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

I understand the physics explanation on how cables work.

My post-graduate degree in Physics and 40+ years designing and developing sophisticated opto/electronic equipment (telecon, molecular biology research instruments, supermarket scanners, digital data optical readers (on film and CD, audio and video), military, and laser development)). makes me quite able to understand how audio systems and components actually work.

It’s not magic.

I’m sure you do understand. And I’m not being sarcastic. kevemaher

@frank009 

Yeah, that photo looks like something I'd cook up in my garage in four hours or so. 

MIT even managed to crimp the cable sheathing! Quite professionally done indeed!

 

MIT Cables - Evolution of Cable Technology

I’m crying! - Tears of laugher. I watched this video once before. It’s a real treat.

... and uh.. uh... this that, blah blah. Guy should take some public speaking classes or go back to College.

At this point, it would be silly to say cables don’t sound different...They do.. I have picked out cables in my assortment 18/20, 24/25, etc times in a blindfold (statistically significant).

But, there is absolutely no guarantee that one will always pick the sound of some expensive cable over a cheap cable whilst seated in a blindfold.

Here’s an example where 2 guys picked a 27 dollar cable’s sound over some 20k+ cable in the host’s supposedly "ultra high end" system.

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

I am sure i can produce such results over and over if i had guys seated with a blindfold in my house.

On the same note, some of the best " sounding" cables on earth continue to exist on aliexpress at a cost anyone can afford. If you have a larger bank balance, some predictable options exist within the audioquest lineup. Even on the latter AQ line-up, passing a blindfolded test is like pulling teeth between a <1000 dollar AQ cable vs a couple of 5k+ AQ cable on one of my tweaked out rigs. I have tested myself and a couple of golden ear bats i know several times. 

IME, the diminishing returns for cables can hit very early...around a 100 bucks for most guys in most rigs. Some guy like Ken Ishiwata or the Yamaha, tad sound master guys may be the exceptions to such observations (to some degree)..