Dynamic range - effect on different speaker cables - even very high quality ones


I have siltech Emperor double crown speaker cables. I recently bought Tara Omega Gold. 
The difference was very strange, and significant. I could not put my finger on it and changed interconnects to see if there was a compatibility issue. The Siltechs brought out superbly the main "players" and that sound was bang in my face - great. But it was a bit lean in other areas (more periphery sounds such as tinkling of percussion here and there - that sort of thing). 
The Omegas were exceptionally clean and detailed with EVERYTHING coming through, top to bottom, but no particular light and shade that the Siltechs gave. As such, a great pure sound but a bit soulless and didn't give me the bite that the Siltechs did.
I cannot survive life without the hit that the Siltechs give, so have kept those installed and I use the Omegas in an analogue set up (also lower dynamic range it seems) to enjoy those more

My false assumption before was that different cables had different qualities, and (or but) the basics of each recording would be dealt with principally the same i.e. just a different "house" sound
My dealer was nonplussed too as my description of the differences was a bit out of the ordinary, and the difference were VERY stark. I have tried many different cables over the years and never encountered this issue.

By asking around he came up with an interesting "reasoning"

Normal "players" or sources chuck out at a dynamic range of 70db. My DCS upsampler/clock/dac sends out at twice that, and the cables may get over saturated with the sound and act differently. It may appear that excessive dynamic range was not particularly an issue when they designed the cables and so the effect might be unpredictable?
Does anyone have a practical experience of this too - and I suppose the theory buffs out there could confuse me yet more.

tatyana69

Showing 1 response by millercarbon

It helps when using terms to understand what they mean and use them properly. Otherwise you make a complete hash of your thought process.

Normal "players" or sources chuck out at a dynamic range of 70db. My DCS upsampler/clock/dac sends out at twice that, and the cables may get over saturated with the sound and act differently.

We’re talking about speaker cables. Its super easy to show what complete BS this story is: turning up the volume will increase the signal and the louder you go the more compressed it will be. But you don’t mention this, because its not happening. Because its BS.

There are major differences between cables in terms of dynamics, but its not dynamic range, that is something completely different. Do a search, read the terms, learn them. Something your dealer should do. This is Audio 101 after all.

Geez my O2 sat is barely 95 and already my brain is like warp speed compared to this wanna-bee. The dealer I mean. I don’t expect every audiophile to have learned even this basic stuff. Dealers I hold to a higher standard.

The differences you are hearing, people love to make up all these technical explanations. Nobody really knows the technical explanation. What we do know is the signal is constantly changing in volume. These fast changes are what we call dynamics. They can be massive like when an orchestra swells or micro like when a violin string quivers.

This all happens across a wide range of frequencies. The timing or rate at which each of these different dynamic swings happens can vary tremendously depending on the frequency of the sound getting louder or softer. Each and every individual instrument has its own unique set of characteristics. We call it timbre, we call it timing, we have all these different names for it.

Point being its very hard to get it all just right. Its also very hard to know when it is being done just right. That’s because the exact same problem we hear with this one speaker cable is repeated across every wire and component in our system, and on up the recording chain as well.

What is very easy on the other hand is to hear and notice different little aspects of this very big picture. Lots and lots of guys get sucked into one thing or another.

You like the "hit" that the Siltechs give. Great. Good for you. But there really is nothing the least bit new or different about anything else you have noticed- most especially including the dealer and his cockamamie theories about the dynamic range of your DAC affecting your speaker cable.


Ahh, its good to be back.