Speaker cable

[woodbar]

I think FiiO for their quality headphone cables are using Furukawa single crystal cables, which are excellent.

Yes I noticed those but at about £90 odd I decided I would not go there!

It is quite amazing I think, I don't have an axe to grind or any point to prove, I was just posting something I found by accident really just lazing around on a Sunday listening to music and it brings forth several negative posts, some quite rude, and makes me wonder if they would be better going back to ASR where they clearly believe the doctrine?

Anyway, I will probably order a couple as they are less that £20 which is not expensive for a decent premade cable with quality terminations these days?

When they arrive I will update to let you know if I was right or not - of course all listening tests will be carried out with one foot in a grounded steel bucket (half full of water), at a room temperature of 21.5°C, barometer at no less than 1010Mb, matched levels, blindfolded and the sun shining!

On the other hand, I may just laze in my easy chair, with a glass of beer on the side and randomly swap the cables and HP while listening to some music. I am sure the bright shiny new cables will sound better though 😀 😈

 

[Jasonovich]

Yes I noticed those but at about £90 odd I decided I would not go there!

It is quite amazing I think, I don't have an axe to grind or any point to prove, I was just posting something I found by accident really just lazing around on a Sunday listening to music and it brings forth several negative posts, some quite rude, and makes me wonder if they would be better going back to ASR where they clearly believe the doctrine?

Anyway, I will probably order a couple as they are less that £20 which is not expensive for a decent premade cable with quality terminations these days?

When they arrive I will update to let you know if I was right or not - of course all listening tests will be carried out with one foot in a grounded steel bucket (half full of water), at a room temperature of 21.5°C, barometer at no less than 1010Mb, matched levels, blindfolded and the sun shining!

On the other hand, I may just laze in my easy chair, with a glass of beer on the side and randomly swap the cables and HP while listening to some music. I am sure the bright shiny new cables will sound better though 😀 😈

The beer option is win win! Ha ha ha

 

[woodbar]

The beer option is win win! Ha ha ha

I can afford two beers now - just ordered and with a voucher they were £15 each!

 

[Jasonovich]

I can afford two beers now - just ordered and with a voucher they were £15 each!

Excellent 👌

 

[Jasonovich]

Another spin on cables. Listen to this guy.
I suspect if you sit in the cables don't make a difference camp, this won't be I found God moment.
Nevertheless, food for thought.

View: https://youtu.be/QWbyF1fMGwY?si=jmV_Rgr0U5AfKIkN

 

[Revolutions]

Another spin on cables. Listen to this guy.
I suspect if you sit in the cables don't make a difference camp, this won't be I found God moment.
Nevertheless, food for thought.

View: https://youtu.be/QWbyF1fMGwY?si=jmV_Rgr0U5AfKIkN

For you, Jason, I wil give this a watch today. With an open mind even though I can already hear a voice in my head saying “I bet it bs”
😁

 

[Dave_]

Confirmation bias is alive and well!

 

[abacus]

That's an old video, I think I might have posted it on the site many moons ago.

Bill

 

[Revolutions]

The video was pretty good actually. To paraphrase: with a specific type of cable matched with a specific type of headphone you might hear a difference, but you’re better off using eq to get a difference anyways.

 

[Jasonovich]

That's an old video, I think I might have posted it on the site many moons ago.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I came across this video, while searching for cables for my headphone. 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

The video was pretty good actually. To paraphrase: with a specific type of cable matched with a specific type of headphone you might hear a difference, but you’re better off using eq to get a difference anyways.

Yeah I thought it was worth getting a different perspective.

What I have noticed from my own experience, the difference I hear from various cables on speakers is less pronounced than headphones.
Some cables extenuated the lower frequencies, the bass, particularly very thick multi-strand i.e. each strand very thin line of wire. Fewer strands of much thicker cores, smoother treble.
On headphones it's more obvious.

Anyway, I respect any views that differs from mine, it's all part of reaping the collective knowledge that is in an abundance on this forum. 😊

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Thanks Bill, I came across this video, while searching for cables for my headphone. 🙂

I can't face watching it - is there evidence of difference?

 

[Fandango Andy]

Fancy cables have more conductivity, more conductivity equals more volume. Music sounds better louder, so we should all turn the volume up! Got it😉

 

[Jasonovich]

I can't face watching it - is there evidence of difference?

Here's the dilemma, do we trust the graphs that map out the frequencies or do we trust our ears?

Hifi has always been a creature that dwells in the realm of the subjective.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Here's the dilemma, do we trust the graphs that map out the frequencies or do we trust our ears?

Hifi has always been a creature that dwells in the realm of the subjective.

The graphs are like reviews and recommendations, they are a starting point. With any component. In a system, there is no substitute for sitting back and listening.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Here's the dilemma, do we trust the graphs that map out the frequencies or do we trust our ears?

Hifi has always been a creature that dwells in the realm of the subjective.

I trust my ears*, though I'm not trying to sell anything or persuade anyone that my viewpoint is correct. If you are trying to do either, I think there's a burden of proof.

*Though I'm also rigidly scientific in how I approach life. Some graphs confirming differences, or convincing blind testing, would set the cable companies on a solid footing. That they don't provide it could be interpreted in several ways, though one in particular is suggested!

 

[Jasonovich]

I trust my ears*, though I'm not trying to sell anything or persuade anyone that my viewpoint is correct. If you are trying to do either, I think there's a burden of proof.

*Though I'm also rigidly scientific in how I approach life. Some graphs confirming differences, or convincing blind testing, would set the cable companies on a solid footing. That they don't provide it could be interpreted in several ways, though one in particular is suggested!

My view point is irrelevant, something I choose to share.
It's always good to feedback, the late great Jimmy Greaves use to say, football is a funny old game.
Same with HiFi I think? 😄

 

[Noddy]

And when they're proven right (whatever the subject may be), they're no longer conspiracy theorists. Until that point, they're labelled as whackos. Why? Because the opposition cannot accept their viewpoint, so they're the ones in the wrong. Aliens most likely do exist, just not in the form that the movies depict. But until we can confirm their existence or non-existence, why aren't both sides called conspiracy theorists?

We can divide conspiracy theories into two groups:

Those that might be true, but the evidence is lacking. There are conspiracy theories around the death of JFK, and a US government committee eventually concluded that there was a conspiracy, but we are unlikely to discover the truth. There are strong suggestions that Trump and company are hiding evidence associated with the Epstein files, and such an idea is not whacko. I maintain an open mind, but suspect they are up to no good.

Those that contradict the evidence. These rely on discrediting scientific evidence, scientific experts, government employees, eye witnesses and anyone else involved. They usually involve impugning the integrity of honest people, as well as politicians. I find most of them deeply offensive. The proponents are basically saying that most people are liars, and only they are the honest actors. Many of the proponents are making good money spreading such nonsense.

As regards aliens, they’ve now found the precursers for life on asteroids, and evidence that planets around distant suns have atmospheres suitable for life. Given the number of galaxies in the universe and the number of stars with planets in each galaxy, I’d say that life must be common and I suspect most space scientists would agree. That’s just rational reasoning. However, it becomes a conspiracy theory when you start saying that aliens have visited the earth. In other words, a conspiracy theory takes as fact ideas that lack evidence or contradict existing evidence.

 

[ninanina]

The best speaker cable I’ve ever owned was Tellurium Q Ultra Black (the original) …it sounded amazing but it’s very expensive

I sold mine for a big profit as I purchased very carefully

If I was buying speaker cable today I would consider the Naim NACA5 which is what I’m using now with my Naim XS3 amplifier

If you want a cheaper option then I can highly recommend looking at Mark Grant speaker cables…. I have had a few Mark Grant cables and they are superb and a bit of a bargain too

 

[Noddy]

I'm sure if the world of science knew everything, man would be able to build the perfect loudspeaker that was undistinguishable from the live subject. And all other hi-fi would be the very best it can be from the first build. No more improvements to be made.

Not really. To make a recording, you have to place one or more microphones in the room, and/or take the output from electronic instruments. In the first case you have many variables including microphone number, direction and position and the room acoustics. Then when you play back the recording you are using only two point-ish output sources, perhaps with a sub-woofer and rear speaker ports, and you have the room acoustics which play a huge role. My system sounds different when the curtains are drawn and pulled, for example. And then we have the recording engineer, who insists on clipping the recording when transferring it to the final medium. So many Motorhead albums are clipped, it really pees me off. Jazz recordings from the fifties and sixties often sound amazingly good.

In fact many of my recordings played on my system sound better than concerts I’ve been to. Classical music can sound surprisingly realistic and quite sublime. But it does require excessive volume to get realism, which is not healthy.

 

[Noddy]

I think Abbey Road still use Van Damme Blue in every room. That speaks volumes to me.

It tells you that a) they got them for free or at a discount from Van Damme for promotional reasons since they are a world renowned studio or b) they buy expensive equipment to impress customers or c) someone in the studio thinks they are better. Evidently Van Damme should give them to the studio for free because you prove that it would be an excellent advert,

I’ve heard well respected photographers say they use a Hasselblad camera, or a Leica, not because they get better results, they don’t, but because it impresses clients and hence helps them get work. After all, if you’re paying tens of thousands of squids for a photoshoot, you don’t want them using cheap gear, you want them to use ‘the best’.

 

[ninanina]

The best speaker cable is Tellurium Q Ultra Black original, absolutely no doubt but it’s ridiculously expensive

Second would be TQ Black; it’s good but not on the same level as their original Ultra Black by a long way… TQ Ultra Black is simply amazing

I sold all my TQ cables some time ago and now have Naim NACA5 cable as it seems to love my Naim XS3 amplifier which I guess is to be expected

However I think the Naim NACA5 cable would be great even outside of a Naim system…. It’s a nightmare to bend into shape as it’s so stiff but I consider it a great sounding cable without spending a fortune

If not then definitely Mark Grant speaker cables are a complete steal… excellent cables for a bargain price and beautifully built too… plus Mark is a great guy to deal with

 

[Jasonovich]

It tells you that a) they got them for free or at a discount from Van Damme for promotional reasons since they are a world renowned studio or b) they buy expensive equipment to impress customers or c) someone in the studio thinks they are better. Evidently Van Damme should give them to the studio for free because you prove that it would be an excellent advert,

I’ve heard well respected photographers say they use a Hasselblad camera, or a Leica, not because they get better results, they don’t, but because it impresses clients and hence helps them get work. After all, if you’re paying tens of thousands of squids for a photoshoot, you don’t want them using cheap gear, you want them to use ‘the best’.

The Hasselbald or upmarket Leica are excellent camera's and really out of my league in what I can afford. Really happy with my Nikon Z6II 🙂
This isn't to say, a Hasselbald or Leica aren't used by some photographers to elevate their professional status and draw in the richer cliental, I really cannot comment on the social behavioural leanings but most professionals are likely to use one of the three major mirrorless brands, from Sony, Canon or Nikon.

According to Digital Camera World puplication, I believe this was based on recent industry surveys and expert reviews in 2025–2026, the Sony A7IV is widely regarded as one of the most popular and versatile cameras for professional photographers, particularly for weddings, events, and hybrid shooting.

With regard to the highest-tier performance, the Nikon Z8 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II are considered leading, high-end, all-around options. Nikon traditionally best for landscape photography and portraits, the Canon better suited for live shoots and speed photography. These days, particularly with the latest mirrorless technologies, there's some ovelap, more versatility with the brands.

You can get some mighty fine, Hi-Res sound recordings and excellent 4K videos from modern mirrorless digital cameras, amazing technology in a small form factor.

 

[Al ears]

The best speaker cable I’ve ever owned was Tellurium Q Ultra Black (the original) …it sounded amazing but it’s very expensive

I sold mine for a big profit as I purchased very carefully

If I was buying speaker cable today I would consider the Naim NACA5 which is what I’m using now with my Naim XS3 amplifier

If you want a cheaper option then I can highly recommend looking at Mark Grant speaker cables…. I have had a few Mark Grant cables and they are superb and a bit of a bargain too

I'd agree although only use his interconnects

 

[Jasonovich]

I'd agree although only use his interconnects

I believe they use the rare mineral tellurium in all their speaker cables, this probably explains why they're so costly.

Is it better than mono single crystalline copper?