Kimber RCA Cable vs Amazon Basics (Video)

[tjjrx7]

Everybody understood like solderdude, and in that I mean, ambiguously.

Under several comments arguing most audio cables sound the same, which was the point of the discussion, you said '"ironically most of them do make a difference".

You beginned with an argument of authority (20 years experience, thousands of cables), that we can qualify as such because the next sentence gets -intentionally- very vague "Just not for the better and not for the reasons anyone thinks", and then provide zero explanation on the -crucial- context.
Which is a (subtle?) way of moving the debate from "do hifi cables sound different?" to "do electric cables have different properties?". Some perfectly able and fine fellas might logically think it is probably the area of expertise you mentioned at first?

My picture


Thank you for your attention.

I have no idea what to tell you. You seem to understand just fine. You understood the context and then proceed to tell me I gave you no context. Let me try again.

I don't agree with everyone else.

High end cables can often make audio sound worse.

When the audio sounds worse, in my experience the culprit is generally the result of the cable - intentionally or unintentionally - being created as a filter.

If I am still losing you, IDK how to help.

 

[Speedskater]

Its an interesting hypothesis.
I would counter that hypothesis by saying that solderdude managed to read my comment just fine.
Speaking of which, you guys wanna see some tuned filters? What are your thoughts on air core inductors for wire?

Not much of an inductor at audio frequencies.
But the cables are totally lacking in noise and interference suppression qualities.

 

[voodooless]

Its an interesting hypothesis.

I would counter that hypothesis by saying that solderdude managed to read my comment just fine.

Speaking of which, you guys wanna see some tuned filters? What are your thoughts on air core inductors for wire?

View attachment 553949

If I have Claude model the wires, it basically shows almost zero dB attenuation at any audio frequency for the RCA variant. XLR gives a similar story, even though it seems the helix is much wider.

 

[solderdude]

The ones were people go nuts with "wire geometry". Some of them are just literal air core inductors and they measure as such.

What influence does that have on audio signals at such a level that it would reach audible levels ?
Is the cause the cable or the source resistance or the load for instance.

Say.... a high resistance passive attenuator is used followed by several meters of RCA cable into a power amp.
In that case a high capacitance cable can make an audible difference from a low capacitive one.
In such a case .... sure the cable (well its capacitance only) would be forming a low pass filter combined with a high input resistor (forming a 20/dec low pass)

Do you have any examples of cables making a difference and if so what evidence is there other than testimonials ?

Sure, all cables measure differently, even the same cable but different length but then there are audibility thresholds which start to matter when we speak of 'heard sound differences'.

 

[Ropeburn]

Its an interesting hypothesis.

I would counter that hypothesis by saying that solderdude managed to read my comment just fine.

Speaking of which, you guys wanna see some tuned filters? What are your thoughts on air core inductors for wire?

View attachment 553949

Windings that big and spaced aren't going to do anything noticeable in the audio band, not by far. If they did, these would be a problem:

 

[kyuu]

Windings that big and spaced aren't going to do anything noticeable in the audio band, not by far. If they did, these would be a problem:

View attachment 554081View attachment 554080

They don't do much even at much higher frequencies, as evidenced by the fact that these work perfectly fine:

Although on the other hand, I haven't seen any of these longer than 5 feet (at maximum stretch). Likely simply because the use case doesn't call for longer coiled cables.

 

[NTK]

Note that bifilar coils (the forward and return conductors are coiled together) produce very little self inductance. Therefore those coiled multi-conductor cords do not behave like single conductor air coiled inductors.

 

[solderdude]

I think the 'cable that is supposed to be a filter of sorts' is not a coiled cable at all but rather a 'casing' to house 2 enameled solid copper wires that may be the actual signal wires. At best the coil may be a 'screen' which would be a silly design as that would become an inductor and a rather high impedance for a screen for HF.
One may get away with it if the 2 signal wires inside are + and - signal wires of a floating differential signal path.

Don't see it being any kind of 'filter' for audible frequencies but rather a poorly shielded interlink, if that's what it is supposed to show.

 

[voodooless]

I think the 'cable that is supposed to be a filter of sorts' is not a coiled cable at all but rather a 'casing' to house 2 enameled solid copper wires that may be the actual signal wires.
View attachment 554190
Don't see it being any kind of 'filter' for audible frequencies but rather a poorly shielded interlink, if that's what it is supposed to show.

This picture is from the XLR version. It has the + and - running straight and the ground as the helix. The RCA version only has a single straight wire.

 

[solderdude]

Then it will probably work but is poorly shielded and won't be a 'filter' in the audible range.

The RCA version would be horrible technically and have very poor shielding.
I suppose HF common mode currents could be attenuated above a certain frequency... better to use ferrites with proper shielded cables if that were the problem to solve without any other possibilities.

 

[voodooless]

The RCA version would be horrible technically and have very poor shielding.

Well, it might just beat a coat hanger

 

[solderdude]

A poor (man's) DIY attempt to imitate this $ 5k cable ?

High-End HiFi Cables - Improve Your Sound with in-akustik

Premium hifi cables and advanced audio technology for the ultimate sound experience. Precision engineered for audiophiles. Discover the difference today!

www.in-akustik.com

 

[fpitas]

A poor DIY attempt to imitate this $ 5k cable ?
View attachment 554195

High-End HiFi Cables - Improve Your Sound with in-akustik

Premium hifi cables and advanced audio technology for the ultimate sound experience. Precision engineered for audiophiles. Discover the difference today!

www.in-akustik.com

DIY could never capture the gorgeous soundstage or spatial hydration of the real thing.