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
Dave_b, Looks like the MIT cables were not a very good match for your system. Glad you found something that works better.
zip cord will work for most dynamic speakers - keep it rel. fat and short

another adv. of monoblocks

if you are wowed by the placebo effect, put it inside a tube fo mapleshady and spray it with a graphene splackle

don't forget the elevators!!!!
randy said: " zip cord will work for most dynamic speakers "

So will coat hangers, I know, I tried it with mono amps and they sounded like s_it. I also tried original Monster Cable, silver coated copper cable, NBS cable and solid silver cable. 

They all sounded different, "the placebo effect" theory is silly. I found that all the cables above sounded different, quite different actually and easy to hear. I have owned and used cables from Tara Labs, Straightwire, NBS, DH Labs, Apature, Homegrown Audio and MIT. Some where cheap, others expensive and they all sounded different in my system.

Price doesn't dictate how a cable will sound, leave that to your ears and system synergy. I am currently using Supra Ply 3.4 speaker cable and they work great in my current setup.
+1 Dill. You can also call a couple of Dixie cups connected by some string a communication system. These sorts of ridiculous arguments as Randee keeps coming up with only serve to bolster the theory there’s an ever-widening chasm between the Mid Fi crowd and the High Enders.