Tuberoller
Divorced an Orpheus to keep his wife.
- Joined
- Oct 23, 2001
- Posts
- 4,941
- Likes
- 15
No,I don't think my opinions are so important that you should want to hear/read them.I have auditioned literally hundreds of cables and have learned some things that have saved me and people who do value my opinions some time,money and frustration.I think my experience as a Journeyman Electrician, an audio enthusiast and sometime dealer gives me a unique perspective.
I am not a cable skeptic.I know that cables do make a difference,be it good or bad,and can completely change the sonics of an audio system.I do however,understand what fuels the fires of skeptisism towards the cable industry.It is the completely outragous claims and rediculous prices that some makers heap on us.there are some really good cables out there that are being marketed in some really,almost criminal ways.I'll tell you that the cable business is easliy the most profitable amongst the high-end audio products.I'll also say that not one cable maker actually manufactures his own cable.Yes,they assemble cables and do sometimes design cables and have them built to specification,but most often they buy an off-the-shelf cable design and make it their own.I have been to some major audio and electronics shows over the past few years and have been able to meet and talk with many of the cable manufacturers.most are decent people and really have an interest in doing things in an honest manner and really want to make the best product.Some think that people like you and I are the biggest chumps walking.At the NY Home Entertainment Show last month I suffered a rude awakening in an after-hours audition in one of the high-end cable maker's rooms.This asswipe joked aloud about how he had simply added an attractive outer sheath,a different connector that actually costs him less,and changed the wire color of his least expensive cable and tripled the price.this was after I had agreed to sell his cables.I'm still trying to get out of my deal with him as you read this.I am not shy about my distrust of manufacturers/distributors and you need to take into account that I am a dealer and I do sell audio gear.Understand as well that I am not for sale.I do what I do cause I like doing it,I don't need the money.that said,I'll get to my theories.
Interconnects:
I am of the firm belief that interconnects should be considered a system component.These can make a great system sound bad but not a bad system sound great.They are as important as any other component in your system and should be carefully chosen.I think there are some outstanding bargains out there and some huge rip-offs as well.the conductor material of the cable is far more important than is given credit.the stories you hear about silver not working well with some components is true.The same is true for some of the Cryo and teflon treatments as well.I have never heard a Cryo treated interconnect that I would spend money on.I wish I could tell you to stay away from some of the cable makers that make silly calims about their cables,but some of those same makers produce some really great cables despite the hype.The best thing I can tell you is to audition.TIP,cables suffer from diminshing returns worse than any other component that I know of.I have found several times where the cheapest cable in a maker's line sounds the best(Kimber).Stay away from strange new Technology that sounds too good to be true,it is.Connectors are of very little sonic benefit,they either make contact or they don't.
Power Cords:
I was a huge skeptic of power cords that claimed to improve sonics and dynamics.I found my system to be less suited to power cord improvements.My listening room has it's own isolated and hard-line conditioned power supply with an earth ground.Power cords make no improvements in my system.My Dad's house was a different story.I tried one of the more popular cords that many here at head-fi have been using and heard some noticable improvements.At a friend's apartment a power cord made such a big difference that we both we "shocked"( that's a joke).It did make a big difference.This is one of those things that I think has to a least be tried.I have also noticed that power cords and line conditioners seem to complement one another rather than work against one another.I have tried some big buck power cords and have not heard any worth the huge prices.Keep in mind that there are only six US manufacturers of power cable,most of the cable suppliers buy from these.there have been no amazing new developments in power cable design that I am aware of that would warrant super high prices.Hospital grade stuff is usually the best way to go and is always cheaper.I use it everyday.Tip,I doubt that most of you guys have actually seen a "hospital grade" outlet.Next time you are in a hospital take a look at the outlets that are used to plug in EKGs and other essential machines,you will instantly see what I mean.Taylor-Dunn makes nearly all the true-hospital grade outlets.they are not cheap and they grip so hard that you need a huge connector to remove the plug.Also most Hospital grade outlets require a dedicated ground,if you ground these in the same manner as a standard home outlet you nullify most of the benefits.
Speaker cable:
Beat me up now, cause this is the grand rip-off.most major speaker manufacturers think this is a big joke.Don't think so,keep in mind that Radio Shack zip wire made Stereophile's recommended components list.I have heard some really expensive speaker cable that sounded amazing,I bought it and used it for several years.I tried some new cheaper cable last year that sounded just as good.It cost $0.40 a foot and I bought it at Home Depot.The very best cable I have heard cost $75.00 for twenty feet minus the connectors.The sonic differences in speaker cables are so difficult to hear that I would label speaker cable as a "tweak",something you would try in an already optimised sytem.please don't spend big bucks here.TIP,your speakers are screaming for better placement.
Digital cables:
How could these possibly make a sonic difference?I don't know, but they do.Don't even bother to ask me.I tried one of the high-end digital cables between the MF DAC that I have been auditioning and things sounded better.I tried an even more expensive high end cable and things sounded..... no better.I think any improvement of the in-box cables will suffice here.I have tried some other digital cables and have found some to offer better connections and improve TV picture quality but not by much.Digital cables make me wanna scream cause the improvement they offer makes no real sense but it's there.like I said, don't bother asking me.
These are my opinions.Yours may be different.I value each and every one of you guy's opinions and I usually buy all the stuff that I see raved about here.I have owned or auditioned nearly all the headphones,amps,power cords,cables,sources and music that head-fiers recommend to one another on this site on a daily basis.I try to keep myself out of the debates involving specific gear(other than my temporary lapse of sanity in the Philips HP890 controversy,which I hope I helped resolve) so that I maintain an apperance of nuetrality.I didn't mention any specific brand names here(except for Kimber, which I don't sell Jude) because of my obvious conflicts of interest.If you must flame ........
I am not a cable skeptic.I know that cables do make a difference,be it good or bad,and can completely change the sonics of an audio system.I do however,understand what fuels the fires of skeptisism towards the cable industry.It is the completely outragous claims and rediculous prices that some makers heap on us.there are some really good cables out there that are being marketed in some really,almost criminal ways.I'll tell you that the cable business is easliy the most profitable amongst the high-end audio products.I'll also say that not one cable maker actually manufactures his own cable.Yes,they assemble cables and do sometimes design cables and have them built to specification,but most often they buy an off-the-shelf cable design and make it their own.I have been to some major audio and electronics shows over the past few years and have been able to meet and talk with many of the cable manufacturers.most are decent people and really have an interest in doing things in an honest manner and really want to make the best product.Some think that people like you and I are the biggest chumps walking.At the NY Home Entertainment Show last month I suffered a rude awakening in an after-hours audition in one of the high-end cable maker's rooms.This asswipe joked aloud about how he had simply added an attractive outer sheath,a different connector that actually costs him less,and changed the wire color of his least expensive cable and tripled the price.this was after I had agreed to sell his cables.I'm still trying to get out of my deal with him as you read this.I am not shy about my distrust of manufacturers/distributors and you need to take into account that I am a dealer and I do sell audio gear.Understand as well that I am not for sale.I do what I do cause I like doing it,I don't need the money.that said,I'll get to my theories.
Interconnects:
I am of the firm belief that interconnects should be considered a system component.These can make a great system sound bad but not a bad system sound great.They are as important as any other component in your system and should be carefully chosen.I think there are some outstanding bargains out there and some huge rip-offs as well.the conductor material of the cable is far more important than is given credit.the stories you hear about silver not working well with some components is true.The same is true for some of the Cryo and teflon treatments as well.I have never heard a Cryo treated interconnect that I would spend money on.I wish I could tell you to stay away from some of the cable makers that make silly calims about their cables,but some of those same makers produce some really great cables despite the hype.The best thing I can tell you is to audition.TIP,cables suffer from diminshing returns worse than any other component that I know of.I have found several times where the cheapest cable in a maker's line sounds the best(Kimber).Stay away from strange new Technology that sounds too good to be true,it is.Connectors are of very little sonic benefit,they either make contact or they don't.
Power Cords:
I was a huge skeptic of power cords that claimed to improve sonics and dynamics.I found my system to be less suited to power cord improvements.My listening room has it's own isolated and hard-line conditioned power supply with an earth ground.Power cords make no improvements in my system.My Dad's house was a different story.I tried one of the more popular cords that many here at head-fi have been using and heard some noticable improvements.At a friend's apartment a power cord made such a big difference that we both we "shocked"( that's a joke).It did make a big difference.This is one of those things that I think has to a least be tried.I have also noticed that power cords and line conditioners seem to complement one another rather than work against one another.I have tried some big buck power cords and have not heard any worth the huge prices.Keep in mind that there are only six US manufacturers of power cable,most of the cable suppliers buy from these.there have been no amazing new developments in power cable design that I am aware of that would warrant super high prices.Hospital grade stuff is usually the best way to go and is always cheaper.I use it everyday.Tip,I doubt that most of you guys have actually seen a "hospital grade" outlet.Next time you are in a hospital take a look at the outlets that are used to plug in EKGs and other essential machines,you will instantly see what I mean.Taylor-Dunn makes nearly all the true-hospital grade outlets.they are not cheap and they grip so hard that you need a huge connector to remove the plug.Also most Hospital grade outlets require a dedicated ground,if you ground these in the same manner as a standard home outlet you nullify most of the benefits.
Speaker cable:
Beat me up now, cause this is the grand rip-off.most major speaker manufacturers think this is a big joke.Don't think so,keep in mind that Radio Shack zip wire made Stereophile's recommended components list.I have heard some really expensive speaker cable that sounded amazing,I bought it and used it for several years.I tried some new cheaper cable last year that sounded just as good.It cost $0.40 a foot and I bought it at Home Depot.The very best cable I have heard cost $75.00 for twenty feet minus the connectors.The sonic differences in speaker cables are so difficult to hear that I would label speaker cable as a "tweak",something you would try in an already optimised sytem.please don't spend big bucks here.TIP,your speakers are screaming for better placement.
Digital cables:
How could these possibly make a sonic difference?I don't know, but they do.Don't even bother to ask me.I tried one of the high-end digital cables between the MF DAC that I have been auditioning and things sounded better.I tried an even more expensive high end cable and things sounded..... no better.I think any improvement of the in-box cables will suffice here.I have tried some other digital cables and have found some to offer better connections and improve TV picture quality but not by much.Digital cables make me wanna scream cause the improvement they offer makes no real sense but it's there.like I said, don't bother asking me.
These are my opinions.Yours may be different.I value each and every one of you guy's opinions and I usually buy all the stuff that I see raved about here.I have owned or auditioned nearly all the headphones,amps,power cords,cables,sources and music that head-fiers recommend to one another on this site on a daily basis.I try to keep myself out of the debates involving specific gear(other than my temporary lapse of sanity in the Philips HP890 controversy,which I hope I helped resolve) so that I maintain an apperance of nuetrality.I didn't mention any specific brand names here(except for Kimber, which I don't sell Jude) because of my obvious conflicts of interest.If you must flame ........