One for the 'believers'

How much does a really good cable cost?

  • Total voters
    50
deoxywatsit: absolutesybollox.

polish your pins, don't waste money on an a deoxidising agent that doesn't even has a chemically active ingredient warning.

its good for pots, and nowt else.
 
I suppose given the comments I should have asked where you cable 'believers' feel diminishing returns sets in with regards to price?

Thanks for your votes so far, it is interesting at least that the £100-200 bracket is starting to pull ahead a bit.
 
"cable 'believers'" - There's something a bit condescending about this term, like they're whackier than scienologists or people who believe in UFO's.

I am not a believer, although I have some that I like, and lot's that I don't.
 
I think the poll question is a bit duff. There are cables I consider really good at all the above price points, and ones in particular that get better the more money you spend. Similarly I have heard some cacky ones for a grand.
 
AlexTaylor said:
I think the poll question is a bit duff. There are cables I consider really good at all the above price points, and ones in particular that get better the more money you spend. Similarly I have heard some cacky ones for a grand.
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I think non beleivers are those that beleive a piece of bell wire is as good as anything else and anything else is a waste of time?? (Ian/Simon/Tones?)

Therefore you woould be considered to be a beleiver?
 
DavidF said:
I think non beleivers are those that beleive a piece of bell wire is as good as anything else and anything else is a waste of time?? (Ian/Simon/Tones?)
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I think that's a bit disingenuous :) The sceptical view is that provided two cables measure as electrically equivalent and are adequetely shielded they will sound the same. Since fifty quid will easily get you a well shielded, well constructed conductor, this does seem like a reasonable bottom rung fo the poll. In fact even Zanash's Type 1 silver are only this kind of money, I seem to remember. I'm pretty sure I've never spent more than this
 
johnfromnorwich said:
The sceptical view is that provided two cables measure as electrically equivalent and are adequetely shielded they will sound the same.
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Correct. It's also very important to remember that it's almost certain that the wire in your £500 interconnect is pretty much the same as that in a £10 version from the high street, as almost no boutique cable company actually makes wire, they buy off the shelf stuff from RS Components and the like and put it in a nice sheath, maybe do some plaiting on it. They are not "cable manufacturers" in any real sense.

-- Ian
 
This data is useful to know - My conclusion 50% of us who think cables make a difference think there is some value in spending more than £50 on an IC. I would still be interested in know the relative proportion of people on this forum who think there is no value in spending more than £10 - my guess its around 10% ?

FYI most expensive IC cable purchase for me was £124 - many years ago for some new Audio synthesis silver blue. I find it detailed and explicit but ultimately a little tiring to listen to over a whole evening when compared with some mid price audionote stuff I have loaned from a mate. I am now most likely to buy my next cables second hand probably silver. If I found stuff similar in sound to the AN stuff but cheaper I would buy it
 
ADPully said:
FYI most expensive IC cable purchase for me was £124 - many years ago for some new Audio synthesis silver blue. I find it detailed and explicit but ultimately a little tiring to listen to over a whole evening when compared with some mid price audionote stuff I have loaned from a mate. I am now most likely to buy my next cables second hand probably silver. If I found stuff similar in sound to the AN stuff but cheaper I would buy it
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So too would a lot of others :D I had until recently a set of the Audion Note Japan QSSC interconnects in my system so I know exactly what you mean.
 
sideshowbob said:
Correct. It's also very important to remember that it's almost certain that the wire in your £500 interconnect is pretty much the same as that in a £10 version from the high street, as almost no boutique cable company actually makes wire, they buy off the shelf stuff from RS Components and the like and put it in a nice sheath, maybe do some plaiting on it. They are not "cable manufacturers" in any real sense.

-- Ian
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Apologies..:rolleyes:

I'm sure you're right Ian.

I'm currently (no pun intended) using silver /gold cables (a la Pete)....the next ones I like are Petes platanum alloys (have I got it right this time, pete?).

I have to say I wouldn't buy off the high street as they seem over priced.
 
surely the whole point of buying home made is that you make them yourself.
 
Tenson said:
I suppose given the comments I should have asked where you cable 'believers' feel diminishing returns sets in with regards to price?
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I agree, thats an interesting one.

(I don't dare lsten to anything TOO good though; you know you going to have to give it back....:())
 
It depends on your system. My cable set comes to £6K. But thats my personal choice. Saying that I heard some cables costing £15K which I thought sounded shut in and compressed. Then I heard some cheap bell wire sound fantastict!.

I'm confused now.

Try before you buy.
 
Wickfut said:
If your hifi is balanced then changing cables will be barely audible.

If your Hi Fi hasn't got the synergy and is close to bordering on being too harsh/dull then the a bad cable choice will take it over the edge and make itself very noticeable.
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I find a balanced system to be quite revealing of cable choices, no different to a single ended system ?

I would also suggest that choosing cables and expecting differences would depend on ancillary choice also, A $200 amp and $200 CD player with $200 speakers may not show much difference between a $5o and $500 cable, take it up to $2k per box and things should change, at $10k per box yet another window may be opened to what capabilities a certain cable may possess.
 

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