One Approach To Cables...

[Khorn]

Here is something that I just posted to another board. I feel it is one sensible way of approaching the cabling of your system. It takes some time and effort but could pay off:

One approach to how cables react to your particular system is as follows:
Start by making sure all present cabling in your system is mechanically and electrically sound eg: clean solid connections and proper continuity. A really good way is to obtain some inexpensive but good quality mass brand (not high end) new sets of cables for your system. For this test to save time and money try just replacing the cables from one source, say the SACD/CD player to the pre-amp, then from the pre-amp to the amp. Leave the speaker cables for another time.

Listen for a while, (at least a few days for cable "burn in'" if they are brand new) and get used to the sound.

The second step is to contact a dealer who carries a few different "High End" cable brands. Do some research and find out which brands have opposing attributes in reviews. For example one brand may be known for a "warm smooth yet detailed" sound while another might have a reputation for a "more analytical" sound.

Decide on two manufacturers with opposing attributes as stated above. As manufacturers usually have a "main line" of cables with similar properties over a wide price range borrow the three sets from the main line of one of the manufacturers but, use the basic or entry level of that main line.
Listen to them over a few day period and see if you hear anything that you like or dislike about how these sound in your system. Return the first sets and borrow the second group of cables and do the same thing as above.

First, establish if you were able to hear what you consider to be valid differences between the Audiophile and the original basic cables. If so, then check your notes (you should have been making notes) to establish which of the Audiophile cable sets sound better to you and provide a better match to your system.

If you do find that one of the Audiophile brand cables sound better to you and compliment your system then you can "move up" that particular line of cables and see how much improvement the more expensive ones provide and if it is worth the price in your particular case.

[WVK]

How about having someone hook up two sets of speaker cables to one set of speakers, one from "A" amp terminals, one from "B" amp terminals.

For fun, make one set of cables lamp cord, the other an $8k Audiophile set. Without knowing which is what, have someone "rock" between A&B. That way you could check for difference and preference (if any).
Would that work?
WVK

[Gary]

There would probably be a volume difference....

I'd just buy the Grovers and have done with it!!

[Khorn]

Originally posted by WVK
How about having someone hook up two sets of speaker cables to one set of speakers, one from "A" amp terminals, one from "B" amp terminals.

For fun, make one set of cables lamp cord, the other an $8k Audiophile set. Without knowing which is what, have someone "rock" between A&B. That way you could check for difference and preference (if any).
Would that work?
WVK

I have found that it takes some time to audition anything audio. Too many times I have been either very impressed or completely disillusioned with what I was hearing initially only to find that I had a totally different opinion after a lengthily audition period.

Take one instance when I first listened to a newly designed pre-amp I marveled at how it highlighted and brought to attention certain musical components like instruments that I hadn't quite noticed before. I thought it was a great piece of equipment until I gave it extended listening over a day or so. At that point I found that I couldn't stand listening to it for any length of time. Severe listener fatigue. IMHO listener fatigue is a particularly insidious form of distortion as it's not something that is immediately detectable but really detracts from musical enjoyment if not making listening almost impossible after a while.

Similar situations have happened to me and those I know too many times so now I'm at the point that I would not commit to buying any active (a component or accessory that is in the system "chain) component without a lengthily audition. The only exception to that would be in dealing with known factors such as advise from very respected sources familiar with MY situation or previous experience with a product line that has exhibited and proven consistency of attributes over a long time.

So, I would consider an instantaneous comparison, whether it yielded very or no obvious differences not long enough to form a valid opinion. I would be more inclined to accept auditioning each set over a few days and at the end asking myself if there is any difference that I can detect and, if so, which do I prefer?