What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

My speaker cable is not very expensive (will hopefully upgrade at some time), but the sound is still wonderful.  It's this (I had to decipher my audio guy's handwriting):

https://www.amazon.ca/Monster-SFLM-500-SuperFlat-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00004Y2VV

PD

p.s.  And, yes, only spend more money if you can hear the difference and like what you're hearing!  And if it's in the budget too! 

[Fëanor]

There will always be people who think that barbed wire is enough as interlinks and loudspeaker cable, and that there is no difference in sound in comparison with expensive cables. But I know better. I am blessed with absolute hearing, and was in a situation that I could test cabling over 35 years now, and believe me there is a huge difference between simple interconnects and the high end interconnects. and yes it warrants the outlay.

How much difference do cables make compared to other components?  Speakers? Amplifiers? Preamps?  How much compared to vacuum tubes?  Let's remember that "difference" doesn't necessarily equate with better.

I once compared several medium priced pairs of interconnects, (I'm afraid high-end is beyond my reach in any case).  I did think I heard a difference though, granted, my listening wasn't blind and I might have been fooling myself.  The difference such as I perceived was extremely small:  far, far less than between amplifiers, say.

I've more than once heard the advice that one ought to spend 30% of the cost of your system on cables.  My advice is don't, (based on 50 years of hi-fi experience).  Let's remember that dealers make higher markup on cables than any other category of component.

[DavidW]

My speaker cable is not very expensive (will hopefully upgrade at some time), but the sound is still wonderful.  It's this (I had to decipher my audio guy's handwriting):

https://www.amazon.ca/Monster-SFLM-500-SuperFlat-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00004Y2VV

PD

p.s.  And, yes, only spend more money if you can hear the difference and like what you're hearing!  And if it's in the budget too! 

We're talking about high end cable.  *cough* you have entry level cable.  Nobody would claim that is snake oil.  No offense intended.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

We're talking about high end cable.  *cough* you have entry level cable.  Nobody would claim that is snake oil.  No offense intended.

No, I know (particularly the speaker cable) is not very expensive.  I have listened to much more expensive ones though at the same place that I purchased my equipment.  I had spent 99.99% of my budget on good quality components and figured that I'd upgrade the interconnects and speaker wire at some point in the future.

Considering that the original poster said that he had spent around one pound each for his interconnects, I suspect that almost anything will be an improvement.    But again, that depends upon whether or not he wants to try out some other ones (not currently easy)--if he can borrow some and/or audition some at the store....and also his budget.

By the way, which interconnects do you own and how do you like them?  And for your speakers?

PD

[DavidW]

Haha I have no idea, I bought them years ago!  I remembered that I wanted them to be color coordinated including the speaker cable (it makes it easier to avoid polarity issues) and I also wanted the speaker cables to end in banana plugs (both for convenience).  And I'm pretty sure I spent something like $20 per cable (but I would have to check).  It looks like we have roughly the same budget on cables.

[Herman]

Incredible

You might try Nord Ost interconnects, they almost fit in with any equipment.

I have a couple of Nord Ost interconnects. And a ton of Naim din plugs.

Using the cheapest Radio Shack wiring on very expensive gear doesn't make any sense.

I think you will notice a difference...

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I have a couple of Nord Ost interconnects. And a ton of Naim din plugs.

Using the cheapest Radio Shack wiring on very expensive gear doesn't make any sense.

I think you will notice a difference...

Nice!  What has been your experience in terms of trying different interconnects?  Did you do much comparison before sinking your hard-earned money into the Nord Ost?

PD

[Daverz]

I am blessed with absolute hearing

The Dutch have such a dry sense of humor.

[71 dB]

Using the cheapest Radio Shack wiring on very expensive gear doesn't make any sense.

Why not? Do the electrons know the wiring was cheap and sold in Radio Shack? The only disadvantage of cheapo interconnects is the potential lack of mechanical sturdiness which can lead to breaks in the signal path. People who hear differences between interconnects are victims of placebo effect (which is the reason why this snake-oil business exists in the first place). Loudspeaker wiring matters a little bit due to the impedance level (typically less than 10 Ω) being so low, so you need to keep that in mind (avoid long AND thin wiring), but for interconnects (impedance level kilo-ohms) anything goes really.

Saving money on wiring makes actually a lot of sense, because that's one of the only things in audio where you CAN save money without loss of sound quality. Saved money can be used elsewhere where it matter: For example investing in acoustic panels to improve the room acoustics.

[71 dB]

How much difference to cables make compared to other components?  Speakers? Amplifiers? Preamps?  How much compared to vacuum tubes?  Let's remember that "difference" doesn't necessarily equate with better.

Cables don't really make difference. The most difference is done by room acoustics, placement of loudspeakers/listening point and the speakers themselves. Then vacuum tubes. After that comes the sound source and DACs. Then preamps/amps (non-tube).

I once compared several medium priced pairs of interconnects, (I'm afraid high-end is beyond my reach in any case).  I did think I heard a difference though, granted, my listening wasn't blind and I might have been fooling myself.  The difference such as I perceived was extremely small:  far, far less than between amplifiers, say.

Placebo makes us hear what we expect to hear. I would go as far as to say a piece of audio equipment has been engineered wrongly, if the interconnects affect the sound! That's not supposed to happen!

I've more than once heard the advice that one ought to spend 30% of the cost of your system on cables.  My advice is don't, (based on 50 years of hi-fi experience).  Let's remember that dealers make high markup on cables than anything other category of component.

That 30 % claim is complete rubbish, insane even, and you are totally correct: Cables and interconnects are a great way to milk audiophools.

[Herman]

Nice!  What has been your experience in terms of trying different interconnects?  Did you do much comparison before sinking your hard-earned money into the Nord Ost?

PD

No, I frankly didn't spend too much time on this. In my view it's worth it getting a somewhat better interlink, but trying out different kinds of interlinks and comparing the differences did not seem a particularly useful way to spend my time.

This is all a long time ago. Most of my gear is solid vintage Naim, which uses its proprietary interconnects with the queerbo Din srew-on plugs. But I used to have a seperate civilian set for video, and I got a bunch of Nord Ost for that one. In the intervening years I got rid of the video set, and now the Nordosts are in my girlfriend's Rotel set.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

No, I frankly didn't spend too much time on this. In my view it's worth it getting a somewhat better interlink, but trying out different kinds of interlinks and comparing the differences did not seem a particularly useful way to spend my time.

This is all a long time ago. Most of my gear is solid vintage Naim, which uses its proprietary interconnects with the queerbo Din srew-on plugs. But I used to have a seperate civilian set for video, and I got a bunch of Nord Ost for that one. In the intervening years I got rid of the video set, and now the Nordosts are in my girlfriend's Rotel set.

That is really nice of you to let her use those! 

I'm trying to figure out a way to wall-mount a shelf for a turn table upstairs; a friend of mine had offered to help me, but he's since bowed out due to the fact that I have plaster walls.    My good one (a RP-6) is downstairs and on top of a heavy and old t.v. cabinet, so even with my wonky old wooden floors, I would have to do some jumping around I think to make it skip.  Upstairs is a different matter alas.

PD

PD

[DavidW]

PD have you considered a hi-fi rack if you have the space?

[Florestan]

I have the above, plus whatever earbuds I have at my disposal.

(Runs for cover from diehard audiophiles)

[DavidW]

Well I like to listen on Sony wireless headphones from my phone on some of my walks.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

PD have you considered a hi-fi rack if you have the space?

Hi David,

I've looked into various ones over the years for my living room but kept running into problems like:  length of the wall where I want it vs. length of racks; hard to put speakers around the components and the t.v. due to doors; would love to be able to watch movies using better speakers but hard to be able to center them around the t.v. in terms of watching movies where seating is; in terms of listening to music, the speakers are either side of a fireplace which works (listening from my couch) but t.v. is to the left of the speakers.  Upstairs, the room is rather small:  I'm trying to figure out places to store things like LPs and CDs in the room which has my old stereo and/or building new shelving.  So, certainly not optimal but I'm trying my best to make it work.  Perhaps, someday, I can figure out a way to get a hi-fi rack upstairs--one which has enough weight/stability, not to let my components 'bounce'? 

[Irons]

Cables don't really make difference. The most difference is done by room acoustics, placement of loudspeakers/listening point and the speakers themselves. Then vacuum tubes. After that comes the sound source and DACs. Then preamps/amps (non-tube).

Placebo makes us hear what we expect to hear. I would go as far as to say a piece of audio equipment has been engineered wrongly, if the interconnects affect the sound! That's not supposed to happen!

That 30 % claim is complete rubbish, insane even, and you are totally correct: Cables and interconnects are a great way to milk audiophools.

Hi-Fi (a word laughed at recently on TV so perhaps I should not use it) has been an obsession for decades. Money no object but not convinced cables make a noticeable difference. It looses creditability for me with mains cables at £$ XXXX. I do not use bell-wire or Nordost either. The one area in this obsession where common sense prevails.   

[Harry]

Well whatever, you may all dream on, but cables and interlinks make a huge difference in sound, and is definitively not a waste of money, but the nay sayers have it on GMG. Let me be the only one then that believes what my ears tell me.

[Mandryka]

Do you guys think that everyone hears the same thing from the same system in the same room with the same source?

[Fëanor]

Do you guys think that everyone hears the same thing from the same system in the same room with the same source?

Heck, depending on my mood, I don't even hear quite the same thing from my system from day to day.  It doesn't sound as good when I'm tired or stressed.