The Benefits
1.1 All cables delete information.... the best cables delete least!
Few subjects associated with Hi-Fi and video reproduction give rise to more controversy than that of cables/interconnects and their influence on perceived sound quality.
Cables cannot add to the information stored on recorded media, but they can make a difference to the way it is subsequently heard during reproduction and differences may not necessarily be improvements. For example, a sound which initially seems dynamic and fast may cause fatigue and lead to irritation over an extended listening period. At the other end of the audio frequency spectrum, a cable with an impressive bass slam may falter in the department of high frequency detail.
When listening to and evaluating system differences, enthusiasts and potential purchasers need to take into account the fact that in a comparative test something that's heard which was not heard before, or vice versa, could be accurate, but there is also a distinct possibility that a false prominence is being imparted to a detail that was originally subtle in the ears of the recording engineer!
The Atlas Cables cable designer's motivation is to provide products which accurately convey the maximum available information from a recording, whilst never erring towards artifice or over-emphasis. All Atlas Cables provide focus and sound staging, with a strong sense of three-dimensionality, resolution and detail and will improve the quality from most makes of audio amplifiers, CDs and speakers. Check for more information on the subject of synergy in the audio system at Making the right Connections.
1.2 Caveat emptor! (Buyer beware)
Differences in the sound reproduced by a system when different cables are substituted cannot be completely explained by current measurement techniques, even though they are clearly audible. The human ear is still the best 'test instrument' available to you and I when it comes down to evaluating system performance. Hearing is subjective and subjectivity gives rise to some fanciful claims from vendors, and controversy from critics. However, yours is the only opinion which (ultimately) matters when listening to music in your own home.
1.3 The good news...
There is a correlation between interconnect design and quality.
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Cable capacitance, resistance and inductance are important qualtities which influence overall system performance, but other aspects of design specification which are often neglected include the cable lay, conductor type and purity, the dielectric material employed (attenuation properties etc.) and the plug construction.
The following are the three principal factors which contribute to interconnect quality:
1. Conductor material specification
2. Insulation material specification
3. Plug design and construction materials
