Yes, cables do make a difference -- regardless of price...

My audio system has been elevated to an extraordinary level of performance, thanks to the integration of Sound Lab A645 panels, Atma-Sphere amplification (MA-1 & MP-1), and an Abbas DAC. The transformation was significantly propelled forward by the introduction of bespoke cables and a power regulation device crafted by Mr. Hai, a Parisian innovator who designs these components exclusively for friends and family. Given his background as an engineer with France's leading telecommunications company, it's only a matter of time before Mr. Hai becomes a household name among discerning audiophiles.

The clarity and detail my system now reveals are nothing short of astonishing. Mr. Hai's cables utilize a type of wire typically reserved for aerospace applications, which is difficult to procure. After rigorous testing, we determined that ETI connectors deliver the most authentic sound. Remarkably, each wire within the cable is air-insulated, enhancing its performance. The power regulation device incorporates a novel, patent-pending design that has significantly purified the power supply to my system.

Through extensive experimentation and fine-tuning with Mr. Hai, we identified the optimal cable configuration, leading to a profound enhancement in sound quality. The impact on my system was so dramatic that I remain in awe. The Sound Lab panels, in particular, now produce a bass response so deep and powerful that it physically resonates through the room, surpassing the manufacturer's specifications by reaching frequencies below 28Hz. The realism of thunder through these speakers is startling, and the reproduction of piano reverberation is indistinguishable from a live performance.

Atma-Sphere's electronics, known for their precision, naturalness, and dynamism, are now fully realized when paired with these ESL panels and Mr. Hai's cables. This experience has fundamentally changed my perspective on the critical role of cables in a high-fidelity audio system. Through our collaborative efforts, we've distilled several key insights:

1. Consistency in cable technology throughout the system is crucial. Don’t mix different cables & technologies!

2. Power regulation is paramount, arguably more so than any other system optimization.

3. The intrinsic design of a cable, rather than its shielding, is the most critical factor for sound quality.

4. The quality of connectors cannot be overstated; ETI connectors have proven to be superior to any other we tested.

5. The most expensive cable is not necessarily the best choice for your system.

6. XLR design significantly outperform unbalanced

7. Silver-plated copper cables offer superior sound quality compared to pure silver cables.

These insights are invaluable for any DIY enthusiast looking to elevate their audio system. The journey with Mr. Hai has not only transformed my system but also deepened my understanding and appreciation of the intricate relationship between components, cables, and power in crafting an unparalleled listening experience.

"OP can you pass a honest A and B test?" Did you read the op? Is this not exactly

what he did?

laoman

335 posts

02-07-2024 at 03:42pm

@lordrootman

 

"OP can you pass a honest A and B test?" Did you read the op? Is this not exactly

what he did?

No, @laoman , OP did not do a controlled A/B test (based on OP’s wording). He and his better half were probably role playing, and someone might have played the horse: read up on Clever Hans - it’ll be a shortcut to understanding how pervasive and subtle bias can be via the simplest of cues, and has been widely acknowledged for roughly a century. Doesn’t mean the differences assumed (between cables) were necessarily absent, it just means they’re being assumed without verifying something besides bias.

Bias as a word is similar to “theory” - many folks don’t understand what it actually is or how it applies in science, so as a word it often “lands” on ears/eyes differently than it probably should.

@soix funny aside - “flat earther” denotes someone who disregards all scientific evidence for the earth in fact being spherical, while demanding no scientific evidence to support the belief earth is flat. In the absence of empirical evidence for cables differing audibly (be it either measurements or rigorous preference studies), I think you might not be using that phrasal poke as deftly as you seem to assume? 😅

Studies are easy to do; they’re quite complicated to do correctly without proper understanding of the discipline(s) involved. Conversely, it seems surprisingly natural for folks to state anecdotal perception as broadly applicable fact. It’s a conundrum that extends well beyond unverified perceptions in home audio. Sigh.

The baseline purpose of making comparisons (the cable swapping exercise) that gave rise to this thread was: get good sound for recording audio books. It seems like that end was achieved, so it’s not of consequence that the road travelled was not an experimentally valid one. I’m glad the recordings worked out well and don’t see that as grounds for fussing over anything. 😁

differences in cables  -  yes .  I had expensive speaker cables Ansuz P2 . With my

new speakers Zingali  94 Db total disaster  at high frequncies.

Then i  tried cheap Atlas speaker cables  -  everything was ok.

Cables make a difference.

Anecdotal evidence/example: 40+ years ago when our small group of young enthusiasts/future engineers/tinkerers dabble heavily in audio (and the first CD came out, yeah!), we soon found ’thicker’ is better (instead of 0.7mm2 lamp cord, we splurged on 4mm2). We built our own active crossovers (found very quiet op amps, one of us was an electrical engineer), bi and tripe amped various speakers.

In our quest for better sound, we tried lots of different cables that were within out ’student budget’. One of our acquaintances family owned an electric supply company. One day, we grabbed a length of phat coax cable they use to wire up multi family and large appartment buildings for cable TV (I think RG59, but need to verify), and used them on our reference system. WE WERE BLOWN AWAY. We unlimited supply at super low price (we paid 10 cents per ft), we started to sell the cables to our network (making the connections was a bit of work).

Years later, we found that cable tested and listed in the top audiophile magazine (Stereoplay) in almost highest category of speaker cables. There was no cable NEAR that category that did not cost at least one hundred times as much (the magazine used 50 cents/ft). I actually still have a (uneven length unfortunately) section here, need to give it some serious ’re listening’. If I can’t hear the difference to my selection of roughly $3-$10/ft cables, it only means I need to get a new set of ears ;-).