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

@dlcockrum 

Opps, sorry Dave. My bad! Still want that RS 12Ga. though

@miketuason , so about that property..........


Have a great New Years all  :)

IMO you are correct it's a ripoff. Really the only way I could see it making a difference is if you had a ridiculous sound system to go with the expensive cables, but really even then I highly doubt you'd hear a difference. The human ear just isn't capable and everyones ears are different. Now I would argue that test equipment might be able to decent the sonic differences. This topic has been discussed to length so many times but I always like to see people talk about it. 
Great, another new post made by someone who just "agrees" with someone and doubts one would hear a difference. Now, that is definitive. 
 
islandsound
1 posts
IMO you are correct it's a ripoff. Really the only way I could see it making a difference is if you had a ridiculous sound system to go with the expensive cables, but really even then I highly doubt you'd hear a difference. The human ear just isn't capable and everyones ears are different. Now I would argue that test equipment might be able to decent the sonic differences. This topic has been discussed to length so many times but I always like to see people talk about it.

I bet Mr. Spock could hear the difference.

There are many perfectly good reasons why some people can't hear differences between cables. Shall we explore them? 

Have a nice new year.


Post removed