I began buying used interconnects with the magazines as a guide I bought (or borrowed) every cable that Stereophile, Fi, and TAS had on there recommended lists. This was more for the fun of it, but also with the intent of writing a review at Audiogon. I never wrote the review because I learned that it's all so subjective I was afraid if I wrote my opinions some might take it to heart without trying to find the perfect match for their system, room and ears.
Anyway, I learned that there were a lot of overpriced and over hyped cables on the market. Some did far more damage than they did good. It turns out there was a great deal of "grain" and "glare" to be removed from the mid-fi cables. Each level of improvement was just like removing a layer of fogged glass from between me and my sound stage. It's an amazing effect but it's simple to see (hear). Each layer adds glare and high end energy. This is what people call "bright". A system can be extremely clean and open if the glare is not there, but it's that glare that is so fatiguing. It's true with electronics too, in electronics it's high frequency distortion, this is why lower end equipment and tube gear rolls off the signal at 17-19,000 Hz. I listen to my SACD player about 30% of the time. The signal in SACD is sent through to my speakers at 50,000 Hz so high frequency energy is an issue for me.
I tell you all this because in my opinion this is the key to good sound. The more glare or distortion the worse the imaging, sound stage, fatigue factor and enjoyment of your system. There does seem to be a difference in bass response although with "clean" cables this factor is low. The "PRAT" (pace, rhythm and tempo) is another thing all together. For reasons I don't understand the cable speed will effect the presentation. If the PRAT is right the whole thing simply comes together. All cables will send the signal and produce the proper sound at your speakers. All cables will also add noise, it's finding the one with the least noise for the best cost that we look for.
J.D.
Anyway, I learned that there were a lot of overpriced and over hyped cables on the market. Some did far more damage than they did good. It turns out there was a great deal of "grain" and "glare" to be removed from the mid-fi cables. Each level of improvement was just like removing a layer of fogged glass from between me and my sound stage. It's an amazing effect but it's simple to see (hear). Each layer adds glare and high end energy. This is what people call "bright". A system can be extremely clean and open if the glare is not there, but it's that glare that is so fatiguing. It's true with electronics too, in electronics it's high frequency distortion, this is why lower end equipment and tube gear rolls off the signal at 17-19,000 Hz. I listen to my SACD player about 30% of the time. The signal in SACD is sent through to my speakers at 50,000 Hz so high frequency energy is an issue for me.
I tell you all this because in my opinion this is the key to good sound. The more glare or distortion the worse the imaging, sound stage, fatigue factor and enjoyment of your system. There does seem to be a difference in bass response although with "clean" cables this factor is low. The "PRAT" (pace, rhythm and tempo) is another thing all together. For reasons I don't understand the cable speed will effect the presentation. If the PRAT is right the whole thing simply comes together. All cables will send the signal and produce the proper sound at your speakers. All cables will also add noise, it's finding the one with the least noise for the best cost that we look for.
J.D.