Have you ever bought something you've never heard of?

I often research a product until it's discontinued.    I have bought without auditioning or seeing in person , but never something I've never heard of. 

That's why these forums are a valuable resource.   I can see maybe with cables that don't break the bank but buying an unknown is a no go for me. 

@oddiofyl I did some research on the cable, but only found a few mentions of it on this forum (they were positive).  I liked the manufacturer's description of the cable which was based more on physics that geometries or silver composition, etc.  I would never do that with anything expensive, but I rolled the dice on this one.  It paid off this time.  I actually ordered a second cable from a UK seller on eBay.  It was $213 shipped for a 1.5M length.  

I listened to my cd player yesterday evening instead of streaming.  I hadn't done that for months.  

Nice. I’ve have been spinning discs a lot lately. I find that the original CD almost always is better than a remaster. I think most of the streaming content is remastered and there’s no way around it.

I try to avoid the cable controversy but if you find a great cable at a good price then only you can measure the value

My last few cables have been from the same manufacturer because I think they are a great value proposition

Raven power cables: well-constructed, great connectors, attractive and sturdy.

Sometimes you gotta gamble when getting into niche brands. I’ve honestly never bought any of my gear by hearing it first at a dealer. I just researched to see if the gear is compatible and used forums to understand the sound. From my table to my speakers all have worked out and sounded impressive. Never once regretted any purchase I’ve made.