Why are good cables for IEMs so dang expensive?

High-quality cables for in-ear monitors (IEMs) are often subject to significant price inflation due to various factors. The audiophile community, which prioritizes personal audio experiences, is one such driver. In the world of high-end audiophile products, objectivity from manufacturers often takes a backseat to perception and branding. When examining budget and high-end IEM threads, one can observe a stark contrast: budget products are frequently scrutinized with measurements, whereas high-end categories are less transparent and more influenced by subjective experiences.

Much like other niche or luxury items, the cost of materials for premium cables is notably lower than the retail price. The pricing of cables, however, straddles a unique category. For example, even though cables and car rims both have measurable parameters, those parameters are more critical for rims than for cables. While it may seem negligible, a 3-5 foot cable in the $100 range usually comprises 4 cores equating to a 12-20 foot cable, or even more if it features 8 cores. However, the real kicker lies not in the material costs, but in the marketing psychology and brand positioning of these high-priced cables.

Cables priced above $100 to $200 don't tend to make logical sense based solely on their material and manufacturing costs. Instead, these products exist in a market deeply influenced by emotional appeal, perceptions, and the weight of brand names—factors that are hard to measure and price. It’s also important to consider that some people might buy expensive cables for the peace of mind that comes with owning a premium product, convinced they are not missing out on anything. Ultimately, audiophile companies capitalize on these emotional and psychological aspects.

For those looking to explore the cable market themselves, a pragmatic approach is advisable. With the convenience of online shopping platforms like Amazon, one can easily test different cables and return them if they don't perceive a difference in sound quality. Additionally, experimenting with budget cables, especially those above the $60 range, can offer significant insights. Make sure to verify product materials through user reviews to avoid any discrepancies. This hands-on method is perhaps the best way to determine whether the cost justifies the perceived improvement in sound quality.

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View Full Version : Copper purity in normal cables and expensive audiophile cables?

Mouse

What is the copper purity in normal cables and expensive audiophile cables?

I know Shunyata claims 99.99% pure copper, and Nordost claims 99.99999% pure copper. Seems like there is a wild of difference between purity here.

What does Audioquest have? How about the Blue Jeans cables like Canare and Belden?

Mikado463

I know Shunyata claims 99.99% pure copper, and Nordost claims 99.99999% pure copper. Seems like there is a wild of difference between purity here.

I wouldn't call that a 'wild difference'

JMD

That's called creative advertising not a "wild difference."

Mouse

That's called creative advertising not a "wild difference."

Let's pretend for a second that this is drinking water. Percentage wise how much lead and arsenic will you tolerate out of the two percentages? Huge difference between 99.99 and 99.99999.

I don't know of any sonic difference between. 90%, 99%, 99.99, and 100%.

Shunyata advertises 99.99%, yet belden has a cable that's 99.995 but it's hard to find.

In an air filter that tries to capture 100,000 dust particles: 99.99999 will release one dust particle whereas the 99.99 will release about 1,000.

Care to contribute or shall we argue semantics instead?

Here is Shunyata's claim. Shunyata Research uses only the highest purity of copper available for the production of its wire products. **OFE Alloy 101 or **C10100 is the highest grade of copper with a minimum 99.99% purity and a conductivity rating of 101% IACS. OFE stands for oxygen-free electrolytic and supersedes the term OFHC (oxygen-free high conductivity). **C10100 is the only grade of copper that comes with a written certification of purity. Certified by ASTM F68 **C10100.

I'm not saying this will sound bad, I actually have an order I'm waiting on from Shunyata that hasn't come in yet. But after reading around "4 nines" seems pretty common, but to justify that it's only the highest purity of copper available, I'm curious what's different about normal copper from any source.

JMD

What would you like us to contribute in these multiple "cable" threads other than to go back and forth about individual manufacturers advertising claims. That is why most of these threads end up closed.

Cohibaman

If God himself gave you the “perfect” cable, you may not like it. It’s up to you to find one that you like. If they all sound the same to you, choose the cheapest one.

edkoz

If God himself gave you the “perfect” cable, you may not like it. It’s up to you to find one that you like. If they all sound the same to you, choose the cheapest one.

Soundmig

If God himself gave you the “perfect” cable, you may not like it. It’s up to you to find one that you like. If they all sound the same to you, choose the cheapest one.

Puma Cat

What is the copper purity in normal cables and expensive audiophile cables?

I know Shunyata claims 99.99% pure copper, and Nordost claims 99.99999% pure copper. Seems like there is a wild of difference between purity here.

What does Audioquest have? How about the Blue Jeans cables like Canare and Belden?

There is no such thing as 99.99999% copper, this is just marketing-driven audio industry hype. This specification is not used in the copper manufacturing materials industry because it doesn't exist.

The two meaningful purity specifications that are actually used in the copper manufacturing industry are CDA-101 copper and OFE Alloy 101 (or C10100), which is the highest grade of copper with a minimum 99.99% purity and a conductivity rating of 101% IACS.

Shunyata presently uses OFE Alloy 101 for a number of their products, as well as their Ar Ni alloy.

The reason Shunyata provides a specification of 99.99% purity is because they use OFE Alloy 101. They provide the 99.99% specification because they are a scientifically-based, data-driven company that doesn't subscribe to meaningless and non-existent specs hyped by the audio marketing industry.

Cohibaman

Fun facts about copper (I feel like Sheldon Cooper)...

https://www.copper.org/education/c-facts/facts-print.html

Antonmb

There is no such thing as 99.99999% copper, this is just marketing-driven audio industry marketing hype.

Yup, anything more than 4 nines is meaningless hype. Here’s a good article on the subject:

http://audiophilereview.com/audiophile/meddling-or-metaling-with-cable-design.html

Canonicus

Ok..I guess we can pooh-pooh "OCC" (Ohno Continuous Cast) and "Oxygen Free Copper" as pure bull,too?

JMD

Different trade names for the same few grades of material.

Formerly YB-2

If God himself gave you the “perfect” cable, you may not like it. It’s up to you to find one that you like. If they all sound the same to you, choose the cheapest one. Well said. Unfortunately for me (my bank account), I've been able to hear a difference. If you are not able to, take a nice trip (or whatever) with the extra funds.

Antonmb

Ok..I guess we can pooh-pooh "OCC" (Ohno Continuous Cast) and "Oxygen Free Copper" as pure bull,too?

I don’t think anyone said that, only that any claim to purity beyond 99.99 purity is suspect.

PHC1

Wish the recording qualities of much of the music was 99.9999% so we can really worry about such trivial things as copper purity. :smoking:

SCAudiophile

I don’t think anyone said that, only that any claim to purity beyond 99.99 purity is suspect.

My father was a metallurgist....specialty steel industry including high-tech (non-copper) wire, think extreme aerospace and medical applications. Purity beyond 99.99% has been able to be quantified/measured for quite a long time now. I know you are saying such claims are suspect (which can be very true!) and not that such purity is impossible however if a firm is responsible they can publish accurate specs that substantiate the claim.

SCAudiophile

Wish the recording qualities of much of the music was 99.9999% so we can really worry about such trivial things as copper purity. :smoking:

Big +1 on this!

Puma Cat

Ok..I guess we can pooh-pooh "OCC" (Ohno Continuous Cast) and "Oxygen Free Copper" as pure bull,too?

No, that's not the case. The OFE specification includes a value for oxygen content and Ohno is a casting methodology, not a purity specification. They are completely different things.

Puma Cat

Different trade names for the same few grades of material.

Respectfully, they are not. CDA-101 and CFE-101 are "reference standards" for copper purity. Reference standards, by definition, do not vary. This is so that manufacturers using these materials can obtain consistency and conformance to specification of the materials in question.

Puma Cat

With respect I will disagree; my father was a metallurgist....specialty steel industry including high-tech (non-copper) wire, think extreme aerospace and medical applications. Purity beyond 99.99% has been able to be quantified/measured for quite a long time now.

I'd love to see a statistically valid measurement systems analysis on that.

JMD

I am aware of what the standards are but that doesn't stop these companies from giving these "standards" whatever creative title they decide to use. Using the Industry Standard naming would not have the same "ring" to it.

What are the features of the gyxtw-4b1 cable?

For more information, please visit 48 core odf.

I am aware of what the standards are but that doesn't stop these companies from giving these "standards" whatever creative title they decide to use. Using the Industry Standard naming would not have the same "ring" to it.

That may be the case, but Tony and I were just trying to answer Mouse's question regarding why Shunyata Research does not provide a copper purity specification greater than 99.99%. That's because purity greater than 99.99% does not exist in the copper materials industry.

Given that Shunyata Research is, above and beyond anything else, very much a science and data-driven company, and not given by nature to "hyperbole", they provide facts as to the purity of the copper for the products they manufacture.

Contrast this to Synergistic Research's "quantum tunneling" of cables. Talk about 'yer audio industry hyperbole, WTF does that mean???

SCAudiophile

So are we saying that Mexcel, Hitachi Special Metals Division and a variety of other reputable sources are lying about being able to produce 6N, 7N and 8N copper wire? These claims transcend the audio industry...

There is purity in the copper sourcing materials industry and then there is purity of the formulations and extrusions (e.g. wires). Too different things...

Puma Cat

So are we saying that Mexcel, Hitachi Special Metals Division and a variety of other reputable sources are lying about being able to produce 6N, 7N and 8N copper wire? These claims transcend the audio industry...

There is purity in the copper sourcing materials industry and then there is purity of the formulations and extrusions (e.g. wires). Too different things...

If they can, I'd love to see the scientific or technical literature documenting this specification and that those companies have performed a stastically valid measurement systems analysis that demonstrating that they have sufficient measurement system precision to measure to 6, 7 or 8N copper wire.

I'm happy to be convinced with data and statistically valid analysis.

audio bill

Here is a technical analysis http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/products/auto/el/purecopper_hifc.html from Hitachi Metals Ltd. detailing some of the characteristics and comparisons between their high purity copper wire in 4N HiFC, 6N OFC, and 6N Cu. I'm not sure this will satisfy the desired level of technical specification but it does show some measurable differences between these various purity levels of copper conductors, hope this helps! I find it interesting to see the metallurgical grain structure differences which are also documented.

Msegal

Copper cables oxygen free state is only one measurement or state at one given time. It’s oxygen content will change with simple exposure to the air. Unless one keeps the cables in a vacuum I would expect the copper to slowly oxidize. The outer skin of the copper is most vulnerable but this is where the signal tends to concentrate.

Other important considerations include copper casting, extruding or other methods of drawing the cable. Conductor geometry, gauge, dialectics, insulation, interfaces and conduction delay compensation are equally important.

If I listened to a cable that sounded awesome in my system and it had 99.0 , 99.99 or 99.999999 I would still purchase that cable and enjoy it.

I currently use Shunyata with wonderful results but I have heard great results from Audioquest, Tara Labs and many other great companies.

Puma Cat

Here is a technical analysis http://www.hitachi-metals.co.jp/e/products/auto/el/purecopper_hifc.html from Hitachi Metals Ltd. detailing some of the characteristics and comparisons between their high purity copper wire in 4N HiFC, 6N OFC, and 6N Cu. I'm not sure this will satisfy the desired level of technical specification but it does show some measurable differences between these various purity levels of copper conductors, hope this helps! I find it interesting to see the metallurgical grain structure differences which are also documented.

Thanks! I look forward to reading it! :thumbsup:

Lockheed Martin

Copper purity is one of many factors that affect the sound quality