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Raven Audio Soniquil Cables: Misrepresented Build & Tarnishing Connectors?

I bought a pair of Raven Audio Soniquil speaker cables a few years back. The connectors broke fairly quickly, and I finally got around to repairing them last week. I was disappointed to discover that Raven Audio is misrepresenting how the cables are manufactured. 

The website states that the connectors are soldered to the wire.

 

However, the connectors on my cables are not soldered. They're just set-screw banana plugs. 

 

 

I tried reaching out to Raven Audio for an explanation, but they haven't responded. Now I can't say with confidence that I personally could tell a difference in quality due to this issue, but I didn't like that the product is misrepresented.

 

Additionally, even though these connectors are supposed to be rhodium-plated, they appear to be tarnishing. Here's an image that shows the difference between the part that was exposed to air, and the part that was covered by heat shrink tubing. Does anyone know if this type of discoloration is to be expected with rhodium plated plugs, or is Raven Audio misrepresenting the metals used as well?

 

I'm guessing this might just be a case of "you get what you pay for" but I'd love to hear if anyone has had a different experience with these cables. Has anyone received a pair that actually was soldered? 

noryx
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,569 posts
 

Raven uses connectors made by an outside supplier. Just make Raven aware of it, as you are trying, and they will most likely send you replacement ones for free. They may even offer to replace for you. The connector supplier at that time most likely had a production issue unknown to Raven.

Screw on connectors can and do sound great as copper sounds better than solder 🙂. Raven may just have missed the “solder” copy on the site and just needs to update. I am assuming the best of Raven at this point until they earn a different approach. Good luck.

12many
288 posts
 

If I had to guess, I would say that Raven outsources these to a third party to be manufactured.  The third-party likely cut corners to increase profit and Raven did not spot check the delivered cables as part of QA best practices.  It would be interesting to know where the cables were made and who actually made the cables.  

devinplombier
376 posts
 

Pretty interesting how some folks are making all kinds of excuses for a manufacturer that, until proven otherwise, misrepresents its products.

Maybe soon it's gonna be OP's fault.

 

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,569 posts
 

I have learned that assuming the worst is not the most productive way to resolve business or relational issues. However, please know I found  your post rather funny!

macg19
965 posts
 

@devinplombier 

Pretty interesting how some folks are making all kinds of excuses for a manufacturer that, until proven otherwise, misrepresents its products.

Here in the USA, folks are innocent until proven guilty. I based my favorable comments based on my actual experience with the Company purchasing a $5K amp + various cables. 

Maybe soon it's gonna be OP's fault.

That is funny.

OP, have you called them or just emailed? If not, I'd call them. They are a small company and the main guys also run other businesses.

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