Copper vs Silver Interconnects - Is there really a Difference?

[mykeldg]

Conclusion: there is a difference but its quite small and only if your system is resolving enough to show it. Is it better? It probably boils down to system synergy. Honestly, I prefer the cheaper copper cable on bright speakers like B&W & Dali Rubicons and even on the neutral Dynaudio. The Copper seems to have a fuller tone in the mids and lows. SPC seems to improve brilliance at the cost of tone richness.

[solarfall]

A test like this is a starting point. There's quite a few variables that also need to be considered. Not all silver cables sound alike, and the same goes for copper. Also, depending on how revealing you system is, and how much listening experience you have, the audible differences are can vary greatly.

From a subjective perspective, what cable you prefer will vary from connection to connection. You may like a silver cable in between your source and preamp, but prefer copper from the preamp to the amp. You just have to try them and pick the one you like best.

The 2 pairs of cables I use when comparing silver to copper, are the Audioquest Panther (copper), and the Audioquest Cheetah (silver). They're identical in every way except for the conducting metal. That way, any differences you hear have to be because of the copper or silver.

[milenkolev]

I prefer cooper, siver is too bright and sharp

[karlmoore]

I have both types and prefer copper by a lot for RCA cables. In my system, the silver plated adds reverb and high end detail that sounds artificially sharpened. It makes everything sound like it was recorded in a kitchen. For guitar cables though, I prefer silver plated, they add more detail, but in a good way.

[tubefreeeasy]

You must try pure silver.

Never sibilant and very transparent.

[woonshik]

great sounds to both cables!! what kind of cable are you using? If you don't mind me asking

[rafadorock]

I would say that there is only a very tinny bit of clearance on silver over copper, but that is so tiny and tiny, that you wouldn't notice without a comparison, and it is something that an EQ would solve easily without adding unwanted frequencies...

[siddharthkhandelwal]

Is this occ or ohno or single crystal copper? Ultra pure?

[muaB]

So... you recorded this with a microphone? Compressed it into along with the video? Uploaded it to YouTube where it got compressed again? Most people play it with their onboard sound? And still don't hear all the differences?
I really wonder why....(Don't get me wrong, it's hard enough in the real world, if you can hear it at all, but what's the point of this video?)