Why do you think audio & video cables don't make a difference in the sound or video quality?

Question

I always like a friendly debate and this is probably the king of them all.  We always see questions from consumers if cables make a difference and if they should buy "more expensive" cables and 99.9 % of people say don't bother save your money and either use cheap cable or "oxygen free copper cables.  I certainly enjoy to respond to those who are strong critics against better cables but never really get a good reason why they think that other than there's no "blind test" that prove there are differences or you cant measure it then it doesn't exist lol.  Or the best of them all that dealers or sales people only want to make more money selling them.  I will say that is not entirely false especially when it comes to the chain stores who really don't have a clue about high quality sound, how to achieve it, what makes something better, and they really don't even carry better cables that make a clear improvement.  The only place to buy better cables and to be able to hear or see the differences is your smaller independent high end audio video stores who carry the better equipment and cables that can show you the differences in cables.

I of course am a advocate of better cables (and no it doesn't have to be expensive to be good) and in all my years of selling high end systems have never had a client say they couldn't hear or see the difference and could easily justify buying better cable, and this goes for all cables, analog, digital, and video cables. Its difficult to answer each aspect of why I believe cables make a difference but one technical aspect which is undisputed is that cables create inherently have resistance, capacitance, and inductance, varying any aspect of these parameters will effect its performance and hence sound or video quality.  If people dispute it makes a difference then they must also conclude that there is no sound difference in capacitors, and resistors, then they must conclude there is no sound difference in components. I can tell you the sound differences in resistors and capacitors so then how is that not possible ? As for digital cables I often see if its digital it makes no difference if the ones and zeros are there it makes no difference.  Well that again would not be true as there are aspect to the transmission of digital data that can contribute to sound differences.  One is bandwidth, and the other big one is Jitter.  Jitter is a form of digital distortion it is measurable and valid form of distortion.  

I am a firm believer in the sound and video quality of cables, and sure cables can get very expensive very fast and i would admit its hard to justify some of the very highest end of cable costs, but honestly if you have a reference system and it makes that big a difference how can you not say its not worth it.  The goal is to achieve the highest level of involvement with the performance so who is anyone to say its not worth the investment.

Anyway I ask you keep this a friendly debate and welcome your responses.

Kevin 
40 years high end audio video specialist

Daniel K · Accepted Answer

Kev - You need to buy the book "The Audio Expert" and read chapter 2.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Expert-Everything-Need-About/dp/0240821009/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1360084615&sr=1-1&keywords=the+audio+expert#reader_0240821009

? · Answer

The thicker the speaker wire the easier. Certainly if you will have long runs (more than 15 toes or so) go together with a 16 awg on the very least (It in regards to the measurement of the twine on a lamp) 14 and even 12 awg will also be purchased for an inexpensive price. (The minimize the quantity the thicker the wire) And relying on the speaker connects, making use of spade-ends or bananna plugs are an less difficult approach to conect instead than crimping naked wire across the posts.

Anonymous · Answer

Though I do know there is a differnece between cables, I refuse to entertain this "done to death" debate. I own an audio forum and I do not let my members debate cables. I have a forum for pro cables and one for anti cables and I refuse to let them debate the issue. The anti cable people can talk amongst themselves on how they do nothing and the pro cable people can knock their socks off talking about their $5000 cables were the best audio investment they ever made, but I will never allow the two to mix.... been there, done that, bought the t-shirt.

Paul in San Diego · Answer

My opinion:

With speaker cables, it doesn't matter unless you're running some seriously long cable runs. 16-gauge zip cord works just fine for most applications. Braided Monster cable is a waste of money.

With HDMI cable, you don't want to spend more than $10 for a standard 6-foot cable. When you spend more, you're just getting beefier connector housings, things like gold plated pins, etc. But, it's a pure digital signal and this is not improved by being more expensive.

For coaxial cable, a standard quad-shield RG-6 with crimp on connectors are fine, if you know how to install the connectors correctly. 

For RCA cable, coaxial is better, because of the improved shielding. But again, more money just means beefier construction, gold connectors, and thicker shielding which doesn't really buy you anything.

For optical digital, same as HDMI. Don't spend more than $10 for a 6-foot cable.

Bottom line: If you're going to spend extra money on accessories, invest in a good surge suppression unit. Best hundred dollars you'll ever spend, especially if where you live is prone to power surges, lightning storms, etc.

Pauli · Answer

My custom is to buy mid-quality cables for home use. This is because they are good enough for me. I would never by "crap" low-end.

But for a reference system, like you need in a studio, I would get the absolute best I could afford. And I would replace them as needed.

Mr.No0nE · Answer

There is differences, but the problem is that I see stores sell overpriced crap while I can get a good quality cable for less.

Why do you think audio & video cables don't make a difference in the sound or video quality?

6 Answers