Why some speaker cables sound different - in layman's terms
The best CD that showed the difference was Blue (Joni Mitchell). With the Chord Signatures the sound was really screechy to such an extent that SHMBO demanded that I stopped playing immediatley. When I used TQ Green Joni was a lot mellower to my (and SWIO) ears.
The system was Cyrus / Spendor. I have said in different posts that the Cyrus sound is quite sensative to cables and interconnects
IMO. The TQ Green is slightly smoother than the the Black / Ultra Black, ie. A bit more like the Blue, but much better.
The best CD that showed the difference was Blue (Joni Mitchell). With the Chord Signatures the sound was really screechy to such an extent that SHMBO demanded that I stopped playing immediatley. When I used TQ Green Joni was a lot mellower to my (and SWIO) ears.
The system was Cyrus / Spendor. I have said in different posts that the Cyrus sound is quite sensative to cables and interconnects
IMO. The TQ Green is slightly smoother than the the Black / Ultra Black, ie. A bit more like the Blue, but much better.
Ok cheers guys.. I already have Epics and got them at a good price so no issue selling them.. Would I be better going for the blue or blacks then? Can't afford greens.. There is def a hissy top end but that is partly due too the ProAcs small tweeter.. Do you recommend TQ interconnects?
Ok cheers guys.. I already have Epics and got them at a good price so no issue selling them.. Would I be better going for the blue or blacks then? Can't afford greens.. There is def a hissy top end but that is partly due too the ProAcs small tweeter.. Do you recommend TQ interconnects?
It's very personal, but imo the Epic is probably much better than the Blue. You can try the Black, but some second hand Green would tame things more. You need to borrow some, as it's too much money to go on my say-so.
Here is the view of Hi-Fi+ , in case you find it helpful: http://h-e-a-r.de/pdf/tellurium_q/HIFI+75_TELLURIUM_LOW-1.pdf
If you like what the S/Cs do, it makes sense to look at the I/C.
Never trust someone who cannot spell misapplied 
I bought Cardas clear light for my system: speaker cables and interconnects.
I havent an ounce of scientific credentials to my name. However, I did spend several weeks listening to a few different cable types and AB'ing. My ears preferred the Cardas by some margin. So I went with that. So applaud me if you think I have discerning ears, or shoot me if you think I am psychoacoustically challenged.
Personally, I equate cable wars with vexing middle eastern political uprisings... very very tough to solve. Someone call Hilary Clinton or Ban Ki Moon!
But seriously, I heard a difference that was meaningful to me, it was enough for me to pony up the cash. I remain a big fan of Cardas products.
Good man, and thank you for speaking up.......there are now at least 4 of us (loons), with Singslinger also being very impressed with the Clear Light.
BTW What other cables did you try, as Rob and Alex are deep in the middle of a trial ATM.
I'll have you know my good man, that I am not a loon. I accept that the cable police might call me stupid/ a fool/psychoacoustically challenged/ having more money than good sense/sadly misguided/ but I am not insane. My wife might object to me listening to my hifi naked while standing on my head, but that's only on Tuesdays. So there. 
I'll have you know my good man, that I am not a loon. I accept that the cable police might call me stupid/ a fool/psychoacoustically challenged/ having more money than good sense/sadly misguided/ but I am not insane. My wife might object to me listening to my hifi naked while standing on my head, but that's only on Tuesdays. So there.
Hi,
I expect that if a manufacturer claims that their cable is superior and will provide a better sound for a hifi equipment, that the theory that they provide as evidence is provable and they can provide the relevant technical paper for peer review.
In the Cardas FAQ section it is stated for Skin Effect :
It is interesting to note that self inductance actually goes down with frequency in conductors, because of "skin effect"
I know that this can seem convoluted at times, but it is interesting to note that solid core, round, OFHC is the conductor of choice for radio transmitters. In audio systems the whole cross section of the conductor is in play at all times, and system impedance scaling is optimised for low loss. Here skin effect resistance is hardly a factor. Self inductance and ring (resonance) are the problem as I see it.
The first sentence is plain wrong - self inductance causes skin effect and not vice versa.
The next paragraph seems to be stating that the small self inductance is an issue - the cables that are sold are low inductance per metre compared to others on the market - but there is no evidence why this is the case.
When there are errors in the text or theory stated is wrong, you then begin to wonder if the product is based on theory and research, or whether this is a collection of facts summarised to infer that the product is based on sound engineering principles.
So perhaps people are not entirely disbelieving that cables do not make a difference, but are sceptical when the theory does not seem to be correct.
Would anyone who hears a difference between cables be willing to form part of a DBT process ?
I cannot hear differences between cables - interconnects etc., so if someone can complete a simple test - as i have stated in an earlier post - use cheap QED cable XTC - then once listened to - separate the conductors so you have two distinct cables - cut down the middlle of the insulation - pull the cables apart ensuring 10cm distance - this will remove the cable capacitance and see if there is any difference. This action alone will tell you immediately if there an impact of the cable capacitance on cable sound.
Regards,
Shadders.
Ok cheers guys.. I already have Epics and got them at a good price so no issue selling them.. Would I be better going for the blue or blacks then? Can't afford greens.. There is def a hissy top end but that is partly due too the ProAcs small tweeter.. Do you recommend TQ interconnects?
It's very personal, but imo the Epic is probably much better than the Blue. You can try the Black, but some second hand Green would tame things more. You need to borrow some, as it's too much money to go on my say-so.
Here is the view of Hi-Fi+ , in case you find it helpful: http://h-e-a-r.de/pdf/tellurium_q/HIFI+75_TELLURIUM_LOW-1.pdf
If you like what the S/Cs do, it makes sense to look at the I/C.
Ok cheers, I don't know if you read this section before.. http://www.telluriumq.com/page18.html
My wife might object to me listening to my hifi naked while standing on my head, but that's only on Tuesdays. So there.
This is perfectly acceptable behavior compared to admitting you can hear a difference in cables..............anyway, I did that on Thursdays as well, until my back op.......so now I just listen to different cables instead! 
Would anyone who hears a difference between cables be willing to form part of a DBT process ?
I cannot hear differences between cables - interconnects etc., so if someone can complete a simple test - as i have stated in an earlier post - use cheap QED cable XTC - then once listened to - separate the conductors so you have two distinct cables - cut down the middlle of the insulation - pull the cables apart ensuring 10cm distance - this will remove the cable capacitance and see if there is any difference. This action alone will tell you immediately if there an impact of the cable capacitance on cable sound.
Regards,
Shadders.
Which cables have you tried and in what system..............not trying to cause trouble, but understand.
Did you see this Blind Test (further back in the thread): http://www.nordost.com/default/pdf/hifiplus_issue34.pdf
Ok cheers, I don't know if you read this section before.. http://www.telluriumq.com/page18.html
Thx for the link..........and looking round the site, two things caught my eye:
- They deliberately don't publish specs, as they want people to go and listen for themselves......which of course can be interpreted two ways; but the amount of awards they've won, does point to the fact they may be on to something.
- The Blue is the warm (cheaper) companion cable to the Black, as the Green is to the Ultra Black.
Would anyone who hears a difference between cables be willing to form part of a DBT process ?
I cannot hear differences between cables - interconnects etc., so if someone can complete a simple test - as i have stated in an earlier post - use cheap QED cable XTC - then once listened to - separate the conductors so you have two distinct cables - cut down the middlle of the insulation - pull the cables apart ensuring 10cm distance - this will remove the cable capacitance and see if there is any difference. This action alone will tell you immediately if there an impact of the cable capacitance on cable sound.
Regards,
Shadders.
Which cables have you tried and in what system..............not trying to cause trouble, but understand.
Did you see this Blind Test (further back in the thread): http://www.nordost.com/default/pdf/hifiplus_issue34.pdf
Hi,
Link to nordost does not work ?
Not tried any speaker cables - but have changed from QED to another QED version to increease length - i did not notice any difference. Same was for interconnects - i purchased an expensive phono connection for the CD player to amplifier and using this nad a reasonably good interconnect (not bell wire type) i could not determine any difference.
They are just bits of wire - if you look at amplifiers - the signal progresses through a multitude of interconnects and signal paths, yet this multitude of paths does not cause the sound to degrade.
Many amplifiers have output relays - yet this is never questioned - relays are built for current carrying capability - they are not designed for signal path transmission - how big is the point contact to pass the 16A ?
Fuse wire - many electronic products have fuses implemented internally - and also plugs too. No one has ever claimed that the fuse wire alters the sound - yet we have gold plated 3 pin sockets and special mains cables that "improve" the sound - yet the fine fuse wire is neglected.
I expect many other components in the amplifier, and internally in the speaker, to be dominant given their actual design - yet this is negelected - out of site, out of mind ?
Regards,
Shadders.
Ok cheers, I don't know if you read this section before.. http://www.telluriumq.com/page18.html
Thx for the link..........and looking round the site, two things caught my eye:
- They deliberately don't publish specs, as they want people to go and listen for themselves......which of course can be interpreted two ways; but the amount of awards they've won, does point to the fact they may be on to something.
- The Blue is the warm (cheaper) companion cable to the Black, as the Green is to the Ultra Black.
Yeah I'd heard that too.. I've seen Blacks 2m terminated for £200 on ebay which I could sell mine and prob break even.. I can't justify spending anywhere near £500+ on speaker cables at the mo.. I need interconnects as well at some point..
Yeah I'd heard that too.. I've seen Blacks 2m terminated for £200 on ebay which I could sell mine and prob break even.. I can't justify spending anywhere near £500+ on speaker cables at the mo.. I need interconnects as well at some point..
That is quite understandable.
Contrary to the impression that some people have, I don't necessarily want people to buy more expensive cables (ie. at a level that makes sense in the context of their system), only listen to them and make up their own mind.
Report back with what you decide to do.
Ps. Did you ever try different links.........though it would make sense to use the same cable that you finally end up with (TQ , like Chord, do them).
Link to nordost does not work ?
Try this: http://www.nordost.com/default/pdf/hifiplus_issue34.pdf
Hi,
I have to laugh at this.
The Siltech cable (5m at cost £6300) came last out of six, but due to an anomaly they adjusted it to second.
The QED cheapo (5m at £80) had an anomaly in the second run of tests, yet they left it last.
Their words :
Equally apparent (and reassuring) is the audible gap between the expensive cables and the budget QED. Indeed, barring a single aberration (that we'll go into later) the gap would have been wider.
So, an expensive cable gets marked up from last to second, and a QED cheapo cable has no such preferrential treatment.
The cheapo QED cable did very well, in the first round of tests - whose marks were above the control - Siltech had 10 marks as the standard, and all other cables fared better apart form a single Au24 mark in the first round. So in the first round Siltech was last. All other cables were better thn Siltech.
The QED aberration in second round - Stereovox had 3 sets of scores - two were above the 10 benchmark and the other set below - why no aberration mentioned here.
The QED cable has blatantly been allowed to remain last since it suits the intent of the article that expensive cables directly correlate to a better sound.
Regards,
Shadders.
I agree with CnoEvil. I tried Chord v TQ and they did sound different. Don't be swayed by price as well. Some of the cheaper cables sonded better (to me) than the more expensive ones - even within the same manufacturer!!
When you heard them both how would you describe each sound? I think detail is obviously important but i'm more interested in getting an even honest frequeny range from the amp.. Cheers
The best CD that showed the difference was Blue (Joni Mitchell). With the Chord Signatures the sound was really screechy to such an extent that SHMBO demanded that I stopped playing immediatley. When I used TQ Green Joni was a lot mellower to my (and SWIO) ears.
The system was Cyrus / Spendor. I have said in different posts that the Cyrus sound is quite sensative to cables and interconnects