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Cables and Snake Oil - Please read before you are fooled!

post #1 of 170
12/31/10 at 2:39am
Thread Starter 

I thought this article was very interesting and does a good job explaining why expensive audio and power cables are for the illiterate customer:

http://www.ethanwiner.com/audiophoolery.html

 

Hope you like it. Happy reading!


Edited by akart - 12/31/10 at 2:50am
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post #2 of 170
12/31/10 at 5:29am

nothing foolish about diffferent cables. copper vs copper plated silver vs silver all sound different

same with copper vs gold vs rhodium connectors

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post #3 of 170
12/31/10 at 7:56am

Yea most cables are constructed differently from different materials, also you have to consider the quality of the connection from the wire to the connector, poor quality solder will add more resistance , where silver solder is alot less resistive even better are crimp plugs which have no extra resistance, also to consider is sheilded or unshielded depends if interference is a problem for you, but i don't think theres really any difference between the different types of shields.

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post #4 of 170
1/1/11 at 7:48am

Good read. I think this is the same guy from the AES audio myths workshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYTlN6wjcvQ

 

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post #5 of 170
1/1/11 at 7:55am

 

Read and none to impressed.  Like all of the cable debates here, the anti guy seems a little ticked off for some reason and only says "science, science, science".  I "listen" to my gear and music, I don't "science" it.

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post #6 of 170
1/1/11 at 8:36am

The guy gets a fair bit of flak around him from what I've heard. Some of his other articles are ok, but others meh, and he's got one really "awkward" video on his site too...

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post #7 of 170
1/1/11 at 1:32pm

http://www.apiguide.net/04actu/04musik/AES-cableInteractions.pdf

 

Read above if you less critical

 

www.theaudiocritic.com/downloads/article_1.pdf

 

And this if you believe wet string is the best.

 

Regards

 

Colin

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post #8 of 170
1/1/11 at 3:37pm
Thread Starter 

^ Good read, thanks!

 

Unfortunately, although the first article describes that the electrical characteristics of different wire are different (no brainer), it does not present any information on whether this makes any audible difference.

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post #9 of 170
1/1/11 at 3:51pm

wires sound different, it's subjective as to which is "better"

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post #10 of 170
1/1/11 at 4:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by akart View Post

^ Good read, thanks!

 

Unfortunately, although the first article describes that the electrical characteristics of different wire are different (no brainer), it does not present any information on whether this makes any audible difference.


Agreed that is the problem how do we standardize the classifications  of wire when it is in a system, containing You, the room, the amp and the cable plus any micro-phonic device i.e. cartridge and turntables? Let alone you hearing channels within you head, ears etc and you taste in music. Far to many variables in the real world me thinks.

 

So it must be a matter of taste and financial choice.

 

Good night 

 

Colin

 

 

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post #11 of 170
1/1/11 at 4:51pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by endless402 View Post

wires sound different, it's subjective as to which is "better"

Nicely Said!        But I'll add, If they want to use "LAMP CORD" for their speaker connections HAVE AT IT!!!!  wink.gif

 

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post #12 of 170
1/1/11 at 5:31pm

sure, a 100 foot run of single-ended 18 gauge wire will prove fatal vs. a 5 foot run of 12 gauge balanced wire

 

when it comes to what you previously alluded to, that there is a difference between silver, spc, copper, and the like.... prove it, and I'll buy you a new car
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by endless402 View Post

wires sound different

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post #13 of 170
1/1/11 at 5:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by 9pintube View Post

Quote:

Nicely Said!        But I'll add, If they want to use "LAMP CORD" for their speaker connections HAVE AT IT!!!!  wink.gif

 



Thats whats seperates our two sides.  Cable believers have no need to convert or question the other side.  We're happy with our setups and generally have the mindset of "to each his own".  Cable Atheist however seem to have a compulsive need to "be right" and to educate us "easily tricked - placebo prone - marketing victims".   

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post #14 of 170
1/1/11 at 5:34pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by El_Doug View Post

sure, a 100 foot run of single-ended 18 gauge wire will prove fatal vs. a 5 foot run of 12 gauge balanced wire

 

when it comes to what you previously alluded to, that there is a difference between silver, spc, copper, and the like.... prove it, and I'll buy you a new car
 


Come over to Georgia and take a listen to my rig, then we can go get me a car.  And I prefer used and cheap to new and expensive so I'd be your best bet.

 

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post #15 of 170
1/1/11 at 6:42pm

Somewhere in a dark cave, amongst a million hungry and dehydrated baby bats, a scarred infant intently listens . Amidst a million high pitched squeals it senses a change , the approaching rush of wings, millions of parent bats returning , finally .

 

And there ,crystal clear and without a doubt , a shriek so emphatically familiar , the infant responds with its call, the bond is made amongst millions and there is ,   survival. 

 

Someday we will understand how they tell apart  . Today we just know they do.

 

If they do not , they die !

 

 

Enjoy the music.

 

 

 

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