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I like 99% of you have upgraded cables from time to time over the years, after having what sounded like a good cable and a good match to my system. What causes people to change their minds about their cables? Why does it sound great today and not so hot next month or next year???
I'm thinking that oxidation has something to do with it.....
Follow Ups:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/03/03/audiophiles-cant-tell-the-difference-between-monster-cable-and/
Don't shoot the messenger. I use solid core teflon-coated silver cables. Who knew?
When I started upgrading my system, I bought some Audio Note Lexus ICs and speaker cables. Slowly but surely I am switching to these 100%. I don't imagine ever needing anything else.
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose
:-)
...classified in that category of "snake oil"?
So, you just bought the cable(s) you decided were "best" and stuck with those, content in knowing upgrading would be futile?Or was there a process beyond that with the various branded cables you have listed with your system?
I have little excess income and snakeoil is something I've never encountered on my cable "journey", so I'm curious about your response to the topic.
Or, perhaps I just missed the "irony"?
"...You're all welcome to stay for the next set...we're going to play all the same tunes, but in different keys..." -Count Basie
If you do not act on the desire, you might never buy another pair.
Simple (bit not easy).
Howdy
So for me it was simple, when various cables were the weakest link I'd replace them with the best bang for the buck cable I could find. As it turns out I've been using the same speaker cables for about 7 or so years, the same interconnects for 4 or 5, but power cables keep changing slowly :)
-Ted
Ted, what PC's do you like for SS integrated amps? Budget around $600 retail. Thanks.
Howdy
Unlike some here I haven't made a study of various power cords. I have Shunyata Taipans, TGAudio HRS SLVR, older AudioQuest NRG-2, AudioPrism Super Natural 9.5, the Kimber PC that came with my EMM Labs CDSD, a Better Cables ..., etc.
In my office system I had a SimAudio Moon I-5 integrated amp. It was a very noisy environment (Microsoft research), but still the I-5 liked being plugged directly into the wall instead of going thru the Monster HTS-2000 power strips that worked for the rest of that system. Except for the Taipans (which I didn't have at the time) of the other cords above the TGAudio HRS SLVRs were the best for the I-5, but the Super Naturals weren't that much different. They were both much better than the stock cord and than the cheaper cords I had. Also at one point we tried the Shunyata Black Mamba, but it was very dark with boomy bass.
On my SimAudio Moon W-10 monoblocks in my home system I've tried a lot of cords, but the midpriced cords I mention above (especially the Taipan) work as good as say the much more expensive Shunyata Anaconda Helix or Elrod Statement cords. Right now I have the much more expensive Jena Labs Power ONEs on my amps.
-Ted
x
My experience leads me to believe upgraditis is chiefly due to glorifying adds and buyer over-exuberance over recent expensive purchases. I have found the simpler the better. Short flat thin ribbons barely insulated let the whole frequency spectrum through to the speakers.
nt
___________C N Machani
I'm a very happy user of Cardas cables since 20 years. IMO/E they make the very best. If i'm upgrading some cables it's simply because i can't buy the top of their line in the first shot and it's alway nice to keep a little upgrade for later. ;-)
...people like Bill Low(AudioQuest) and Ted Denney lll(Synergistic Research), to name a few, that are pushing the boundries of cable design and what is possible in cable performance.
Some of the best upgrades I have implemented in my system(s) have been IC's, speaker cables and PC's with the most dramatic being the AQ Sky DBS IC from CD to Preamp. These IC's simply get out of the way and let the music flow in a way that was hard to imagine before implementing them.
Ted's new Tesla series of cables certainly have piqued my interest after hearing a demo at CES that was NOT subtle! I have just upgraded my REL SPEC RR cable to the new Tesla series and will report out in a couple weeks what changes were brought about but if it's anything like what I heard at CES... :-)
Cheers,
~kenster
Along those lines, recently upgrading from the AQ 72 dbs Colorado to 72 dbs Cheetah 'tween pre > amp brought a GREAT deal more music/detail to my ears; improved soundstage, deeper field perception, more realistic tonality.
I can forsee climbing the AQ IC line as far as $ allows.
Then AQ dbs speaker cables will probably be next...
"...You're all welcome to stay for the next set...we're going to play all the same tunes, but in different keys..." -Count Basie
I've done a lot if cable swapping of various cable materials, designs and DIY'ed. In the past I had thought Audioquest was mid-fi cabling with a large advertising budget. I thought I knew "good cable sound" until I tried the Audioquest Sky cables. I now hear things through my speakers which I thought could only be heard through headphones.
There are other that say AQ was not right for them, but they definitely are right for me. These cables just let all of the music through without adding anything. Like Kenster, I trust that AQ invests a lot of R&D into their designs, so until they come out with an improved Sky design (and they start showing up on the used market for my budget), I'm all set.
Ken
"Like Kenster, I trust that AQ invests a lot of R&D into their designs, so until they come out with an improved Sky design (and they start showing up on the used market for my budget), I'm all set."
Here is the new WEL signature IC that is the new top of the AQ IC line.
I would imagine a used pair of these would go for what a new pair of Sky's go for and if the Sky can be improved upon...
Cheers
I saw press about this Signature model last year and have been waiting for some announcement about it's release to the consumer market. Quite a stout looking connector. I've not read anything about other advancements in design associated with this cable. Any word on these hitting the streets? I still can't find information on the Audioquest site. If you are correct about the pricing, there will be some amazing values in the used market for Sky IC's.Ken
Here is all I can find so far is one review from Soundstage and a few snipets from trade shows.
Oddly as you have noticed, as have I, that the AQ website makes no mention of it...
For example, their most recent IC "U.S.rivers" line didn't appear on the website until several weeks after the ICs were well represented for sale on the market. Finding any technical info on them, you were dependent on dealer info.
Actually, that may be an obscurely brilliant marketing ploy!
"...You're all welcome to stay for the next set...we're going to play all the same tunes, but in different keys..." -Count Basie
.
...
tone controls and eq in the "audiophile" world. The search for the "flavor of the month". And, cause we just like to change things.
But cable changing has got to be one of the least cost-efficient ways to go about it known to man.
Give Me Ambiguity or Give Me Something Else!
Buying into the hype.......
Most fishing lures are designed to catch Fisherman....not Fish.
It's the same with audio related gear.
Audiophilia Nirvosa really nails it.
Yup, I'm guilty of it too.
I just know that $10,000.00 1M IC is better than the one that came with my $39.00 CD player, isn't it?
James
and obviously it doesn't always turn out to be an upgrade. But I can't imagine not trying to improve my system and changing cables is a relatively easy way to try to do that. Just sitting around listening to the same components year after year? No thanks.
nt
only occasionally
: )
... it doesn't involve heavy lifting.
I mean, why not? It's fun. We enjoy it. Beats sitting around watching tv. You only live once. If you wanna swap cables, why the heck not? : )
G
The longer a user lives with a given set of cables and equipment, the more obvious the problems become, at least to whatever sensibility the user has to music. This may not be conscious without intense reflection, but a generalized sense of discomfort, or an avoidance of certain musical styles, are clues that something is wrong.
What I've learned is that RF noise is the major problem with audio systems assembled with some care, and that cables participate by acting as both antennas and resonators. Swapping cables without understanding the issue is like shooting in the dark. Sometimes a change seems better on a few recordings, but then with more experience a new set of problems emerge. This leads to the desire to swap again.
Just swapped back my old speaker cables and my impressions hadn't changed about them but they just fit sonically again. It seems that it helps to swap once in awhile to clean the palette even if I really like a cable. I also find as an eclectic listener that I go through stages where my musical choices lean toward certain genres or artists. That may have a strong influence as well.
Cheers
Chris
NT
Greetings from the sunny Brønshøj riveria on the banks of the lovely Utterslev Mose
*
We all enjoy the journey more than the end result in some way. Nobody REALLY wants to reach the point where it's perfect and there's nothing else to accomplish. As a guitarist, I chase it. Always buying new toys and selling off others in search of the "perfect tone" (whatever that really means.). I'm sure car dudes do it as well. You know? With the rims and tires and neon lights and stereos and subs, not to mention all the engine and body tweaks. Computer geeks too. That's where the fun is. The chase.....
Greg
I agree with you regarding the chase, but sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses. You'd be surprised at what all else in life you miss out on when you "chase" too much for too long. It happened to me and I felt like Rip Van Winkle after he woke up from his 20-year sleep.
nt
.
I think that oxidation plays a small, if significant role, in the cable upgrade issue. Most common reasons are compulsive buying, perfectionism, and probably most importantly, which relates to our hobby( and all the previous reasons are tied into), audiophilia nervosa, with the idea that another cable out there just might be a little better. I fall into this camp.
And I would add the part where you finally DO upgrade cables after being very content for quite a while (yet knowing, deep in your bones that there's something slightly if not greatly better out there...) and, DAMN they ARE better!
That justification is a both a blessing... and a curse because you know if it's happened once or five times... most likely it will happen again.
This was yet another, recent IC experience for me.
What a great hobby!
"...You're all welcome to stay for the next set...we're going to play all the same tunes, but in different keys..." -Count Basie
Yes Audiophilia Nervosa is indeed a real condition, one which many manufacturers count on...
I just got finished reading a post from someone who spent $550 on a USB cable for his computer audio set up...and claims its so good thats its worth twice that much. I couldnt help but laugh...
What's even funnier is that you have an opinion without even hearing it.
I envy your ability to do thought experiments as well as Einstein or Stephen Hawking.
I can't imagine spending that kind of money on a USB cable. I would imagine that there are varying degrees of Audiophilia Nervosa. I suppose that one's degree of this condition also correlates as to how deep their pockets are. Anybody out there have their credit cards maxed out because of their Audiophile condition?
sherod,
I assume power cords were met with similar disbelief 15 years ago and I'm sure you would never invest on that crazy audiophile pipedream-right?
Care to guess which cable company invented the power cord industry?
I am guilty of spending thousands of $$$ on various power cords over the years and I am a firm believer in their benefits to the total audio/video system.
As to who re-invented the power cord industry, I don't know. Who was it?
I have to admit the condition struck me pretty hard at one point. Now I have a modest system and spend my money on music. In my mind good music sounds good [period] I dont need to chase the pipe dream of perfect sound to enjoy a good tune.
I too quit the chase. It just isn't worth it. If the music sounds good...it is good. Once I get to that *place* I hate to change anything.
*
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