Revisiting Chinese Knockoff Cables

@zlone Thank you. I've read a lot of similar stories to yours and that makes total sense to me. I was just wondering if anyone had ever discovered a somewhat verifiable story as to the background of these cables. 

Best case scenario for us is them being from the same factories who already make OEM cables for these big expensive brands. That's also probably the least ethical version. But it would mean at least some of these really are similar in quality to the real thing.

Another option is they are just copycats with variable degrees of quality. This is more likely but not as fun of an explanation. 

There's probably no way to know in the end. 

@996turbo911 Agreed. In the end it can be a perfect replica, but the wire could be junk copper with a tin coating. 

@Zlone, Agreed

it can be a perfect replica, but the materials used cannot be the same. I have a fake Nordost Red speaker cable that was given to me as a gift when i was in Asia earlier this year.

The fake is stiff and had no markings while my original Red Dawn is more flexible. I tested both on my gear and the fake version presents a sound signature that, IF you have Not heard the original version, one would like the sound presentation. It sounds good and seems like to present music in spades.

BUT the true version has more details and somehow the tone is different, the bass of the fake seems to sound loose, while the Origi is tighter and is precise. On the highs, the fake sounds like it has good response, but one listens closely, the texture of the cymbals and the piano notes are muddy.

In the end, if I did not have a resolving system and I did not own the Original Nordost Red Dawn speakers, I would be happy using this Chinese knock off

I've had cables from most of the "big brands" including speakers cables costing up to $2000 msrp. I started trying out some of the chi-fi cables including knockoffs. I used some of the Odin silver and gold interconnects and pc's. Found them ok. Preferred the RCA interconnects vs the XLR. I still use the pc’s on my REL subs (overkill but putting to good use!). However, this past year I took a gamble on the “Not Audioquest” Dragon RCA, speaker and power cables. First, I’ve had multiple real AQ cables including the Hurricane pc and Robin Hood speaker cables. I’m not really a big AQ fan as I think their marketing is a lot of fluff, but the NAQ Dragon cables sound pretty amazing. Now have the NAQ Dragon HDMI for my I2S connection and have sold off almost all of my big brand cables. YMMV but they’re worth checking out IMO. Also, I like cables from the ATAudio store on AliExpress. I’m using their pure silver usb and ethernet cables and they are very detailed, open and dynamic sounding without being harsh. ATAudio doesn’t do “knockoffs” but construction and quality seems exceptional IMO. I’ve used their silver/gold ic’s and speaker cables and also was impressed. I gave some to a friend and he agrees they’re just as good or better than cables costing $$$$ from the big players.

Update - I have replaced the “Odin 2” interconnects from AliExpress with Anticable Level 7.3 RCAs and the Anticables are significantly better.  But 20x better?  Not sure about that.  I may give the “Not AudioQuest” HDMI cable a whirl next - thanks for the tip @abd1 

kn