Power Cord brands mixing. "Your Opinions"

Mixing cables virtually assures mediocrity.

Well, I see I've stirred the pot a bit. Good.

I'm not interested in how popular my ideas are as much as how efficacious my methods are in moving a rig toward superior sound. Some have voiced strong opinions but have not given any argument why mixed cables would be superior as a means of advancing a rig. I'd like to hear your arguments, not just emotional reaction. :)

I have come to my conclusion through many hours of comparison of mixed cabling versus homogenous sets of cables compared to one another, as well as to sets of mixed cables. I'm not unwilling to change my perspective in the matter, but disdain will have little effect on my perspective or conclusions.

I do value the input of people who have experience, who move beyond the simple, "I think," perspective. If you have experience in comparison of sets of cables versus mixed cables and have something to offer, I'm open to hearing it.

Well, it seems like a lot of fluff so far. Seriously, this is supposed to be a great defence of using mixed cables? So far this is a pretty weak argument.

Inna, you are the only one who seems to understand the importnace of utilizing entire sets of cables and how to proceed to ascertain what direction a rig needs to move in order to obtain better sound.

A question: Assuming the use of mixed cables in a rig how is the audiophile supposed to determine the native sound of any brand of cables utilized?

Mrtennis, your comment is valid although I would suggest it is only a step toward what could be a far more pleasing experience.

If you liked the sound of replacing one cable/pair did you then proceed to add additional cables incrementally to see what the effect was? i.e. transition toward a new complete set?

I think can understand your perspective in the matter based on what you consider to be good sound. We will differ on this, but I believe your view is that good sound is not overly detailed, but is warm to syrupy sounding with a higher emphasis on tonality than definition.

If that is correct, and not judging your opinion in the matter it is entirely possible that by mixing the cables you are able to dial down the definition and thereby have the tonality come to the fore.

My philosophy in regards to defintion/detail is at the other end of the spectrum; I say that one cannot have too much detail/definition in a system and that if the perception is such that means there is a problem with the system, often times with the tonality. So, one of my goals is to seek cabling which is extreme in defintion/detail, however I will not sacrifice tonality nor any other parameter in order to achieve it.

So, yes, if you are wanting to avoid an extreme amount of defintion/detail then mixing will very likely allow you to do so. However, I believe that if you were to follow up by testing other cables singly and noting the difference in sound you might be able to move toward a brand which would be far superior in every aspect of performance you desire.

I continuously attempt to mix in one or two cables to see what the result will be on review rigs. Without exception because I am using a unified set which is extremely agreeable to my ears no mixed sets have been as appealing. In every case there has been a diminishment in detail/definition. I believe this means I have discovered a brand of cables which is to my ears "right up my alley." I also believe any audiophile can find a one brand set which can be so in tune with their sense of aesthetics that they would prefer it to any number of mixed sets of cables.

I am not stating that in every instance every audiophile will find a single set of cables superior; I am saying that mixed cables do not afford a clear route to guiding the system toward the desired end result, and that if one persists with testing complete sets they will likely discover an entire set which is far more to their liking than any mixed set they have previously used.

Can I "prove it"? No, no more than one can prove vinyl is better than digital. But I believe there are methods which can move a rig toward a goal with more certainty.

Mrtennis, briefly the logical basis resides in cables having a sonic character due to construction and materials. If you have never compared sets of cables I don't expect you to agree with that statement.

As you suspect there are too many variables, again the key is the sonic character of cables which is consistent no matter which components they are used with; that addresses the suspected myriad of variables you allude to. Consequently with unified sets the individual can pursue whichever attributes they desire in a set of cables, versus guesswork with a mixed set.

My comments are applicable to the following cables - power, IC, digital and speaker.

Al, I urge you to get past your doubt and try some aftermarket power cords on your other equipment; I believe your experience would be much more enjoyable.

Mrtennis, I tend to agree with you on your statement regarding manufacturers not wanting to admit to designing gear with a "coloration." The term coloration is fairly perjorative so it's avoided most of the time. I would agree that you are seeking a certain coloration in your system, which can be extremely pleasant.

However, I would disagree with your generalization (someone once said, "generalizations are generally wrong") that one brand sets could not obtain such coloration. I have used several sets which seem more colored relative to others. i.e. I would suggest that Jena Labs, Magnan Cables and Tara Labs have more of a colored, or particular tonal sound, than Harmonic Technology, WireWorld or Clarity Cable. This becomes apparent immediately upon hearing them in any system compared to the others.

How many entire sets of cables have you tested/compared in order to arrive at your conclusion? I can respect your experience if you have worked with five, seven or ten sets. But if you just tried one or two then you lack much experience in this matter. No amount of logic can replace experience with cables.

I do believe you an exception, as I don't think most audiophiles would willingly want less defintion/detail in their systems and to introduce a perceived coloration (I realize we are speaking generally here and cannot pin down the precise experience). I believe that is a major mistake in setting up audio systems. Now, of course it's "my opinion," and you are free to enjoy whatever kind of sound you want.

I believe, Mrtennis, that you are settling for less than you could have. I find that most audiophiles are content with sound that is far under the potential of the equipment and that cabling plays a huge role in that under-performing. No matter whether you wish for your coloration or not I believe there are cable brands which would do what you want better than a hodge-podge of cables while introducing no unwanted characteristics.

Now, I perfectly understand yours and Calloway's method of using a couple of different cables to adjust the system when a set of cables is too strident. I insist that it means you have the wrong set of cables for your taste! Simply put, if you don't love the sound of the system with the set of cables you have tried, sample a different set. Sure, you can adjust it with a couple of different ones, but you will also be influencing the positive characteristics you did enjoy about the set.

The bottom line is that mixed cables give no direction toward purposeful movement of an audiophile's rig toward the desired sound. It's a guessing game. If you guys knew what a particular cable brand sounded like you would be able to select it for the desired effect. Even if you did mix it you would know what the cable would do for the system. You cannot know that unless you have the native sound of the cable in your mind from using it as a single set.

In my second system at the office I happen to have a mixed set of cables, about 3/4 of WireWorld and a couple others. This is by necessity rather than choice; I put my money into the main rig in my listening room. If I were to put more money into it I would not use the mixed cables; this system is entirely for non-critical listening but for background music while I work.

I know fairly well what would happen if I put in one or two different brands of cables I'm familiar with, whether tonality would suffer, whether detail and definition would increase, whether a coloration would be introduced. Just throwing a new untested cable into the mix is a crap shoot. Too many audiophiles are doing so and are encouraged, even by reviewers, to do so. It's a great way to spin your wheels and get nowhere. :)

Mrtennis, By "auditioned" you mean used entire sets in your system, right? Not simply heard in another rig elsewhere. Just clarifying, because then the variables truly would be too great to draw any firm conclusions regarding the cables.

So which set(s) sounded closest to your ideal? I assume that you then did your mixing to find just the right "taste"?

If you heard differing sets of cables and compared them to find the closest to your ideal, then "tuned" it with one or two cables, you are essentially following the path I advise, which is to compare entire sets to hone in on the sound one wishes. The thing we would disagree on, then, would be whether a full set from one manufacturer exists which would be your sonic ideal - an unknown. My answer would be, "likely," while yours would be, "likely not."

So, we may not be as far apart in the cable selection process as first thought. I would have far less of an argument with comparison of multiple sets in order to close in on one's ideal sound with a final tweak than to simply use mixed sets all along. I believe there's a huge difference in the two methods.

How did you go about determining your preference among those sets of cables in your system? I have my own method, but I'm curious to hear how you did so.

Mrtennis, as you say, "... you could call me an alchemist without a method." Fair enough. :)