Are all CD players really equal?

[Gray]

Most cable believers DO think they improve the performance,

I think most of them do.
And certainly magazine reviewers and especially manufacturers give the impression that cables can actually improve performance.
(It's in both of their interests for people to believe that impression).

 

[davidf]

It's all down to how it's explained and understood. As I said, many people say a cable improves things, because that's become the normal way of saying the cable makes a positive improvement - to the ear, it has improved the signal - but it has just better preserved the signal.

 

[ToppingSMSL]

Cables are all about preserving the signal, and rejecting outside influences, not improving it, and I think that is something that many don't understand or refuse to acknowledge. Many people use the term "improve", maybe because it's a more common term to use, as system can sound better using them, when it's likely that the cable providing the improvement just isn't degrading the signal as much, or in a less negative way. I think the cable naysayers presume that cable believers think they improve things.

No the cable naysayers know that cables do not affect the signal in an audible way. It's irrelevant whether someone thinks they improve the sound or reduce degradation of the sound - it can be shown scientifically that you aren't going to hear a difference. Doing a null test, for example, shows that.

 

[Stuart83]

Well I did once use hair thin pound shop speaker cable in a jam once and it really burn out in the middle 😂
I remember it well as instead of giving in I twinned it up, twisting each end together all to get my tannoy M15's going back in my early yoof.

Those where the days, just excited about getting my "bonkers" happy hardcore CD on (pure 😬 now) but without a care in the world about speaker gauge etc (or much else).
Every few weeks id blow out a glass fuse at the back of my Sansui amp running systems a&b full whack with totally mismatched everything to just replace it fresh outta my draw of many things, and get straight back to enjoying my music.

If only it was like that now 😭
I sit and and subconsciously analyse everything now.
I am still as always a frequent short and loud by any standard listener getting my frission kicks at club like volumes, fortunate in both the sense age grants us all I have the living situation that allows such volumes and use a thicker guage wire understanding a tad more.
Other than the all important gauge "QED does me"
Counter to my studied toward understanding I still ventured the cable route ever briefly to find out what most have 🤦.

Probably like most from what I've read over the yrs when going for improvements I look to the speakers then amp and along the chain from there.
I know lately saw a big improvement with Hegal H-190 after the most recent long journey of demos etc some might of seen documented on here unlike the small but always welcome subtle improvement the CD 60 also brought.
I went through all sorts to find her 🤣 almost moving into Hifi Sounds Stockton whos goto guy was absolutely excellent over the lovely clean sounding Technics SU-G700M2 going haywire and allowing me also to return a Rega oven (I let him keep the sausages I mistakenly kept carrying towards it)

I've seen the cable debate turn sour often not just here, most of know what happened not long ago over the very subject causing a member to become "disilloutioned" and leave.
I hadn't been here long, still haven't but it saddened me

 

[davidf]

No the cable naysayers know that cables do not affect the signal in an audible way. It's irrelevant whether someone thinks they improve the sound or reduce degradation of the sound - it can be shown scientifically that you aren't going to hear a difference. Doing a null test, for example, shows that.

Just look at all the hate memes all over Facebook aimed at "audiophiles". Odd how those who know cables don't make a difference get so worked up and angry towards those who know they can make a difference - no one's being converted, no one's going to change their mind, just let everyone enjoy their hobby and system. Who cares? You enjoys yours, he enjoys his, she enjoys hers, they enjoy theirs, everyone's happy.

 

[Al ears]

No the cable naysayers know that cables do not affect the signal in an audible way. It's irrelevant whether someone thinks they improve the sound or reduce degradation of the sound - it can be shown scientifically that you aren't going to hear a difference. Doing a null test, for example, shows that.

It is possible for certain poorly constructed cables to degrade the signal so, therefore, it is possible that those that don't degrade the signal will be an improvement......

 

[abacus]

Just look at all the hate memes all over Facebook aimed at "audiophiles". Odd how those who know cables don't make a difference get so worked up and angry towards those who know they can make a difference - no one's being converted, no one's going to change their mind, just let everyone enjoy their hobby and system. Who cares? You enjoys yours, he enjoys his, she enjoys hers, they enjoy theirs, everyone's happy.

As I have said before, the only problem is when someone says there is a difference without providing verifiable evidence.
Opinion is fine, but claiming opinion is fact, is another matter.

Bill

 

[Friesiansam]

What really annoys me, is the marketing of high priced cables. So many overblown, unsubstantiated claims, to justify their exorbitant prices.

 

[Revolutions]

I never thought I'd say this - I'm actually quite tired of seeing almost every thread descend into arguments about whether switching cables or DACs will change the sound.

Apologies to all as it's not in any a constructive contribution to the thread. Needless moan, but I feel better for getting it out there 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

What really annoys me, is the marketing of high priced cables. So many overblown, unsubstantiated claims, to justify their exorbitant prices.

I must confess my cardinal sin for buying expensive USB cable from *Chord and their speaker wiring for networking the walled terminal plugs in my lounge setup and also got lengths of AudioQuest cabling but these days, I can get the same quality for much less on AliExpress! 🙂

*Chord speaker cables have extra layers of insulation, which are ideal for long lengths.

 

[Revolutions]

*Chord speaker cables have extra layers of insulation, which are ideal for long lengths.

Sounds like a good idea: don’t want them catching a cold in the winter.

 

[Jasonovich]

Sounds like a good idea: don’t want them catching a cold in the winter.

🤣

 

[Jasonovich]

I know this isn't the cable thread but let me just add something which might be of value to those who're too afraid to ask.
If you're buying speaker cables you don't need to spend a lot of money but you do need to make the right choice of cable to suit your setup.

To illustrate, those blingy cables in the photo, I made from pure silver wiring 6N OCC. I had six strands 22AWG or approx. These are naked pure silver wires and I encased them individually in Teflon.
I was using them for my original desktop setup, over a course of time, I noticed, the sound coming across my speakers became bright, it wasn't apparent at first and I wanted to tone down the sharpness.

So I purchased these orange OFC generic cable wire 16AWG from eBay, these were solid core like the AudioQuest Rocket, only these cost something like £4 per 5 meters.
I replaced the silver cables with these and the sound became smoother on the top. I would say these are as good as the AudioQuest, only much much cheaper.

I've taken a close up shot, if you're interested you may still find them on eBay.
I would avoid using silver cabling, pure or plated, on systems that are already bright but these would be the perfect choice, if your system is really laid back, take it Slow, Jazz out type of sound.

That's it........ Zip Peddy Do Dah from Me. Let's get back to the main thread.

 

[davidf]

AudioQuest Rocket 11 and 22 are multi strand cables, from Rocket 33 it becomes solid core.

Solid core doesn't suit all systems, and despite myself liking what solid core does, sometimes a multi strand cable just works better with the system, price point irrelevant.

 

[Gray]

....despite myself liking what solid core does, sometimes a multi strand cable just works better....

A straight question for you David - and hopefully a completely honest answer from you:
All else being equal, could you consistently tell whether you were listening via Rocket 11 or 33 cable?

 

[Dave_]

Total bollox being presented as if it was fact again, I see!

 

[davidf]

Total bollox being presented as if it was fact again, I see!

Who are you accusing?

 

[davidf]

A straight question for you David - and hopefully a completely honest answer from you:
All else being equal, could you consistently tell whether you were listening via Rocket 11 or 33 cable?

I've never done that direct comparison so I can't definitively say yes, but based on what I've heard of both solid core and multi strand cables, and if I could choose the system, I'd go with yes.

 

[JDl]

What's the difference to using solid core cable please anyone?

 

[Jasonovich]

AudioQuest Rocket 11 and 22 are multi strand cables, from Rocket 33 it becomes solid core.

Solid core doesn't suit all systems, and despite myself liking what solid core does, sometimes a multi strand cable just works better with the system, price point irrelevant.

It must have been the Rocket 33. I have them feeding the Monitor Audio Silver.
Great cables, mine came with trouser pants, aesthetically pleasing and of excellent construction.

 

[davidf]

It must have been the Rocket 33. I have them feeding the Monitor Audio Silver.
Great cables, mine came with trouser pants, aesthetically pleasing and of excellent construction.

I generally wouldn't recommend solid core for Monitor Audio. All depends what you're after though - preference over reference 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

I generally wouldn't recommend solid core for Monitor Audio. All depends what you're after though - preference over reference 🙂

Sorry David I'm being daft, the solid core cables weren't AudioQuest it must have been some AliExpress special 😂
I have AudioQuest Rocket 11 bi-wired to my Monitor Audio.

I'm losing it 😉