Expensive vs Normal RCA cables?

Just use whatever cables you already have.

Cables are pseudoscience; if you believe in ghosts, Bigfoot and UFOs, you might accept the claims. Otherwise, there's no difference.

No one has ever measured an audible difference between cables.

No one has ever heard a difference when they didn't know what cable they wete listening to.

Everything else can be chalked up to local folklore and superstition. You can find numerous stories alleging that the Chupacabra or Loch Ness Monster exist, but there's never been any actual evidence. Same with cables.

You'll hear a lot of stories - especially from those who have something to sell - but they all get rather defensive when asked to provide the minimum of hard evidence.

Save your money and use what you already have.

I don't believe cables are pseudoscience, folklore or superstition. I have nothing to sell, and nothing to gain by saying so. However, it make a lot more sense to just enjoy what you have and not worry about it. To me, cables are the last item you should be concerned with. Most folks that play with cables have a little extra cash laying around and can dabble as they please. 

 

Just clean those connectors occasionally with a little Caig DeoxIT Gold (new and old). 

I am not going to discuss whether or not cables make a difference sound wise but consideration should definitely be made regarding build quality (e.g. I wouldn't buy cables from the Dollar Store). Personally, I would always stick with recognized brands, of which there are many inexpensive choices.

If cables aren't pseudoscience, then where's the science?

I have yet to see a single cable believer apply the scientific method to cables. Instead, you just have folklore about how certain things sound certain ways. Whenever someone tries to conduct tests that establish these qualities, they fail. Then there's a frantic waving of hands and backing into illogical corners about how the tests are "unfair."

When you apply the scientific method, you have to accept the results of your tests. If your tests demonstrate your hypothesis - or belief - to be untrue, well, that's reality. You can pretend that reality doesn't exist and live in a magic fantasyland where every dream is true if you want.

But that ain't reality.

cable actually do make a difference. But it is in the brain of the listener.

It's not because cable sound the same, that we hear the same.

I don't apply the scientific method when I'm listening to music for pleasure, which is 6N's of the time. I'm not objective when I perform music, and I"m not objective when I listen to music. However, I love music, and I like the high end cables that I have. I have loved experimenting with all kinds of cables, some cheap (even out of the component box) and some very, very expensive ones. Some of the cheap ones sounded pretty darn good. As I've said before, they should be the last thing on anyone's list of upgrades, but they make a difference to me. (Heck, everyone needs them .)  I'm not trying to prove anything, or convince anyone that my personal experiences are the truth. And I'm not interested in anyone that try's to convince me otherwise. 

 

Reality? To each their own.

 

To the OP, just don't let cables stop you from enjoying the music.

I agree - music perfomance and listening are subjective. Objectively, you can quantify differences. Two different orchestras performing the same piece will be different. Though you can record each and demonstrate where they differ. How someone interprets each performance is subjective. But you can unquestionably show that each orchestra is different.

Similarly, how someone hears a performance depends on their listening, experience and understanding of the piece. It will be different for each listener and each listener changes over time.

With cables, however, you cannot demonstrate a difference between them. Neither can you show that listeners hear cables differently - as long as someone doesn't know what they're listening to.

Don't buy the cheapest. Mid-quality will do fine. And, I know, there is sometimes sonic difference between cables but you have to move to 20.000 USD (2 speakers, amplifier, cd-player) to hear that. For years ago I was struggeling with my home hi-fi and got an opportunity to test different speaker - and signalcables. It was obvious for me and my friends that there was a difference but sometimes it was hard to tell which combination was "best". I was looking for "air" and clarity and finally found a combination that gave me this but the trade of was weaker bas. It took a days of listening and I believe you really must have a hi-end hifi..

 

Would be pretty cool to see brain scans of people during sighted tests vs the "he who should not be named" tests. Might be revealing.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if in the sighted one sectors related to things other than sound were lit up much more so than in the "test who should not be named" in which the auditory part of the brain would be lit up more.
 

There was some research done some years back with regard to Coke and Pepsi.

 

Blind, there was no particular preference for either Coke or Pepsi.

 

Sighted, there was a distinct preference for Coke and brain scans showed increased activity in the part of the brain thought to relate to fond memories.

 

se

 

Thanks for that. Very interesting stuff.

You should get a Monoprice.com premium audio cable. Very nice cables for something like $3 a yard, or about 200 "Euros" per "meter" in your silly moon language (I kid!  )

So yilu, what cable did you decide to get? Are you convinced by the advice here?

As a marketing professional, I would pay for good marketing! (Which is basically what I'm paying for with my Diet Coke anyway...)

 

More objectively (I use that word loosely), if a disease like upgraditis can only be cured via paying more for something with more perceived (vs actual) value, then why not, no? Mmmm... those shiny cables...