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Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?

I recently ordered high end speaker, power amp, and preamp to be installed in couple more weeks. So the next search are interconnect and speaker cable. After challenging the dealer and 3 of my so called audiophile friends, I think the only reason I would buy expensive cable is for its appearance to match with the high end gears but not for sound performance. I personally found out that $5K cable vs $10 cable are no difference, at least not to our ears. Prior to this, I was totally believe that cable makes a difference but not after this and reading few articles online.

Here is how I found out.

After the purchase of my system, I went to another dealer to ask for cable opinion (because the original dealer doesn't carry the brand I want) and once I told him my gears, he suggested me the high end expensive cable ranging from $5 - 10K pair, depending on length. He also suggested the minimum length must be 8-12ft. If longer than 12ft, I should upgrade to even more expensive series. So I challenged him that if he can show me the difference, I would purchase all 7 AQ Redwood cables from him.

It's a blind test and I would connect 3 different cables - 1 is the Audioquest Redwood, 1 is Cardas Audio Clear, and 1 my own generic 14AWG about 7ft. Same gears, same source, same song..... he started saying the first cable sound much better, wide, deep, bla...bla...bla......and second is decently good...bla...bla...bla.. and the last one sounded crappy and bla...bla...bla... BUT THE REALITY, I NEVER CHANGED THE CABLE, its the same 14AWG cable. I didn't disclosed and move on to second test. I told him I connected audioquest redwood but actually 14AWG and he started to praise the sound quality and next one I am connected the 14awg but actually is Redwood and he started to give negative comment. WOW!!!! Just blew me right off.

I did the same test with 3 of my audiophile friends and they all have difference inputs but no one really got it right. Especially the part where I use same generic 14awg cable and they all start to give different feedback!!!

SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?
sautan904
mitch2
3,683 posts
 
I agree with @dynaquest4 about these threads influencing newbies to spend their money.  When somebody is in the early stages of building a system, either because they are young or because of limited finances, IMO the worst thing to spend money on is cables that, as stated by @dynaquest4 
make very subtle differences (not necessarily positive) at best and if at all
They would be far better off sonically to save for amplifiers, speakers, and sources that deliver the sound they are looking for.  There are many quite good OTS cable products both ICs and SCs that are relatively inexpensive.  Examples of SCs include: 
  • Canare 4S11 - 4 x 14 awg copper in PE
  • Old stock WE in a variety of gauges (I like the twisted pair 10 awg)
  • Possibly the best of this bunch is the cable linked below - 4 x 12 awg in foamed PE, for about a buck per foot, which is also rated for in-wall use and also comes in a 10 awg twisted pair
https://www.avoutlet.com/av-cables-connectors/av-cables/bulk-cables/speaker/furez-fz124as-25/
ctsooner
2,480 posts
 
dynaquest, i laugh at your post calling my post as BS.  What a rude post, but that's fine by me.  

Thanks though for telling me that what my wife shared with me was BS.  I guess you are the audio police and only your views are correct.  Maybe you don't have a resolving system where you can hear the difference and that's fine as wires and cables should be the LAST thing someone gets for their system IMHO (again MY opinion).  

This is a forum and there are no absolutes in audio that I know of.  
I'm glad you don't hear a difference, even though you say there may be subtle differences.  Which is it? It doesn't matter, so no need to answer. lol.  Hope you have a fun time enjoying music.  I heard the there is no need for Tidal or Qbuz either as you can stream music from MP3's and that sounds just as good as higher bit rate music streamed.  I bet you loved cassettes as much as you did albums.  Enjoy the music.
dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
445 posts
 
ctsooner...your post is overly defensive with no new information.  As Shakesphere said: "Methinks thou dost protest to much."
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,744 posts
 
Pete : go push play on some good tunes. the flat earthers can sail off the edge by themselves...


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