It seems to me, since most of the issues higher end cables claim to address are ostensibly minimized and handled better by the design, tech, build quality etc. of more expensive, higher end equipment, cables will affect higher end systems less than less well made (cheaper) systems.
Can hi-end cables benefit less expensive electronics?
Some time ago, there was a guy on a Polish hi-end forum claiming that in his case it was better to buy some hi-end power chord than investing in a more expensive CD player. Has anybody had an experience where they invested in an expensive cable and felt the investment justified without upgrading the unit utilising the cable? Overall, would there possibly be any point in buying some expensive cable to feed electronics nearly the cost of the cable itself? I'm currently using a KT88 amplifier with a Metronome CD8 (which is also used as DAC) plus Metronome DSS as the streamer (transport only). Speakers: Franco Serblin Accords. In my case, an upgrade in electronics would involve spending at least USD 15,000 to make it sensible. But I can also spend much less and buy a Transparent XL Digital cable to replace my DIY cable that I currently use, at a much smaller expense. Is a high-end digital cable in some cases able to make it a worthwhile investment in a setup which is not top hi-end? I can afford the Transparent XL digital cable, but not necessarily any upgrade to the electronics I own. Has anybody experienced an improvement with an expensive cable even if the rest of the system would rather call for a less expensive one? When I wrote to Transparent about it, they said I should get advice from my dealer. Cable naysayers please do not comment. Also I'm not looking for cheaper alternatives to the Transparent XL. Just fancying buying a cable that many people say is an excellent cable. Of course, I do not expect the same improvement with this cable as with a full DCS Vivaldi setup, but am I likely to get an improvement, considering that the system is balanced and nothing really bothers me in it? Or should I absolutely get a cheaper cable because the more expensive one is bound to make things worse?
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every audio product class has low end, mid-end and high-end designs, including cables. even with my decades long design and test experience, is very hard for me to provide opinion on "to do or not” for cable replacement move, without specifics provided. I found excellence in SQ/performance of “some cables” from 80s, at very low price, beating many current “better” x100 exp. ones. |
@megabyte …”cables will affect higher end systems less than less well made (cheaper) systems”
Yes that sounds logical, but the reality is generally the opposite. The better (higher resolving, more carefully voiced) the more difference cables make. High end equipment is like very high quality scientific instruments, susceptible to more subtle differences. |
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- 119 posts total