Experienced Audio Advice - Since 1981
I'm not sure cables will make a difference
You've seen the thousand-dollar power cords and the claims that sound too good to be true. Healthy skepticism is the right instinct here. Let's separate what's real from what isn't — and where your money is better spent.
WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO KNOW
What does a cable actually do?
A cable carries a signal from one box to the next. That's the whole job. A good one does it cleanly and gets out of the way.
It does not add detail, warmth, or "air." A cable can't add any information that wasn't already in your source. At best it passes the signal along untouched; it can never improve on what it's given.
That's why a sound, well-made cable earns its place, while a damaged or poorly-made one gets in the way. Match the cable to the gear it connects, and it does its job well.
A cable is a path, not an ingredient. Its best-case job is to pass the signal along without losing anything. That's worth doing well — and no more than that.
Before you think about cables, ask where the sound is actually made: the source and the speakers. A great cable feeding a weak source still gives you weak-source sound. Fix the big things first.
The cables in a typical system
Most setups use only a few kinds of cable, and each has a plain job.
Speaker cable runs from the amplifier to the speakers. The main thing here is enough thickness for the length of the run. Thickness is measured in gauge — and the lower the number, the thicker the cable. Most good speaker cables fall between 12 and 16 gauge, and we wouldn't go thinner than 16. Note that thicker isn't always better; match the gauge to the run.
Interconnects carry the signal between source and amplifier — the RCA or balanced cables. Digital cables (USB, optical, coax) and the power cord round out the rest. For each, a well-built cable of the right type is what you want. No more is needed.
Three or four cables, three or four jobs. Match the right type to each connection and give the speaker run enough gauge. That covers the real work a cable does.
How much should I spend?
Here's the number we've used for years: roughly 10% to 20% of your total system budget on cables. That's where we see the best results, not the price of the most expensive cable in the case.
A simple rule keeps you honest: don't spend more on a cable than on the components it connects. The cable should serve the gear, never outprice it.
Where cables fit in a budget. A small, sensible slice — about 10–20%. A guide, not a rule. Spend the rest where you'll actually hear it.
I've had customers who wanted to spend more on a connecting cable than the combined price of the two products they were connecting, and I cautioned them against it. Don't get me wrong — I love selling high-end cables — but in each case I thought the customer should upgrade one or more of their components first and then go all-out on the cable. Some customers follow my advice. Others don't. Either way, as long as they're happy, I'm happy too.
When a cable really is the problem
There's one place a cable makes an obvious, audible difference — and it's not the one the ads talk about. It's when a cable is failing.
A loose or corroded connection, a damaged wire, or a plug not seated all the way can cause a real fault. You'll hear a dead channel, crackle, a hum, or sound that cuts in and out. That's not subtle, and it's worth checking.
The fix usually costs nothing. Reseat both ends, clean the contacts, and make sure bare speaker wire isn't fraying or touching. If a cable is physically damaged, replace it immediately with a better one. A short in a bad cable can damage your gear.
A failing connection is audible. An expensive one usually isn't. Reseating and cleaning your existing cables fixes more real problems than any upgrade.
LET'S CLEAR A FEW THINGS UP
What's true about cables
Skepticism is healthy. So is balance. Here's where each common belief actually lands.
The right cables will transform any system.
Cables do matter — but good cables can't improve a poor-sounding source or speaker. We find spending 10% to 20% of the total system budget on good cables gets the best results. More on cables →
All cables sound the same, so buy the cheapest.
Cheap cables feature thin conductors, poor insulation, and inferior, poorly-attached connectors. Good cables are better in all these areas, and are worth the difference.
A higher price always means measurably better sound.
Yes, a higher price often means better sound. However, match the performance — and price — of the cable to the gear.
Power cords and "directional" cables change everything.
Yes, upgrading power cables often makes a difference, thanks to their superior shielding and connectors. "Directional" and other cable claims can't be verified by any empirical method I'm aware of, so I treat them with a good measure of skepticism.
"My go-to speaker cable for any mid-priced system. Neutral, flexible, with excellent low end."
— Ken Mull
"The cleanest, most neutral interconnect I've found under $300 — and now it's on sale! You can't go wrong with this one."
— Ken Mull
"Both of these are fine, affordable upgrades when you're ready to tweak your system."
— Ken Mull
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Ken Mull
Audio Expert