@ Seikosha, I believe your theory!, Its a gamble!, I can tell you In my case, I have been listening to Taralabs since their company started back in 1985!, I hope being this familar with their sound can help me determine a fake or not!, I have talked to people that got took on a fake, they did not like the sound what so ever!, when they went a listened to the real mccoy, then they knew for sure!, the serial numbers help, but as you explained they are not full proof!, The best way to get a real cable is to buy from the factory like I do most of the time!, the i/c that I have was originally sold at Hanson audio, their in kettering, OH , Thats were I bought it to, Taralabs with the serial nuber told me that was the original place it was shipped from their factory, the original buyer traded in the zero gold 1-meter for a long 3-meter Tara onyx, that does sound better useing very long runs!, 2-meters and down, of course the zero gold sounds better!,,cheers!