Are High-End Cables a Scam?

[Gregadd]

Or for 80 bucks you can build your own tone control .http://www.tubedepot.com/diy-k-tl.html

 

[DonH50]

But, but, but... I thought that's what cables were for!

It's a joke, folk -- Don (duckin' and runnin')

 

[Orb]

But, but, but... I thought that's what cables were for!

It's a joke, folk -- Don (duckin' and runnin')

Joke!!!
You should know there is no humour amongst audiophiles!!!!!!!


On topic, I love my high end cables and hate them due to IMO that one set of cables is not universal and "performance" can change system to system.
Thats my experience anyway.

One link provided earlier or I read somewhere was interesting about directionality of cables, and that it is possible the noise floor is affected due to the shielding-termination, this is something I have experienced myself.
However to be clear we are not talking night and day differences, but annoying and even more annoying if sensitive to noise floor

Cheers
Orb

 

[microstrip]

(...) On topic, I love my high end cables and hate them due to IMO that one set of cables is not universal and "performance" can change system to system.
Thats my experience anyway.

Orb,
I also feel the same - specially with some Transparent cables that should be tuned to tubes or solid state electronics for best performance . BTW, should not we move this subject to a new thread about cable specificity?

 

[mep]

Cables do make a difference in our systems. I posted on another thread tonight that after I had torn down my system in order to move in the Krell KSA-250 only to find that it was broken, I tried to move in just one PL 400 Series 2 amp and slum with it until the KSA was fixed. I was using Cardas Crosslink cables to go from the KBL to one PL amp. I ended up pulling out the second PL amp and running them as monoblocks (meaning using just one channel from each amp) and hooking up my 10' pair of MIT S2.3 cables with the impedance boxes. It sounded much better.

 

[Gregadd]

Dsconnecting and reconnecting cables often results in an improvement.

 

[audioguy]

Disconnecting them and leaving them that way makes an even bigger difference.

 

[mep]

Dsconnecting and reconnecting cables often results in an improvement.

Yeah, but remember I just hooked up the amp and hooked up the cables to it and I wasn't happy. This wasn't a case of the wiping action cleaning the connector and making things sound better. If that was true, the first pair of cables would have done that.

 

[Gregadd]

Yeah, but remember I just hooked up the amp and hooked up the cables to it and I wasn't happy. This wasn't a case of the wiping action cleaning the connector and making things sound better. If that was true, the first pair of cables would have done that.

makes sense...maybe the second times the charm.

 

[audiopro92]

But, but, but... I thought that's what cables were for!

It's a joke, folk -- Don (duckin' and runnin')

As you probably already know, it's about a lack of colorations. All external cables that you plug in to or between system components have the potential to do one or the other. However, i do not believe the superfluous claims made my cable manufacturers regarding specific tonal changes or "improvements" because they have never heard your system. What works in one system may not work in another... synergy is important.

Cables can also tame the sound of sharp snares or otherwise unpleasant passages, without an EQ. Try doing this with an EQ and often, desirable traits in system, such as detail retrieval and PRAT are lost. Different microphones, placement, recording engineers, studio efforts overall, producers intentions, etc. Any and all variables can combine to make or break overall system presentation.

And for someone who was taught that cables will never make a difference, or if that same person holds this view strongly, then it's true - all cables will sound the same to them. People become believers in cables not because they believe in them so much, but rather they don't have preconceived notions and confirmation bias clouding their judgment when changes are audible.

Soak up the sound like a sponge and enjoy.

 

[DonH50]

As you probably already know, it's about a lack of colorations. All external cables that you plug in to or between system components have the potential to do one or the other. However, i do not believe the superfluous claims made my cable manufacturers regarding specific tonal changes or "improvements" because they have never heard your system. What works in one system may not work in another... synergy is important.

Cables can also tame the sound of sharp snares or otherwise unpleasant passages, without an EQ. Try doing this with an EQ and often, desirable traits in system, such as detail retrieval and PRAT are lost. Different microphones, placement, recording engineers, studio efforts overall, producers intentions, etc. Any and all variables can combine to make or break overall system presentation.

And for someone who was taught that cables will never make a difference, or if that same person holds this view strongly, then it's true - all cables will sound the same to them. People become believers in cables not because they believe in them so much, but rather they don't have preconceived notions and confirmation bias clouding their judgment when changes are audible.

Soak up the sound like a sponge and enjoy.

Digging up a 13 year old post to continue a closed thread and tell me how wrong I am seems petty.

As I have said many times, I have done plenty of testing, using ears and test instruments, and have identified causes when cables made a difference.

Whatever - Sponge Don

 

[audiopro92]

Digging up a 13 year old post to continue a closed thread and tell me how wrong I am seems petty.

As I have said many times, I have done plenty of testing, using ears and test instruments, and have identified causes when cables made a difference.

Whatever - Sponge Don

Very well, well you responded twice. On the same day.

I never explicitly stated you were wrong, nor did I ever make an inference to your lack of knowledge on the subject.

Rather, I started the post with - As you probably already know. Therefore, I have made an educated guess or an inference that you have knowledge, rather than not.

Please don't be so offended. We have an entire generation [z] who reserves the right to be, and people who, regardless of age are overly sensitive to online posts. I want to extend a sincere apology to you - I am truly sorry, for hurting your feelings. I had no such intent and my posts are never meant to make someone feel awful.

I hope you can accept my apology.