Which type of cable has the most impact: Power, IC (Interconnect), or Speaker?

[sunder]

In a high end DIY cables, we cannot hear the difference in the audio quality unless otherwise provided quality connectors & and the most importantly the best quality soldering. The sound quality will be lower in a high end cable if there was done an average quality soldering with average quality connectors. In such situations , we can upgrade the connectors with quality soldering, the result will be distinctly noticeable.

 

[jenson]

There are 2 dimensions ie 1. where is it placed and 2 what cable is it

for 1. the Higher the cable nearer to the source, the most important then the amplification and then the speaker..of course not all cables are needed for alll but the idea is anything before the amplification makes the most impact

Thanks to this suggestion, got around installing the power cable to CDP, instead of Amp, which is what I would have blindly done. Happy to report works (stunningly)best this way.

 

[heliumflight]

In a high end DIY cables, we cannot hear the difference in the audio quality unless otherwise provided quality connectors & and the most importantly the best quality soldering. The sound quality will be lower in a high end cable if there was done an average quality soldering with average quality connectors. In such situations , we can upgrade the connectors with quality soldering, the result will be distinctly noticeable.

Yes, silver solder... bought that, done it.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I have tried various kind of wires and configuration for my IC cables and till last week was using a single core pure silver cable for all equipment connection. The sound was hallow with that and did not know the reason. I measured my speakers and I noticed that there was a severe group delay in mid bass till 2khz of around 50msec which was huge. Below 100hz the group delay was even higher than 250msec. I then realized something was wrong somewhere and I suspected the IC cable.

Since I had scrapped all my previous wires to remove clutter, I started fresh with my time tested polycab telephone wire which is a 24awg single core with PE dielectric. As the intention was to check the group delay, I made a 2 + 2 core twisted cable of 1.5 meter length. They had an internal capacitance of 155pF ( measured). I again measured my speakers and the group delay fell from 50msec to 8msec in the midbass and midrange region. To confirm this I restored back to silver cable and again measured and the group delay was again 50msec. Wow, this was a discovery for me - TBH. I then went ahead and replaced all my silver wires with the telephone cables. As the telephone cables were high capacitance ( around 155pF), I needed to work on the cable geometry to reduce that. Yesterday I purchased a 10mm hallow PVC tube ( the one you use for water filter etc), inserted a 2 core wire for the hot, and spiraled another 2 core wire across the length of the tube for the cold wire. Due to the isolation the internal capacitance dropped from 155pF to 44pF for the same length of wire.

In my setup, somehow a high capacitance IC cable just don't work. It makes my setup sound bright, fatigued and distorted in the HF. The change of IC cable wire from silver to copper and using an unique DIY cable geometry had a significant impact in group delay, bandwidth and subjectively the tonality and soundstage. I mostly will be settling with this cable as final because I have already tried Belden 2 core shielded cables on my rig and they too sound very horrible/bad in my setup. I have measured a 250pF cable capacitance for the Belden wire btw.

PS: Any FM using low capacitance IC cable - please share your experience.

Thanks for looking at this longish post.

I was just curious if the large group delay is more due to the increased capacitence, and not because of the material being silver. From my limited understanding, the higher the capacitence, then greater is the stored electrical energy. Which will be dissipated or transmitted along the wire with a delay, owing to the storage of the electrical energy. Is this the cuplrit for the group delay. Did your goodselves by any chance check the capacitence of the silver wire. Thanks

 

[Hari Iyer]

I was just curious if the large group delay is more due to the increased capacitence, and not because of the material being silver. From my limited understanding, the higher the capacitence, then greater is the stored electrical energy. Which will be dissipated or transmitted along the wire with a delay, owing to the storage of the electrical energy. Is this the cuplrit for the group delay. Did your goodselves by any chance check the capacitence of the silver wire. Thanks

The silver wire also was low in capacitance. Around 52pF if my memory serves me right. I think there was something not correct wit that silver wire - again my guess. Will have to spend more time doing an A/B for conclusive outcomes.

 

[IndianEars]

i reckon IC has the most impact...what's the view of believers?

For me it is (in order of greatest impact to the sound quality):

1. Analog Interconnect Cables.

2. Power cables

3. Digital Interconnects

4. Speaker Cables

 

[balavignesh002]

i reckon IC has the most impact...what's the view of believers?

Between analog ic and speaker cable, It depends on the distance.

 

[muralimmreddy]

In my chain interconnects between pre and power.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

The silver wire also was low in capacitance. Around 52pF if my memory serves me right. I think there was something not correct wit that silver wire - again my guess. Will have to spend more time doing an A/B for conclusive outcomes.

Thanks for sharing that sir

 

[bornfi]

IC for me.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

For me, its the first power cable from the wall to the power distributor. I've tried a few power cables, but all in the reasonable to entry level price range from Kimber, Audioquest, Pangea and Triode labs. They all did small things differently, like tighten the bass here and there. But nothing big enough to justify the expense, till I tried an Ansuz Mainz A2. This thing was a very noticable change, and head and shoulders above the rest. And the noise floor of the entire system did drop noticably, with just one cable from the wall to the generic distributor Iam using. This reduction in noise, made everything stand out more. The added resolution, and quiteness made the smaller details seem easier to pick out in the mix. Like the reviewers favourite phrase, I think I was hearing new things in familiar tracks. The bass became the tightest, most impactful and hardest hitting I've ever had in my room.

At any point in time, it takes atleast 10 power cords to get the system running, as it is composed of all separates. Without touching anything anywhere else, such a big change was wrought by one single cable, placed at the head of the chain.

This made me a convert to the Nordost theory of cabling heirarchy. Which starts with the very first power cable from the wall, so that the benefit of filtering provided by this cable, perculates to benefit every single component down the chain. So the best cable should be the first up the chain, be it power or interconnects. My best interconnects connect the Dac to the preamp, and next best from preamp to power amps....and so it goes.

I found the least benefit with interconnects and speaker cables in my system. The differences were tiny for the huge asking price. But then all these cables are at a similar price and performance range. So Iam not suprised. Your mileage may vary of course.

 

[drkrack]

i reckon IC has the most impact...what's the view of believers?

First and Foremost
Power Cable - Source
Power Cable - Preamp /DAC
Power Cable - Power Amplification

Next
hierarchy is from start of the Chain to the end, especially anywhere before power amplification.
LAN Cable for Streamer based System
Digital Cable like USB, Coax for DAC based System

Next
ICs from Source to Preamp
Pre to power

Finally Speaker Cables.