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Which cables go with what?????

I never fails to amaze me, the questions people ask on this forum, always trying to find some synergy between cables and their components/speakers.

The fact is: there are two classes of cables:
1) Those that are neutral
2) Those that impose a sonic signature (tone controls of a sort)

If the average audiophile spent his time trying to weed-out the tone control cables and get some neutral cables, then all that would be left is to determine the right synergy between his or her components. This may mean elimination of an offensive component, as painful as that sounds.

Component synergy is real. Amps and speaker combinations definitely need to be selected carefully. In some cases also preamp-amp synergies are important. If you are using tubes, then there are even more compatibility issues. But cables, forget it. If you are trying to compensate for a poor component or speaker design by using tone control cables, you will probably never be happy and likely compromise the sound of the other components in the process. You will certainly never approach a live or "master-tape" sound. There, that's my editorial. Hopefully some will learn from it.
audioengr
nrchy's avatar
nrchy
2,124 posts
 
Audioengr and I have disagreed on many subjects in the past, but at the point of pushing his own cables I have to take exception. After all the discussion on this and other threads I still do not know what cables he makes or sells. He isn't pushing too hard!
In my opinion he is pushing his design philosophy and understanding more than his cable. I'm sure his opinion is just as welcome here as anyone elses.
I guess we'll continue to disagree, but I always like to read what he has to say. Who knows, I might learn something after all.
sean
6,231 posts
 
Audioengr: What consistent factors have you found amongst all of these cables that makes you think that they perform better than other cables not mentioned ? That is the whole point that i was getting at earlier when i asked "what electrical or physical characteristics make a cable neutral" ? Sean
>
rjwood
14 posts
 
Audioengr fails to acknowledge that cables are components too! Of course, your amplifier must have enough power to drive your speakers and, similarly, there shouldn't be an impedance mismatch between your source component(s) and preamp, or preamp and amp. But given that these basic issues have been addressed, your system is only as good as its weakest link and that weakest link could be a cable, 'neutral' or otherwise.

audioengr OP
3,282 posts
 
Sean asked:
"What consistent factors have you found amongst all of these cables that makes you think that they perform better than other cables not mentioned ?"

This is easy. First, there is some science behind these cables. The L, R, C and Dielectric Absorption (DA) have been optimized to some extent, as well as the wire size. Second, the metallurgy of these cables is "good". This means that some attention has been paid to the fabrication and processing.
audioengr OP
3,282 posts
 
Rjwood wrote:
"your system is only as good as its weakest link and that weakest link could be a cable, 'neutral' or otherwise."

Certainly agree with this. This is why it is so important to start with cables that do not add any sonic signature of their own.
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