audiophile folklore - cables and claims from manufacturers


The cable debate.

Cables make a difference, sure. 

But SHOULD they?

I have been grappling with this question for the better part of 20 years! 

Fanatical claims from manufacturers, talking about how their cables will improve your system in specific ways, sonically. 

More accurate bass, cleaner midrange sounds, treble resolution... etc. soundstage and imaging, you get the idea.

The fundamental disconnect is - they have never heard YOUR system! 

So then, how do they know what their cables will sound like in your system. Not to mention, astronomical prices on some of these interconnects. The wilder the claims, the higher the cost.

The behavior we should be looking for is passing on the signal, with as little losses as possible. That can be done relatively cheaply, with well made professional interconnects that cost less than 100 dollars in most cases.

If you could build an audio system (all of it) from thrift store finds and cables really did make that much of a difference, then wouldn’t the sound quality scale that way?

It seems many audiophiles I know are in denial. And even worse, some use cables as TONE controls! This is where audiophoolery becomes a religion. Audio dealers promote it, because it impacts their bottom line! 

frank009

If you have a few functioning brain cells, the answer would come to you logically.

If you want copper in a cable to transfer the signal, look at the point where there is less copper, or even no copper. This location has less copper and more of something else, would this affect the purity of the signal?

If you have a few functioning brain cells.....

If Copper is not the best nor the worse for signal transfer, can it be improved?

Well.... a few brain cells...

If you think copper purity doesn't matter, may I suggest a 100% zinc cable.

Member since  May 29, 2026:

 

Did you just get kicked out of another forum - Spanky?

 

DeKay 

I am currently experimenting with some lightweight DIY interconnect builds and have found that you can definitely choose how you want the cable to sound through wire choice, geometry and dielectric. But you are correct, it would sound slightly different in every system, but would retain the overall flavor of the design.

I have resolved this dilemma by eliminating my use of cables altogether. I just have AI beam the signal where I want it to go, requesting the levels of tone, frequency, distortion, etc., that I find most desirable.

Frank why don’t you list what is your stereo. Made up of and total cost then 

we know are you a entry level, mid or Highend Audiophile it makes a lot of difference in ultimate sound fidelity.