A fresh approach to cable analysis

@seymour-krelborn Since you keep asking — happy to answer.

I came as a young kid to audio through my uncle, who had Maggies and Mogami cables, a Denon turntable with a $500 cartridge which was exessive money in the late 70s, early 80s. We both are gearheads but we love music. And its all about music in this case. As a teenager I listened through a Fisher valve amp with Wharfedales, then a Marantz receiver with Bose. In my twenties I assembled my first serious, but modest system around Epos speakers and a Creek amp — and that’s when I started attending exhibitions regularly. My last was Dallas Audiofest, where I heard a great deal — nothing I would buy, but good to calibrate my ears. I am also regularly going to the Dallas Symphonie and love any live music, again to calibrate my ears what real music really sounds like. I’m 55 now, so this isn’t a short story.

In my thirties I bought my first genuinely high-end system — built around a single full-range speaker driven by a 2×18W solid state amp. Exotic, fast, and very revealing — and deliberately not the boomy bass presentation I’ve always avoided. When I looked to replace it about six years ago with a budget around $15k, I listened extensively to DeVore, Fyne, MartinLogan, and Wilson. I walked away deciding I wouldn’t spend even $100 on what I heard – seriously. I am baffled how people can spend money on Wilsons, but that’s the beauty of this hobby, it’s a personal taste, same as music itself. If you’re curious, I’ve described both my current systems somewhere on this forum — one around $25k, one north of $100k. They won’t please everyone; they’re niche. But everyone who hears them comments on the dynamics, resolution, and speed — micro and macro. I love it!

So yes, I have listened for myself — for decades. And that experience is precisely what shaped my skepticism, not the other way around.

What actually shifted my thinking most recently wasn’t a cable swap — it was a simple AIFF vs FLAC test on my own system. Identical. Fast switches under 2sec. That kind of firsthand null result with my own ears on my own system carries more weight to me than any number of sighted impressions. And when I experiment with digital filters in HQPlayer — yes, there are differences, but they’re modest in contrast how stark the measurements are.

And here’s a current real-world data point: I recently got a new audio rack for my big system, which required longer cable runs. While I work on finding the right solution — I’ve been documenting the DIY angle elsewhere in this thread — I’m running 16AWG OFC zip cord at $35 per 100 feet. On a $100k+ system. And honestly? The system plays music so well I could live with it indefinitely. It sings, it dances, it rocks, it vibes.

Some people say "blessed are the stupid, for they don't realize what they're missing." Personally I've always found that a rather condescending saying. But I'll offer my own version: blessed are those who can't hear the difference between cables — their systems sound just as good, and their wallets are considerably happier 

Many years ago I did some work for a high end dealer that sold all kind cables including Nordost. Part of our agreement was to be paid in audio gear which he agreed to, at cost. 

I acquired a full loom of Frey 2 cables including the QX4 and QB8. Now over time my family became accustomed to me breaking in speakers, buying and selling, etc. We had "game" of cable changing for a few months- one of use would change something and not tell the other- Purist entry cable or Monster. Most of the time after evening listening sessions the change would become noticeable. 

I'd say about an 8-10% improvement from cables. Who cares if you buy them or not, but this is my experience from somewhat of a blind test. 

I no longer have the loom. I ended up selling it for other upgrades and I'm glad I did. I can't say that spending the money matter- to some here $10,000 is a lot, for others it's a rounding error. 

If you are not hearing any differences in cabling than you don't have a very revealing system or you are hard of hearing. Audiophiles rely upon cables to fine tune their system since most are not using tone controls. As far as construction goes, that would indicate the quality of the cable itself but certainly not the quality of the sound produced. It just like it used to be, trial and error the best cable is the one that produces the sound you want to hear in your system and in your listening room. 

@phd  If you are not hearing any differences in cabling than you don't have a very revealing system or you are hard of hearing. 

This dogma is repeated over and over with no proof of validity.

Can you explain why cables when tested on machines that go far veyond human hearing show NO difference? What could it be that could possibly cause the difference you hear that the test equiptment doesn't? Your ears or your sytem are MORE revealing than the test equiptment?

Here's a recent test of a $7 cable vs. a $4000 cable and there's no difference. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjvgL9_zL80

The real genius are the people who are selling a $7 cable for $4000.