@whipsaw
“… Don’t be fooled by Shaw’s poorly informed opinion.…”
Hmmm … not so sir ! That’s a personal experiences exaggeration bias IMO at face value . Here’s why it can be challenged .
No quarrel on the merits of your good AUDIENCE cables that work in YOUR bespoke system … You make a good and valid point in your post about your direct experience that is contrary to Alan Shaw’s published opinion, And yes, I am very aware of the many strengths of your AUDIENCE cables …I’ve auditioned them myself too and concur that they can be very good and a good value.
BUT ….AND ITS A BIG “BUT”… here is the polar opposite from personal experiences.
My upgrade from a flat thin ribbon design, with many individually wrapped and very thin ( think 24 or 28 gauge ..can’t remember which ) ferrules in the Ag coated over Cu NOROST FREY speaker cables to the very much thicker mass and diameter and patented Golden Ratio Litz copper CARDAS CLEAR REFLECTION cables in MY system (emphasis added ) was a clear, unambiguous and graphic similar performance improvement parroting EXACTLY what Shaw published about “exotic” speaker material is elusive and a “ more metal is better ‘ approach may be be a better option to evaluate. The audio performance improvement with the fat and thick diameter CCRs was not subtle… full stop. Go figger… in my case, he was right on in helping me upgrade …. Who knew?
I fully concur that there is no one-size-fits-all recommendation in this and ANY other post ( there are no absolutes…) . But to characterize his position in the extreme as one to avoid being fooled is patently wrong IMO, sir.
For the record, I concur with you among others, that his other published agnosticism view on high end amps running his speakers is a sharp polar opposite to my direct experiences and readings. My HARBETHs are miles better driven with my REGA OSIRIS integrated amp than my ARCAM amp in my “B” system. Hence I don’t drink his KoolAid on amps, but his pontification on speaker cables seems to have support that is not hearsay to me.( and other forum readers)
MY TAKE
the OP can ( and should) weigh the valid merits of ALL opinions . and preferably do a direct bakeoff of competing alternatives to hopefully separate the contenders from the pretenders . It’s never a restricted binary choice and Again there are no absolutes in general.
yet It’s still noteworthy that Shaw’s position is either having cajonas the size of church bells for pushing false narratives like Trump….or …. He may have experiences supporting a valid point to ponder depending on one’s bespoke system with synergies ( or lack of );
My TAKEAWAY
With respect, the quote below kinda summarizes our vastly differing experiences vis a vis Alan Shaw
“… “There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently.”
- Robert Evans.
