Steve Winter Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 Hi all - I'm interested in recommendations for Aliexpress stores where cable-experimenters have had positive experiences. I would also appreciate specific speaker, USB, XLR to XLR, and RCA to RCA cable recommendations. My system (and my abused old ears) are probably needing the more forward characteristics that I have read silver imparts to cables....but I am open to suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weka Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 There's lots of discussion on the major audio forums regarding the "reproduction" Nordost Odin 2 and Gold series of power and signal cables currently available on AliExpress and who are the best vendors to buy from. Suggest you have a browse of the various subject threads and judge for yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 Really???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 (edited) How about supporting local cable makers like Aurealis or Lenehan audio if you after inexpensive but good quality cables. Or local suppliers who import genuine cables here in Australia. As opposed to seeking advice on what’s good in fake cables from overseas internet reseller. Neo Edited September 21, 2022 by Neo 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rantan Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 4 minutes ago, Neo said: How about supporting local cable makers like Aurealis or Lenehan audio if you after inexpensive but good quality cables. Or local suppliers who import genuine cables here in Australia. As opposed to seeking advice on what’s good in fake cables from overseas internet reseller. Neo Absolutely 100% right. Buying cheap crap from an unknown seller is not a bargain and the bit extra you pay for Oz cable makers as Neo has mentioned is worth-ever-cent. Pay a little more now and have great cables for a lifetime, plus you get all the experience and great advice to select cables which actually fit your specific needs. Most often cheap is not a bargain. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Winter Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 Thanks for the input guys - I wish I had the resources to buy local. Unfortunately it would cost more than my whole audio system is worth to replace my IC's and speaker cables through local suppliers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 (edited) 13 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: Thanks for the input guys - I wish I had the resources to buy local. Unfortunately it would cost more than my whole audio system is worth to replace my IC's and speaker cables through local suppliers Really? Every cable manufacturer has their entry level range hovering around $100 for a pair rca/xlr, you can get QED speaker wire unterminated per meter for very economical price. Will be better than fake Nordost Odin from Aliexpress. You not thinking of buying power cables from the site as well????? Neo Edited September 21, 2022 by Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 Alternatively there’s bunnings, jaycar if you don’t want to spend even that. But asking advice here about fake or questionable quality cabling it’s poor form. Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, Neo said: Alternatively there’s bunnings, jaycar if you don’t want to spend even that. But asking advice here about fake or questionable quality cabling it’s poor form. Neo Agreed. (But then he is from NZ - so I guess we need to cut Steve some slack! ) @Steve Winter, if buying locally-made cables really would cost you more than "your whole audio system is worth" - then you need to forget about audio jewellery like "silver cables"! You really need to get into DIY ... if that's not an option then Jaycar (or whatever is their equivalent in the land of the long white cloud) will be able to supply cables which will do your system proud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Winter Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 @rantan, @Neo, @andyr - points taken, and I stand slightly shamed. I am into DIY, mainly for financial reasons, but also because I enjoy learning new skills. My last 2 pairs of open-baffle speakers have been DIY - using imported bamboo ply (manufactured in China) for the baffles, and Chinese full-range drivers. I also DIY-ed my current speaker cables and interconnects, using components sourced from Ebay and Aliexpress, and modded my amp with caps from a French electronics supplier. I also buy second-hand equipment if priced right. I have been a bit of a sceptic regarding the influence of cables in hifi, but I have read too many accounts detailing audible improvements, by forum members whose opinions I otherwise respect, to ignore them. Including, to your obvious displeasure, accounts of the benefits of knockoff cables as sold on Aliexpress, Ebay, Trademe, Hifishark, et al. So I am keen to find out for myself whether the claims are justified.....and I couldn't DIY cables for the prices I can buy complete cables for. If you are right, and they turn out to be "cheap crap" and "questionable quality", so be it. I will have scratched that itch, and created a new itch - would I have achieved audio nirvana if I had listened to you guys and bought local? Of course, it's also possible that I could pay local prices and still not hear an improvement over what I have. Maybe the claims ARE snake-oil. Maybe my 70 yr old ears are incapable of hearing subtle differences. I don't want to sell the farm to find out. Nor do I want to move sideways - my current SC's and IC's are better than Jaycar level, so to get a worthwhile improvement I presume I would need to be looking at the upper echelons of 'local' offerings. One 3m pair of Aurealis Litz 201's plus one 1m pair of AgCul XLR's would be $1300 - add shipping, exchange rate, and 15% GST at import and you have a total of about NZ$1650. And equivalent cables would cost even more if I purchased them in NZ. Another option is to stop the incessant upgrading? Naaah, that's not gonna happen. So........I'm afraid I'm back to my original request for recommendations. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyr Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 30 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: @rantan, @Neo, @andyr - points taken, and I stand slightly shamed. I am into DIY, mainly for financial reasons, but also because I enjoy learning new skills. I too have been into DIY for the last 40 years or so - not so much because I "enjoy learning new skills" but bcoz I can gain from "sweat equity". 30 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: My last 2 pairs of open-baffle speakers have been DIY - using imported bamboo ply (manufactured in China) for the baffles, and Chinese full-range drivers. I also DIY-ed my current speaker cables and interconnects, using components sourced from Ebay and Aliexpress, and modded my amp with caps from a French electronics supplier. If you have DIYed your existing cables using the right good-quality wire and connectors ... I suggest you are unlikely to gain better SQ from commercial cables without paying a great deal. All my spkr cables & interconnects are DIYed - although I don't buy my components from FleaBay or AliExpress. 30 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: If you are right, and they turn out to be "cheap crap" and "questionable quality", so be it. I will have scratched that itch, and created a new itch - would I have achieved audio nirvana if I had listened to you guys and bought local? Of course, it's also possible that I could pay local prices and still not hear an improvement over what I have. Maybe the claims ARE snake-oil. All that you say is possible. 30 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: Maybe my 70 yr old ears are incapable of hearing subtle differences. I don't want to sell the farm to find out. My 73-yr old ears are perfectly able to distinguish between different components. 30 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: Nor do I want to move sideways - my current SC's and IC's are better than Jaycar level, so to get a worthwhile improvement I presume I would need to be looking at the upper echelons of 'local' offerings. Or you make some more DIY cables - but use better-quality wire & connectors. 30 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: Another option is to stop the incessant upgrading? Naaah, that's not gonna happen. So........I'm afraid I'm back to my original request for recommendations. Nah - do not stop upgrading, Steve! But, as I rarely buy from eBay or AliExpress ... I cannot offer you any recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Winter Posted September 21, 2022 Author Share Posted September 21, 2022 Thanks for your input Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
audiofeline Posted September 21, 2022 Share Posted September 21, 2022 Kimber Kable indicate that any look-alike cable on AliExpress or Alibaba is counterfeit/fake https://kimber.com/counterfeits There are some who feel that some of the cables/interconnects sold on these sites are over-runs/seconds from the manufactures making the name-brand cable. This may or may not be true. But if I'm putting cable into my system, I will know the genuine product will make my system sound as good as the cable is. If I get knock-off, it might look good but I may have wasted my money on rubbish that makes the system sound like rubbish. I'd rather save my money or get secondhand genuine cable than to probably waste my money on a lottery that I'm more likely to loose on. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rock Puppy Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 If you're not in a desperate hurry, you could always put a post in the "Wanted To Buy" section and see if anything comes up, or else keep an eye on the for sale section that covers cables and stuff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 1 minute ago, The Rock Puppy said: If you're not in a desperate hurry, you could always put a post in the "Wanted To Buy" section and see if anything comes up, or else keep an eye on the for sale section that covers cables and stuff. Fake branded cables from aliexpress? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rock Puppy Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 Something like that might come up, but I was thinking more along the lines of a "real" cable that meets his criteria, at a price within his budget. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neo Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 There’s plenty of cables rca/xlr and speaker currently available for sale. I’m selling a pair of Monster cable 400 for $25 as an example. There’s anti cables rca under $100. The pull for this member is to get a high branded cable for next to nothing, with little consideration for actual sound. Otherwise he would put a wtb, even residing in NZ is not a deterrent, plenty of members including myself sent items there. Neo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Rock Puppy Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 No harm in my mentioning it, though. Perhaps he simply hadn't thought of it. Who knows? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray4410 Posted September 22, 2022 Share Posted September 22, 2022 (edited) my suggestion especially if you don't mind a bit of DIY ,canare 4s11, 4s6 speaker cable,van damme xke instrument cable,has silver conductor,or vand damme xke microphone cable for xlr cables,neutrik xlr+amphenol rca connectors,all of these are available from Cliff electronics Qld Australia,you won't find better for the price,if van damme cables are good enough for Abby Road Studios they should be ok for you,good luck with your search. https://store.cliff.com.au/ Edited September 22, 2022 by ray4410 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muon* Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 Think you can get this braided stuff on Aliexpress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muon* Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 There are different core numbers https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003617781326.html? https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001138092084.html? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Winter Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nada Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 On 20/09/2022 at 4:09 PM, Steve Winter said: recommendations for Aliexpress Avoid. Fakes are rife. Waste of time and money. On 20/09/2022 at 4:09 PM, Steve Winter said: My system (and my abused old ears) are probably needing the more forward characteristics that I have read silver imparts to cables....but I am open to suggestions Using cables as frequency filters is poor design planning. If you want to hear better first test your frequency response, then look at EQ options. Thats much more likely to improve your music then randomly swapping cables. On 21/09/2022 at 7:31 PM, Steve Winter said: I also DIY-ed my current speaker cables and interconnects, If you share what you have made you might get some really good advice on potential cable improvements. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Winter Posted September 24, 2022 Author Share Posted September 24, 2022 (edited) These are links to the Youtube DIY cables videos that I followed. They sound pretty good, but you don't know what you don't know I may wind up mixing some silver in with the copper to find a sound/balance that I prefer. As I said earlier, I would like a little more detail and openness without being too aggressive. I realize that the original recording is the most influential factor, but my listening seems to be gravitating more towards less busy music a la Billy Eilish, Dominique Fils-Aimee, Muddy Waters, Eels, Keb Mo, Lucinda Williams, Jim White, Norah Jones, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Tony Joe White, Trinity Roots, Shelby Lynne, Jeff Tweedy..........you get the picture Edited September 24, 2022 by Steve Winter 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nada Posted September 24, 2022 Share Posted September 24, 2022 25 minutes ago, Steve Winter said: These are links to the Youtube DIY cables videos that I followed. What was your decision process that led you to make those cable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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