nothing like a good cable discussion... part 2

[aKnyght]

when equipment manufacturers design, test, voice their components do they use cabling with copper conductors or silver conductors -- maybe both or something else ?

i have no idea but suspect some use copper and others use silver. however, i also suspect the very large majority use copper conductor cabling. the reason i ask is that the choice does have some impact upon which type cabling their customers use as they attempt to get their desired sound. for example, amplification voiced by the manufacturer with silver cabling might leave customers with no choice but to acquire silver cabling lest the sound be lacking in the higher frequencies.

i would certainly choose copper... the vast majority of the market is probably copper based in terms of cabling, most(?) other manufacturers use copper, hi-fi has grown up with copper and it is the "neutral benchmark". so, to use anything else but copper would perhaps create "synergy" issues with other products...

the point being, i would want neutral-ish equipment and use cabling as a method of "tone control" to achieve the desired qualities... just thinking out loud.

 

[Mike]

Magico uses MIT.
VAC uses Shunyata.
ARC uses Shunyata (internal wiring too).
Raidho originally used Nordost and is back to using Nordost.

These are ones I’ve witnessed.


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[Kingsrule]

I'm pretty sure Magico uses Mundorf internal wire.....

 

[Mike]

I'm pretty sure Magico uses Mundorf internal wire.....

Yes. I was speaking about the cables used to voice the speakers at the factory.


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[Speedskater]

Cable length is a much bigger factor than copper, gold or silver. Same goes for cross-section area or gauge.

 

[octadyndude]

Mike do you get many or any customers that come in for a demo and ask for minimal level cabling? I assume you use what you think/know sound the best for a given demo. I did that many years ago and just as I was done with the demo I asked to put the best in. It was that experience that made me a believer in cables.

 

[Mike]

Mike do you get many or any customers that come in for a demo and ask for minimal level cabling? I assume you use what you think/know sound the best for a given demo. I did that many years ago and just as I was done with the demo I asked to put the best in. It was that experience that made me a believer in cables.

To be honest, they rarely, if ever, ask for specific cabling, let alone minimal level cabling. I do keep a budget set of AudioQuest Cables and have them available should anyone question the cables. Typically, they are looking to me for options for "best cabling" based on budget.

The most difficult, is convincing people that A. cables do matter and B. power/power conditioning is critical. There are still many who refuse to believe it and are happy to use the stock power cables that come with their amps. That's why, I am constantly loaning out cables. NEVER have people come back and said, "nah, I preferred the stock Pass cable Mike." Never.

I always play with different brands of cables to find the best synergy. I get many brands in to try and if they don't beat what I have, they don't get added to the line card. Look, and some manufacturers just don't make every single cable great. Many do, but some don't. Some have mastered the signal cables, but not the power cables and visa versa.

 

[aKnyght]

thanks for the thoughts and experience here. cabling is an interesting subject - mainly, because i find it can be one of the most cost effective methods of improving or getting the desired SQ in my system. it can be a high impact / low-cost tweak.

my direct experience is that the first order effect is the type metal used in a cable's conductor wire: silver, copper, etc. and the most impactful second order effect is wire size/awg. by focusing on these two variables it is possible to keep cabling costs reasonable... and even have multiple cables with which to "cable roll".

currently, i find cables with tinned-copper conductors to greatly enhance the tonal qualities of my tube amp. they just make the tube-y goodness even more so: they don't change the character of the tone, rather it is enhanced / enlivened. with respect to awg, the fatter the gauge wire - the bigger, richer and warmer the tone and this is a lever with which to fine tune the sound.

that being said, there are times when i want a less warm, more delicate/forward sound and i will switch out cables to pure copper. its fun to hear the contrast and the change is refreshing. sometimes it is not about "better" but about "different" ...and knowing which of these two is being heard whenever something is changed in my system.

i have never liked the sound of silver cabling but then maybe it is my specific system and preferences.

...you mileage can and will vary