Cable Characteristcs - Silver vs. Copper

I've been researching the subject as well. If deciding on silver IC's check out the IC's made by a Canada violin maker, Leif Luscombe. (www.violins.on.ca/) I only own one silver IC, a Music Metre Signature. Very articulate and smooth sounding but the bass is ever so lightly softer. It really depends on one systems and tastes I suppose. DH Labs I've heard makes very good products for the $. But, for my tastes and system I'm going the try a set of VH Audio "Pulsars" which use a copper conductor. 60-day Money-back guaranntee. I'll see if they do the trick! BTW, I'm really tempted to try the Luscombe IC because from what I've read pure silver conductors sound better the silver-coated conductors. I believe they have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Lots and Lots of choices!

From my experience - silver has a lot of detail but can be bright.

Copper tends to less detailed but smoother.

Obviously this is a generalization and not the case with every cable.

I try to go with copper when I can.

Silver is the best electric conductor but quite costly. So it's best for ICs or internal circuit wires while you'd be better-of with copper for speaker cables.

Marakanetz...Why do you need low resistance (silver) conductors in a line level interconnect, where the current is tiny, and the source impedance is often hundreds of ohms?

The point is that you need to hear the cables in your own system. Although there can be some generalizations regarding silver versus copper, cable performance depends on the design. I current am auditioning silver and copper interconnects where the silver sound less detailed then the copper. Pricing and value depends on what you yourself hear and how much any improvement is worth to you. Price does not always mean better.

Sorry if this is not helpful.