The BEST cable manufacturer? (POLL)

**charlieclarke** · December 1, 2014, 06:16 PM

After lurking around in high-end magazines, forums, articles, and other resources, these cable manufacturers seem to present “the best-of-the-best.” Which would you say makes the best quality products?

**Mike** · December 1, 2014, 06:20 PM

Pure build quality? Sonic? Both?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**the professor** · December 1, 2014, 06:22 PM

or company that stands behind their product?

**charlieclarke** · December 1, 2014, 06:23 PM

The best overall, all facets taken in to consideration

**Mike** · December 1, 2014, 06:27 PM

Overall? Kimber. Why? Their cables aren't stupidly priced. The Kimber Select cables are the best built cables I have ever owned. Their cables come in a flight case!

But sonically....that's a tough one. There are many great sounding cables: Ansuz, Nordost, Tara and of course, Kimber select.

**Dpod4** · December 1, 2014, 06:58 PM

Most organic sounding I have heard (timing, natural, coherent and filling in all space naturally) is Jena Labs (higher priced models).

**Odyssey** · December 1, 2014, 07:03 PM

I would think that it depends on system matching.

For the guys that have had multiple systems and different lines of equipment over the years: do you find that you have to change out your cables too? Or does one well made and sonically true cable work for almost all systems?

**Myles B. Astor** · December 1, 2014, 07:06 PM

Perhaps the cable that works in the widest variety of systems?

There is no one best just as there's no one best anything. Everything is a trade off or else we'd have live music in our living rooms.

In the better cables, the designers have better matched all the different design parameters. (How did Phoenix Gold at one time have an amazing İÇ and speaker cable for $20?).

**iosiP** · December 1, 2014, 07:12 PM

I voted Siltech. Not only they are beautifully built but also have something very few cable manufacturers can match: they're using their own wires (and their own metallurgy), not some generic wire made in China.

Oh yes, the sound... Well, gorgeous (at least in my system).

**Albert** · December 1, 2014, 08:25 PM

My vote goes to Stereo Lab and Black Cat cables built by Chris Sommovigo. They are well made, reasonably priced for what you get and work well for me. I have bought a couple of his LectraLine Xe silver cables (one new and one used) and have two of his Dragon Warlord power cords on order (should be here sometime this week). I may also get a pair of his Silverheart speaker cables when they are offered.

**cmalak** · December 1, 2014, 08:33 PM

Don't know what "best" means. As Le Roy mentioned, it's all about system matching. Yes there are companies that have higher build quality, perhaps better customer service and warranty terms, etc... but in sonic terms not sure you can define "best" absent the system in which those cables are going to be used. Of the big marquee names, you have captured the most well known cable manufacturers in your poll.

**BlueFox** · December 1, 2014, 08:55 PM

I voted for Shunyata since everything of theirs I have bought has worked amazingly well. In my mind thay are one of the best for a few reasons.

1. They have a relatively simple product line, and do not try and confuse the customer with infinite variations of cables between the least expensive, and the most expensive.

2. In the world of cables, they are moderately priced while competing head to head with every cable in your list. Other vendors are stupid priced, and that nonsense is what gives cables a bad name.

3. While not the most important reason, their endorsement list is a Who's Who of audio.

4. They use engineering to explain their designs, and help the customer understand how they work. I have yet to see another vendor using or demonstrating DTCD performance (instantaneous currrent), Zitron performance (square wave out is same as square wave in), and their new CCI (component generated AC noise) filters built-in to the power cords.

5. Based on number 4, you know that if a Shunyata cable works great with product 'A' then it will work great with any other product. For example, I had over $10,000 in Shunyata power conditioner, power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables extracting every bit of detail from $6500 worth of Cambridge-Audio gear. I was amazed at what detail I got everytime I added a Shunyata product. When I upgraded to Pass Labs I did not have to buy new cables because I knew the Shunyatas would extract all the detail from Pass, just as they did with Cambridge.

Trying to tune the sound of a system by swapping cables along with gear is a fools errand.

**Myles B. Astor** · December 1, 2014, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by cmalak

Don't know what "best" means. As Le Roy mentioned, it's all about system matching. Yes there are companies that have higher build quality, perhaps better customer service and warranty terms, etc... but in sonic terms not sure you can define "best" absent the system in which those cables are going to be used. Of the big marquee names, you have captured the most well known cable manufacturers in your poll.

Save one in my mind.

Amazing the amount of rooms at audio shows that use this cable and the number that get mentioned for the best sound! Cables sometimes are like offensive lineman. You only notice them when they do something wrong.

**Steve** · December 1, 2014, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by iosiP

I voted Siltech. Not only they are beautifully built but also have something very few cable manufacturers can match: they're using their own wires (and their own metallurgy), not some generic wire made in China.

Oh yes, the sound... Well, gorgeous (at least in my system).

I agree these are my favourite cables too. They have outperformed anything else I have tried. Wish I had more of it but price for the Royal Signature lines is a factor here. Then there is the Chinese counterfeit issue which makes it difficult to trade the genuine article.

**mep** · December 1, 2014, 09:14 PM

Originally Posted by Steve

I agree these are my favourite cables too. They have outperformed anything else I have tried. Wish I had more of it but price for the Royal Signature lines is a factor here. Then there is the Chinese counterfeit issue which makes it difficult to trade the genuine article.

I wonder if the day will come when the Chinese actually manufacture products good enough that other Chinese manufacturers will counterfeit those Chinese products?

**Steve** · December 1, 2014, 09:29 PM

Originally Posted by mep

I wonder if the day will come when the Chinese actually manufacture products good enough that other Chinese manufacturers will counterfeit those Chinese products?

It really angers me seeing those cheap replicas on eBay and Alibaba.. Some of them are even visually indistinguishable until you cut them open. Even Furutech Flux carbon/rhodium plugs are getting counterfeited. Many cables brands are being faked from China, not just Siltech but most of the brands mentioned in the poll above. What do you get when you invest offshore in return for cheap labour and production? Industrial espionage.

**iosiP** · December 1, 2014, 10:04 PM

Agree! But if more of us would complain on eBay there would be less counterfeit cables sold there.

**MDP** · December 1, 2014, 10:43 PM

I love both Shunyata and Kimber Select for the reasons Bud mentioned.

But finding the right synergy with your current system is of the utmost importance.

**Albert** · December 1, 2014, 10:59 PM

I am surprised no one mentioned Audience cables. I have a pair of Audience Au24e that I use with my turntable and phono amp and I have noticed more midrange detail and even the bass seems to be a little tighter.

I guess it is no surprise that it is an improvement considering they replaced generic dollar store ic's. Kind of a big jump in $$ but I bought them used so the pain wasn't quite as bad.

**JDLaudio** · December 1, 2014, 11:02 PM

Stealth cables have sounded best (IMHO) in several shootouts....in several systems I've put together. I'm also very impressed with newcomer Zenwave Audio cables (formerly Dave's Cables). I am thrilled with his new interconnects. He also has a 30 day try-out period for your satisfaction.

**FlexibleAudio** · December 1, 2014, 11:48 PM

Does it make sense to distinguish between Power and Interconnects?

Power: Furutech Flux is hard to beat when in combination with their receptacles. They worked with the Dr. Ohno and Furikawa Electric to introduce the first OCC copper cables and their mechanical grounding and shielding is exceptional......long on science and short on wiffle-dust.

Interconnects: All of the above (open your spice rack and pick the best spice; it depends on whats for dinner).

**Steve** · December 2, 2014, 12:14 AM

^^^^^ +1. Agree Furutech PowerFlux products are hard to beat especially when used in combination. Non nonsense. No pseudo science. Real deal. Other leading brands also use Furutech Flux terminations on their own wire, so that in itself says a lot. Their plugs are durable and that carbon/rhodium finish is just divine.

My system predominantly uses Furutech Flux products for power.

**TommyC** · December 2, 2014, 01:57 AM

Crystal Cable

**Mahesh** · July 5, 2015, 05:00 PM

Hi all
what about Purist audio,Harmonic technology,Kubala sosna
actually i am using Harmonic technology pro9 ext bi wire fair cheap,but good sound, i have heard Kubala sosna somewhere i would like to hear with my own gear....

**joeinid** · July 6, 2015, 01:25 PM

Welcome to the forum Mahesh! Thank you for joining.

**jdandy** · July 6, 2015, 02:22 PM

jap.......Am I to assume WW means Wireworld? The others were spelled out in their entirety. Just checking.

**Dpod4** · July 6, 2015, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Mahesh

Hi all
what about Purist audio,Harmonic technology,Kubala sosna
actually i am using Harmonic technology pro9 ext bi wire fair cheap,but good sound, i have heard Kubala sosna somewhere i would like to hear with my own gear....

Ht pro 9 punches way above its weight class

**Mahesh** · July 6, 2015, 03:15 PM

Thank you Joe

yes HT is way better for its price
Ht is my fifth cable in 1and half years.
i rellally not thinking to change for some time now

but recenty i saw in French second hand site web a pair of NBS Monitor 0 which cost like 10k and he is selling for 2k only ,now i am tempted again

**Perfect Sense** · July 6, 2015, 03:33 PM

Being European, I can't help to notice that all manufacturers in the poll are American. How come?

Biased of course, I believe Audience to provide the highest price-performance ratio of all brands I've experienced so far. Moving up the ladder, Tara Labs is a solid provider of high performance cables with great build quality. As are Crystal Cable. At the very top, I'd place Echole at this point in time, who provides cables with an organic, natural presentation that makes most others sound mechanical, flat and two-dimensional in comparison.

**still-one** · July 6, 2015, 04:11 PM

IMHO There is no BEST cable manufacturer. There are several very good ones. It often comes down to what you want to hear, what you want them to look like, what line your preferred dealer(s) carries, what you are willing to pay.

**bzr** · July 6, 2015, 05:54 PM

Siltech : Smooth as cat shit!

mauidan · July 6, 2015, 06:06 PM

Premade cables:Audience
DIY: Supra

**Vapor1** · July 7, 2015, 12:31 AM

I can't say I've had enough cables to make any sort of determination of what's best. But I have had some Nordost, Transparent, Clarity, Tara, lots of Kimber, Siltech (still own), and a few others. These days, I'm sticking with Verastarr exclusively for power cables, Verastarr and Antipodes Reference for everything else.

**Drrsutliff** · July 22, 2015, 09:12 PM

Audience. Power, IC, and Speaker in my system. Have had Tried a few other high end mfg (Cardas, MIT, WW, and others) but these work in my system.

**johndoe21ro** · August 14, 2015, 07:47 PM

For me AudioQuest rings all the bells. They are fast, incredibly dynamic, very detailed, offering a large and deep soundstage, focused images and naturally rich timbre!

**jdandy** · August 14, 2015, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by charlieclarke

After lurking around in high-end magazines, forums, articles, and other resources, these cable manufacturers seem to present “the best-of-the-best.” Which would you say makes the best quality products?

charlieclarke.......To vote in your poll would imply that one has experience with all of those manufacturer's cables, otherwise how would one be able to say which is the best. You left out some other well respected cable manufactures like Kimber, Crystal, Audience, Harmonic Technology, Purist Audio Design, Silver Dragon, Clarus, Morrow Audio, JPS Labs, and others. In addition, at what level are we playing with each cable manufacturer, top of the line, mid-line, or entry? In my opinion no one that I know has anywhere near enough experience with even the cables in your poll, let alone the spectrum of other offerings, to give a definitive and meaningful answer.

**FlexibleAudio** · August 14, 2015, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by Double-D

charlieclarke.......To vote in your poll would imply that one has experience with all of those manufacturer's cables, otherwise how would one be able to say which is the best. You left out some other well respected cable manufactures like Kimber, Crystal, Audience, Harmonic Technology, Purist Audio Design, Silver Dragon, Clarus, Morrow Audio, JPS Labs, and others. In addition, at what level are we playing with each cable manufacturer, top of the line, mid-line, or entry? In my opinion no one that I know has anywhere near enough experience with even the cables in your poll, let alone the spectrum of other offerings, to give a definitive and meaningful answer.

Details, details, details........

**BlueFox** · August 14, 2015, 10:32 PM

A side-effect of polls like this is that the various manufacturers being listed, and others not listed, clearly demonstrate there is a market for better than stock cables. Since cable deniers state anyone hearing a difference from a better cable is delusional, the success of the cable vendors means one of two things. Either there are a lot of crazy people with stereos, or the higher end cables actually do make a difference. A difference worth buying. Of course, cable deniers can't seem to see, or hear, the obvious. So, I guess if anyone is delusional then it is the cable deniers.

**Mike** · August 14, 2015, 10:41 PM

We all have cable biases. Some love silver, some love copper, some love silver and a little gold, some want a mixture of materials, some love little or big EQ boxes hanging off their cables, some love pseudoscience, some love the big marketing, some love the dog & pony show their cable manufacturer does at trade shows, some love the little guy and some just love their cable because it costs the most.

There is no one size fits all. It all comes down to budget and synergy.

**FlexibleAudio** · August 14, 2015, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by BlueFox

A side-effect of polls like this is that the various manufacturers being listed, and others not listed, clearly demonstrate there is a market for better than stock cables. Since cable deniers state anyone hearing a difference from a better cable is delusional, the success of the cable vendors means one of two things. Either there are a lot of crazy people with stereos, or the higher end cables actually do make a difference. A difference worth buying. Of course, cable deniers can't seem to see, or hear, the obvious. So, I guess if anyone is delusional then it is the cable deniers.

IMO, the science behind the role inductance, capacitance, and skin effect plays in filtering of analog frequencies is pretty sound. Oops, I did a funny....get it "pretty sound."

**MDP** · August 14, 2015, 11:19 PM

Cables have to be the most subjective components we own.

There are so many variables. And as far as I'm concerned it all comes down to system synergy.

**Steve** · August 14, 2015, 11:30 PM

I really hate to say it but in the near future the best cable will be no cable.

This will mean active/powered speaker technology will become the dominant form factor overnight.

**BlueFox** · August 14, 2015, 11:57 PM

Originally Posted by Steve

I really hate to say it but in the near future the best cable will be no cable.

This will mean active/powered speaker technology will become the dominant form factor overnight.

I am sure cable manufacturers are losing a little sleep over technology trends. By using the Lumin I eliminated a DAC, power cord to the DAC, and an interconnect between the DAC and music server. I would love to find an integrated amp that equals my current pre/amp combo. That would eliminate two power cords, balanced ICs, and two power conditioners.

**Mike** · August 15, 2015, 12:18 AM

The Devialet does just that - except for power and speaker cables. And you know what? The wifi sounds the best. BUT!! It's still wonky. I know some have had great success, I still get the drop outs.

Another great one is the Avantgarde Zero's. Only thing you need is USB and power to the speakers. There also is a cable between the speakers, but all in all, much less than what we see in a traditional system.

**asiufy** · August 15, 2015, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by Mike

Another great one is the Avantgarde Zero's. Only thing you need is USB and power to the speakers. There also is a cable between the speakers, but all in all, much less than what we see in a traditional system.

You don't really need that cable between the speakers, as they talk to each other wirelessly (using its own frequency/protocol). But of course, the option for that cable is that. It's a regular Ethernet cable, BTW.

alexandre

**wisnon** · August 15, 2015, 07:57 AM

Goldmund Prologos wireless Mk2, rock solid and apparently stunning. I need to get a demo, and demo alone it will be as they retail for $70K.

Think of them as having built in SAM and DRC (without microphones) - (ie, Proteus/Leonardo tech). I hear that they also sound best wireless.

The Silver Phantoms are the same but with a more "fun" home theater/techno music sound. I love how they talk to each other and configure automatically with artificial intelligence.

Finally Linn Xact…the Speaker IS the Source!

**Yash** · August 15, 2015, 11:55 AM

I'm not sure I have seen anything quite as legitimate as what Caelin Gabriel does at Shunyata.

**bzr** · August 15, 2015, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Yash

I'm not sure I have seen anything quite as legitimate as what Caelin Gabriel does at Shunyata.

Has Caelin gone wireless.....

**Steve** · August 15, 2015, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by bzr

Has Caelin gone wireless.....

That would give his DTCD Acronym real meaning!

**audioholic** · October 5, 2015, 03:45 PM

After owning, experiencing and distributing too many brands, my favourite cables are without hesitation Echole. They have 5 price/performance levels: Passion (affordable), Obsession (their first cable line), Signature (the cable they are most know for), Orius (2015 introduction) and the ultra reference Omnia. I have had the privilege to compare Echole during the last year at my own system or friends' vs similar priced (top of the line) cables from Nordost, Shunyata, Siltech, Stealth, MIT, Kimber, Wireworld, Kuala-Sosna and Crystal to name some and Echole has absolutely beaten them.

Echole are the most neutral, organic and true to life cables with incredible resolution and detail. Just by plugging in one Power Cord in your AC distribution device or in your preamp will give you a hint of what is Echole capable to do in your system.

I strongly advise you before investing in expensive cables to audition and if possible compare them vs Echole. Some skeptic friends have moved already to Echole after trial in their own systems. Don't take this as granted. Experience them yourself. visit www.echole.com

View Poll Results: Which cable maker is the BEST?

Thread: The BEST cable manufacturer? (POLL)