Expensive Cables - Good sound or Snakeoil?

[Aburtch]

I'm purchasing a new Denon DCM-390 stand-alone 5 disc CD changer.

The salesman is one of those "you REALLY need high-quality cables" guys trying to steer me away from optical and towards a $100 digital coaxial cable. Something about how coax has "less jitter and flutter."

When I set up the rest of my system I got all my cables from Monoprice because everyone here recommended them. I am very happy with all the cables, they sound great and were inexpensive.

So I know this may be an old topic, but do I really need an expensive cable? For connecting a Denon DCM-390 to a Yamaha RX-V659 receiver, would you recommend optical or digital coax?

Thanks very much for any advice.

 

[lsiberian]

No lol. But the cables are where a store makes its money. So if you do really like the store and want them to do well. Then go ahead and give them some profit. Of course 100 dollars is beyond ridiculous.

monoprice sells cables for around cost prices. So you are getting the same cable for around wholesale cost.

 

[OttoMatic]

Have him set up a demo with a $3 optical cable and his $100+ digital coax cable from the same CD player feeding the same receiver. See if you can hear a difference. It doesn't have to be a super-duper double blind test, since it's near impossible without tons of planning. But avoid knowing which is which (cover the front panel so you can't tell what input is what) and switch back and forth. Keep the volume the same between switching. You won't be able to hear a difference (and neither will he!).

 

[Aburtch]

Thanks for the reassuring advice. I thought it was a rip-off but wanted to make sure.

 

[Pyrrho]

It is, as others have already told you, a case of someone wanting you to part with extra money. The same idea applies to speaker wires:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm

Wires are very inexpensive to make, so when they can get someone to part with a lot of money for them, the profit margins are very high. So they push voodoo nonsense because it makes a lot of money.

 

[Midcow2]

snake oil - go with monoprice or blue jeans cables

SNAKE OIL

The cables is where they make their profit, very very high markup! Same with extended service contracts (especially on cables ).


Get your cables from Monoprice or Blue jeans Cables. High quality and inexpensive

http://www.monoprice.com/

http://www.bluejeanscable.com/


Good Luck!

MidCow2

 

[Aburtch]

I will definitely go with Monoprice. I was pleased with their cables and service last time I used them.

Also glad to know why they are pushing the expensive cables. Makes sense for the high profit margins, but I'll keep my money thanks!

 

[highfigh]

No lol. But the cables are where a store makes its money. So if you do really like the store and want them to do well. Then go ahead and give them some profit. Of course 100 dollars is beyond ridiculous.

monoprice sells cables for around cost prices. So you are getting the same cable for around wholesale cost.

Might be wholesale for the name brand but everyone who touches the Monoprice, Blue Jeans, etc cables makes money on them.

Still, it's better than those sheisters coming up with new Kool Aid flavors.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I will definitely go with Monoprice. I was pleased with their cables and service last time I used them.

Also glad to know why they are pushing the expensive cables. Makes sense for the high profit margins, but I'll keep my money thanks!

Don't you have a leftover video cable of the right length for this? That too will work just fine.