2. cables
  3. 186342-457

WHY CABLES MATTER!

I have seen the argument over and over again on why cables matter and the that wire is just wire and how scientifically it’s impossible for them to make a difference. The thing that surprises me the most is that different materials are used. Different shielding is used. Different connectors are used. Different braiding methods of the cables are used. Materials are sourced from different manufacturers and put through different creative processes but I always get some guy who comes on and says. WIRE IS WIRE AND YOU ARE NOT HEARING WHAT YOU ARE HEARING? To me it’s pure arrogance to think you know more than everybody else to the point where you tell me what we are hearing through my ears and we are not smart enough to know when are minds are playing trick on us. But using all these different materials, process and shielding and creative processes don’t make a difference. I spent the last 15 years trying all the cables I could try.  Thoughts anyone?

calvinj
audioman2015
103 posts
 

After using authentic OCC copper or silver cables, I will not buy or use anything else.  The clarity, dyamics, timing, all improved over ofc cables which have significant grain boundaries.  I would say for me the difference was night and day.  

asctim
493 posts
 

I bought silver cables once and heard a night and day difference - until I blind tested myself. It absolutely blew my mind that the difference I perceived vanished  just by me not knowing which cable I was listening to. After that, it no longer mattered if I knew. I had broken the spell. 

I'm not saying that your silver cables aren't making a real difference. I'm just saying that a real night and day perceptual difference can happen because of sighted bias. Maybe it's better if you don't know...

asctim
493 posts
 

What I want is a cable that minimizes inter-aural crosstalk. Polk Audio has a cable like that going between their speakers in their flagship SDA line. I'm someone who notices the center image frequency response dip caused at each ear by the interference from the speakers. People talk about coherency, but there's nothing coherent about 2 tweeters 8 feet apart trying to play the same sound. It starts to comb filter at each ear typically around 2k, and that's not where I want to hear a very strong and immediate phase interference cancellation. This dip is well within the audible range, yet few complain about it. They hear issues with different cables loud and clear, but that dip doesn't "phase" them. We all focus on different aspects of the sound. My ears are easy to satisfy when it comes to cables, but a little more difficult to satisfy when it comes to 2 channel stereo playback. 

Ag insider logo xs@2x
cleeds
5,960 posts
 
mrskeptic

I have spent a large part of my life (sadly) participating in organized religion with people who have the same mentality as people who say cables matter. Lots of faith, no actual proof. Get back to us when there is some actual blind testing to validate your opinion.

It looks like you've found your own religion. I don't think many users here are interested in submitting blind test results to measurementalists, so you may be in the wrong place.

mitch2
4,007 posts
 

I don't think many users here are interested in submitting blind test results 

au contraire - I would enjoy reading the results of controlled blind listening tests involving golden ear'ed listeners comparing popular contenders from the upper, middle, and more pedestrian cable lines. 

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