Hey Fred,
Didn't mean to be that sarcastic. Anyway, my response i based on my raction to the posts: just can't believe that some of these things are so important to you. Anyway, as for the $$$ I think that I layed it out somewhat. Keep in mind that this is an estimation. Could well be that Groneberg actually makes a lot less $$$.
Anyway, why the is the cable that good ??? Ultimately yes, it has something to do with specific materials and architectute, but even I don't know the whole of it, and maybe never will. Doesn't matter, because the only thing that interests me is that it's a great product for a great price. Like everything else I do, or I just wouldn't. If that's too much, keep in mind that there's also the series III pair of cables, that run $ 75. / 8 ' length. So, this is definitely on the cheap. Again, we're talking high end here, and the $ 200. speakers with $ 3,000 cables example is just not a realistic one. Of course nobody sane would do that.
Anyway, as for the pins, yes, of course I agree that they're not as sturdy as let's say the big WBT bananas. There's much lss material, but that's why they sound so good. As for durability, well, we have the same pins on our reference systems speaker cables, and we change them for every amp and for every channel during the individual listening tests of every amp and speaker and pre amp. that's several times a day. Sometimes 3-4 times, other times 10 - 12 times. Day after day, and we still have the original pair of pins for close to 2 years on them. Maybe it's something of a misfit with your classic gear ?? Don't know.
Lastly, I think that it got out of hand because I'm sure that there are people who thought that you're attacking me or Groneberg. I know that this is not the case because I know you personally, BUT, Fred, your posts came across a tad aggressive. And honestly, some of the points didn't just make too much sense to me. The switchbox, e.g., //// I meant not to use it in a pure high end system where you'd usually run 1 maybe 2 runs of cables. Just not the way to do. However, if you like it and if it's the ticket for your setup, why not ??? Didn't mean to discount your partiular situation here. As for me, yes, I used switchboxes, and in a purely high end system such as mine is and the ones that I used to have, the answer is absolutely, definitely no way.
As for expensive cables (or relatively expensiv or wherever you want to put on the price tag / your choice) I have to agre. I have currently laying around some Shunyata $ 700 power cord, some $ 1,300 Purist water cables, some $ 800. Tara Labs, and some $ 750 Symphonic Line's among much moderate priced cables. Is this nuts ??? Is a $ 3,000 + NBS cable worth it ??? Depends. If somebody has hundreds of K's to spend, then yes, of course that cable is cheap for him.
As for synergy, that's the name of the game, and the only game. 10 + year ago there were indeed some bad cables out there. High impeenc, stifer than a stiffy, brighter than a siren. They sucked. However, especially with the net those ar mostly gone. the market weeded them out. So, depending on your system and you taste, I have no problems whatsoever i somebody takes a different cable over the Gronebergs. Or a different amp over the Stratos for that matter. There are so many variables, it's ridiculous. However, what I do say is that teh Quattro is a n extremely good cable for most people in most systems, especially considering that their signature is that of a non-bright and emotional nature, which travels with the systems themselves.
Now, as for the bang for the $$$. The Quattro is indeed a very, very inexpensive cable. Nevermind the 4 conductors that you find small, and which actually aren't if you'd tak apart any other cable. Going much higher than 16 - 18 gauge will rsult in encredible impedence and inductance problems, especially in longer runs, among other things. There got to be at least 20 - 25 different philosophies out there in regards to cable architecture. You read any one white paper on any given cabl, and you would have to agree completely with their findings. Until you'll read the next one, because that makes sense too. If any one of them is right, then there have to be tons of them wrong, essentially. Me, personally, I don't give a shit. I like Groneberg's patent with the center conductor because it eliminates the skin effect, which indeed most likely resilts in top end problems. That part makes sense to me, and I'm glad and proud to have Walter's cables for my customers who agree with my personal preferencs in listening, that of a very neutral tonality and tons of EMOTIONS. That's what I have with every single product or I wouldn't carry it.
Now, back to the money issue. Groneberg has 4 different cables. The top of the line is called the GS model and is actually a cryo'ed cable. I don't cry it because I don't believe in the high ticket items, and Fred, you would be correct in then I would sell cables that are as expensive as an amp. that doesn't make sense to me either. However, as for the other cables, the series III is half of the Quattro, and the TS Premium is double. I still, and you can look back in the previous threads, recommend the Quattro to nearly everybody. is the TS better ? Yes, but it's not the same price / performance, because it's more expensiv than it's better. And if, like Byteme and others, the TS is that much better for you considering the increase in cost, then I'll gladly sell it as well.
Rolf Gemein always teaches the hart chakra. The even distribution of the energy from its center, regardless of the matter. That's what I have picked up from him. Get a product such as the Quattro and have a very even balance of price, performance, and tonality. That's what I'm trying with any of my products. With some it comes easy, like the cables or the Stratos and the Lorelei's. With others I have to struggle a bit, but ultimately you have to find that heart chakra or you have an inferior product or a poduct that is indeed too expensive. the Quattro is not one of it.
Now, lastly, and to be completely honest, I do have a better profit margin than I do with the IC's. Because we use the extremely expensive WBT 101 connectors, and because it takes twice the time for an IC compared to a LS cable, I hav to mak some money somewhere. After all, it's my livelihood, and generally spaking, evn with the LS cables, I make less than othr manufacturer. Believe me, and in some cases much less.
As for the outside shielding of your cables, no, of course you don't see them bcause with the LS cables, they're cut off. Take a closer look under the edge of the jacket, and you'll see the mesh. That's how it's terminated. As for the IC or digital cables or the PC, that's a different matter altogether. BTW, we also made some video cable out of the Quattro yars ago and gave a pair to Runco. They absolutely loved it. Never followed up on it though, even though we probably could sell that as well. However, I don't want to get into the whole video cable marketing because no we're talking about a grat deal of people who really would cry murder at a $ 150. cable.
So, to finish of, no sarcasm intended Fred, but you cannot call the Quattro at $ 150. / pair expensive. If that is your stance, then there's no point of discussing this matter any further bcause in the world of cables and in the big picture the Quattro is a superb bargain considering what it is, what it does, and what you pay for it.
Late,
Klaus
