That was a good read. Thanks for posting it.
It is interesting to note that the article says this dbate has raged since the late 1970s.
Since, there have been tens of thousands of cables produced and many millions in revenue generated by them. Yet no manufacturer has ever presented evidence that their products work as advertised. Curiously, even cable advertising carefully stays a step back from anything that could be construed as a legal guarantee.
Another curious point is that if the "benefits" of cables truly existed, then they would certainly have industrial applications, as well. You'd think these magical properties would show effects on microprocessors and, well, anything that uses electricity. If the benefits existed, then it would be highly likely that these benefits would be thoroughly researched and used in solar cells, batteries, electric motors, and much else.
Which would make it likely that there would be extensive research by corporations, research universities and military contractors.
Oh, and there's usually a strong amateur level of research into science. Just look a the achievements in amateur astronomy and amateur radio. Each has a strong following with lots of scholarly - and useful - work done by hobbyists.
So, where is all of this for cables? How come it isn't there?
It is very, very curious that the only ones who bang the drum for cables are those who make them. And make massive profits from selling cables. Being able to take $50 of materials and sell them for a few thousand... few industries can achieve that.
Which leads to another amazing coincidence. Usually, when a good is sold for a
amazing profits, it gets reverse engineered and produced less expensively, so people can have the benefit at a fair price. Yet that doesn't happen. Funny thing, too, because the only IP on cables are the brand logos and trademarks. But those don't do anything for the sound, do they?
There is another industry that makes massive profits from assembling inexpensive parts, incorporating a logo and trademark, then selling them at very high prices. That industry doesn't have much IP, either.
That's the fashion industry. Which seems eerily similar to the cable industry. Throwing together $20 of material can make a jacket that sells for $1,000. Which might not be technically better than a $40 coat at Wal-Mart. However, some will pay $960 more for that amazing logo.
I'd say that the cable/tweak market is almost exactly the same as the fashion market. People buy fashion for prestige and status. Which is likely the same reason people pay big bucks for a cable. A $500 cashmere sweater won't keep you any warmer than a $20 sweatshirt, but the $500 sweater says something about the status of its wearer.
Which is why people buy cables. The evidence against them is insurmountable. There is nothing there. If there is, it would have been adopted for industrial use and people would be earning Ph.D.s studying their material science. Hobbyists would be tweaking and publishing their research. Other companies would have come in with cables that offer all the benefits without the markup. And no one has ever heard a difference without seeing the logo. Ever.
So if the believers want to drop a few thousand on their audio wardrobe and sniff at the less fashionable, fine. I have some expensive clothes that I enjoy. But I'd never think them superior to what's offered at Target. If I want to stay warm and be protected from the elements, a $10 shirt works as well as a $500 one. But I don't think a cable fashionista would ever concede that point.
