Speaker Cables DO Make A Distinction…BUT! |

Speaker Cables DO Make A Distinction…BUT!

By Steve Huff

My video about unique cables vs cheapies. 

I get requested to evaluate cables perhaps 5-6 occasions per yr. I normally flip them down as a result of they’re most frequently of the decrease tier or mid tier selection. Not that this can be a dangerous factor as reasonably priced and high quality is an effective factor however usually occasions these decrease price cables all sound much like me. $39 vs $300 cables? Fairly related normally.

I’ve heard fairly a couple of cables through the years and I imply speaker, interconnects, and even digital cables. Those I’ve heard in my house have had a worth vary between $39 and $17,000. Loopy worth vary for cables, proper? Virtually appears like this a part of the pastime may very well be a rip-off. However, it’s not. Probably not.

Just a few years in the past I had an entire loom of considerably pricey Cardas Clear Reflection cables courtesy of my pals over at Devoted Audio in AZ. They’re now a sponsors of this web site and the top honcho over there, Dan, is a good, trustworthy and tremendous man. Considered one of my fave HiFi sellers (they usually additionally permit on-line ordering). That set of Cardas was very good and introduced a easy refined sound to the system. That they had some heat and depth to them they usually have been fairly heavy and hefty cables. Over time I observed that they have been a contact too heat in my system on the time (I had a heat amp and audio system).

I finally switched to an affordable $39 set of speaker cables and whereas they have been inferior to these Cardas in construct or sound, they have been perhaps 80% there. I misplaced some superb particulars, some sparkle up high and a few refinement.

I stored these $39 cables in for a yr, and did a brief stint with the cables bought by Kinki Studios referred to as “Earth”, which have been significantly better than the value suggests. These Earth cables allowed extra treble power to shine by vs the $39 specials, in addition to extra particulars. Even so, I went again tp the $39 specials as they have been gentle, simple to maneuver and place and made it simple for me to attach when altering out gear, as I usually do for evaluations. I determined to cease worrying about cables for some time and went with what 95% of us would go together with. Low cost however nice high quality. Not magical however actually good, particularly for $39.

Just lately I used to be considering again to after I owned a set of Nordost Valhalla speaker cables, together with Valhalla interconnects. Once I owned them a few years in the past I used to be blown away by what they did in my system on the time. At the moment I used to be having some finance points so after a yr or two bought them and ever since I’ve had many ideas about getting one other set. They have been, with out query, essentially the most spectacular cables I ever heard.

I even tried out some Valhalla 2 cables and proffered the OG’s. Name me loopy however there was one thing magical about these unique V1 cables. That is system dependent and right this moment I’ll choose the V2 however no method I can afford them. 

Quick ahead to a short time in the past right here in 2024. I discovered some OG mint situation Valhalla cables on the market on-line, marketed as a 4M set for $3k. This appeared low cost as after I see 4M units on the market they’re normally between $5600-$7000, used. These cables have been discontinued in 2012 and changed by the way more costly V2 variations. I jumped on the probability and acquired them. Per week later they arrived, picket field and all. Solely there was an issue. They have been 3M and never 4M. 9 toes as a substitute of twelve, as I used to be advised.

I used to be going to ship them again instantly with out hooking them up however I needed to not less than strive them, to refresh my reminiscence of the OG Valhalla. Would I nonetheless suppose they have been so magical, so superb and the perfect I’ve heard?

Nicely, from the primary monitor performed I knew these might by no means return. I needed to preserve them and despite the fact that I used to be advised 4M and acquired 3M, the value was nonetheless honest for this set so I advised myself there is no such thing as a method I can ship them again. There was, on the time, a 4M set on the market on-line for $6700. That confirmed me I paid a good worth.

Going again to the cables, simply the speaker cables….WOW.

The sound vs the $39 cables was gorgeous. A lot extra power, influence, instrument separation, particulars, layers, depth and the soundstage? Whoa! How on earth can a cable do that? By no means ever have I heard a cable like this and whereas I do know the V2 and even ODIN V2 exist, most mere mortals cannot afford them, together with me. The $3k I paid for these cables introduced forth a “part stage” improve, even besting what a $5k DAC might do. I imply, these introduced a bigger enchancment to my system than a brand new excessive finish $5k DAC did. If any cable might persuade me that it was certainly a “part” that’s vital, very a lot so, it’s this one and these are actually legendary in some audiophile circles.

The timbre of the devices was so proper. The vocals have been within the room like by no means earlier than. Going again to the $39 cables, even my spouse couldn’t imagine what SHE was listening to! The sound shrunk, turned closed in and whereas it was musical, very satisfying and full bodied the Nordost was so significantly better at delivering the music, it was certainly NIGHT AND DAY.

So sure, cables within the excessive finish realm 100% do make a distinction and it’s not refined, in the fitting system in fact and that is the “BUT”. 

BUT!! The remainder of your system must be as much as the extent to ship the best sign for the cables to ship to your audio system. I might not purchase a used set of those for a $1k amp, a $1500 set of audio system or perhaps a $2k amp. Whereas these do enhance the sound even on decrease finish gear I really feel they do essentially the most once you hook them as much as gear that’s worthy of the cable itself. Synergy.

My present reference system retails for round $20k. These cables are proper at house right here and might scale as much as way more unique methods. if I had a $100k system I might nonetheless have these in place as they will scale as much as any system.

My recommendation? When you have a system within the $10k and up vary and are utilizing low cost cables, these cables may very well be the bottleneck in your system and you might be choking it so to talk. A fantastic system does actually deserve nice cable.

Anyway, sufficient blabbing right here. I speak about all of this in my video above and hope you take pleasure in it!