Silver cables-myth or fact?

[Covenant]

I have recently changed my preamp from a BTE stepped attenuator silver wired internally to a much more expensive DCB1 wired with copper. I have noticed a slight loss of high frequency, especially cymbals.
Some say silver cables exaggerate high frequencies. Is the problem caused by the cables or could it be an impedance mismatch? My old preamp was built to suit the amp.

[YNWaN]

I’m not really sure where I stand on the silver/copper interconnect debate. However, my ‘sitting on the fence’ stance isn’t brought about by a lack of experience - I’ve actually compared identical cables made with both types of conductor and quite a number of cables designed and sold with copper, silver, silver clad copper, gold and silver alloy, super pure copper and super pure silver and a number of other similar options. My real problem relates to my understanding of electrical science and essential ‘LCR’ values. Not only does this understanding deny that any worthwhile differences can exist between interconnects but certainly the difference between a pure silver and pure copper conductor is so ridiculously tiny that the whole premise is entirely worthless and outright ridiculous.

[Wakefield Turntables]

Another cable debate! They always end up turning to shit . Well, for what it's worth. I think I hear more detail with silver although I have a system wired in vintage nickel plated copper which I think sounds warmer. Personally I think I've been brainwashed into thinking these outcomes after reading too many cable debates.

[YNWaN]

Sorry, I’ve realised I’ve not actually expressed my opinion!

So - my completely unscientific thoughts are that the best silver cables do give a particularly subtle and nuanced quality to their representation of upper frequencies but, in terms of the overall presentation, the sound is less dynamic and ‘fleshed out’. How much this impacts on your system very much depends on its individual strengths and weaknesses.

Edit: I’ve actually found this incredibly hard to write because I have so many contrasting thoughts on the matter I find it hard to compose them - particularly whilst typing on my phone!

[YNWaN]

Further edit; I feel I should add that my stated views are not intended to override the views of others as I feel less than certain in my own experiences (I’m not generally short on opinion). I do generally feel something is going on with this issue but as to how that could be possible I am entirely at a loss.

[Bigman80]

Further edit; I feel I should add that my stated views are not intended to override the views of others as I feel less than certain in my own experiences (I’m not generally short on opinion). I do generally feel something is going on with this issue but as to how that could be possible I am entirely at a loss.

One of the best 3 part posts ever. I love it.

[Jimbo]

Tried lots of copper and silver cables and I feel both can work in the right situation depending on what they are connected too. What I am talking about is system synergy. It all depends on how the cable interacts with the system and what type of sound you are looking for.

I don't think there is an absolute right or wrong or one is better than the other just carefully judged implementation.

What sounds good to you will be the right choice.

[Bigman80]

I agree with no one on this subject it seems.

I have also done masses of experiments with cables. All the lovely types Mark has mentioned and possibly a couple he hasn't.

Truth is, I never kept a Silver cable of any kind in my system. Every time I went back to copper.

The copper cables always sounded more real, more expressive and dramatic. Silver, whilst I agree maybe has the edge I. The HFs, never convinced me that I was hearing a wooden bodied instrument, or the cymbals would be overly shiny. Vocals lacked volume or mass to be more precise and generally, just felt lifeless. Not to be confused with lack of dynamism. I mean, nothing ever sounded Alive or human or like organic matter!!!

I'm being quite general here and throwing a blanket over a huge topic of debate but I'm condensing more cable comparisons than hot dinners.

There are certain applications where silver works and Jim will tell you that he felt the need to have silver plated cables in his croft amps for a long time, to get them to sing.

There are systems that possibly need a bit of zing but mine doesn't, IMO.

[Hibster_2000]

I agree with no one on this subject it seems.

I have also done masses of experiments with cables. All the lovely types Mark has mentioned and possibly a couple he hasn't.

Truth is, I never kept a Silver cable of any kind in my system. Every time I went back to copper.

The copper cables always sounded more real, more expressive and dramatic. Silver, whilst I agree maybe has the edge I. The HFs, never convinced me that I was hearing a wooden bodied instrument, or the cymbals would be overly shiny. Vocals lacked volume or mass to be more precise and generally, just felt lifeless. Not to be confused with lack of dynamism. I mean, nothing ever sounded Alive or human or like organic matter!!!

I'm being quite general here and throwing a blanket over a huge topic of debate but I'm condensing more cable comparisons than hot dinners.

There are certain applications where silver works and Jim will tell you that he felt the need to have silver plated cables in his croft amps for a long time, to get them to sing.

There are systems that possibly need a bit of zing but mine doesn't, IMO.

Out of interest, why do you use silver solder in the cables you make? Surely, a touch of silver at the connection will make very little difference in an all copper construction? Also, the plugs are silver plated? So does a bit of silver help?

[Bigman80]

Out of interest, why do you use silver solder in the cables you make? Surely, a touch of silver at the connection will make very little difference in an all copper construction? Also, the plugs are silver plated? So does a bit of silver help?

The silver solder was selected at a time when I just wanted to make the best cable I could, out of the best materials I could afford.

I didn't have any other reason than I had read repeatedly that silver solder was the best. I made the first set using 60/40 and KLE gold plated Bullet plugs. I then found the Silver plated Copper Harmony KLE plugs and decided to try them. As the plug was silver plated, I decided to use silver solder and try and make that joint an extension of the pin, by using a similar solder material. I don't think thats quite possible but I didn't know that at the time.

The result was a cable that sounded less heavy and delivered more air and space to the performance. Better nuances and micro/macro detail. Again this is a subjective opinion.

I tried the KLE's with 60/40 solder on another pair and didn't feel they were as good, although I am open to that being psychological.

I then tried Pure Silver RCA plugs and the air and space improved again.

Each time I added a bit more silver in that are, I found the improvements were obvious but when I removed the copper cable and replaced it with Silver, I lost the all the things I enjoyed about it an yes, I freely admit that where HF is concerned, Silver is usually the way to go but you can have the best of both if you fid the right plug and cable combo.

I have now tried my cable with almost every plug on the market, thanks to the special requests of many customers. The cables sounded different with most of them.

I still prefer the KLE Absolute Harmony and the KLE Copper Harmony and Silver solder combination to any other plug and solder combination I have tried. From a subjective sound perspective.