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"World's Best Cables" vs Audioquest interconnects

I've heard many great things about "World's Best Cables". At such low price, these alleged giant killers are a no brainer, so I ordered two pairs. When the shipment arrived, I connected one pair from my phono stage to my preamp, and another pair from my preamp to my power amp.

These cables replaced my trusty old Audioquest interconnects.

First listening impressions: extremely lean sound. Details etched in space, almost as if a strong laser beam is outlining them.

Santana I, side 1: almost unlistenable. The highs are piercing, the soundstage is flat, the splash cymbals sound like trash cans. Made my head hurt.

Switching back to my Audioquest cables: my god, what a relief! The sound is back to its good old sound of music. Everything sounds natural again.

Now, the "World's Best Cables" come with the users manual that claims that the cables need to be burned in for 175 hours. Should I give them the benefit of the doubt and suffer 175 hours, or is that just an audio myth about cables burn-in?

)

crazybookman
jackhifiguy
151 posts
 

Cables don’t burn in. Audio components do.

Cables cannot transform a good system into an amazing one...unless you’re using the cables as a tone control. And of course, if your perceptions are in line with what you want to hear. Then you will be happy.

Cables shouldn’t really have a "sound" including speaker cables and interconnects.

However, using low AWG power cables can improve depth and clarity.

Monoprice makes some good ones. Rated at up to 1625w or more.

Be careful in navigating the snake oil out there. Also, a cable cannot create distortion. (Audioquest cables claim to solve this nonexistent problem)

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad
1,551 posts
 

That's a real Amazon link.  Cheap cables.  Big marketing claims.  

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

Cables are about matching your system sound to what the cables do. You liked your AQs because they matched the direction your system needed. There are not good cables and bad cables. There are cables that work with your system and cables that take it in the wrong direction.

crazybookman OP
24 posts
 

Whatever it is, different cables make my system sound different. Make that DRASTICALLY different. It's probably down to the so-called synergy.

havocman
350 posts
 

boy you don't know much do you? all cables need to be burnt in for a couple hundred hours whether their speaker cables or interconnects or digital cable. how long have you been doing this? LOL LOL

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