry, but a little more expensive
  • HIJIRI - rated by Audiogon members as being one of the very best available today and again, even more expensive, but not outrageous.
  • But there many other brands that also use TOTL materials in theri construction

 

Hope That Helps - Steve

@williewonka 

thanks for the detailed analysis; I agree with it, for the most part.  Would add that the construction methods and skill also matter.
 

But, if cable materials and construction were the whole story, there would be far fewer cable deniers.  It seems strange that some people who can not hear the differences seek to project their disability onto others.  Haven’t we all, at some point, at least compared zip cord to something more exotic?  

Even for Chinese manufacturers who try to describe their cables, it can be difficult to understand what they are trying to say. 

I went ahead and bought some Viborg “pure silver” interconnects, which seem to me to be excellent, and a relative bargain (the $350 ones, not their $2100 versions).  Also some Viborg power plugs for dyi power cords, which I am convinced  are at least as good as the best Furutech or Oyaide, at 1/5 the cost.  Some of the top boutique cables use them.  MPS makes some outstanding cables too, under their own name.


It’s an interesting question whether any IP is being infringed by, say, Chinese “Odin” cables.  TM infringement requires a “likelihood of confusion as to source”, etc. But no audiophile would likely be fooled or confused, if they knew where the cables came from, or what the real thing really looks like, or costs.  Secondary market, maybe so, though. But lawsuits would be very expensive and are unlikely to be very helpful. 
 

I am curious about the Audioquest asian copies.  I believe they can more or less duplicate the design and construction, but not the wire itself or outstanding construction quality.  Could still be a relatively good buy.