Cable Costs Relative to System

This tread is incredible. It has continued for five years despite all of the sound empirical evidence available, most importantly double blind testing. If we’d only take a little time and do a little research, this thread wouldn’t exist, and the mudslinging would cease. We have so much information at our fingertips on the internet, but we persist with our subjectivism and wallow in silly pseudo-science. Ignorance is bliss.

If a cable makes a significant audible difference it must be altering the signal. The principal of Hi-fi means delivering the signal as purely and unaltered as possible—simple copper zip cord does this very well. If ordinary zip cord is "harsh" and some other special mega-buck cable "smooth," what’s the "smooth" cable doing to the original signal? Let’s not confuse what sounds pleasant to our ears from what is actually faithful to the original. We like junk food because it tastes pleasant; it looks and feels more ‘perfect,’ not because it’s more pure, natural, and faithful to the original. (Some people really do prefer chicken nuggets to a simple roasted chicken.)

Here are a few links to read that provide scientifically validated evidence both theoretical and practical. If you wish to remain in the fantasy world of cable geometry, ceramic elevators, and frivolous fairy dust wizardry, keep your bliss—don’t read them.

http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/audioprinciples/interconnects/Audio-Cable-Vendor.html

http://www.ethanwiner.com/audiophoolery.html

http://www.verber.com/mark/ce/cables.html

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/spkcbl_e.html

http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/apcable/apcrit.html

Well, that's maybe why the Anti-cables are winning out in so many systems.

Ojgalli,

There is a lot of science behind the claims made on the links you quoted. The problem is that science is not always trusted and fear of missing out on a potential performance improvement continues to drive people to try things.

Another thing not mentioned in these links is that some audio gear is very much more susceptible to cables than others. For example, the principle of a high input impedance and a low output impedance is desirable for audio components...this minimizes the effect of a coupling cable (often to a point of being audibly negligible when sufficiently high contrasts are employed)

However, not all audio components are designed according to these principles.

"If a cable makes a significant audible difference it must be altering the signal" said Ojgalli, among other tings.

Yes, and what ? Sophisme.
That only means that there are almost perfect (not alterning signal cables), and others which do alterate, more or less).

For myself, I have just tested different cables with the same outfit :

1) ok, the most expensive cables are not always the best ones, for sure - it's not a rule...like for everything !
It can even happen to be the opposite, sometimes - but not as often as I wish !
But the best are always among the expensive ones.

2) but there are important differences between less expensive and most expensive cables.
The average of the upper ones is much above the under ones.

3)Never forget, beyond that, that among each category, the active outfit is decisive.

NB It's the story of the half-full or half-empty glass, as truth, absolute, are never reached or measurable, objective.
A half-empty glass mind just says : cable is nothing, it has to be good, and it's ok, really nothing more;
a half-full glass mind says : cable is very important.
It's very difficult to make one which is reliable and don't pollute the sound.
Long, hard research, which has its prize.

A good cord is a good cord. They may or may not do what your looking for but that just makes it a good cord which doesn't meet your tastes. There are allot of good cords that sound different but are good. In some cases a cord that is not of the same quality will work better in certain applications. There are allot of good cords , average cords, exceptional cords and down right bad cords. The trick is finding the right cords to match your tastes. Unfortunately most of the good cords are pricy but that's because the manufacturers can get away with charging what people are willing to pay. There are very good cords at reasonable prices which are good value for the dollar. Some cords sound great in one application and horrible in another. Some good cords are inexpensive and some bad cords are pricy. The difference between good and bad is a matter of opinion but I believe at a certain point good cords are good but just sound different from each other giving a variety of tuning options. Power cords do make a difference and are useful to tune your system to ones particular tastes. Those who claim cords don't make a difference have probably never truly have given cords a chance or even tried them. Regardless of the theories and scientific facts subjectively cords sound different from one another giving audiophiles another variable to be confused or enlightened about. Cords are like any other tweak. They change the sound be it for better or worse. That's my rant of the day.