Cables - one of the most taboo subjects in audio

[Mather]

Look, it's very simple. Everyone just send me your cables. And I'll test them, and hug them and squeeze them and feed them candy and give them bubble baths and I've said too much.

 

[Splunders]

Again, not dismissing your claims. Re-read my posts, they're consistently first-person.i be

Again, not dismissing your claims. Re-read my posts, they're consistently first-person.

I don't think you think I'm making it up. I guess I don't agree with what I think your logic is here, in that since it's not measurable then its not a real thing that can occur. Or more succinctly, where the source of truth should be. I think your ears and brain are the only things that matter. That said I do take measurements into account, esp amp power and speaker efficiency matching. Measurements have value. All this stuff can be so personal and meaningful to us, so when measurements are used to define what is possible I get a little agitated (obvs).

 

[Angsty]

Got my table set up at the new condo and realized the aux cables hooking the table into my receiver are SUPER basic. Thoughts on if and what to I should upgrade them?

Nobody here would be surprised to see me respond that super basic cables can perform just as well has high-end ones in many cases. I continue to use a couple. However, phono cables in particular may require some care in selection due to capacitance interactions and more demanding shielding requirements.

I upgraded interconnects for construction and material quality, mostly. My old Straightwire cable jackets started getting sticky after a decade or so. I upgraded with BJC LC-1 and Belden 1505F coax with Canare plugs.

If you have particularly low end cables and want to experiment with better ones, I’d advise trying some used cables off eBay to experiment at a discount. Decent branded cables very rarely fail to work.

 

[ngower]

This conversation is the most time I’ve spent talking cables in a while—it is not something I ever think about. I’ve heard cables of varying expense and never have I felt the more prestigious options make a difference. I am not evangelizing, I’m just responding to a thread soliciting opinions.

 

[Splunders]

I get that perspective. I also know it’s engineers who are designing all the other components, so their expertise shouldn’t be dismissed either.

My mantra continues to be: buy what makes you happy!

I do value measurements when they correlate to what I can hear, and I can use them as a guide. Your statements about capacitance for phono cables is legit and worth paying attention to.
And yes, ALL of this is about finding enjoyment, whether that enjoyment has an engineer approved measurement for it or not

 

[Splunders]

Warmth in music is often associated with frequencies around 200-800 Hz.

I get it - everybody does not want to be an acoustical physicist or an audio engineer. Most listeners would rather enjoy the music on their own terms. I’d just be cautious about confusing what one knows versus what is known. The physics of sound, electromagnetism and psychoacoustics are well-established disciplines.

And I think I get the the more scientific appraoch, in terms of not being lead astray by hucksters and such. But to use the 200-800hz as an example of my POV, what if that wasn't something "discovered" or generally attributed to warmth? That perception of warmth would still exist, but would the measurements crowd not believe warmth was a thing? That it was just make believe to sell folks more expensive gear?

 

[Angsty]

And I think I get the the more scientific appraoch, in terms of not being lead astray by hucksters and such. But to use the 200-800hz as an example of my POV, what if that wasn't something "discovered" or generally attributed to warmth? That perception of warmth would still exist, but would the measurements crowd not believe warmth was a thing? That it was just make believe to sell folks more expensive gear?

My apologies- I deleted the post after I put it up because I thought I was getting snarky and I don’t want to be snarky.

I’m a STEM type so I’ve got a long history with science and engineering, even if electroacoustics is not my specialty. I’m not going to jump into the whole subjectivist versus objectivist positioning - it’s typically pointless.

Because I do have a definite science bias, I generally won’t be happy with things that don’t have a solid grounded STEM explanation; I’m cynical about physical stuff and was trained to be that way. For many people, what they experience is all they need to feel happy and grounded - good for them.

This audio hobby is a blend of the technical and the experiential, which makes it great and colorful. So, I’m in the camp of do what makes you happy because the camp of proving what is “right” is a grumpy camp.

 

[Splunders]

My apologies- I deleted the post after I put it up because I thought I was getting snarky and I don’t want to be snarky.

I’m a STEM type so I’ve got a long history with science and engineering, even if electroacoustics is not my specialty. I’m not going to jump into the whole subjectivist versus objectivist positioning - it’s typically pointless.

Because I do have a definite science bias, I generally won’t be happy with things that don’t have a solid grounded STEM explanation; I’m cynical about physical stuff and was trained to be that way. For many people, what they experience is all they need to feel happy and grounded - good for them.

This audio hobby is a blend of the technical and the experiential, which makes it great and colorful. So, I’m in the camp of do what makes you happy because the camp of proving what is “right” is a grumpy camp.

All good. No snark taken. If anything, I've been a little over reactive on this topic (my bad @ngower ) maybe due to the typical sub vs obj debates held elsewhere. Fully agreed on the do what makes you happy stance. That's what I was aiming for this entire time but prob missed the mark.

 

[Mather]

Sooooo, where do we stand on the suggestion someone made about everyone sending me their cables?

 

[Angsty]

Sooooo, where do we stand on the suggestion someone made about everyone sending me their cables?

I have some crappy looking Recotons that could use a hug.

 

[Mather]

I have some crappy looking Recotons that could use a hug.

New phone who dis

 

[Angsty]

New phone who dis

Ok - that one made me cry laughing!

 

[Mather]

Ok - that one made me cry laughing!

SUCCESS!

Only thing better is the spit take.

 

[displayname]

I'll say I've had three or four different speaker cables and interconnects in the ~$100 or less range and I cannot tell a single difference between them.

I have to chime in here on speaker cables. In my experience, they can make a significant difference. My two primary speaker cables are Triode Wire Labs and Transparent Plus (Gen 5).

I just swapped out the Transparent cables for the Triode cables in my main system for the first time on my newish amp, and the result was dramatic. The soundstage shrunk by about 2 feet in all directions, but bass was noticeably deeper (tradeoffs!).

I've had basic Audioquest and Zu Audio speaker cables before, and couldn't tell the difference between the two. I also had a much less resolving system at that time.

Certainly some pieces of the puzzle are more impactful than others. I think it makes sense to focus on cables last, and to definitely experiment until you find something that sounds best to your ears and fits your budget.

Everyone's opinions and experiences here are valid and worth sharing as data points for others to consider. Not sure we should be implying something is inconsequential though, based off those limited personal experiences or pre conceived expectations.

I don’t say that speaker cables can’t make a difference, but if they do, they’re doing something they are not supposed to.

I had a pair of mid-range AQ once that sounded distinctly worse than simple copper zip cord.

Everyone here did the most important thing you can do in cables: they tried different ones! The only thing I can't stand in the cable debate is someone who stands on one side firmly, and never is actually open to trying it.

If you have an opportunity to hear different cables in any system, you might as well take it. Even if it never changes your mind. Just try it when you can. It's part of the fun!

 

[SnowmaNick]

I have some crappy looking Recotons that could use a hug.

Wait, we’re going to retcon cables?

 

[displayname]

Posted this in the Mofi turntable thread, but it really is a cable post. Just swapped out the stock power cable on my Ultradeck for an Audioquest Thunder.

As always, your mileage may vary:

Alright everyone, it’s conclusive and instant. In the case of my Mofi Ultradeck in my system, the power cable on the TT had more of an impact than the linear power supply on the Sutherland 20/20. They are both about the same price if you’re getting the cable used and the LPS new.

If you are looking for a very simple upgrade to your Mofi turntable, I highly suggest looking at the power cable on your turntable. I’m confused as to why this makes a difference, but it very clearly does in my case. A noticeable increase in space between elements, bigger vocals, and significantly more bass punch. And that’s just Tracy Chapman. I haven’t even switched back to Daft Punk yet.