Does the cables really matter??? Or it´s just good marketing?

[charliez]

Hi, I´m switiching to a serious AVR and just wondering if I must to invest in upgrade the speaker cables.
When I got my first receiver bought a reel of RCA 12 gauge cable and serve up today very well.

So, if I change to Monster or any other better brand. My performance will improve?

Ansiously waiting for your comments.

Thanks!

[McLoki]

It is my opinion that your performance will change. No guarantee if it will be better or worse though. If you are starting with 12guage cables, I would not worry about it unless the rest of your system is pretty stable and you do not plan to change much of anything in the near future.

While cables do sound differently from each other, I would consider them more a final system tweek rather than a place to start.

[MGPK]

When it comes to speaker cable, you don't need to break the bank to get the best out there. You can usually get good 12 AWG speaker wire for about a buck a foot. Forget about that time aligned crap that some manufacturers use to embellish their products and how other manufacturers say that their cables actually improve the sound. Any improvement that they claim is usually a colouration of sound.

[wingnut4772]

Yes. They matter. How much depends upon the cable. Just do your homework. The best cable I have found so far for the money is Dh Labs Q10. It is on par with the big buck guys for a lot less.

[F1nut]

The only way you will know is to try different cables for yourself.

[louthewiz]

Read this and remember that 12 ga monster cable and zip cord are all made the same way,:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable

[F1nut]

Read this and remember that 12 ga monster cable and zip cord are all made the same way,:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#wiretable

So, you'd believe something that someone wrote over your own ears? Not much of a wiz in my book.

[shack]

I think they matter a lot based on my own experience. I really don't care if anyone else thinks the same way or not.

HOWEVER, can't you "cables don't matter" guys come up with something besides that tired old "Roger Russell article"?

[janmike]

The only way you will know is to try different cables for yourself.

BINGO. And it really does depend on what type of gear you have.

[louthewiz]

The reason I gave "Charliez" the speaker wire link was to illustrate the proper wire gauge to use in his application lengthwise ,
As for the wire it is mostly made by the same factory which is Carol cable and Leviton distributors , And this information is a know fact since I worked in the electrical contracting business for 25 years and the wire all comes from the same companies that distribute worldwide and then companies like monster AR and rca brands put their names on the insulation.

[F1nut]

If you believe that, I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.

[louthewiz]

No I don't want to get stuck with the one you bought...

[F1nut]

You couldn't afford it anyway.

[danger boy]

your sound will improve as long as you stay away from Monster speaker wire. there wire that is the same. for less than half the price monster charges. buy something other than monster and you'll be fine.

[Polk65]

If you don't have problems with buying used, look around at the various auction sites like ebay or audiogon http://buy.audiogon.com/cgia/fsb.pl?cablspkr

Try cables out for a few weeks with familiar music, sell them and move on to other cables until you find the ones that you enjoy.

[liordra]

I think they matter a lot based on my own experience. I really don't care if anyone else thinks the same way or not.

HOWEVER, can't you "cables don't matter" guys come up with something besides that tired old "Roger Russell article"?

The article says nothing about "cables don't matter", it clearly acknoledges that cables makes a sonic difference. How ever it claims that it is thickness and resistance that matter, and not neccacerily the BS major brands's salespeople say.

The article also mentions other acceptable sources.

but most importently the article proves that retailers deliberately mislead buyers when demonstrating high end cables. there is a pic taken in Circuit City demoing Monster cable with Polk Mon 40. they use 50 ft of Monster, very think cable, and 50 ft of "Generic" speaker wire, only it is very very thin.

Now, they could have used the same thikness of coper wire, and that would be an honest comparison, but I guess that unlike me, they know how to sale speaker cable.

That aside, who said good, informative articles have an expiration date ?

[F1nut]

Since wiz can't afford my bridge, how about you?

[fatchowmein]

My vote is yes they matter but upgrade all your other components first and work on speaker/sub placements and think heavily about the room acoustics (and room treatments) before you start tweaking with cables but that's my 2 cents. Cable management will help too.

Of course, if you start with very cheap sub-par cables then at the very least get them up to some sort of decent standard. I'm a married guy so every $ counts so I'd rather spend on speakers and electronics. Once I'm happy with them I'll start upgrading my cables if I'm having issues (speakers humming) or I'm bored (I like to tinker).

[tonyb]

Trial and error determined by your own ears.The better your gear,the more cables will make a difference.

Jesse's got bridges..? I want one!!:D

[mantis]

Depending on the level of gear you own will decide what level of cables you should look into. Go to high and you will not benefit from them go to low and lose performance.

Cables like any other part of your system matters. If you want to buy nice gear and wire it with lower end cables, thats your bussiness but know your system will not perform to the best of it's ability.

You can put any kind of tires on your car.............

[MGPK]

Depending on the level of gear you own will decide what level of cables you should look into. Go to high and you will not benefit from them go to low and lose performance.

Cables like any other part of your system matters. If you want to buy nice gear and wire it with lower end cables, thats your bussiness but know your system will not perform to the best of it's ability.

You can put any kind of tires on your car.............

So, what would you suggest that the ratio of hardware to cables be, and would that ratio work for systems of any price?

I believe that if you do a little research on cables, you do not need to spend a whackload of cash to optimize your system. But, it seems that most people are gullible to the marketing crap that cable manufactures put out. The way these cable manufactures advertise, you would think that they radically changed the laws of physics.

[shack]

But, it seems that most people are gullible to the marketing crap that cable manufactures put out.

It's a good thing you're here to set us poor gullible fools straight...

[hearingimpared]

I buy ICs or speaker wire. I place them in my rig. I listen and then switch back and I listen. Then I switch back and I listen. If I like what I hear, I keep the product, if I don't I send it back or sell it.

See how simple . . . case closed. Cables matter!

[hearingimpared]

BTW try this website. They sell used cable and wire at huge discounts.

[MGPK]

It's a good thing you're here to set us poor gullible fools straight...

Thanks man, i really appreciate that.;)

[WilliamM2]

So, if I change to Monster or any other better brand. My performance will improve?

Your performance will not change at all. Differences in sound between cables of the proper guage has never been verified. The "believers" will tell you that we don't yet know how to measure things like soundstage, depth, pace, etc., so basically measurements are worthless.

They will tell you to trust your ears, yet in cable comparisons, they can't tell the difference without seeing the cables being compared.

[wingnut4772]

Your performance will not change at all. Differences in sound between cables of the proper guage has never been verified. The "believers" will tell you that we don't yet know how to measure things like soundstage, depth, pace, etc., so basically measurements are worthless.

They will tell you to trust your ears, yet in cable comparisons, they can't tell the difference without seeing the cables being compared.

Yes.That's right. We are all lying to you.

[MGPK]

Yes.That's right. We are all lying to you.

If you did a blind ABX test, then you would discover the truth. Let your ears determine the difference of quality instead of your wallet or belief system.

[charliez]

Wooww. Excellent thread!
I´m discovering that cables it´s like religion or something like this :). Terms like "believers" or "belief", really I didn´t expect. :)

I think this level of discussion is very enriching since sometimes the truth is not just One.

I think I´ll try with any other cable but would try than cable cost less that my avr! :) I´m surprised with the high costs for some cables

Thanks for your thoughts!

[McLoki]

If you did a blind ABX test, then you would discover the truth. Let your ears determine the difference of quality instead of your wallet or belief system.

Something both sides of this argument apparently believe. I have listened to multiple cables and found they made a difference (sometimes better and sometimes worse). Provided MGPK followed his own advice, he apparently did not. (notice a difference that is)

I would be dubious of anyones opinion that starts with - I don't have to listen, I know......

Ultimately - its your system and your money. Go to a high end audio shop and verify that they have a return policy, pick up some nice cables (or ask if they have a demo set you can try out) and listen for yourself. Return your new cables or sell your old ones - doesn't matter one way or the other to me and my system - but that is the only way you will know if it matters to you.

Michael