Grover Huffman GH RCA ZX+ cables vs...

Groverh,

Since you continue to digress from the OP, once I am out from under my work load later this week I will be be more than happy to document all the important points I have made here. I will respond to your recent digression in a very direct manner, quoting emails and dates, so that everyone may be able to "glean the truth".

The famous "it" you are making famous here refers to a coating you developed directly from my design (in a modified form so that attributing it to me could be avoided) -- and I will prove in black and white that this is the fact. With no room for any doubt whatsoever.

Those who care to read carefully through my posts in this thread will know that I am not "trashing" Huffman cables any more than I am "trashing" the cables from a number of other makers that I have named in this thread. I believe it is my right to express my opinions about cables here as freely as others do. What I have stated very clearly is that Huffman cables offer good value for the money -- but not to expect that they, or some of the others I mention, will perform in high end systems as well as some other cables which, admittedly, cost more. Since Shunyata has recently brought down the prices of their cables quite substantially, the price differential has been cut drastically -- which more than justifies digging deep to experience them, IMO. They offer one of the best price/performance ratios in high end cables at the moment, IMO, if not the best.

I think there may be the perception out there that you can buy some of the lower-priced cables and expect them to punch way above their price point, as the saying goes, regarding sound quality. Of course, this is subjective and also system dependent. But, in my system, I have found this to be true only in rare cases. Pangea, Gabriel Gold, ASI Liveline and Huffman cables are not among those rare cases.

Regarding expressing ourselves freely here, I believe we all have the right to state our opinions on matters concerning cables as long as we remain true to the OP and as long as we are respectful of others. If Ted Denney (Synergistic Research), Steve (Gabriel Gold), Franck Tchang (ASI Liveline) and Grover Huffman (Grover Huffman cables) wish to come on the Forum and defend themselves, so be it. Why not? We are all free to enter into the discussion.

But, IMO, it is unseemly to see any manufacturer appear on the Forum, especially for the first time, to digress into non-OP related matters, to bandy about the word "liar" in an off-OP commentary, while apparently trying to berate and belittle a serious poster who has contributed here for many years and who is studious enough to carefully document his statements. Snide and disrespectful comments are always noted by discerning Community members who are able to glean much by reading between the lines.

I will return to this thread before too many days -- with the story of how Ken's Magic Box became Grover's Magic Cable. With allegedly no connection whatsoever between the two? Hmmm.

Sabai what cables do you consider really outstanding for a price?
Can you share your experience with brands you really like?
Thank you.

Denon1,

I like the Shuntaya Zitron series and their Alpha series, as well. You can pick up some bargains on Audiogon. They are the best buy in high end audio cables for my system. Except for some DIY cables (see below). I see Shunyata are bringing out a new line. But the prices are "reference prices". Just reading about all this gives me cable fatigue. Elrods do well on some components in my system where Shunyatas do not work as well. But they are very pricey. I run most of my cables in series using my own modded DIY Furutechs. And I do other mods in my system to optimize cable performance.

For my system, the best DIY bargain is silver wire for speaker cables. They beat every contender I have ever used -- by a wide margin -- including Elrod, Synergistic Research and Huffman, among others. As Ozzy has observed, there is so much BS in the cable business around the latest and greatest speaker wire offerings. BS baffles brains, as we used to say.

In my experience, it is only the conductor that matters -- despite all the talk from makers about various metals, dialectrics, cryogenic treatment, quantum tunneling, ribbon configuration, magnets, patents and patents pending, geometry, active shielding, special coatings, proprietary formulas and other nonsense. All these makers have their chest out ready to put their wonderful cables up against any and all contenders. They all produce amazing cables that "punch way above their price points" -- many of which are genuine "game-changers".

There is no end to all the improvements -- from MKI to MKII to MKIII, from SX to SX+ to ZX to ZX+, from Super to Ultra to Reference to Super Reference to Ultra Reference. If only prospective buyers who don't know any better would fall for the marketing -- of mostly ho-hum products offered up in attractive packaging -- and hyped to the hilt -- with A/V shows and reviewers auspiciously quoted and YouTubes to drive home the point.

Talking about cable fatigue, I hazard a guess that cable makers who bring out one line after the other with one improvement after the other have never done A/B comparisons of their cables with those of other makers. I have written elsewhere on the Forum that I can guarantee the follow. If some of the well-known cable makers were brought into a room and a blind test was done with their cables most of them would not be able to identify their own -- despite the ebullience of makers regarding their latest offerings and all the superlatives in gushing text. There is so much BS in the cable business. Caveat emptor.

I will be posting about the previous digression regarding Huffman cables when I have the time to do all the documentation. I am snowed under with work launching a new product and I do not have the time at the moment.

Denon1,

I have posted a reply but it has not shown up yet on the thread.

I couldn't disagree more with Sabai's statement that Huffman cables "lack of harmonics", to me this is their most endearing quality, they present natural harmonic richness and texture better than any other cable I've tried (I've tired many), they could have a slightly deeper soundstage and a tad more top end extension but midrange harmonics is where the music is and these have it, the raunch of a sax and pluck detail of a bass. Overall they are very well balanced, great highs, deep tight realistic bass and excellent mids!

I consider myself to be an 'experienced listener' and have owned a fairly long list of hifi cables (HiDiamond, Kimber Select, Kubala Sosna, Synergistic Research, Audioquest and several more...) many of the top dollar cables were a disappointment, currently my system is comprised of HiDiamond and Huffman ZX, Huffman's have actually pushed out some of the higher priced cables. Excellent cables at a great price.