SVS Sound Experts Debunk Speaker Cable Myths

halo

Here we go again! The "debate" rages on.... (Now that SVS sells cables, they wouldn't be biased, would they?!?)

https://svsound.com/blogs/svs/81833862-why-high-quality-speaker-and-interconnect-cables-matter?trk_msg=V5AU1T1H1MFKTDVUOUVC0I9GIS&trk_contact=T6BLG9K0MG5289K8FR7R84COQC&trk_sid=9HVM6ORDQ74PF72MF7B0406GT4&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Read+Cable+Myths+Blog+CTA&utm_campaign=SVS+Sound+Experts+Debunk+Speaker+Cable+Myths.

Nightfall

I like how they basically say cables matter up to the cost of the cables we sell. More expensive and exotic cables are not worth it.

halo

Nightfall wrote: »

I like how they basically say cables matter up to the cost of the cables we sell. More expensive and exotic cables are not worth it.

Agree. Ridiculous and obvious.

tophatjohnny

Nightfall wrote: »

I like how they basically say cables matter up to the cost of the cables we sell. More expensive and exotic cables are not worth it.

Well they wanted in the bigger profit part of the game so it's game on I guess? For myself , I have no plans to ditch any of my cheap cables to jump to their cheap cables and think the approach the company used here was cheap as their ropes probably are? The folks with higher end gear probably aren't looking to add SVS cables to their stable but in defense, I'm sure the folks that have the SVS speskers would be ok with SVS ropes?? It's all relevant.

Not letting go of my SVS PC2000 subs anytime soon and still am a fan of their Subs!

daddyjt

Stunning how a company that has established themselves as almost the authority in HT subs (In a very short time, I might add) would wade into this particular pool and start flailing about like a 5 year old.

Now they risk alienating a substantial portion of their target market, and for what? If they want to sell cables, great - offer your cables and extol their virtues, but really? And if they really think they are going to change anyone’s mind at this stage of the game, well.... nope.

Clipdat

I reviewed their speaker cables here and didn't care for them. https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/186483/svs-soundpath-ultra-speaker-cable-review

verb

Clipdat wrote: »

I reviewed their speaker cables here and didn't care for them. https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/186483/svs-soundpath-ultra-speaker-cable-review

Yep I remember that. Quality problems, and performance, meh. Can't blame them, trying to grow the business as all companies do.

Love their subs though!

Emlyn

Agree, that's just advertising to goose sales for their own product. Low budget advertising.

F1nut

It seems they have been trying to sell cables for at least the last 4 years if the date of this post at SVS is correct.

I love my SVS sub and your company after seeing so many positive feedback from your customers and great advice from you. It is a shame that just about all of that is gone over you guys trying to sell your cables. I hate that I now think of your company in the same company as the Monster Cable company.

As I've never seen SVS cables for sale new or on the used used market I'd have to say their effort has been a huge failure.

tonyb

I've seen a few of their cables on the used markets. Lets just say they aren't very sought after.

Kind of a shi ty practice though if you ask me. Make some mediocre cables then denounce any competition that may be better as hype or placebo. Just the fact that they feel a need to do that should be telling. Means their product can't stand on it's own merits.

polrbehr

You guys are howling at the moon here. Email SVS and tell them what you think, maybe they will tone it down a little? I did just now.
FWIW I bought a 10m sub cable from them many years ago, IIRC it was made by Better Cables so it was before they made their own. It's been durable and does what it was made to do.

From SVS website- "Speaker and interconnect cables perform a very important role so it’s worth looking for quality from a name you trust, but it’s not worth overpaying for what could amount to minimal or nonexistent improvements in sound quality."
So while it is important to get the best you can, there's no sense looking past what we sell because you would just be throwing your money away. LOL

mark090852

I use their interconnects and their speaker cables. My experience has been very positive with them. The ones I received had excellent build quality, they sounded great and looked very nice with my gear.

gyosa

Never understood the whole “ they look nice “ thing with cables ....
How often do you kook at your cables ?
They’re behind your gear .

Personally , I don’t care what they look like , so long as they do their job competently .

Just ‘sayin

Bk

mark090852

gyosa wrote: »

Never understood the whole “ they look nice “ thing with cables ....
How often do you kook at your cables ?
They’re behind your gear .

Personally , I don’t care what they look like , so long as they do their job competently .

Just ‘sayin

Bk

I totally understand what you are saying. But I have a minimal amount of gear at three different locations. In the living room set up, the McIntosh integrated amp and the LUMIN network streamer are on top of a small entertainment center. About a foot of each of the cables is very visible coming out the back of those pieces of equipment if you are standing or walking anywhere near that part of the room. My wife cares what they look like so I have to care what they look like for her sake. I only mentioned the appearance of the SVS cables in case somebody else was in a similar situation.

SIHAB

I think SVS was smart and hedged their bets with their comments.
What % of people would notice a difference or even care to find out?

oops. Didn't see this...
"So while it is important to get the best you can, there's no sense looking past what we sell because you would just be throwing your money away."

msg

gyosa wrote: »

Never understood the whole “ they look nice “ thing with cables ....
How often do you kook at your cables ?
They’re behind your gear .

Personally , I don’t care what they look like , so long as they do their job competently .

Just ‘sayin

Bk

With sound quality covered, personally, aesthetics add to the experience for me. Just one of those refinements I enjoy about the hobby - the beauty of a nicely designed product, even cables and connectors. Additional satisfaction if I've made them, myself.

tonyb

gyosa wrote: »

Never understood the whole “ they look nice “ thing with cables ....
How often do you kook at your cables ?
They’re behind your gear .

Personally , I don’t care what they look like , so long as they do their job competently .

Just ‘sayin

Bk

gyosa wrote: »

Never understood the whole “ they look nice “ thing with cables ....
How often do you kook at your cables ?
They’re behind your gear .

Personally , I don’t care what they look like , so long as they do their job competently .

Just ‘sayin

Bk

Not always behind your gear. Some speakers need to be out into the room more away from walls, and some gear too is out in front of a rack. This makes your cables very visible.

SCompRacer

tonyb wrote: »

Not always behind your gear. Some speakers need to be out into the room more away from walls, and some gear too is out in front of a rack. This makes your cables very visible.

Tony is correct. Some folks even practice symmetry with wire.

Once upon a time I had active crossover bi-amped speakers so I needed two sets of speaker cables. Those speakers are gone but the wire stayed.

Since the speaker wire is the same, (other than woofer cables being internal bi-wire), and my amp has two sets of speaker posts, I used them on my Salk's instead of jumpers.

The cables are older Harmonic Technology Pro 9+ (woofers, internal bi-wire) & Pro 11+ (tweeters). They used a high purity 6N Single Crystal Copper wire.

daddyjt

I’ve always viewed nice looking cables as akin to chromed engine parts. If you’re putting in a high-quality part, why not extend that to appearance as well?

nooshinjohn

daddyjt wrote: »

I’ve always viewed nice looking cables as akin to chromed engine parts. If you’re putting in a high-quality part, why not extend that to appearance as well?

For a Chevy or other GM product, I agree, but nothing can help a Ford.

delkal

Of course looks matter..........no matter what your ears hear your eyes have to believe in your cables too. They have to look and feel quality. And the thicker (physically, not gauge) a cable is the better. Seems like some manufacturers like to stuff their cables in garden hoses.

Does anyone here use a $200+ cable that is bare with the printing on the side and not sheathed? (and I am not talking about 20 foot pairs)

Nightfall

My MIT SL-12's are pretty physically small. I think they were somewhere around $1,600 MSRP.

Nightfall

nooshinjohn wrote: »

nothing can help a Ford.

Exactly, not even the government bailout money they didn't need and everyone else took.

mhardy6647

Nightfall wrote: »

nooshinjohn wrote: »

nothing can help a Ford.

Exactly, not even the government bailout money they didn't need and everyone else took.

Yeah, but Ford's gonna need some bailin' out soon, methinks

hauxon

The article is basically right ... for most people. The 1% lives in here (and other places) and the article is not aimed at us. The only thing "wrong" is the salesperson's approach. In my eyes it serves no purpose for non-audiophiles to spend great amounts on cable but they might still benefit from buying reasonably good ropes and I assume the SVS cables are reasonably good even if they're not the ultimate high-end cable.