Buying guide: how to choose the right cable for your Hi-Fi system?

You have just discovered the wonderful world of Hi-Fi Audio and you are hit with myriads of information that, at first, it is difficult to distinguish between relevant and useless. The discourse is not simple, but perhaps it is not that complicated either. So. Let's start with the assumption that the separate components that make up the backbone of the vast majority of Hi-Fi systems are three: source, amplifier, and acoustic speakers. These three elements must be connected to each other with directly proportional value supports to achieve optimized performance. An inadequate cable would castrate the system; one that is too high performance would be not detrimental but ultimately useless at the listening level. Our focus is the wiring of High Fidelity audio electronics, and so in this article we will exhaust that very topic: choosing the right Hi-Fi cable for your system.

Before even figuring out how much it pays to spend to choose the Hi-Fi cable that is right for us, we need to figure out what Hi-Fi cables we need. This depends on the structure of the same (is the source a PC? Or perhaps a turntable? Is there a subwoofer?). The macrocategories can be reduced to three:

• Signal.
• Power.
• Power supply.

It is almost impossible to give an unambiguous answer, as there are so many variables that are not so easily calculated. Just think of the listening environment. That is why we give you the opportunity to always contact us during business hours, by whatever means you prefer, so that we can give you advice tailored to you. A superficial, but at the same time very quick, estimate can be as follows: for the wiring of an electronics it is advisable to spend 10-15% of its list value. Let's give two examples:

• I have a CD player that I bought, used, for 1,000 €, but whose list value is 1,500 €. If I have to choose Hi-Fi power cable, the choice could be the Primus series, but also considering the possibility of Magnus.
• I have a €5,000 amplifier and €10,000 acoustic speakers. If I need a Speaker cable to connect the two electronics, considering the total value (15,000 €), the right choice might be Invictus Speaker.

We reiterate again that this kind of reasoning is sketchy anyway. Just think about one of the elements we most consider when evaluating a purchase: value for money. In case your product has a decidedly high price/quality ratio, you might consider getting a cable from a higher series than the two examples above would say. Conversely, in case you have paid a lot for your turntable player but, alas, it is not that high-performing, it may not be worth spending more on cabling.

Mind you. It will never be a detriment to wire a mediocre system resoundingly (except to your wallet). What may happen is that you will have spent more than you had to without perceiving any substantial improvement. Since Ricable cables are guaranteed for life, however, it is possible to buy a better performing cable than we need for future system upgrades. At this point, however, we would recommend that you take advantage of Ricable Upgrade, which gives your used equipment the exact purchase value in case you trade-in for a superior product. But back to us. If your Hi-Fi system is not detectable enough to bring out fine-tuning modifications, there is no point in investing too much in it. A far wiser and more balanced choice than buying a single outstanding cable such as theInvictus, might be to wire the whole system with good cables, such as those from the Primus series or Magnus.

Let's take another example. Think of owning any small car and think of equipping it with performance and expensive racing wheels. The improvement would be substantial on a sports car, even decisive if you were in the middle of a competition. But what you would be able to perceive with your hatchback would, on the contrary, be an infinitesimal upgrade. Or perhaps you would perceive no difference at all. The reverse is also true. Mounting standard tires on a bolide with 800 hp, 8,500 engine rpm, and 12 cylinders, on the contrary, would be a bottleneck for vehicle performance, and in the worst case could go so far as to compromise your safety.

Choosing the right Hi-Fi cable for your system is not a straightforward matter. That is also why we have introduced the Satisfied or Money Back Guarantee., which provides for free returns with a sixty-day period. As mentioned, there are so many variables, and therefore we feel it is necessary to give you the opportunity to perform all the appropriate tests in your own listening environment. On the other hand, the fun of audiophilia also comes from the countless tests we can perform, experimenting with novel solutions. Perhaps in the company of lifelong friends, trying out "the new piece" in each other's systems and comparing different opinions. The effort Ricable is to expand its catalog more and more, updating existing products with innovative techniques and including new ones. To meet everyone's needs in terms of both wiring and portfolio. Take a look at our catalog to find out if there is one for you.