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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
deep_333
2,435 posts
 

I have 60 dollar aliexpress nordost that sounds great. Nordost got these from Asia for 30 bucks a pop and set the price tag at 14k for you great patriots. 

I've never heard top-tier Nordost in my system. I had purple flare interconnects and speaker cables a few years ago. I don't doubt the top-tier is good - my local dealer runs them almost exclusively in all his demo systems - I am sure for good reason

seymour-krelborn
121 posts
 

@frank009 

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! 

Audio dealers promote the above?

Please name two dealers.

seymour-krelborn
121 posts
 

@frank009 

So then, how do they know what their cables will sound like in your system.

They do not know.

Speaker manufacturers do not know how their speakers will sound in your room.

Pre-amp manufacturers do not know how their pre-amps will sound in your system.

Etc.

I am saying that professional environments whose employees and management earn their money through audio don’t burn in cables, and it’s true.

Please name two of those professional environments (company names), and how you have come to know those employees and management personnel.

Also, how do you know that they do not burn in their cables?

Please share with us which cables they are using, and how you know.

seymour-krelborn
121 posts
 

@frank009 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaylbwI9yjI

frank009's avatar
frank009 OP
195 posts
 

@seymour-krelborn 

You are now going off on an unrelated tangent.

This post is about CABLES 

Not speakers, preamps, power, amps, integrated, amps, etc.

Cables - a simple device used to connect electronics together. Cables are not some new invention by NASA in the year 2026. 

Yet every year, some audiophiles "upgrade" their cables with hopes of improved sound quality. There’s nothing to improve, you simpletons.

Since you want to talk about audio electronics --- 

I have to tell you - The AUDIO ELECTRONICS are doing the heavy lifting.

For example, if you have a matching preamp and matching power amp from the same series, same manufacturer - were meant to be sold as a set, then you get system synergy.

If you buy some random preamp and try to run it with that power amp, then the sound will change, but may not be ideal.

Volume match precisely as well. And play the same music.

Don't do the above, then you can't make a real-world comparison with any accuracy.

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