Are all interconnects created equal?
01-23-2005, 02:10 PM
#12
the metalurigcal composition of a cable can affect the sound, just likehte number of strands can affect the sound. solid wire and stranded wire sound different. Terminations and their metalurgical makeup will change the sound, just like the quality of each solder joint will change the sound.
they don't work like an EQ, but by inducing distortion into the signal as it passes from one metal to another, or by limiting the range that the cable can play. (solid wire sounds like **** on highs, but below 50-60 hz, you won't notice generally)
will silver "sound" different than copper? measurably yes, audibly, not enough to notice with any consistancy.
will copper cable 1 sound different than copper cable 2? nuh uh.
That said, I'll stick with my stinger expert series.
they don't work like an EQ, but by inducing distortion into the signal as it passes from one metal to another, or by limiting the range that the cable can play. (solid wire sounds like **** on highs, but below 50-60 hz, you won't notice generally)
will silver "sound" different than copper? measurably yes, audibly, not enough to notice with any consistancy.
will copper cable 1 sound different than copper cable 2? nuh uh.
That said, I'll stick with my stinger expert series.
01-23-2005, 02:25 PM
#13
I will agree that you can most certainly measure differences in capatance, phase shift, and whatnot... and its true different cables will indeed have a different freq. response curve and introduced distortion (things like phase shift are a type of distortion).... However you will also notice that bandwidth up to 20KHz will be but a small part of these curves and will be more/less pretty darn consistant...
Anyone interested in a bet ? Ill fashion up some RCAs made of coat hangers (you have to crimp them together PEI
) and we can do some ABX testing against other cables...
On a side note, some cables have passive crossover networks built in that would definatly effect the sound.... I dont have any idea why anyone would use these... you wouldnt just arbitrailly pick out and match a premade crossover network with your speakers would you ???
[ January 23, 2005, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: Haunz ]
Anyone interested in a bet ? Ill fashion up some RCAs made of coat hangers (you have to crimp them together PEI
) and we can do some ABX testing against other cables... On a side note, some cables have passive crossover networks built in that would definatly effect the sound.... I dont have any idea why anyone would use these... you wouldnt just arbitrailly pick out and match a premade crossover network with your speakers would you ???
[ January 23, 2005, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: Haunz ]
01-23-2005, 02:31 PM
#14
Guest
Posts: n/a
cables change the way the sound coming from the source was intended, therefore changing the sound in one way or the other in its own unique way, not unlike an eq, therfore cable and its own signal changing characterists is very much like an eq or freqeuncy manipulating device is it not sass
01-23-2005, 02:39 PM
#15
^ yes it is... it will act as a passive filter...
Will you be able to hear the difference between 2 suitable interconnects from the cheap $1 store version to $10,000 pure silver cables of any variation.... No... not within reason....
(ie. the dollar store one cant be 2km long and the silver ones cant use additional filter networks)
Will you be able to hear the difference between 2 suitable interconnects from the cheap $1 store version to $10,000 pure silver cables of any variation.... No... not within reason....
(ie. the dollar store one cant be 2km long and the silver ones cant use additional filter networks)
01-23-2005, 02:39 PM
#16
2000 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 2,406
Many people think they can hear a difference between quality of cables, and it's these same people who totally fail when they do a ABX test with cables....................been there done it and no one can tell.................
The only TRUE way to test is to do a blindfolded ABX test.............any other way is subjectible............
The only TRUE way to test is to do a blindfolded ABX test.............any other way is subjectible............
01-23-2005, 03:59 PM
#17
If people only think they hear a difference between cables then why do some people spend stupid amounts of money on high-end cables?
Hell I know of people that have a different set of cables for different demo songs on thier home audio systems.
I know this sounds an awefull lot like the amp disscussion we had a while back, but are you gonna tell me there's no audible difference between Kimber Black Pearls and $10 Radioshack cables?
Hell I know of people that have a different set of cables for different demo songs on thier home audio systems.
I know this sounds an awefull lot like the amp disscussion we had a while back, but are you gonna tell me there's no audible difference between Kimber Black Pearls and $10 Radioshack cables?
01-23-2005, 05:28 PM
#18
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 952
People spend a lot of money on cables because they have higher end systems that are capable of distinguishing the subtle difference they make compared to less expensive types.
Keeping in mind the above posts, the price of copper has skyrocketed, and to compensate, copper manufacturers use a higher ratio of other minerals like zinc to make copper made products(look at the weight of pennies over the past 20 years).
There are different calibers(qualities) of copper, Australian said to be the best.
of course there are other important factors that make up a quality cable besides the copper content, strands, guage, solid core, multi-strand, and of course the die-electric materials used for shielding, along with the type of termination.
Cables do sound different, and the law of "diminishing returns" is most prevelant in this area than any other in this industry.
The parable of "why buy a Lambourghini if you're planning to use bias ply tires and regular gas?" applies here, give your system the chance of producing it's maximum potential.
Keeping in mind the above posts, the price of copper has skyrocketed, and to compensate, copper manufacturers use a higher ratio of other minerals like zinc to make copper made products(look at the weight of pennies over the past 20 years).
There are different calibers(qualities) of copper, Australian said to be the best.
of course there are other important factors that make up a quality cable besides the copper content, strands, guage, solid core, multi-strand, and of course the die-electric materials used for shielding, along with the type of termination.
Cables do sound different, and the law of "diminishing returns" is most prevelant in this area than any other in this industry.
The parable of "why buy a Lambourghini if you're planning to use bias ply tires and regular gas?" applies here, give your system the chance of producing it's maximum potential.
01-23-2005, 05:40 PM
#19
^ If there is a difference to be heard then why cant anyone ever tell between cables in an ABX (scientific) test ???
If capacative noise was an issue then I could see wanting shielding... but these cables are nothing special, and its not a very common problem to have....
If capacative noise was an issue then I could see wanting shielding... but these cables are nothing special, and its not a very common problem to have....
