Price, Value & Part Quality

[BayStBroker]

I am struck by a paradox I perceive in the high-end market. We readily spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on quality interconnects. But little is said about the quality of the wire used internally by the super premium manufacturers. What quality of wire does D'Agostino, Vitus, Soulution, or Pass Labs use for internal connections that carry the delicate signal we are trying to protect with our premium component interconnects? And does the expense contribute materially to the overall cost of production? This leads to a broader discussion of whether ultra high end components can or should contain parts of extravagant quality to match the component's extravagant price. Please tell me we aren't spending half of our purchase money on shiny cases and sexy meters...

 

[Mike]

I know more than a few companies use products from Straight Wire (one of the reasons I carry them, in addition to David Baskin of Design Audio and Mark (MDP) raving about them). Harman for example uses all Straight Wire cables internally. I know of several others as well that use wire from Straight Wire for their internal wiring needs (speakers, amps, etc.). If you're curious, one call to Steven Hill at Straight Wire and he will ramble off a list a mile long. Many will shock you I'm sure. Also, ask Steven what his top cable is and he will tell you "we don't have one". He will grill you on your amp, preamp, speakers, sources, room, listening tastes, goals/objectives, likes/dislikes of your current system and THEN make a recommendation.

As far as cables are concerned, I think its important to use cables to fine tune your system. But a cable will never make a silk purse....well...you know the rest.

 

[Garth]

Not 100% sure they still use Cardas wire but When mine were built Ayre was and may still be using a Cardas wire inside and out their cables are from Cardas as well built to their specs. I would think any high end gear uses the wire they feel sounds right to them.

 

[Bodhi]

I am struck by a paradox I perceive in the high-end market. We readily spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on quality interconnects. But little is said about the quality of the wire used internally by the super premium manufacturers. What quality of wire does D'Agostino, Vitus, Soulution, or Pass Labs use for internal connections that carry the delicate signal we are trying to protect with our premium component interconnects? And does the expense contribute materially to the overall cost of production? This leads to a broader discussion of whether ultra high end components can or should contain parts of extravagant quality to match the component's extravagant price. Please tell me we aren't spending half of our purchase money on shiny cases and sexy meters...

Vitus products are internally wired with their own Andromeda wire. They also supply their Signature & Masterpiece series gear with an Andromeda power cable, which I have to say is very good. In fact it's good enough to not want for more. The only thing i'd be tempted to swap out are the stock connectors with something like cryo'd Oyaide P-004/C-004 connectors.

High end amps and front end products generally have short signal paths & therefore don't use that much internal wire, so unless you're talking about something like an Kondo Gakuon, internal wire would only account for a small percentage of the production cost. Casework is another matter :|.

 

[skolis]

But little is said about the quality of the wire used internally by the super premium manufacturers. And does the expense contribute materially to the overall cost of production? .

VSA has commented frequently about wiring in their speakers, and, apparently it materially adds to cost

 

[MusicDirector]

The only thing I can comment on here is that it could also be the electronic internal components as well (ie capacitors, diodes, etc). For example, I know Schiit audio uses some pricey components from the US in all their builds. They won't use cheap Chinese stuff or what have you. I think they may be offsetting that cost by not making fancy boxes for their stuff, I don't know. I know that most of their stuff is rather reasonably priced. I'm sure Jason Stoddard can explain it better than I ever could.

While I love a fancy box to a point and love me some meters, if it came down to choice between that and good performance and lasting power, I'd take the latter every time.

Just my opinion.