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Why Do Cables Matter?

To me, all you need is low L, C, and R. I run Mogami W3104 bi-wire from my McIntosh MAC7200 to my Martin Logan Theos. We all know that a chain is only as strong as its' weakest link - so I am honestly confused by all this cable discussion. 

What kind of wiring goes from the transistor or tube to the amplifier speaker binding post inside the amplifier? It is usually plain old 16 ga or 14 ga copper. Then we are supposed to install 5 - 10' or so of wallet-emptying, pipe-sized pure CU or AG with "special configurations" to the speaker terminals?

What kind of wiring is inside the speaker from the terminals to the crossover, and from the crossover to the drivers? Usually plain old 16 ga or 14 ga copper.

So you have "weak links" inside the amplifier, and inside the speaker, so why bother with mega expensive cabling between the two? It doesn't make logical sense to me. It makes more sense to match the quality of your speaker wires with the existing wires in the signal path [inside the amplifier and inside the speaker].

 

 

kinarow1
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donavabdear's avatar
donavabdear
509 posts
 

@rodman99999
So your educated answer is, deflection.
Everyone understands there could be an unquantifiable aspect of cables that helps sound systems sound better. In engineering, physics and math you look at an extreme example like the worlds most sophisticated machine or the most sophisticated audio testing or an extreme example like DNA scanners. If the fidelity of the signal changed when using normal quality AC cables then these machines wouldn’t use them as you surely know these machines couldn’t work if the quality of the AC cable allowed infidelity.

Engineers at a company that flashes Tin molecules with light to use the vapor as a reflection to cut 3nm semiconductors on a half a billion $ machine could use MIT AC cables if it somehow made a difference in the accuracy and fidelity of the signal.

I just saw your post about the NASA cable, thank you I’ll read it soon. I genuinely appreciate it. Best

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cleeds
6,014 posts
 
donavabdear

So your educated answer is, deflection.

Nope. We just have users relaying empirical evidence. That’s pretty much the whole purpose of this forum.

donavabdear's avatar
donavabdear
509 posts
 

@rodman99999 I read your link to Home Audio. It was great and reiterated many of my frustrations with the audio cable industry. Home run! I would buy some of this cable.

This site answered my questions, I don't have anything more to ask.

Thank you!

ossicle2brain's avatar
ossicle2brain
129 posts
 

I’m a cable skeptic. Especially speaker cables. As long as they aren’t 20 gauge or something like that. But I am open minded. It could be that I just don’t know any better. That happened once before. Just once though.

I also suspect that most of it is psycho acoustics and doing an A B test is difficult because changing cables takes some time.

So my stupid question is this. What about just putting the "better, new, trial" cable on one channel, the old one on the other and then compare left / right with a mono source. For good measure switch sides after a while. Presumably the difference should be more readily heard.

I ask because right now I just have 12 g plain speaker wire. And perhaps relevant is that I’m using Magnepan LRS speakers that need a bit of current.  Oh and plain wire connection, no bananas.  

And the same thing for the phono to pre cables etc.  Just try one side first?

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