Interconnects: Silver, Copper or Silver Plated?


A new discussion on an old topic: your experiences with interconnect metallurgy.

I've recently tried several different cables of different metals: Cardas (Twinlink -- all copper); Nordost (silver-plated copper); and Lieder (all silver). Each has a different sound. My speakers (Snell A Reference Towers) are known for having somewhat dark highs. I found that the Cardas multiplied this tendency, and the music sounded muted and dull.

The Nordost -- for my ears and my system -- were far better. I'm currently using their Red Dawn balanced for the IC between the CD player (Sony XA7ES) and preamp (Plinius CD-LAD).

Then it came time to fiddle with the turntable's interconnects. Cardas again made the music dead. Nordost Blue Heaven was an improvement ... but with the cartridge's low output, and the Nordost's minimal insulation, I found that noise easily entered the signal path running from 'table to phono stage (Plinius Jarrah).

Then I came across a real find. One of the guys who put Siltech on the map is Jaap Gunter. He lives in the Netherlands; while no longer affiliated with Siltech (whose products he designed), he now makes his own cables, called the "Lieder." These are all silver, heavily insulated, with locking RCAs. WOW! What a difference! The 'table now has sound quality approaching what I like best about CDs ("clean" sound with incredible range), while retaining all the warmth and beauty of analog. Even my wife (whose favorite expression is "Turn that DOWN!") was amazed: "Come on ... that isn't one of your super Mo-Fi gold CDs?" she asked.

I understand that system synergy is everything ... but I wonder ... has anyone else tried Jaap's Lieder cables? What was your experience with them? How about your experiences with copper vs. silver-plated copper vs. all-silver?
paul_frumkin
Ask the guys who design these. Metal by itsself doesn't necessarily have a distinctive sound.
Yet I found myself recently selling my Red Dawn, ro-Silways, and now my Siltech (new Gen3 ST48b 1m XLR currently on auction) because they ALL sound a little too bright in my system whereas the all-copper Discovery Essence DON'T. No less detail...just a meatier midrange.
You gots to experiment, man!
The Siltech have gold as part of the cable mix, to add your list of silver and copper.


I've had a similar experience as Subaruguru, but with the Blue Circle BC95 interconnects, which are also all copper.

Hi Subaru and Sugar ... I've communicated with both of you before, so a "Howdy!" to you both. Yes, Subaru, geometry and insulation have a huge part to play in a cable's sound ... as much as the specific metallurgy. But I think just about everyone is using some type of spiral geometry, and some type of teflon insulation ... no? Sugar, doesn't Siltech use some gold only in their top of the line series ... the rest being all silver?

Have either of you heard the Lieder? Compared to Nordost Red Dawn balanced, I felt it had more realistic "shimmer" to cymbals, etc., and that vocal harmonies -- which can easily blur with lesser cables -- were more distinct with the Lieder.

Best regards, guys.
Paul
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