Do cables make a difference? Demonstation here...

[bladeslap]

http://www.townshendaudio.net/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

I'm a big fan of Max Townshend and his products. I still run a pair of Glastonbury II speakers / Isolda cables purchased in 1989. I've not yet heard another speaker that I prefer...

Anyway, in the clip on the Townshend homepage Max demonstrates why not all cables are created equal.

 

[Messiah]

Quite interesting!

How much difference do those spikes make?? 'Cause it looks like they are showing that cheap but thick cable is pretty good and not far different from their own in terms of the readings gained??

 

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised you haven't been flamed yet! Interesting. Does anyone recognise the 'poor' purple cable? I think the clear copper one he said was 'quite good' is Monitor Audio Pureflow.

Any thoughts?

 

[Anonymous]

well there is no denying those results! not that i ever believed that cables didnt make a difference. interesting though that the cheap copper cable was not far away from the performance of the Isolda - considering the cost of the Isolda!

 

[Alec]

Well, he made some nice bright shapes on a monitor.

Ooh look, an upside down rainbow...

 

[Tony_R]

I note that in the video, reference is made to inductance / impedance / capacitance.

I posted comments to this effect here at the end of December in a thread about cables, which can be found here.

Tony.

 

[Anonymous]

Tony_R:
I note that in the video, reference is made to inductance / impedance / capacitance.

I posted comments to this effect here at the end of December in a thread about cables, which can be found here.

Tony.

I hadn't read that particular cable war.

Let battle commence........

 

[Anonymous]

Tony_R:
I note that in the video, reference is made to inductance / impedance / capacitance.

I posted comments to this effect here at the end of December in a thread about cables, which can be found here.

Tony.

Hadn't read that cable war.

Let battle commence..........

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'm not clued up on the various technicalities of speaker cable but shouldn't he test different frequencies. Also what about the amps internal wiring, that can't be perfect or else reproduction from this amp is perfect. Of course there is the issue whether the difference is audible to human hearing and everyone's own subjective experience.

 

[Tony_R]

Brisk:Ok, I'm not clued up on the various technicalities of speaker cable but shouldn't he test different frequencies. Also what about the amps internal wiring, that can't be perfect or else reproduction from this amp is perfect. Of course there is the issue whether the difference is audible to human hearing and everyone's own subjective experience.

"test different frequencies" exactly what I thought when I watched the video. I did wonder why 2khz was chosen.

My immediate thoughts were that the results of the test would vary with frequency, however when using a speaker as a load, that would surely be inevitable.

 

[Anonymous]

Will a decent cable have an effect on a pretty low end system (CA 640a
v2 & MS 914s)? Only using some gale symphony 400 at the moment but
thinking of getting some Chord Carnival Silver Screen... will I notice a difference? Cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

a l e x:Will a decent cable have an effect on a pretty low end system (CA 640a
v2 & MS 914s)? Only using some gale symphony 400 at the moment but
thinking of getting some Chord Carnival Silver Screen... will I notice a difference? Cheers.

Why not ask a good dealer for a trial - but at £5.29 a metre (plus terminations) surely worth a punt? [Special offer at hificables].

 

[Anonymous]

Yeh just what I was thinking, £55 for two 3m cables, if it improves it then its a bargain, if theres not so much difference then at least ive got some spare cable! Planning on a major upgrade this year so should be worth it. hficables reliable? Cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

a l e x:Yeh just what I was thinking, £55 for two 3m cables, if it improves it then its a bargain, if theres not so much difference then at least ive got some spare cable! Planning on a major upgrade this year so should be worth it. hficables reliable? Cheers.

I've used them seeral times - fine - no problems (no affiliation by the way)

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Graham, just one more question if you dont mind! On the terminated cables is it the standard 4mm banana plugs on the ends? Probably is but just want to check. Thanks alot.

 

[professorhat]

Graham_Thomas:a l e x:Yeh just what I was thinking, £55 for two 3m cables, if it improves it then its a bargain, if theres not so much difference then at least ive got some spare cable! Planning on a major upgrade this year so should be worth it. hficables reliable? Cheers.

I've used them seeral times - fine - no problems (no affiliation by the way)

Seconded - first class service from them every time I've used them.

 

[JoelSim]

Isolda looks like nice cable, but for 4x4m as I need it would cost me well over a grand. Ahem.

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I recently bought some second hand Isolda's and they are a very good cable. Compared to the Chord Rumour that I was using and quite happy with, the Isolda's are a complete revelation and worth every penny of the £250 I paid for a pair of 3 meter cables. I'm not really interested in the technicalities of why/how they work, they just do. One of the best upgrades I've ever made period.

 

[bretty]

What's the cost per meter of the Isolda cable? I'm guessing it's a lot, cos they're not putting the prices on the website!

 

[Anonymous]

Not sure of the prices for new but I'd guess around £90 - £100 per meter, might be completely wrong though.

 

[Anonymous]

just found this: http://www.highendcable.co.uk/Townshend%20ISOLDA%20Speaker%20cables.htm

 

[bretty]

I've just phoned Townshend, to get a price for the Isolda. Nice lady on the other end said £110 per meter + £260 termination! I need nine meters!ÿ

However, it's not the £1250 I was thinking, as their pricing is per pair! So £670 for what I need (If you need half meter lengths, e.g 4.5m, they round it down).

Also, They don't charge you until you have gotten the cable, tried it and decided you want it.

I'm trying some in the next couple of weeks.

I'll let you know how I get onÿ

 

[Anonymous]

Don't take this the wrong way Bretty but I feel the Isolda could be a little overkill in your system but I'm sure you'll enjoy them all the same. What cable are you currently using?

 

[bretty]

I'm using the Monster cable from my old hitachi system. It was about £2 per meter. I can see your point, Ian, but I see buying a cable such as the Isolda as a long term investment that will be with me through all future upgrades. As long as the performance justifies the price tag, that is.

 

[Anonymous]

I suppose the point I'm trying to make really is that this speaker cable would at home in systems costing upward of 7k and a lot higher so you might find it hard to justify such outlay for speaker cable when you could spend the money upgrading your system elsewhere and initially see greater benefits.

Another thing to remember is that speaker cable is generally believed not to add anything to your sound which I tend to agree with, but it will let your amps true potential shine through.