Audible differences between speaker cables?

As a skeptic I must admit that this Christmas proved to be a true revelation (in audio-not religion). I recently purchased a new 187 inch screen for my HT and was forced to put the tree and accompanying decor on the other side of the living room. Well, the old extension cord didn't reach and I patched a few feet of Acoustic Zen Hologram I had laying around to the extension cord to get it to the tree.

WOW!!!

The greens have never been so..well... green. And the reds are much warmer. Rudolph's nose never looked so bright! And the star on the top of the tree... I tell you that Hologram talk is true! I've never been able to hear a real difference in cables but know I know the truth. I'm deaf!!!!

Anyway, given my disability, I'm selling my system and downsizing to a boombox. Call me if you are interested... and does anybody have any experience patching Yamamura Quantum power cords to those things?

Sincerely, I remain

Clueless, just goes to show, you have to believe. Now that you say it, I'm convinced. Clueless before, now enlightened.

If you want something to compare some sonic differences, Vampire wire CSS and Nordost SPM Reference are at the opposite end of the cable sound spectrum. Yes, cable will make a difference in the sound, the better the system, the more dramatic..... The more $$$$ does not always ensure a good cable or a synergistic match to your system. I am an EET and there are differences in network impedance of the cable that explain frequency response changes. I have physically seen it on an impedance analyzer under laboratory conditions. There are also differences due to the metal type, grain structure and quality that will make differences in sound. One clue -- my wallet was a lot better off before I got into cable swapping, and at the price point I got off the wagon I think there was still trade-offs in the wire for the sonic preferences of different types of music.

IMHO, speaker wire is less likey to change character between brands and makes than equivalent line level interconnects. In my system(s) (past and present) I *could* hear differences between some interconnects using *similar* construction. Once you get past a certain "threshold", it gets exponentially hard to discertain, or something. :-) For far more of the solid core copper speaker wires with spade lugs - all sound the same to me. So I just bought a used pair pair of tara labs space and time the looks good and has quality contruction and leave it at that. :-)

But I can tell you one thing, it *did* sound less veiled than 8AWG stranded monster speaker wire with bananas. But I don't think I could tell the difference when say AudioQuest and Tara Labs, if both used similar construction and materials. Heck if they were made well enough, they could probably be a little dissimilar, and I doubt I could assertain which was which! LOL! ;-)

I'd say if you can't tell the difference between interconnects, I *doubt* you'd be able to discern between speaker wires. YMMV.

Before Monster started us on different cables in the 70's we all used whatever Radioshack sold and now we spend a lot on gimmicks and maybe even some justified claims - we worry about the speaker cables but not much is said about all the wire used inside the equipment before it gets to the cables - most are thin copper or silver in super small gauge that might cost a manufacturer next to nothing - then we spend a fortune to take that signal corrupted by this generic copper or silver and reproduce as close to live sound as possible through speakers with some of the same generic wire the equipment had. I would say there are differences but not always to justify the cost or for the better.