Are silver cables on the way out?

I think there needs to be some distinction made between several variables we have here. First, silver and silver coated copper are very different. Next, solid core silver and stranded silver are also very different sounding. In addition the dielectric used, whether PTFE(teflon) or PE(polyethylene). Lets not forget simple geometry of the design with variables of capacitance, inductance, resistance, resonance, and other poorly understood variables. Some very popular speaker cables I have measured are the equivelant of putting a 400mic capacitor across the speaker leads. This will change the sound. Is it accurate?....I doubt it. Back to the topic. Silver has come and gone as the tastes of audiophiles change. Me, I use only silver interconnects stranded and solid core , and stranded silver speaker cables. They must match your system, and sound best with analog in my system. They bring the worst out in digital unless you have very top flight digital. With analog, they are warm, detailed, delicate, and sound like real music. When I hear copper that sounds like this, I will switch. Silver, unfortunately is not cheap. If I could buy silver at copper prices, I would. Jallen

I've been selling high end cables in audio retail stores for years, and can say first hand, that the silver they've been using over the years wasn't that good sonically really. The older stuff by the top companies, involving siver, usually tended to be zippy and grainy on top compared to the newer stuff I've heard.
For instance, the likes of Audio Quest and Acoustic Zen are using pure 7/9's silver(99.99999%) stuff, that is just amazing! You can tell that the silver is just way smoother and well balanced, yet retains all the detail you don't seem toget with ANY copper cables!
I think this new ultra pure stuff coming down the pike makes a big difference in terms of balance of spectrum. Sure cable designs have immproved, but the materials I think are just getting better.
Heck, the new 6/9's purity copper is even way better. I use 6/9's copper jumpers on my speakers, and they don't oxidize!! The old OFC stuff was just a wast, and oxydized right away...yuck.

I use copper, silver coated copper (Nordost), and Siltech cables which also incorporate gold into the mix. Never cared for pure silver, but as some have said, it depends on your system.

I tried out Silveraudio Hyacinth - incredible detail but it was bleached and had that hard edge to it.

I use Harmonic Technology SIlway which is silver and copper, and Cardas GOld Cross to great results - very detailed yet tonally balanced and neutral

I have heard some of the new silver cables are nice, but I won't be buying anything I can't audition first

Tom

Thanks for the feedback all. I am understanding a bit better the qualities of silver and copper. I am presently connecting tube pre and amps with copper (golden cross) and driving speakers with silver (alpha core ag2. I appear to be in reasonable shape, maybe....

thanks again!

gary