Is High End Cable Really Worth It and What Brand

Having upgraded almost my entire system over the last two years it has been interesting listening to the changes. One cable will sound harsh with one preamp but spectacular with another. From my limited experience: Audioquest Clear is a very nice cable, Straightwire Serenade works well with everything but does not excel, Straightwire Virtuoso can be harsh with some systems: but in the right system it sounds great. My favorite cable happens to be the Audience AU24. It sparkles where the other cables shine, and its so small. That said, the best advice is above, find a dealer or one of the internet cable companies to let you try out cables or, buy them used at audiogon for 1/2 price.

Forget the dealer route. They usually have the cable that's "the best for you." There are major differences in cables. You do not have to go to crazy $$ to get there, but in the world of cabledom $500 is small potatoes. As, has been said before me, audition, on loan, where you can. You must hear the cable in your system. Also, and this is very difficult for some: trust your own ears. That's all that matters. Cable can be a real ego trip for some. I have suffered through this malady, too, but have been cured through Audiogon therapy, my pocketbook, and plain old time and experience. You will get everything you need, right here on the 'gon. Read, absorb, buy, listen, keep or sell. That's the fun of this mania. Good luck. warren

I've experimented with many speaker cables, and have
a relatively "high-end" system, but I've settled on
Alpha-core Goertz MI-2 cables. They are very neutral,
with excellent extension at the frequency extremes, and
are a bargain to boot. I just sold a pair and replaced
them with the same cable of different length and
termination because I purchased a new amp. I've bought
pricey interconnects, but have no desire to switch from
the MI-2 speaker cables.

IN a new system configuration;I wouldn't spend a dime beyond what you already have. Now if you could get a 100% cash back on what you already bought--- that would be diff. ---Listen/ enjoy/ get a feel/ you'll get caught up on "better"--or not. By then things will be different--or not. You may just be delighted with what you got. ------Kinda like adding salt before you taste. Give it a taste first.

There is no doubt in my mind that cables and interconnects can make a big difference in how your system sounds. A simple demonstration would be to demo some cables that exhibit very different tendencies (in any system) and hear the difference for yourself. If you can't hear a difference, or the difference is not worth the money to you, well you've saved yourself a bit of cash. An example of two such contrasting speaker cables or interconnects might be a very revealing pure silver cable like Homegrown Audio produces (as well as other manufacturers), and any number of warmer, usually slower, braided copper cable solutions. Each of those two should impart a very different sound, no matter what your system. Which is 'best' to your ears, with the music you listen to, on your system, in your listening room, is only for you to say. No dealer, and no audiophile here can give you a universal 'ideal cable' (or ideal component for that matter). System synergy and personal preferences are as different as fingerprints. I would highly recommend, if you do choose to make cable purchases, consider some of the many smaller manufacturers and DIY cable makers, that are making outstanding products without the overhead of the boutique cable advertising that "justifies"/necessitates their 400-800% markup. There are many DIY dealers selling their cables on this site. Do a search on AudioAsylum for some comments, and take all of that with a shaker full of salt. Again, your mileage may vary!