Alpha Labs - Do speaker cables matter? We measured five of them!

Do speaker cables matter? Well... let's find out! We took five speaker cables and measured the frequency response of them... Did we find anything? Well... check the video!
More information: alpha-audio.net
Review with 10 speaker cables: alpha-audio.net/review/megate...
Support our work: / alphaaudio

[@michaelbeckerman7532]

Under normal listening conditions though, there is no way that anyone would ever be able to tell them apart. What we can chart on a graph and what we can measure on a scope vs what a person can actually discern with their ears...well, those are two VERY different things.

[@rainier939]

0,25 db of eq at 2,75khz can be audible. If we're talking about frequency response with a speaker load, 0,5db vs 0,25db is the difference between a decend enough amp and a good amp. It's hard to hear yes but it's audible. It can take some of the edge of the upper midrange. An area where alot of speakers have a hump in the inroom response. Edit: I would never use a cable as an eq measure btw.

[@noreverse1152]

I would like to see the comparison with the response of a plain hookup cable with plain connectors such as a non-audiophile would build.

[@stevefoster6047]

I appreciate seeing this test. While it's important to keep in mind that this is only a test of frequency response and that it's with a specific amp and speaker pair, I find it reassuring that these cables vary by fractions of a dB, which to my old ears I know will not be audible. Phase variations different speaker-amp pairings etc. might tell a different story, but for me personally, I think this test reenforces my belief that speaker cables are likely one of the minor influences on the sound of my system. That said, I didn't exactly neglect them in my system. I'm using DYI Mogami W3082 speaker cables. No idea how they might test, or truth be told, if they sound better than the 16Ga zip wire they replaced, but they made me happy.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

alpha-audio.net/background/the-mutual-influence-of-speakers-amplifiers-and-cables/ The impact remains. The characteristics of the cable as well.

[@Coneman3]

Good to see measurements used intelligently, not to try and disprove real phenomena.

[@Krikstar123]

Multiple people have pointed out that when you lay the cables so that they create coils it will influence high frequency response. A thing that should be basic knowledge. Strangely enough none of them has gotten any answer...

[@aristomenisxv5213]

well done, thank you for this!

[@LovelyDoetje]

You are laying the cables different in your test. You are creating coils this way in some tests. Coils will take energy and will influence frequency respons.

[@ianhaylock7409]

Yes, inductors block high frequencies, so by coiling the cables he is blocking the higher frequencies in the unshielded cables which would explain the high frequency drop off in some cables. That is of course assuming the cables with the highest drop off were unshielded cables.

[@daleromney6062]

Coils that loose will not act as inductors through air.

[@giannislarch]

Hey to everyone.. Nice seeing videos again from you 😀 I'm glad you reveal measured differences, I'm full positive about how much they alerted the sound, little or more, it depends, but surely they do! (all kind of cables and connections)! I don't know why, some people say they don't! Haven't they heared never..? Of course I'm not suggesting to spend a fortune, neither the amount that the gear itself costs, but a reasonable amount. I don't know if you have done or you can do anything similar, or more detailed, with power cords, or distribution etc. Because I think there the differences are very important. Thanks and keep going.. Be happy and healthy, so for us to enjoy you! Hej då

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Thanks man!

[@mmark666]

Quite interesting... could you please share the impedance curve of the speaker used for this testing? Any chance you could repeat the measurements with different speakers since one would expect that the results varies quite a bit with different speakers...

[@TheAlphaAudio]

We did. Check our website.

[@jponsie]

I wish other people who talk about cables on KZbin could back up their subjective reviews with measurements like this. Also if manufacturers could demonstrate the consistency of their cables vs adding wonky eq to your setup, that would be great. All in if its a matter of fractions of a DB, it still looks to be very low on the list of things to worry about when setting up a system.

[@crodoc69]

No one, absolutely no one can hear such a small difference of 0.3 dB while listening music. This test shows how all 4 cables are fine for purpose. I use QED XT40i. I bought it because of specs that can be seen on QED web site, differently form Audioquest that don't give any kind of specs, just unsupported claims and fancy words. It is well made, nice looking cable with 12 awg pure oxigen free copper for reasonable price. And that's all what is needed for a good cable.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

"No one, absolutely no one can hear such a small difference of 0.3 dB while listening music. " That is a bold statement.

[@crodoc69]

@@TheAlphaAudio Yes, and it comes from doctor of medicine. The smallest change we can hear is about 3 dB. And that's scientific fact. Sorry!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@crodoc69 are you kidding me? 3dB is twice the pressure. That is a huge difference. Why do you think mastering engineers work with equalizers as precise as 0.1dB? Anyway. If you don't believe it... Fine. I don't sell stuff. I just investigate.

[@crodoc69]

@@TheAlphaAudio No, I don't. Thas simply physiology of human ear. Sure, in audiophile world you can find different statements but there are all kind of statements in that world. Maybe well trained listener in ideal condition can hear 2db, but 0.3 no way. Hearing isn't linear function. It is exponential. To answer your second question. For the same reason they use speakers with frequency up to 35KHz that is way beyond human hearing.

[@armpiano]

@crodoc69 When I do mastering, in post-production, I can hear at least 1db of difference. 3db is huge !

[@kuglepen64]

Some tenths of a dB in linear response are not really audible, but the next question - for me at least - are if there are hysteresis effects?

[@WelkySchullin]

I donť know about the the coils you made by circuling the cables not a great conditions for the tests...

[@IliyaOsnovikov]

Is there a correlation between physical parameters of those cables and the frequency responces?

[@jellybelly2234]

The visible effect seen on the screen results in slightly different Resistance of the cables. In other words, slightly thicker or thinner copper. You can see two areas,, where the lines are very close. Both unter 100 Hz. These are impedance maxima of the used speaker. At these points, the Impedance of the speaker is much higher as elsewhere (maybe 40 ohms), and so the current and the voltage drop is lower. All in all a flyspeck. ;)

[@SpamMaster57]

It's always refreshing and very rare to see someone actually trying to get to the bottom of this question with actual measurements. However, there is a slight issue, there might be something in the circuit that induces current behaving as a microphone in this noisy environment that also has speech. The only measurement that's valid in any atmosphere (a resistor) did not show these changes, interesting. Simply measure again and again with the same cable and just talk next to it, the results will be just as different as here.

[@jmtennapel]

The sound is not measured, the speaker cables are plugged into a plug which is connected to the dScope, which in turn is plugged into the binding posts of the speaker. See 3:25. So, the response curve of the current flowing through the speakers cable is measured. The resistance is the impedance behaviour from the speaker as the sound is played through the amplifier to the speaker.

[@SpamMaster57]

@@jmtennapel Let's draw the system from the amplifier's side. The speaker is connected, and to the speaker, the analyzer is connected. This is a general parallel connection, the amplifier drives both the speaker and the analyzer. For a parallel connection, voltages are always equal (simplified), so the voltage measured on the speaker and on the analyzer are always the same. This would be the same if the analyzer would output some voltage. Both the speaker and the amplifier could see that change. This is also true for the speaker, if that created some electricity, it would drive both the amp and the analyzer. Uh-oh, it does create electricity! Speakers are backwards microphones (microphones are literally measured by driving one mic as a speaker), although not very effective, but measurable microphones. The voltage that is created that way, by the noise and speech, is what was measured here.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

The input impedance of the Prism dScope is 100kOhm. The speaker is 8 Ohm nominal. I don't see the issue.

[@SpamMaster57]

@@TheAlphaAudio And a multimeter is 1-10 MOhm yet still measures the same voltage. Resistance is only a factor in serial connections, those are voltage dividers. Parallels divide the current, this is why we use such high resistances, to not burn the analyzers. The issue is that this system is not closed, and atmospheric effects (like the sound of fans and speech) influence it through the speaker. What the driver is inducing is nothing coming from the cable (we're talking about an LTI system here, if they measure the same on a resistor, they can't meaningfully affect a speaker), but what the sound in the room added to its movement - this can meaningfully change the suppression pattern that ultimately resulted in those frequency responses.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@SpamMaster57 ok

[@FOH3663]

Love this. This reminds me of AVS Forum enthusiasts some 15yrs ago, performing measured shootout of several subwoofers in their listening room. They carefully assured each sub was measured in the exact same location ... measured, charted, and shared the results with all the feeq response traces displayed on one graph. It resolved some minor level differences, but every sub's FR was nearly the same. Peaks were the same, dips were the same. The room's transfer function dominated everything. So, this loading influence, ... why do you suspect the cabling FR exhibits the same trends?

[@justadad2304]

Thank you for this. Also, for your level-headed calm through which you definitively state what can and can't be concluded from this. Not only do we need to remember that any individual measurement is an observation or better yet an interpretation of only a miniscule fraction of complete, complex reality, and that with more types of measurements we are able to aggregate and compare, and through that begin to understand, more and more of reality (though we as humans can never understand all of it), we also need to remember what the relative value of each measurement represents to the human experience. I'm glad you were able to clearly and non-controversially show a measurement difference. Beyond that, I don't value frequency response so much because I know I can enjoy many different systems whether they are warm or dark, or bright or neutral, or V or W or flat or whatever. There are other characteristics to the sound that are measured in other numbers than FR which seem to be the parts that matter to my experience and that consistently (much more consistently than FR) differentiate consumer junk from entry-level audiophile on up through true high end. Let's measure, and measure more and more and more, but let's also remember these are only partial interpretations which can only accumulate asymptomatically into an understanding which is always partial, always interpretive. That's why, like others, I rely on myself first and foremost.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

And you should only rely on your own observations...!

[@geraldhilderink5686]

Great that you test the cables as part of the closed-loop system with real speaker impedance.

[@phillipmorris9847]

Awesome thank you. Any interest in taking the connectors out of the equation ? And maybe seeing whats what with solid vs stranded vs multi core vs flat, copper vs silver, purity ect.. I think connectors can only degrade.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Welcome. I don't have a test on connectors planned at the moment. Not sure that really makes a difference to be honest.

[@phillipmorris9847]

@@TheAlphaAudio I know this was just a test to confirm that frequency response is effected by cables. And that's fantastic, thank you. This now gives us insight how this has been a tweak. Idk answers lead to more questions. I can't help but to wonder what solid copper wire vs stranded vs flat looks like on the scope of yours or why some consider 99.9% silver sounds bright but 99.999 silver doesn't was all the countless hours and dollars spent on eq via cables ? As for connectors idk why does gold sound warmer and rodium not so much ? Maybe 12awg lamp wire has the flattest response but someone preferred silver 1k silver plated copper cable that tilted up from 10k 1 db and that's why it sounded better to them when they could have saved the 1k and used eq and lamp cord....sorry my brain went crazy after seeing this video... 😂

[@Prolant]

Good job! interesting difference FFT

[@antcollins6594]

You are leaving random numbers of coils/turns of speaker cable on your test bench depending on the length of the cable. What do you think that is doing to the inductance of the cable in your test setup? You need to repeat the tests with the cables laid out straight. or at least with a single smooth curve from amp to speaker.

[@MichaelBruunCph]

Can you try mogami 3104 cable?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I dont have one

[@badd99]

One recommendation would be flipping from camera view to a screen recording to see the monitor much better

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yes. Maybe I will... the idea was 'simple videos'. With Screen Capture it will require more editing. But I get your point.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 yes... the amount of work and editing involved.

[@jmtennapel]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 Do I hear a volunteer editor?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 do you see all the measuring equipment standing there? Did you notice the two camera angles? The wireless mics... I think it is pretty obvious we invest in our audience. There is one thing that is not for sale though: time. I have a family and a wife and son i also like to see...

[@josschreur6992]

Would also nice to measure binding post fore example pure copper silver plated gold plated etc.

[@writemeanovel]

This fantastic data! Would very much like to see more of this. Also, what do you mean when you say you can’t hear 25k but you will hear the harmonics ?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

We will make more videos like this. We are developing a special device to measure interlinks for example. A 25 KHz tone has harmonics. For example there is also energy around 12,5 KHz, 50 KHz... Multiples or for example half of the frequency.

[@writemeanovel]

thanks! I still don't understand the harmonics thing, but I will ask uncle goooogle and read up. You and your friends are really doing some unique work. I have only just recently approached the point with my HIFI that cable and interconnects influence the sound in an audible way, so this is very timely. thanks again! @@TheAlphaAudio

[@Rene_Christensen]

Don't be discouraged by that Douglas Blake guy (can't read his comments anymore, as he seems to delete his accounts regularly). I have engaged with him before (where he also deleted his then account), and he is just a troll and/or incompetent. Keep doing what you are doing, and focus on the more positive comments.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yeah. I noticed as well. I blocked his account already.

[@h1nicolas]

Would be nice to see if you measure the relaxation time and dissipation factor of the dielectric of the cable.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I don't think I can measure that.

[@adalbertus777]

Nice test. Did you try running the test multiple times on each cable in order to see whether the results are always exactly the same (within each tested cable, of course)? I'm not questioning the results, it's just to rule out any inherit or parasitic influence of the testing equipment.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yes. We did... results were the same.

[@ggroch]

It is unfortunate you did not show this in the test because natural variations in measurement is also my first question. It would also allow you to judge the impact of coils/layout.@@TheAlphaAudio

[@karledwards2319]

Wires have resistance. When driving a complex load like a speaker, the voltage drop will be frequency dependent. The best speaker wire is the one with the lowest resistance, this is no mystery. It doesn't have to be some exotic silver whatever, just plain old thick copper wire. Thick enough for its resistance to be insignificant at the length needed. The test should have been run with no wire as a calibration and the first wire repeated at the end of the test for repeatability. I suspect things like the amp and speaker were heating up making the comparison invalid.

[@MicraHakkinen]

That's similar to what I was thinking. He's talking about a difference between cables on the order of tenths of dB's, while only having taken a single measurement of each cable. We don't even know if the results are reproducible, let alone accurate enough to say with any confidence that there is a difference. Edit: Oh and another thing I noticed, several cables are tested with part of their length coiled up on the desk. I wouldn't be surprised if that also affected results.

[@bbfoto7248]

​@@MicraHakkinen Yes, when you lay or wrap non-shielded cables into a circle or loop, it essentially creates a wire inductor coil or "inductive loop" to at least SOME extent. And we all know how inductors are used and what they do in multi-way loudspeaker systems, right? In addition, some of the speaker cables were shown laying across or on top of other coiled cables, while others were not. :/ The best option would have been to "unwrap" and fully extend each cable and route them all consistently along the same path as much as possible, and also AWAY from any other electronic equipment and/or ferrous metal surfaces. If you can not extend the cables so that there are no coils or loops, the best practice is to lay them in a large figure-of-eight pattern like the infinity symbol... ∞ with the signal input and output ends of the cable entering and exiting at opposite ends. Just one real-world example: We always MUST do this with the "head" or "feeder" cable for our 1k to 20k Arri HMI Fresnel and PAR film/video/photographic lighting fixtures, especially in hot weather and/or full sun, because the lamp head will continuously shut down due to the inductive loop that is created if the cables are simply coiled in a circle like a garden water hose. The wire coil itself creates the "steady state" inductor, but as the coil heats up over time it further changes the parameters of the coil. I've seen variances even in "straight" wiring due to whether or not the overhead fluorescent ceiling lighting fixture was turned on or off (EMI/RFI from the magnetic or electronic fluorescent ballast interacting with the cable). This can also happen when nearby electric motors are or are not running...from a nearby fan or A/C blower, etc. Also, as mentioned, the parameters of the loudspeaker or individual drivers (and potentially the amplifier) will change even due to mild temperature variations of the voice coil and magnetic motor system as it is powered and in-use (heating up) vs. resting with no signal (cooling down) for a given period of time...easily enough to cause these very minute differences. Anybody who has tested loudspeaker driver parameters would understand this. IMPO, there are simply not enough controls in the way these tests were performed to eliminate potential external variables...especially such minute differences. To see if we (you) can actually hear and discern the effects of non-audible upper harmonics on the audible spectrum, simply play multi-tone sine waves or pink noise with and without an additional >20kHz 2nd and then 3rd harmonic signal component added to the multi-tone.

[@tonyt.5771]

So bigger is better ? i use 10 AWG all through my system, seems to sound fantastic to me,any thoughts? Thanx.

[@Freedom89984]

Do you think the musicians that performed on your cd’s, lp’s or streaming audio measured there cables between guitar and amp? I guess not, the studio’s did their best to record everything as good as possible, but sometimes I have the feeling that audiophiles can’t listen to the great music anymore. They are always trying to improve the sound quality upon manic levels at very high costs. But in the end it’s all about enjoyment and the magic that music does with your brain.

[@Chris-hy6jy]

Isn't this just the Z plot of that particular speaker you're looking? The cable with the lowest CSA will have the largest attenuation due to higher voltage drop.

[@grommie]

Wat zijn jullie lekker bezig❤

[@saiprasad8078]

Are the cables of the same length ?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yes

[@adaboy4z]

Would the differences be audible?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yes

[@user-vk8ww5mc8m]

It's very quiet without them 😊

[@philipkershaw7918]

A one-decibel difference in loudness between two sounds is the smallest difference detectable by human hearing. Therefore the fractions of a dB difference between your cables is, to all intents and purposes, irrelevant. I expect that some, perhaps most, of the measured differences is less due to the cable itself and more a function of the integrity of the cable to plug interfaces and plug to socket integrity. And I think we should all be mindful of the fact that the more you zoom in on an inch, the more it looks like a mile!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I disagree. But that is not relevant. We will be doing more research to indicate the difference.

[@edwarddejong8025]

People can spend a fortune on thick cool cables for their speakers, but when you open up a speaker and see the pathetic wires inside, it is quite upsetting. Speaker manufacturers really skimp on the internal wires which can have a fair amount of length. They gotta clean up that part of speaker design. Professional studio monitors put the amp inside the speaker so that cabling is not critical, and many studio monitor sets now use ethernet to transfer the data digitally, losslessly, like GENELEC SAM systems.

[@jmtennapel]

Powered speakers are for most customers a better idea, but when you talk to the manufacturers of those powered speakers, they will all tell you the wire inside their speakers matters as well.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I agree with the powered speakers... definately technically a better solution.

[@paulkelleway8032]

The noise floor in my listening room fluctuates between 28 & 30db, I can’t hear that so no way I would hear the differences in these cables in normal domestic environments. Yes there are differences but no way audible under blind test conditions. But interesting none the less. There is more difference in moving your speakers a few inches than any cable will make.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Ok

[@Thevikingcam]

Human can not hear under 1 Db changes at all, also you room is not an silent closed anechoic chamber so i do not give much trust on those numbers at all with +65db background noise.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I don't know where you have 65 dB background noise, but our listening room is around 30dB. That is a leaf falling... and that is our target audience. Also: a human has far more sensitive hearing than you might think...

[@jmtennapel]

The sound coming from the speakers is not measured ....

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@jmtennapel indeed... we measure electrically. Not sonicly.

[@Thevikingcam]

SO you are claiming that measuring the sound straight from cable as frequency response makes differences? ok.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fZeWipiwbbyHsJY&ab_channel=AudioScienceReview

[@peterlatumaerissa3090]

👍

[@brucermarino]

9:55 I believe even objectivists admit to a difference cables if they have sufficiently different electrical parameters. It would be interesting to know the parameters of the cables that were tested. Thank you!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

You can check more in the full review I mentioned in the description.

[@brucermarino]

@@TheAlphaAudio great, thank you!

[@LukasZX-5]

This is the best cable measurement video I've ever seen! Thank you!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Welcome. And thanks!

[@topkho]

@@TheAlphaAudiogreat job, as usual🎉

[@imqqmi]

You didn't state what exactly the test setup is, what are you measuring, through a measuring microphone, or the response at the speaker positive terminal? Was there a crossover circuit in the path? Did you try measuring the same cable multiple times and now much was the variation? Maybe what you see is noise differences in the test setup? It's hard to draw any conclusions.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

The speaker terminals of the speaker are connected to the analyzer. It is not tested with a microphone. That would also be impossible with all the noise in the room.

[@r423sdex]

How about measuring the music coming out of the speakers. Remember to level match. Then show the difference between the files.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

That is not going to work in a normal room and A/D conversion. Every file will be different. Even with the same cable. This measurement shows there are differences... i can repeat this test and get exactly the same result...

[@r423sdex]

@@TheAlphaAudio these measurements, are they audible.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@r423sdex yes

[@r423sdex]

Would you put your house on it ? I will be doing the cable change. You can do the easy part !

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@r423sdex yes.

[@badd99]

Awesome job wit this. It's very audible and I hate the people who don't listen and fail to believe. I appreciate this finally showing those people you can measure differences, because that's all they care about.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yup

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 no I didn't

[@badd99]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 it's a measurable difference. That will depend on the system and listener.

[@badd99]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 look tbh I don't even care if it measured identical. The audible differences on my system (very very top end so can't speak for other systems) is absolutely night and day on cable differences.

[@jmtennapel]

@@Douglas_Blake_579 The difference is because this is the cable, amplifier and speaker interacting across the impedance behaviour of a speaker, as you would in the real world when listening to music.

[@louv4437]

Too bad you didn’t have one real reference pair like 50k pair to see how drastic it was or wasn’t with the others

[@rdh67dh]

No matter what the results shows us, I tested several cables and it really makes a difference. I'm fully satisfied with my Art Speak solid core cable. I'm a former disbeliever on cables, but got convinced by testing with my ears.

[@rdh67dh]

@@uribar-ner5055 i agree. All is in our brain. You just replied to someone who studied brainknowledge.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@rdh67dh :-)

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@uribar-ner5055 ? We just showed there are actually differences. Also... there are still a lot of things to discover... or do you believe we know all there is to know about everything?

[@rdh67dh]

@@uribar-ner5055 this is not the channel to discuss. I'm very aware about our brainworking, so I am aware. The brains can even let you imagine there is a killervirus when in reality there isn't. I also be aware about the first 8 years of our life being a delta for us. I leave it with this and I don't like your cocky presuming attitude. Have a nice day.

[@bigsketchyburrito]

You're supposed to hook them up to your speakers, not your ears. :P

[@rdh67dh]

I have a humidity device in my room. I would like a test if humidity makes difference in sound delivered by speakers. My commonsense think it does.

[@jmtennapel]

That's easy: turn the humidity device off, measure the humidity level listen. Turn it on, measure the humidity level, listen. Test finished. Now, don't bother us ever again with your futile attempt to 'be funny', go troll somewhere else.

[@hornsby5533]

Das geht ja Schlag auf Schlag. Ich glaube ich habe den Ton erst ab 10 kHz gehört. 😮

[@jackfalco5351]

Audible differences?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Of course...

[@MiguelAngelRacero]

0.3dB cannot be perceived then?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yes... you can hear that. And besides that: there is more in life than freq response.

[@MiguelAngelRacero]

@@TheAlphaAudio You can't hear it at all, prove that statement! It is impossible. Do double-blind tests with those cables and tell me. Measure a cheap normal cable and you'll tell me. It is not valid to say that 0.3 dB is perceived, it is not fair.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@MiguelAngelRacero we already did blind tests. You are welcome to visit us... I can show it. No problem.

[@MiguelAngelRacero]

@@TheAlphaAudio Please tell me where I can see those tests.

[@r423sdex]

Just moving the cable will change its performance, but you will not be able to hear the difference.

[@TheKent2288]

Thank you! Judging by some of the comments nay sayers will always be nay sayers regardless of legitimate repeatable evidence. Just like UAP videos staring you in the face but nah, it's fault with a $1mil military spec camera and sensor! Good luck to humanity that's all I can say.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Yeah... i can't think of better evidence than what I demonstrated...

[@aminbjt5843]

Very excellent and informative Please repeat the test without the speaker and using a high wattage resistor that has the same impedance as the speaker. Thankful

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I did... you get a flat response with all cables. You probably knew that. But it's useless, because a speaker is not a flat impedance, nor a static load.

[@aminbjt5843]

@@TheAlphaAudio Yes, I knew, I wanted to tell you that this is the problem with the crossover. If you test a speaker, for example, only one woofer, the impedance will be very flat. Crossovers of the second degree and above cause this problem

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@aminbjt5843 But the interaction with the crossover doesn't matter in this case. I am measuring the differences between the cables... it is in that sense a relative measurement... it's about the differences between A and B... and that is what you will hear in the end anyway...

[@aminbjt5843]

@@TheAlphaAudio What is a crossover? The combination of inductor and capacitor is used to separate high, low and mid frequencies The combination of inductor and capacitor in two and higher order designs causes resonance at a specific frequency And this causes the input impedance to drop drastically in these frequencies. Therefore, it causes more current in the cable. Also, the frequency response fluctuates If you modify the crossover, you will no longer need expensive cables

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@aminbjt5843 if... but that is not the reality. I have an article online with measurements on multiple speakers with multiple amplifiers and multiple cables... the characteristics of the cables remain... so... cables matter... in the real world. Can you create a system that is immune to cables... sure... probably.

[@Obsfucation]

I’m unclear on exactly what your test set up is. You just roll right into showing us graphs (with small, difficult to read scales) but, never explain how the setup works. Some clarification what help alleviate some skepticism. Also, at 7:50 you state that there’s a difference at 25kHz and that you can’t hear it but, you can the harmonics. Since, by definition, a harmonic is always greater than the fundamental how is that possible and what speaker will reproduce it? Please clarify.

[@sccanj]

If you can’t hear the difference between normal copper cables and silver plated speaker cables you are tone deaf, but don’t worry, most people are so not your fault

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It is not the material. It is the geometry and the way the materials are created and processed that makes the big difference.

[@gwine9087]

The only cable test, that matters, is with your ears.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

True. But my goal was to prove the difference.

[@phillipmorris9847]

True, but with these test we can now see why one might prefer a particular cable over another in there system.

[@LovelyDoetje]

Bullshit, you will always be biased. Therefore when you here something different the outcome is already set. Using your hearing can be done but you must be totally in the dark about what you are listening at. So a controlled test which is never done correctly at any store or show.

[@philipkershaw7918]

NOT true. The aural [and visual] systems post process the signals. At a critiacal level then, you literally cannot believe your ears/eyes. Let us all accept and get over this and move on.

[@sccanj]

Sadly most people are tone deaf. Any person that says that there’s no audible difference between two different cables are tone deaf, I’m not even saying that the more expensive sounds better, but they sound different for sure

[@rbublitz3322]

2/10ths of a dB? No one hears that

[@TheAlphaAudio]

We have measured up to 2.5dB with some cables now... Cables make a difference. And it is not only freq response. It is also timing and noise.

[@BobCoalWater]

Of course there is difference, cables are tone controls, they'd be useless with same measurements.

[@sccanj]

Wow, someone who actually has musical ears,sometimes the difference is huge, for example if you have dark sounding speakers try silver plated cables and the sound will open up, it will sound somewhat brighter

[@lupoal4113]

is there really still somebody that think cables don't matter? do they know that inside cable run electricity and that fisical properties like R L C do influence frequency transmission aka frequency reproduction?

[@4tv914]

what's the point if you are not doing the test in an anechoic room

[@TheAlphaAudio]

We measured electrically. Not acoustically.

[@4tv914]

@@TheAlphaAudio I see, thanks for the reply.

[@elderinmoi1571]

I spend 2500,- for my speaker cables and replaced them with a 9000,- cable and every time I heard a remarkable difference / improvement. I don’t care what measurements say but I still like to watch all Hi-Fi related contend and especially from Alpha Audio 😊

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Thanks!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@uribar-ner5055 well... our task it not to save the industry, buy to offer some insight in what does and doesnt work. But hey... it this saves some hard working people... i am glad we can help. :-).

[@sergeiu8101]

​@@TheAlphaAudio Can you try to measure same, but with microphone? Finally, important is, does this difference audible or not.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@sergeiu8101 we can try

[@jellybelly2234]

@@crazyprayingmantis5596 Audiophiles do not like controlled blind testing. ;) They hate it.

[@phpn99]

You guys are clueless

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Ok