Do audio cables wear out?

[Clive197]

Simple question, not a discussion (G*d forbid) about cheap or expensive cables. Analogue, digital or speaker cables, do they have a finite life.

To the best of my knowledge I've never seen any discussion on this, so........

[struth]

Has been mention of it before I think. As such there is no reason why a cable should not last a good chunk of a lifetime if not a complete one. What may need attending is the exposed ends connected to plugs. They can wear and corrode, so may need reterminating now and then, as plugs may well improve with the use of deoxit

[YNWaN]

Simple question, not a discussion (G*d forbid) about cheap or expensive cables. Analogue, digital or speaker cables, do they have a finite life.

To the best of my knowledge I've never seen any discussion on this, so........

Oddly, the same question was asked on pfm not long ago. The connectors may wear over time from repeated making and breaking if unplugged a lot but otherwise there is no reason why a cable should age. Some insulations have been known to react with copper over time but that is rare.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Oddly, the same question was asked on pfm not long ago. The connectors may wear over time from repeated making and breaking if unplugged a lot but otherwise there is no reason why a cable should age. Some insulations have been known to react with copper over time but that is rare.

But like everything, age they do.

[YNWaN]

But like everything, age is relative - e.g. Ten year old cables aren't old and 20 year old ones are still pretty young.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I would say that things might oxidise or deteriorate but they would still work. So no, cables don't "wear" out as such, maybe work less efficiently?

[brian2957]

Yes , I agree here . I bought a used cable a while back and the copper conductors were quite badly oxidised . They worked perfectly well but I couldn't help wondering how they would have sounded when new . I binned them in the end . I have also seen a set where the stiff outer sleeve had hardened over time and had split revealing the copper shield inside .

[Jimbo]

Apart from plugs deteriorating through disconnecting etc I would have thought maybe internally the soldered connections could work loose especially on complex multi shielded types?

I have had cables which have worked loose internally and given me issues but then it is quite noticeable, usually a violent hum or buzzing!

[Barry]

After 65 years, the electrons reach pensionable age and need to retire. That is why you don't see audiophile cables of the 1950s for sale on eBay. :eyebrows:

[Wakefield Turntables]

After 65 years, the electrons reach pensionable age and need to retire. That is why you don't see audiophile cables of the 1950s for sale on eBay. :eyebrows:

Its only because the fads not caught on yet.

[Joe]

After 65 years, the electrons reach pensionable age and need to retire. That is why you don't see audiophile cables of the 1950s for sale on eBay. :eyebrows:

Fortunately, the government has raised the pensionable age, so cables currently less than 50 years old will continue to work well past 70 years.

[struth]

More than i will then...sure plenty folk will be glad to hear that :lol: oldest cable ive got which isnt that old seems as good as it was sound wise. Dont mean it couldnt be improved on and i guess reteminating it would be a plan. Im not that anal though. Doubt many folk will be using interconnects of that age anyways

[Joe]

More than i will then...sure plenty folk will be glad to hear that :lol: oldest cable ive got which isnt that old seems as good as it was sound wise. Dont mean it couldnt be improved on and i guess reteminating it would be a plan. Im not that anal though. Doubt many folk will be using interconnects of that age anyways

Indeed. The oldest cable I use is the one connecting my Exposure pre and power, which is getting on for 20 years old.

[walpurgis]

I still have some ancient Monitor Audio Litz speaker cables from the late seventies and some Monster spiral speaker cable from the eighties. Both are showing their age. The Monitor Audio clear outer inslulating sleeve feels a bit tacky and the extremities of copper conductor in the Monster cable have minor surface corrosion discolouration. Funny thing is, both cables still actually produce pretty decent sounding results.

I have way too many cables. A cull may be in the offing!:)