Haonan
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Just a question, the ATH cables vs normal cables no diff rite???
Hey LBBEF. Uh that is a very hypothetical question directed at me haha, in all honesty I can't say I'm really into all these cables hype/snake oil thingy, cos I have never spent alot of money on high-end cables or power supply connectivity, however I do acknowledge and know they do mean something for audiophiles, and I have also personally encounter some discernable differences when I changed and used better made/more exp interconnects for my portable stuffs.
For Audio-technica wise, afaik their interconnects family are typically split into 3 groups, Goldlink Basic, Goldlink Fine and Artlink series. Goldlink Basic/Goldlink Fine generally covers their main consumer line-up for audio/video cables accessories, then their Artlink stuffs are usually catered for those high-end audio enthusiasts. When I say their cable prices are usually quite economic wallet-friendly, I'm only referring to their Goldlink series. But if you were to take a look at their high-end Artlink stuffs such as this digital coaxial cable, I would say their retail prices do come very close to most Oyaide/Acoustic Revive stuffs, which are also quite prominent japanese makers when it comes to high-end cable interconnects made for audio.
From what I can make out from their japanese description for the above AT-RD5000 as an example, they have built-in Hanenite damping for the cables. Hanenite is a rubber-based damping material with superlative anti-resonance properties, but I don't think Hanenite is a Audio-technica trademark owned by them, prolly they were made by some well-known japanese factories as Google came out with some results for Hanenite made by some well-known japanese rubber factories.
The conductor wires inside their Artlink series is also pure silver OFC, with Brass + Rhodium plating on the plugs themselves and according to my basic understanding of the metals industry last time, usually metal alloys like copper/brass are always usually much more expensive than stuffs like aluminium, copper and brass material also usually acts as very good electrical insulators so I guess the streets prices for these Artlink interconnects reflects pretty much its qualities.
So if you want a direct answer from me, nope I don't think ATH cables are just like any other tom, dick or harry cables. They know their stuffs well and if you prefer typical mainstream stuffs, you go for their cheaper Goldlink series cables, if you are loaded and don't mind splurging on higher-quality made cables (interconnect cables for your audio setup are usually meant to last quite long anyways, doubt anyone will change that often) then you may invest in their Artlink series.
I'm just a peasant myself, so far I have only bought their Goldlink Fine series interconnects for my desktop audio/PS3 stuffs. While I do yearn for higher-end quality audio like many others, like what they usually say one must live within one's limits.