Very much looking forward to your spreadsheet! Interested in knowing where each of these best make a difference - ie. dac, pre, power etc. if possible. Again, really appreciate your looking this deeply into offerings that - although questionable- may actually result in something even better 🙏🏼👍🏼
Thank you! I'm gonna talk about this in summary video, but a small spoiler: the biggest difference was made at the source, at the DAC. It was magnitude bigger than changes at power amps and my MLs, though character of the changes remained the same.
Hi! Thanks again. There will be a summary video with table and results comparing all of them. On the meantime I've ordered just a few more stretching my budget to have this more complete
By the way: about speaker cables: I think they do make a big difference as well BUT they need really a LOT of time to break in. Therefore they are more difficult to compare quickly.
Yes! This whole adventure takes ages because every single cable gets at least 200h of burn in time! BTW - and this is spoiler - changing power cable at the DAC is like 5x more noticeable then changing speaker cable! But this happens only in this specific location, at the source. I was completely surprised by that and noticed this only when I started testing everything in ordered, repeatable way with the same procedure. Food for thoughts :)
Perhaps it is 5x more noticeable quickly and on a not yet very revealing system. But if you have that revealing system than the speaker cables do really matter perhaps as much as power cables. But it's more in a different order in time. Perhaps indeed first get the power cables right than the speaker cables. Would you partly agree? In the ideal world everything must be right for judging> I know. But who can afford that? So we need each other to learn from. 🙂@@k4syx
I think you under estimate the manufacturing capability in China, there are many small manufactures in China who are already setup to manufacture electrical and electronic components. If you have the equipment and supply chain it is not difficult to make these clones and of course the R&D and marketing costs are minimal.
For me it's a question of balancing income and costs. If you'll take a look at sale numbers (these are visible in offers) then you'll see they are miniscule. I've tried adding all of them for dragons, silver clouds and I came up with something around 70 pieces - rounding up. Looking at the prices I highly doubt if this would really cover the costs of preparing connector moulds and braiding alone. There's also another factor: if you'd have the means, would you rather counterfeit something for mass market or something for niche (people that would buy fakes) within niche (people hearing the difference cables are making) that's within another niche (audiophiles and that's small group to begin with)? I don't really buy into fakes here, though there is something shady going on for sure.
It would be incorrect to judge the market size just by AliExpress as it is just one online platform that is oriented to sales outside China. AliExpress does not even operate in China where the main markets are Taobao, Baidu and Tencent. There are also multiple online markets in Japan and the rest of Asia where Chinese traders can sell their products. Asia does have most of the worlds population and there are a lot of HiFi crazies here.
FYI I just made up some power cables using the Grey Knight Energy power cable with fake Furutech plugs and was very disappointed with the result, actually preferring the cheap computer cable. I think I need to watch more of your videos.
@@k4syx I used 13mm GreyKnight with fake 13A UK plugs and right angle IEC connectors. Compared to computer cord the bass was stronger with more authority, mids about the same but the treble was dull and diminished, lacking sparkle. Soundstage was flattened and more connected to the speakers. I was totally shocked as I expected something to at least be as good as a free cable. Can a power cord change dramatically once it has burned in?
I’ve watched several of your videos and I have one overarching question : when I got to the Ali website and search for any cable you’re talking about, I see probably a half-dozen to a dozen cables and slightly different pricing on each, with different suppliers. How do I know I’m getting it from the same supplier you are using? I’ve got a lot of money in authentic AQ and I’d like to try some of the Ali supplied cables, but I’m afraid of getting a piece of junk.
I don't have one particular shop for these. I don't link to any of them because I don't want to support their sales. These are interesting for me from engineering and SQ perspective, but I don't want to help them with counterfeit sales. I hope you understand this - that's why there's no link in the fakes video descriptions.
I would be interested in a video summary review of all the cables so far and a ranking best to last, maybe with an excel bar chart visual. Also a ranking video of speaker cables. Thanks!
I'm giving you a thumbs up for the video, but I'm going to be subscribing to hear the results. Personally, I use chord shawline power cables. I don't suspect they're going to be included in the final count? If not, it doesn't matter. I'm still interested anyway.
@@k4syx I have an recommendation, I got some fake 12TC speaker cables and they actually sound really good, especially after a tweak of putting in a thick cotton rope in the middle of it. Also you can get them with lockable banana plugs, by far my favorite type of connector.
I always watch your videos and check the description for the links the reviewed product but they are never there. It will be really nice if you put links to the product .Thanks
Hi! Thanks for your kind words. The links are not there on purpose: these are fakes and I do not want to support sales of these. I hope you understand.
Thank you for the new video !!! Where do you think stands for you now the Furutech FP s35tc, as is the best or the most expensive I thought I have… Thank you!!
These cables may have their origins in Audioquest... If they sold these they would still make money... Audioquest may sell these parts to a Chinese maker... Or the Company that makes them for Audioquest may sell them on.... I think you overestimate the honesty of the capitalist system... Valves were made for Mullard Telefunken made valves for Mullard.. This was 50 or 60 yrs ago...
Yes but stil it is all a mystery and very capitalistic and using high tech machines too. We'll probably never know. Also and this is very dangerous to us all: the Chinese are our enemies too: they do EVERYTHING to distroy the west. Remember Xi is a Hitler, like Putin is Putler.
Nice review as always. Now check some off the chiniese originals from Viborg, SKW or so in the same price ranges. 🙂Perhabs it makes more sense to buy an chinese original than wasting money on fake cables.
Yes that's what I'm also thinking. How would be the original top quality Chinese cables? :-) yes Xangsane for example. I bought a Viborg connector for a power cable to my television. Looking great indeed and yes I do have a better television now , a high end LG Oled I have, just of course in image. Sound I use the direct sound from my recorder/tv decoding device to my Dac because that sound far superiour.@@k4syx
If you don’t want to give that information out publicly, can we maybe contact by email? Personally I have no qualms about this if a western company goes to China and produces a product that it sells for $3000 US. When somebody else can sell it for 250 that first company is gouging. That is a ridiculous price - the higher one. I have some experience importing for makers overseas, although not electronics . And you’re quite right this is just an additional production run, but they will be careful. They will check for patent to see if there’s anything they shouldn’t put there because they don’t wanna lawsuit. Recall at one point you could go to the factory that made Ping golf clubs and by the heads of a set of golf clubs that cost something in the order of $3000 just by coincidence and you can get them for 200 or 150. This is been going on for a really long time and I don’t think the shady side is all on the overseas manufacturer. I think as much of it is on the marketing company that has the product designed for them and then just sell it for ridiculous amounts of money . Otherwise they would be no for fakes
@@robcaputo9708 Hi! I'm not linking to stores with fakes as a rule. However if you'll look at AliExpress stores, fake Silver Clouds are the same everywhere (which btw supports the night shift theory)
Very much looking forward to your spreadsheet! Interested in knowing where each of these best make a difference - ie. dac, pre, power etc. if possible. Again, really appreciate your looking this deeply into offerings that - although questionable- may actually result in something even better 🙏🏼👍🏼
Thank you!
I'm gonna talk about this in summary video, but a small spoiler: the biggest difference was made at the source, at the DAC. It was magnitude bigger than changes at power amps and my MLs, though character of the changes remained the same.
@@k4syx Very, very good to know!
MLs??@@k4syx
This is your most interesting experiment of all: cable comparisons. Thanks again and greetings again. 🙂
Hi!
Thanks again. There will be a summary video with table and results comparing all of them. On the meantime I've ordered just a few more stretching my budget to have this more complete
Yes all will be very interesting and you will 'influence' :-) a 'niche' for sure. 🙂@@k4syx
😀😀😀
By the way: about speaker cables: I think they do make a big difference as well BUT they need really a LOT of time to break in. Therefore they are more difficult to compare quickly.
Yes! This whole adventure takes ages because every single cable gets at least 200h of burn in time! BTW - and this is spoiler - changing power cable at the DAC is like 5x more noticeable then changing speaker cable! But this happens only in this specific location, at the source. I was completely surprised by that and noticed this only when I started testing everything in ordered, repeatable way with the same procedure. Food for thoughts :)
Perhaps it is 5x more noticeable quickly and on a not yet very revealing system. But if you have that revealing system than the speaker cables do really matter perhaps as much as power cables. But it's more in a different order in time. Perhaps indeed first get the power cables right than the speaker cables. Would you partly agree? In the ideal world everything must be right for judging> I know. But who can afford that? So we need each other to learn from. 🙂@@k4syx
I think you under estimate the manufacturing capability in China, there are many small manufactures in China who are already setup to manufacture electrical and electronic components. If you have the equipment and supply chain it is not difficult to make these clones and of course the R&D and marketing costs are minimal.
For me it's a question of balancing income and costs. If you'll take a look at sale numbers (these are visible in offers) then you'll see they are miniscule. I've tried adding all of them for dragons, silver clouds and I came up with something around 70 pieces - rounding up.
Looking at the prices I highly doubt if this would really cover the costs of preparing connector moulds and braiding alone. There's also another factor: if you'd have the means, would you rather counterfeit something for mass market or something for niche (people that would buy fakes) within niche (people hearing the difference cables are making) that's within another niche (audiophiles and that's small group to begin with)?
I don't really buy into fakes here, though there is something shady going on for sure.
It would be incorrect to judge the market size just by AliExpress as it is just one online platform that is oriented to sales outside China. AliExpress does not even operate in China where the main markets are Taobao, Baidu and Tencent. There are also multiple online markets in Japan and the rest of Asia where Chinese traders can sell their products. Asia does have most of the worlds population and there are a lot of HiFi crazies here.
FYI I just made up some power cables using the Grey Knight Energy power cable with fake Furutech plugs and was very disappointed with the result, actually preferring the cheap computer cable. I think I need to watch more of your videos.
@@andrewmccorkell652 Grey Knight was real and only the plugs were fake, right? What type? FL-50?
@@k4syx I used 13mm GreyKnight with fake 13A UK plugs and right angle IEC connectors. Compared to computer cord the bass was stronger with more authority, mids about the same but the treble was dull and diminished, lacking sparkle. Soundstage was flattened and more connected to the speakers. I was totally shocked as I expected something to at least be as good as a free cable. Can a power cord change dramatically once it has burned in?
I’ve watched several of your videos and I have one overarching question : when I got to the Ali website and search for any cable you’re talking about, I see probably a half-dozen to a dozen cables and slightly different pricing on each, with different suppliers. How do I know I’m getting it from the same supplier you are using? I’ve got a lot of money in authentic AQ and I’d like to try some of the Ali supplied cables, but I’m afraid of getting a piece of junk.
I don't have one particular shop for these. I don't link to any of them because I don't want to support their sales. These are interesting for me from engineering and SQ perspective, but I don't want to help them with counterfeit sales. I hope you understand this - that's why there's no link in the fakes video descriptions.
I would be interested in a video summary review of all the cables so far and a ranking best to last, maybe with an excel bar chart visual. Also a ranking video of speaker cables. Thanks!
That's the plan when I will get to the last one: I have a table with a score for each cable I've tested :)
I'm giving you a thumbs up for the video, but I'm going to be subscribing to hear the results. Personally, I use chord shawline power cables. I don't suspect they're going to be included in the final count? If not, it doesn't matter. I'm still interested anyway.
@@Antibackgroundnoise no, they won't be, I don't have any home..
@@k4syx I have an recommendation, I got some fake 12TC speaker cables and they actually sound really good, especially after a tweak of putting in a thick cotton rope in the middle of it. Also you can get them with lockable banana plugs, by far my favorite type of connector.
@@tobiaxelsson yes lockable bananas rule! I'll think about getting them, thanks for the tip!
I always watch your videos and check the description for the links the reviewed product but they are never there. It will be really nice if you put links to the product .Thanks
Hi! Thanks for your kind words. The links are not there on purpose: these are fakes and I do not want to support sales of these. I hope you understand.
@@k4syx ok. Got it. Thnx 👍🏾
Hi, Stereopolice made a very interesting vid a few weeks ago on after market mains/power cables.
Will look for it!
Thank you for the new video !!!
Where do you think stands for you now the Furutech FP s35tc, as is the best or the most expensive I thought I have…
Thank you!!
Thank you! Honestly, I don't know. Haven't heard this one and I wouldn't like to guess
@@k4syx sorry I was wrong, I thought you reviewed.
But thank you anyway for the reply!!!
These cables may have their origins in Audioquest... If they sold these they would still make money... Audioquest may sell these parts to a Chinese maker... Or the Company that makes them for Audioquest may sell them on.... I think you overestimate the honesty of the capitalist system... Valves were made for Mullard Telefunken made valves for Mullard.. This was 50 or 60 yrs ago...
Yes but stil it is all a mystery and very capitalistic and using high tech machines too. We'll probably never know.
Also and this is very dangerous to us all: the Chinese are our enemies too: they do EVERYTHING to distroy the west. Remember Xi is a Hitler, like Putin is Putler.
Beste hifi zone. Wat een goede review. Wat denkt u van de fake hurricane powercable.
Hi! Thanks! Havent reviewed that one, after listening to Silver Cloud I went straight for Dragons
Dankjewel voor uw snelle reactie. Is de powercable van dragon een grote verbetering tov de silvercload?
@@jannek27 yes it is, however its waaay pricier. I will do a review soon, first look video and then "sound" test
Since you've got electrostatics, do power cable on these make any difference ?
Yes they do, change is comparable in scale with changing power cable for my power amps.
any chance to try a fake tara labs - the one - power cable
Is there a fake version of that cable? Can't see it on Ali.
@@topkho Sorry, same here, as a rule I don't link to fakes
Nice review as always. Now check some off the chiniese originals from Viborg, SKW or so in the same price ranges. 🙂Perhabs it makes more sense to buy an chinese original than wasting money on fake cables.
That's the plan for the future, to check some of Xangsane products
Yes that's what I'm also thinking. How would be the original top quality Chinese cables? :-) yes Xangsane for example. I bought a Viborg connector for a power cable to my television. Looking great indeed and yes I do have a better television now , a high end LG Oled I have, just of course in image. Sound I use the direct sound from my recorder/tv decoding device to my Dac because that sound far superiour.@@k4syx
Can you provide a link please
If you don’t want to give that information out publicly, can we maybe contact by email? Personally I have no qualms about this if a western company goes to China and produces a product that it sells for $3000 US. When somebody else can sell it for 250 that first company is gouging. That is a ridiculous price - the higher one.
I have some experience importing for makers overseas, although not electronics . And you’re quite right this is just an additional production run, but they will be careful. They will check for patent to see if there’s anything they shouldn’t put there because they don’t wanna lawsuit. Recall at one point you could go to the factory that made Ping golf clubs and by the heads of a set of golf clubs that cost something in the order of $3000 just by coincidence and you can get them for 200 or 150.
This is been going on for a really long time and I don’t think the shady side is all on the overseas manufacturer. I think as much of it is on the marketing company that has the product designed for them and then just sell it for ridiculous amounts of money . Otherwise they would be no for fakes
@@robcaputo9708 Hi! I'm not linking to stores with fakes as a rule. However if you'll look at AliExpress stores, fake Silver Clouds are the same everywhere (which btw supports the night shift theory)
Wow i Just spend 250 euro for 2meters orjinal z3 powercord 🤣
@@6Rhyme What can I say, I've been there myself :)
@@k4syx is this also 2 meters?
@6Rhyme yes, also 2m