Low end. Cheap. Generic. Otherwise bang for buck cable thread!

[mhhd]

Listening to many cables recently I noticed a few things:

**Listen for any differences needs a sensitive IEM, but listening for superiority needs a resolving IEM.

**Absolutely all IEM cables are deceiving in looks. They all look beautiful.

**Listening for cable differences amounts to only about 3-5% amount of total sonic differences.

**Many poor cables (wether low or mid priced) skewed the upper range perception. Whether it be clarity, or dullness, or diffuseness, or flat upper range.

**Most cheaper but clear sounding cables, were a bit flat in depth.. loosing a touch of life and immersion.

** Unfortunately, regardless of wether a cable was good or not, most low cost cables came off lighter in bass weight.

**Most mid priced cables don't sound any better than low priced cables.

**Expensive cables are not necessarily better. Absolutely no guarantee that they are better, no matter the materials or metals used. Many of them were no better than the mid-range priced, so definitely lots of hype in name brands.

**Exotic stuff like graphene and platinum, although having differences, made absolutely no reliable benefits. In other words, few cables did this right.

I even compared a $6000 IEM cable and found it too forward, loosing a bit of depth. Resolve was high tho.

** Best cables were able to keep micro level detailed ambiance with layered depth & realism.

** Best cables retained some level of depth perception, without sacrificing clarity, focus, or solidity.

** Many cables, regardless of price were guilty of gently skewed/exaggerated top end, but not in frequency response, instead in diffuse ambiance, and loss of a bit focus or solidness.

Differences noted, stayed within the realm of cable differences (3-5%), with specific "side by side" comparisons in relaxed familiar home settings, not in normal music listening.

With all that "Too Much Information" I posted, here is my pic for an exceptional Uber low cost cable, that became my favorite in retaining all sonic aspects mentioned, at high level.


Link here.

Hello,
I bought this cable and even with burn in it killed dynamics and bass . IEMs and DAC (EJ07m, EPZ TP50) are not known to be low on dynamics or bass shy...
So no exceptional Uber low cost cable for me.

 

[linconleandro]

Listening to many cables recently I noticed a few things:

**Listen for any differences needs a sensitive IEM, but listening for superiority needs a resolving IEM.

**Absolutely all IEM cables are deceiving in looks. They all look beautiful.

**Listening for cable differences amounts to only about 3-5% amount of total sonic differences.

**Many poor cables (wether low or mid priced) skewed the upper range perception. Whether it be clarity, or dullness, or diffuseness, or flat upper range.

**Most cheaper but clear sounding cables, were a bit flat in depth.. loosing a touch of life and immersion.

** Unfortunately, regardless of wether a cable was good or not, most low cost cables came off lighter in bass weight.

**Most mid priced cables don't sound any better than low priced cables.

**Expensive cables are not necessarily better. Absolutely no guarantee that they are better, no matter the materials or metals used. Many of them were no better than the mid-range priced, so definitely lots of hype in name brands.

**Exotic stuff like graphene and platinum, although having differences, made absolutely no reliable benefits. In other words, few cables did this right.

I even compared a $6000 IEM cable and found it too forward, loosing a bit of depth. Resolve was high tho.

** Best cables were able to keep micro level detailed ambiance with layered depth & realism.

** Best cables retained some level of depth perception, without sacrificing clarity, focus, or solidity.

** Many cables, regardless of price were guilty of gently skewed/exaggerated top end, but not in frequency response, instead in diffuse ambiance, and loss of a bit focus or solidness.

Differences noted, stayed within the realm of cable differences (3-5%), with specific "side by side" comparisons in relaxed familiar home settings, not in normal music listening.

With all that "Too Much Information" I posted, here is my pic for an exceptional Uber low cost cable, that became my favorite in retaining all sonic aspects mentioned, at high level.


Link here.

I have three IEMs, one for $219, $240 and $599. I'm on a relentless search for cables for them. Buying recommendations and checking if they fit my eardrums. Your guide is already welcome. Thanks.

 

[Maxx134]

Hello,
I bought this cable and even with burn in it killed dynamics and bass . IEMs and DAC (EJ07m, EPZ TP50) are not known to be low on dynamics or bass shy...
So no exceptional Uber low cost cable for me.

Yes this one is a bit lighter in bass. Apologies I didn't update my findings. I was focused more on specific clarity aspects at the time.

With similar gauge cables like that one, I have noticed 8wire is needed for decent bass levels.

I also noticed cables with more than 8wires affected the upper spectrum more and suseptable to diffuse soundstage.

Ideally I would prefer a 4wire with thicker guage, or an 8wire. Going to try the newer models with 6 wire. My guess is that this may have less weave interference using odd numbering and using different cables.

I wouldn't recommend low cost cables as they all have deficiencies.
I could not find better cable at this low price that had silver.
I didn't focus on all copper cables, which probably would be a better value in extreme low cost.

I moved onto AliExpress "top tier" cables, which (when wait for around 80% off) are all basically top designs, at mid-tier cost.
So they basically around 200. Then if I don't like them, I can return them and AliExpress is good for that.

 

[mhhd]

Yes this one is a bit lighter in bass. Apologies I didn't update my findings. I was focused more on specific clarity aspects at the time.

With similar gauge cables like that one, I have noticed 8wire is needed for decent bass levels.

I also noticed cables with more than 8wires affected the upper spectrum more and suseptable to diffuse soundstage.

Ideally I would prefer a 4wire with thicker guage, or an 8wire. Going to try the newer models with 6 wire. My guess is that this may have less weave interference using odd numbering and using different cables.

I wouldn't recommend low cost cables as they all have deficiencies.
I could not find better cable at this low price that had silver.
I didn't focus on all copper cables, which probably would be a better value in extreme low cost.

I moved onto AliExpress "top tier" cables, which (when wait for around 80% off) are all basically top designs, at mid-tier cost.
So they basically around 200. Then if I don't like them, I can return them and AliExpress is good for that.

Hi @Maxx134 ,
Thank you for these tips, good strategy with the returns, I will check this out.
Cheers

 

[pawdiophile]

Started a little thread just for fun — how you carry and display your gear!

Let’s be honest, those IEMs, cables, and DAPs are meant to be shown off...

Everyone’s welcome to share.

Jump in here.

 

[Jenzbullets]

Does anyone know where I can get very short RCA to RCA cables? Everywhere I look seems to be 30cm or more (11.8 inches).

I need something must shorter to just connect my tube amp to dac? Ali express etc?

 

[caryking]

Yes this one is a bit lighter in bass. Apologies I didn't update my findings. I was focused more on specific clarity aspects at the time.

With similar gauge cables like that one, I have noticed 8wire is needed for decent bass levels.

I also noticed cables with more than 8wires affected the upper spectrum more and suseptable to diffuse soundstage.

Ideally I would prefer a 4wire with thicker guage, or an 8wire. Going to try the newer models with 6 wire. My guess is that this may have less weave interference using odd numbering and using different cables.

I wouldn't recommend low cost cables as they all have deficiencies.
I could not find better cable at this low price that had silver.
I didn't focus on all copper cables, which probably would be a better value in extreme low cost.

I moved onto AliExpress "top tier" cables, which (when wait for around 80% off) are all basically top designs, at mid-tier cost.
So they basically around 200. Then if I don't like them, I can return them and AliExpress is good for that.

Do you have any recommendations of specific cables for specific needs? Example: if you are looking for more transparency, use this type of cable makeup.. then give an example with link.

I know that’s a lot for a request; however, it will be helpful to some of us when selecting different types of cables.

 

[Hypops]

With tariffs now affecting cable choices and prices on AliEx, do any others in the US have viable alternatives for cheap, good cables?

Does anyone know where I can get very short RCA to RCA cables? Everywhere I look seems to be 30cm or more (11.8 inches).

I need something must shorter to just connect my tube amp to dac? Ali express etc?

You can do custom requests from many of the cable shops on AliEx. And if you have basic soldering skills, you can very easily make your own. RCA cables are very easy to build.

 

[Bnadonpo]

Thanks for these tips

 

[imackler]

Any recommendations for a budget qdc (recessed, 2pin) that won't turn green? My zonie only lasted a couple years before turning green. (It's more an affect of my skin than enviroment; I have a tough time with glasses, too.) Other iem cables that have turned green were the original Ultimate Ears ciem cable and my SE215 cable.

 

[Uprox]

Any recommendations for a budget qdc (recessed, 2pin) that won't turn green? My zonie only lasted a couple years before turning green. (It's more an affect of my skin than enviroment; I have a tough time with glasses, too.) Other iem cables that have turned green were the original Ultimate Ears ciem cable and my SE215 cable.

I have several 'green' cables. After analysis I got two reasons of that: mechanical and chemical. Anyhow all comes down to insulation damage. Now everytime I check to avoid mechanical damage by bending or by chin slider and chemical damage by alcohol from perfume.

 

[timbre1822]

Which has better QC between ivipQ and CEMA cables?

 

[Uprox]

Which has better QC between ivipQ and CEMA cables?

I have 6 IvipQ cables and more than 15 CEMA cables. No one has QC issues.

 

[timbre1822]

I have 6 IvipQ cables and more than 15 CEMA cables. No one has QC issues.

Thank you! Overall SQ to price performance, which is better?

 

[Uprox]

Last years I prefer more expensive cables ($150-$200) for better SQ and CEMA is excellent in such price brackets. Few months ago CEMA started several cheaper cable series, wich I didn't try. In higher price range CEMA SQ surpasses IvipQ a little.