Testing speaker cables: Nordost Red Dawn, Van Den Hul M.C. THE WIND MK II HYBRID & PS Audio xStream Statement.

Hello and welcome to whatishifi blog.

This time I decided to spend some time testing speaker cables. Reason for this was the fact that I had in hand a big variety of them, including some with active shielding (!!!) so it was a nice opportunity to give it a try.


The Nordost Red Dawn speaker cable.

For this post I picked up whatever cables I had in 3 meters lengths, so I ended up with Nordost Red Dawn, Van Den Hul M.C. THE WIND MK II HYBRID and PS Audio xStream Statement. All these were compared to Pano's system's standard economical Mogami 3104 - however I have to point out that the Mogami is connected bi-wired whereas all the cables we tested were not. But fear not my fellow readers, after putting back in the equation the Mogami, we did it at a non- bi-wire connection so we are fair with everyone.


Our candidates waiting to be heard.

Before proceeding to the sound test, let me share a little piece of information regarding my experience with cables in general up to now. In the past, Panos and me were under the impression that we could hear differences between interconnect cables. Not significant ones, but we thought that they were there. Last time we ordered some interconnects from a big and well known UK cable store and while we were admiring them, we decided to make a blind listening test. Panos designed a simple device with one RCA input and two isolated RCA outputs that could be controlled through a solid state relay. We connected the output of our Parasound DAC with a "good" (meaning branded & expensive) and very short interconnect cable to the input of the device. We connected the two outputs of the device to two equal inputs at the Parasound pre-amp that back then Panos had. As you understand, we used two completely different interconnect cables; one stock RCA cable and one of the fancy ones we had bought. One of us would listen while the other would change in synchro the output of the DIY device and the input on the pre-amp, so we could make an instant A/B comparison between the two connected cables. Although we kept believing that we could hear differences, we could not pick up our favorite cable, meaning that during the blind test none of us could provide consistent results regarding which cable was the one he considered as better sounding. We flipped the inputs of the pre-amp and the outputs of our DIY device just in case one of them was inferior somehow to the other, but still nothing; we were exposed. If you are a regular reader, that was the begging of a long cycle of reliable blind tests that provided us with definite results.

However, there is also another side of this. The designer of Pano's current tube pre-amp told him that this design requires unshielded interconnects, something that we found out that it is true. So in this case the interconnect affects the sound, but this has more to do with the particular design of a component where the designer explains that is greatly affected by the capacitance of a cable. At the end of the day, just a decent non-shielded cable will nicely do the job without the need for an exotic (expensive) design with black magic ingredients. Simple as that.

What both cases above teach us is that there is not a simple answer like yes or no to the question if interconnect cables make a difference. For a start, it is easy to believe that a cable sounds different when it actually doesn't. Also, a cable can potentially make a difference but not in a more-you-spend-at-exotic-and-mysterious-looking-design-the-better-the-sound-will-be manner. If a cable sounds different there is a reason about it and that reason is at the connected devices and not the cable itself - except if it is a really shity cable causing troubles. A cable that allows one device to sound as best as it can, is not automatically a better cable that will also sound better with another device.

Another thing is fine-tuning through cables. Let's say that your system is brighter than what you like. Installing an interconnect cable with higher capacitance than your current cable will probably sound better to you. Does this means it is a better cable? Noop.

Regarding speaker cables, I will have to go further back in the past, early 00's if I remember correctly. I was lucky to find a rare Luxman JPS-2000 Ultimate Speaker Cable. Up to then I was using simple, no name thick wires I got from my father who was an electrical engineer. When I got the Luxman cables I connected them to speaker B of my power amp, leaving the old wires also connected. By pressing speakers A or speakers B, I could choose which wire I was listening to. Did the Ultimate Cable make any difference? Noop. Did I kept the Luxman cables? Hell yes, but not because they sound better - just because I like owning them.

Back in present time - let's get it on with our listening tests. The power amp we used was Pano's Parasound Halo A-21. The speakers were the last version of Audio Spectrum Hermes with factory imporved crossovers - a great floor standing 3 way 5 SEAS speaker design, unfortunately not famous outside Greece. We choose to use both jazz and rock - who knows, maybe one germ of music is more delicate to speaker cables than the other. Our reference tracks were again The Girl From Ipanema (Stan Getz / João Gilberto Featuring Antonio Carlos Jobim ‎– Getz / Gilberto, Verve Reissues / Quality Record Pressings / Analogue Productions B0015625-01) and Sultans Of Swing (Dire Straits).

Before starting the listening session, we thought to measure the impedance of the cables - you can see the results at the pictures below, but please keep in mind that if we short circuit our multimeter's leads we get a reading of 0.05 - 0.06 Ohms. So, if a wire measures for example 0.07 Ohms, that means that it is actually 0.01 - 0.02 Ohms. Practically, all the speaker wires gave good results and I am pretty sure that what we measure here has nothing to do with how they sound.


Nordost Red Dawn.

Van Den Hul M.C. THE WIND MK II HYBRID.

PS Audio xStream Statement.

The standard Mogami 3104 that Panos is using with a lot of Hi-End dust on them - it absorbers vibrations and got the cleaning lady into trouble.

We started by listening for once more both tracks through our standard Mogami cables - just in order to refresh ourselves regarding how the system sounds and feels like.

The Nordost Red Dawn cables in position.

We decided to start with the Red Dawn - after all, if there are sound differences and we are somehow retired audiophiles that we can't spot them, let's go to the most famous cable in order to discover them. We felt that the Red Dawn offered a little sweeter sound without loosing details, but going back to the standard Mogami cables (at a non bi-wire mode) we understood that the sound was sweet enough already; we were fooled by appreciating things that we already had.

Regarding built quality, the Red Dawn is good and the banana plugs fit nicely and secure to the speakers and power amp.

The Van Den Hul had very nice WBT banana plugs that could be tightened by twisting them and firmly secured in position.

Next candidate was Van Den Hul M.C. THE WIND MK II. Here it felt like that the low end was a little more solid. Going back to the standard Mogami cables we understood that the low end was already solid; again, we were appreciating things that we already had.

Regarding the built quality, the Van Den Hul has the best banana plugs which can be securely locked in position.

PS Audio xStream Statement can be fitted with banana or spade plugs, both included at their impressive and massive packing.

Finally we proceeded with the PS Audio. This cable is really thick and heavy - making us wondering if there is a point of using speaker cables thicker than the cables of electricity company feeding with power our homes. PS Audio cables felt like they offered a combination of the perceived benefits of both Nordost & Van Den Hul. As usual, returning to the standard Mogami did not make any harm to the sound.

The PS Audio banana plugs were very loose when plugged in at our amp and speakers. At the picture above they are compered with the shape of a standard economical banana.

Regarding built quality, the PS Audio look imposing due to their size and have an impressive packing, however they have the worst banana plugs; they seem to be a little thinner than what a firm connection would require. Still, this can be easily solved by changing their shape a bit with a screwdriver. On the plus side, spade connectors are also included and can easily be installed on the cable by screwing. Last but not least, these were the only cables without any arrows on them prompting you to connect them at a certain direction.

So our conclusion is that speaker cables do not make a difference in sound at this system. However, we can easily understand how they can make you feel like they do. To be honest, we always had the curiosity to make some listening tests at our system especially after several Nordost demonstrations at Hi-Fi shows where a person would change cables asking everyone if they can hear the improvement and everyone agreed. We were also agreeing but back in our minds we knew that under these circumstances we could easily be affected by others and by a very talented and convincing presenter.

 

Another similar case can be found at audiosciencereview, from where I quote: "I started with Amazon Basics cable and my reference test tracks. Sounded great as usual. I then switched in the Nordost Tyr 2. The quick impression was that the sound became more compressed and congested. To confirm, I went back to Amazon Basics. It indeed sounded better. A bit later I switched back to Nordost. Now the Nordost sounded more clear and detailed! Listened for a bit more and switched back to Amazon. Now the Amazon sounded more detailed and clear! Continue to listen and these differences faded within a few seconds. Needless to say, none of this is real. The cables are not making a difference. It is me that is varying my perception as I go through plugging and unplugging stuff and music keeps playing."

We accept the possibility that some amps with certain designs might be affected by speaker cables especially long ones, but up to now, we haven't witnessed such a case in proper circumstances where we can perform our own listening sessions without the marketing affecting our minds.

I know a lot of people that will insist that speaker cables do make a difference, people that I have respect for their opinion. But I also know a lot of people that say the opposite. I have picked up my side, my advice to you is to listen but you have to do it without any emotional attachments to the cables and in a back and forth manner; listening one day to cable A and another day to cable B will certainly lead you to wrong conclusions.

I still consider speaker cables (above a certain level) something like jewelery for my system. I just like having them and looking at them. I also like the idea of owning components that are not affected by cables. But hey, that's just me - some people will say that I own components that are incapable of highlighting the sound of a cable. To be honest, after several tests with several components I am confident enough not to care.

Happy listening as always!

Christos

Update: In a different period we also made a test regarding the active shielding of Synergistic Research Resolution Reference speaker cables. The test was an A/B comparison blind test; one of us was turning the active shielding on / off and the other was listening, without knowing what the status of the active shielding is. As you probably guess, we could hear no difference.

Synergistic Research Resolution Reference speaker cables with active shielding.

On the test, connected at the back of EgglestonWorks Isabel speakers.

Christos