It would appear that there is two distant views about cables. Those that say there are differences and those that say there are no differences.

The group that find night and day differences are either exaggerating or they have much more sensitive ears than I do. Maybe they have much more sensitive equipment than me. I have experimented with a few different cables on my stereo and have found some differences, but would not say the change is large. Differences is a more accurate statement than better, as better is very subjective to each listener and set up. Testing for these differences is slow time consuming process listening to selected music over and over and over again. Really do not listen to a type of music versus selected musical instruments and passages. Examples are glass breaking, piano (very revealing), violin, bass guitars, female vocals to name a few. As well, I use solo vocal or solo instrument with no other instruments or vocals being played at the time, a band or orchestra playing has too much information for me to deal with. Basically, I listen to passages of music with a single instrument or vocal that is demanding for range or extremes, looking for what sounds the best and most accurate.

Yes I have found differences and all are not better, you can spend more and get less. From my experience I have found AR Acoustic Research cables to be very disappointing for their price compared to the competition in the same price range. Noted, this on both interconnects and speaker cables, going to make myself some real fancy battery cables from a pair of AR speaker cables. Would have thought from other equipment that I have heard from AR that they would have been much better in my comparisons. As well have tested a pair of Monster Cables ZR-1 that rolled off the high end but works great on speakers with a sharp top end. But I do not believe that cables should be used as tone controls, a cable’s job is to deliver the signal without adding or subtracting from the music. For slightly more money Monster Cables ZR-2 did not have this problem noted and matched other cables of similar quality and cost. So, yes I have heard differences but I would not say that is dramatic or large. Did not test any exotic cables, so there might be more differences than I heard.

Well the nay Sayers are probably turning over in their graves by now. First, I always thought the same, how can a little piece of wire affect the sound of music. Probably, the biggest impact comes from using shielded wires versus non shielded wires. Although I always thought, why worry about shielded wires if you are not picking up strange or stray noises. No noise therefore no problems. However, today I believe that although we may not hear any strange noises as it is so far in the background, using shielded cables may reduce this noise further. This will be all the only theory I shall put forward, no scientific proof, no measurements just my humble opinion. Yes the famous double blind test, in my testing I have found in some set ups no difference and in others some differences.

The most distinct results and differences where noted by connecting my CD player directly to my tube headphone amp and using headphones. Using a gold plated metal “Y” connector I ran two different sets of interconnects to the headphone amp, which has a three position selector switch. No preamp passive or active are used. Have also compared using speakers through the integrated amplifier and these changes can also be noted but not as dramatic. Using the tape loop in my Integrated amplifier affects the sound more than the cables do, this surprised me. This testing was done to convince myself was there any differences and yes I heard differences, some better some worse. Of all the things one could change in their stereo this will have the smallest affect in my eyes (ears). Changes in sound quality are small, measured I would say less than a 5% change. Using my turntable connected to the integrated amplifier and connecting the “Y” connector to the tape out with two sets of cables going to the headphone amp, I heard no differences in the cables. Hmmm, what is going on here? So now I have noted differences and also no differences in different set ups. I do have some thoughts on this but will not discuss them at this time. Reference double blind test which cables or wires would you use inside the switching device. If we are to assume that cables can affect the sound to a small degree wouldn’t these wires be a factor in changing the sound. Would we use the cheapest wires or some exotic wires

For those that do not hear any differences I do not criticize or look down upon you, in fact I envoy you. I wish that I was not blessed with this curse and hear these differences. A thousand dollar stereo is much cheaper than a five thousand dollar stereo and so on. That’s $4K that can be spent on music instead. At least I can say my music costs more than the medium that I use to play the music and this will not change for me. As well this is a hobby to me and hobbies cost money, if I was to make money from this I would call it my business. Can I make my hobby my business, now there’s a thought. Would I recommend that every one run out and buy cables definitely not, this way my stereo will be better, just kidding. First off, until you hit a set dollar value I do not believe that you can justify spending money on cables. Second, if you do not hear any differences why spend the money, in fact if you buy something that costs more and there is no differences then bring it back to the store. This is why you should not deal with the big chain stores, just imagine telling them I do not want it because I do not hear any differences. For those that spend more time behind the stereo than in front I pity you, this is not what listening to music is all about.

In order of importance of equipment, speakers followed by source and then amplification and last and least important is cables. Some will dispute the issue about speakers versus source which is understandable, just like computers garbage in garbage out. Where do cables fit into the overall picture, I would say up to 5% to 10% of total system costs is within reasons. Fifty to one hundred dollar of cables on a thousand dollar stereo is reasonable. Those cheap supplied cables have terrible connectors on them that are not very durable. As well that string sized wires supplied with some amplifiers for speaker connection is really cheap. So, I would say head done to Radio Shack and buy some 12 gauge speaker wires as well as better interconnects and do yourself a favor as a minimum. With speaker wires there is also the issue about using spade or banana connectors or bare wires. To me they each have advantages and disadvantages.

So, in conclusion I have heard differences in both interconnects and speaker wires. However, one should not spend more money on cables than on there equipment.

Have A Great Day and enjoy the music