I set out to pinpoint which signal cables offer the biggest sonic gains, but instead ran into resistance from AudioQuest’s Bill Low and Audience’s John McDonald, who questioned the premise itself and steered the discussion into deeper philosophical territory.
Despite loving both analogue and digital, Tom Gibbs affirms LPโs supremacyโyet with DSD 512 and upgraded Audio Art Cables, digital playback is now rivaling tape and vinyl in clarity, nuance, and musical realism.
A fiery Facebook debate ignited over Herb Reichertโs claim that Hegelโs Viking CD player outperformed streamed files, reigniting the clash between โbits are bitsโ objectivists and subjectivists who trust their ears over theory.
Back in full force, AXPONA 2023 saw 366 exhibitors take over 12 floors of Chicagolandโs Renaissance Hotel, with standout launches from Luxman, DALI, Innuos, and Cabasseโand plenty of eye-watering cable prices to match.
After testing looms from Audience, AudioQuest, and Kimber Kable, the Guru finds each trio stunningly synergisticโyet now aims to defy the loom gospel by mixing brands to see if a greater sonic truth might emerge.
In this second โCable Guruโ entry, the Guru explores mid-priced hi-fi cables from major manufacturers, emphasizing sound character over specs, system synergy, and the artful subjectivity that makes cable evaluation a unique audiophile pursuit.