Quote Originally Posted by JohnMichael View Post
I have my computer repaired so I can copy and past the article instead of trying to paraphrase.

Music? Or Sound? | Stereophile.com
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What am I to make of all this?

In the first place I completely agree with the author's description of what to listen for in reproduction. Maybe that's because my steady diet is complex music of the type referred to, (including Mahler). In particular I listen intensely for what I call "separation" of instruments & voices from each other. I.e., not just the separate identification of the those elements but also their separation in space, their distinct imaging & placement. The other aspects as mentioned by the author are relevant to me too of course. Accordingly I'm a candidate for any upgrade will improve the sonic qualities in question, including speaker cables and interconnects.

One instance is recent improvement that I made is a Schiit Bifrost DAC. Two important sonic aspects in particular are improved by this device well beyond my expectation: (1) the separation and palpability, i.e. seeming tangible quality or simply reality, of the several instruments and/or voices, and (2) more lively dynamics, (a.k.a. PRaT), which improves all percussion instruments including piano.

But secondly we, (or at least I), also have to consider the mundane aspect of the author's listening experiment. The "named for a Norse god" cables are most probably Nordost's Odin Supreme Reference speaker cables. Consider that (a) they have a stellar reputation, and (b) they are very expensive indeed. I will never own Nordost Odin's because a pair costs a few multiples of the total cost of my system. Meanwhile in my own listening experience with speaker cables and interconnects -- admittedly restricted to low to low-mid priced stuff -- is that I hear no noticeable difference between them.

For instance presently I'm using older Nordost Flatline Gold cables; they are non-bi-wire and cost about $250 when I bought them years ago. But for a while, (during the interval that I also owned the Flatlines), I was using bi-wired 14 ga. cable like the Canare 4S11 available from Blue Jeans Cable @ $1.35/ft, (see HERE). This latter arrangement cost me under $50 including banana plug connectors. I notice absolutely no difference between Nordost Flatlines and the 14 ga. Similarly I hear no noticeable differences among the Kimber, Ixos, QED, and Monster interconnects I've owned and still use, and my Blue Jeans interconnects at 1/4 to 1/3 the price.

I'd be a much easier sell on the subject of better cables and interconnects if I'd already had positive results listening to different makes & models.