Couple of Questions for cable Skeptics
On Nov 17, 1:45 am, " wrote:
Rockinghorse Winner wrote:
I am about to upgrade my system, and I thought I'd start with replacing
my speaker cable and connects. I currently use 14 gauge zip cord and
gold plated Radio Shack interconnects. I have heard all the arguments
pro and con with the speaker cable vs zip cord. I don't wish to revive
that main discussion. I just have a few clarifying questions for the
skeptics out there.
First, supposing the incontrovertible: that for the average speaker
system, perceptible improvement ceases after a minimum of speaker cable
engineering. The question that comes to mind is, what are the minimum
requirements of a speaker cable before the price/performance curve
flattens to negligibility?
Second, what cable do YOU use for the purpose, and does your choice
align with what you advocate publically?
Rockinghorse Winner===================================
By this time Mr. Rockinghorse Winner you must have sizable headache..
That is if you take at all seriously the usual Audio..Opinion jousting.
The warriors can be usefully divided into two groups. Those who believe
that they learnt everything that there is to be known about relations
between physical characteristics of audio components and the human
brain receptors in their graduate study
and those who trust their ears.
You heard already the mantras about "wire is wire" (based on what the
textbooks know about cables in the month of October 2006 and the
chorus singing the mantras about the bias of sighted listening..
It is of course true- in the medical drug studies between 25 to 40 % of
subjects claim improvement when "treated " with pseudo drug. In other
words SOME people are bias victims. But of course it could be you.
The truth is that nobody can tell how a particular wrinkle in the cable
structure will affect *you *. Your sensitivity to differences is
determined by your interests, experience, age , hearing etc. A virtuoso
may hear enormous differences between violins that would completely
escape me.
So what to do.?
I listen. If I'm in no doubt about my preference I don't consult the
textbooks or the list of specifications..
I use what I call the left-right comparison method.
If interested see the appendix. There are no switches or software to
buy.
But you need a helpful or a devoted partner
.
Ludovic Mirabel
My approach centers frankly on preference. Insisting on
"difference and difference only" may be a prerequisite in research. An
audiophile wants help to exercise his consumer choice.
Secondly, while roughly level volumes between the left and
right side are desirable. Very exact levelling is not necessary.
Other common sense precautions a compare like with like:
testing a 400watt amp against a 5watt SET is waste of time.
You can not compare signal source against signal source this
way ie. a cdplayer against a cdplayer, turntable against a turntable.
You cannot compare speakers because that requires special
facilities for moving them fast to an exact position . Same of course
applies to ABX testing.
You can compare interconnects, power cables and power
controllers, interconnects, preamps, amps, dacs.
An obliging partner is a necessity.
1) Get a monophonic or near monophonic (eg. centred soprano) signal
source. MUSICAL, not an artefact.
2) On the left insert one component, on the right the OTHER ONE- (in
the case of interconnects using two of one kind together i.e.source to
preamp and preamp to amp on each side will give better contrast.)
3) Listen -write down your preference, get blinded.
4) An assistant now changes AT RANDOM (coin throw) both components
from one side to the other or (of course) leaves them where they are
keeping the records.
5) This is repeated minimum 15 times- for any length of time and with
interval for lunch if you like. EVERY TIME you note your
preference
The repetition and change are the CRUX.
At this point INVARIABLY someone says: No good, room sides differ,
levels differ subtly etc.
Answer;If there are differences between room sides, speaker volumes
etc. and yet you still prefer and locate one of the two component as
it moves from side to side surely, that REINFORCES the results- yes?
no?
Eg. The bass may be distorted on one side of your room but you still
have a statistically significant positive result: "I prefer the sound
of this preamp on EITHER side.bass or no bass"
The other theoretical objections from the people who never tried it
are of little interest. The inferences from other fields (eg.
research) are even less so. Apples and oranges. Even if they assure you
that the
Goddess of their kind of "science" is fighting on their side.
The comparison is not just supposedly "instantaneous"- it is
SIMULTANEOUS.
While comparing turn your head from side to side as much as you like.
If you have no preference give the component back to the shop. If
there is any difference it is not one that matters to you
- at this stage of your musical experience and preference.
NB. This is not a universally applicable "test". It is a method
that suits me because it involves no memory feats that are beyond me
and many others. I have no universal "scientific" pretensions. I only
use it to reassure myself that I'm not a victim of delusionary bias.
--
(nosey!)
I must write a few words in defence of "wire is wire".
Wire, let us say 20 ft of 12 gage speakercable, has a virtually flat
frequency response and zero distortion. That doesn't leave much room
for believing it colors sound.
Wire is only wire.
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