Audioquest cable help needed.

Polkitup2

I just bought a used Audioquest Thunder AC cord and it appears to be hairy. The seller says it is exactly as he purchased new, he just pulled out of box plugged in and used for 100 hours before selling to me. The hairs or fibers are very fine and black. Any idea if these normal? Seems odd.

tonyb

Begs to question....if you bought this cable from Russ. Would explain the pubic hair look to it.

Otherwise I have no idea, that's the first time I ever saw a cable look like that. My first guess is, that's an aftermarket sheathing and not original. Could be wrong, but never have I seen an AQ cable look like that.

Clipdat

Looks like your typical braided jacket fraying that would happen from friction or moving the cable around.

F1nut

Ewwwww

Hermitism

I'd be half tempted to try one of these. I used one on some suede boots that I brushed. Try it at your own risk.



https://www.amazon.com/Portable-Fabric-Remover-Sweater-Clothes/dp/B001FZQRV0/ref=asc_df_B001FZQRV0/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198056903981&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16793385151467866045&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016154&hvtargid=pla-348175952782&psc=1

Polkitup2

Thanks guys, glad I used Paypal goods and services. Back she goes.

Clipdat

How was the performance of it?

msg

I'd try gel first. Maybe check out some audio mag centerfolds for a sense of what's trending right now, and style your cable jacket hair after one of those?

Some cables use plastic-y sheathing like Techflex, and others cloth. I like those cloth ones. Looks like you're zoomed way in for those photos? Is it noticeable from a distance?

tonyb

I dunno gents, my bet is on he got sold a fake cable. I would send those pics to AQ and see what they say.

DaveHo

Dog hair?

dragon1952

Looks like the cord got pulled through an opening in his audio rack abrading the techflex.

Polkitup2

At first I thought they might have had a cat that used the cable as a rubbing post, but the fibers were very fine and imbedded in the cable and the seller said he has no pets. I too now wonder if the cables are fake. They had all original box, packaging, inserts, case, covers, etc. I would think would be difficult to fake but those guys are pretty good.

The seller was happy to return them and had decent feedback on usaudiomart. He actually had not noticed the issue and was dismayed when I pointed it out as he has 2 others cables that have same issue. He said he was going to talk to place where he recently bought them new - from Todd the Vinyl Junkie. Not a listed authorized dealer.

Only new from Music Direct for me now.

Polkitup2

dragon1952 wrote: »

Looks like the cord got pulled through an opening in his audio rack abrading the techflex.

There were definite abrasions as you described, but it was like everywhere. Almost like bad sheathing was used when the cable was constructed.

Anyhow, just shipped it back. I see PayPal has new feature for free return shipping. I activated and we will see if it works.

Polkitup2

Clipdat wrote: »

How was the performance of it?

Never even plugged it in. It takes me at least a week or two to evaluate something and I wanted this to go back quickly. I suppose I could have determine if it worked at all.

Polkitup2

msg wrote: »

I'd try gel first. Maybe check out some audio mag centerfolds for a sense of what's trending right now, and style your cable jacket hair after one of those?

Some cables use plastic-y sheathing like Techflex, and others cloth. I like those cloth ones. Looks like you're zoomed way in for those photos? Is it noticeable from a distance?

It was noticed immediately with bare eyes when I pulled them out of box. I have many older AQ cables and they fray eventually given enough abuse, but nothing like this cable.

As a side note I also recently purchased a new AQ Monsoon AC cable from Music Direct. This cable has a more of a Techflex type sheathing than the cloth AQ sheathing. Seems more durable than the cloth AQ sheathing.

msg

I understand. I was also wondering along the lines of what Tony mentioned, the possibility of counterfeiting. AQ warns of this on their site, but I'm not sure how one could be certain, given that counterfeiting doesn't necessarily mean completely fake. Can be "not authorized", or in worse cases, yes, substandard materials substituted.

I have some older AQ cables that have the cloth sheathing, but I don't recall any of them being frayed like this, either. I'll check the SCs when I get home. I know they're a little rough, but I don't recall them being this hairy, Harry. (I just made up that name. If your name happens to actually be Harry, then this is a great and fun coincidence)

dragon1952

Techflex isn't expensive. I can't see a counterfeiter using frayed or cheap techflex.

RobbyKY

We had a situation a few years ago with an electronic part failing in the field.

Teardown and failure analysis pointed to faulty multi-layer surface-mount chip (MLCC) capacitors. These were small 0603 components. Cross-sections showed fractured inner layers so back they went to TDK. Quick response came back - not ours these are counterfeit.

Turns out they were missing the inner nickel layer on the terminals. Sure enough we cross sectioned a different batch from another reel and the nickel layer show up in the SEM. Externally identical, same reel, same label, same QR code with all the proper manufacturing plant information, etc.

Moral of my story, if someone will counterfeit a $0.01 capacitor, high $$$ AQ cables are a prime target for this type of crap. Buyer beware!

BTW, none of my AQ cables look like that.

msg

These are some old AQ Slate speaker cables.
I would not want to find these in a salad.

msg

Shoot, wait, sorry, that first one was meant for someone else. That was a close-up of a nosehair that sprouted overnight. Ignore that.

The bottom image. The bottom image is of the AQ cables.

Polkitup2

That's pretty much like what my cable looked like. Did you also get yours to look like that by running them through Russ's trousers a few times?

msg

They were like that when he delivered them, yes.
He called it "Original Packaging".
I vaguely recall him using the term as a verb?

nooshinjohn

How did you identify which end was the clean one?

Polkitup2

Only one way....

msg

The directional arrows!

I prob'ly got quoted before the adjustment. Maybe not. My original answer was too bad, even for a Russ post.

verb

msg wrote: »

They were like that when he delivered them, yes.
He called it "Original Packaging".
I vaguely recall him using the term as a verb?

Hey don't drag me into this!