2. cables
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Which cables go with what?????

I never fails to amaze me, the questions people ask on this forum, always trying to find some synergy between cables and their components/speakers.

The fact is: there are two classes of cables:
1) Those that are neutral
2) Those that impose a sonic signature (tone controls of a sort)

If the average audiophile spent his time trying to weed-out the tone control cables and get some neutral cables, then all that would be left is to determine the right synergy between his or her components. This may mean elimination of an offensive component, as painful as that sounds.

Component synergy is real. Amps and speaker combinations definitely need to be selected carefully. In some cases also preamp-amp synergies are important. If you are using tubes, then there are even more compatibility issues. But cables, forget it. If you are trying to compensate for a poor component or speaker design by using tone control cables, you will probably never be happy and likely compromise the sound of the other components in the process. You will certainly never approach a live or "master-tape" sound. There, that's my editorial. Hopefully some will learn from it.
audioengr

Showing 3 responses by sonic_genius

sonic_genius
528 posts
 
I agree, forget the theory and try a bunch a cables to get the best system match.

Nrchy: I guess you don't find Steve Nugent (Audioengr) aka Empirical Audio cables findings as a valid argument?
sonic_genius
528 posts
 
Nighthawk:

That was my point earlier on. These guys need dealer support to sell their wares and leave the forums to the hobbyists.
sonic_genius
528 posts
 
AudioEngr: If you have the education and experience that you claim then you would be a fool to be in the high-end audio cable business. NASA, JPL come to mind or running your consulting company.

Or course retiring to the woods of Oregon ain't that bad and living off the cable biz. income (racket)...
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