Okay, I'm sick of this crap. The direction this thread is going in is pissing me off, and I'm going to catch flak for saying this, but I'm going to say it anyway: Whoopdee-doo. Frank's using marketing buzzwords. So are ALO/32ohm, Whiplash, Cryoparts, <InsertAftermarketCableManufacturerNameHere> etc. etc. ad nauseum ad infinitum. A large majority of people selling aftermarket cables are doing this. That's what marketing is. I don't see anybody complaining about "1,000,000:1" and "Infinity" contrast ratios in TVs. That's all bullsh*t, and so is this. This isn't any different. Bottom line, buzzwords and aggressive marketing make bank.
That said, however: The wire may be "rectangular", but in my estimation I doubt that has any impact on the sound quality. The wire may be "OCC", but in my estimation I doubt that has any impact on the sound quality. In my estimation, silver probably doesn't do anything different from copper. In my opinion, I doubt anybody can hear a difference between "6N" and "7N". Though the marketingspeak may ultimately be true with regards to the wire composition/shape/topology/etc., in my honest opinion it probably has little meaningful bearing on applicability in the real world. If you told me you could hear the difference between "rectangular" and "round" wire, or between "6N" and "7N" silver, the only result would be that I would probably never take anything you had to say seriously ever again. So, then, why even include this information?
Simple: Because marketing sells. It sounds smart and cool and hip. It makes it seem like one product is better or more awesome than another. Sure, some may consider it "psychological manipulation", others may consider it "deceptive marketing" or what have you, but at the end of the day, it sells stuff. And that's what's important to businesses. Selling stuff and making the epic cash moneys.
However, within this exist two slightly more subtle points, which are worthy of your consideration:
1.) Don't take their word for it. This stuff shouldn't be taken at face value. Subject this stuff to scrutiny and hold them accountable. Not necessarily scientific scrutiny, but at the very least, employ some reason and logic in your thought process. If somebody sells me a cable that's made of 7N silver, I had damn well better be able to cut that cable open, send that silver to a lab, and have the lab tell me it's 7N. If it's anything less than 7N, that means I was lied to. If you made my cable and wrote on your website that the cable uses 7N silver, the "burden of proof" rests with you. Don't try to shift blame to the guy who supplied your silver. He might've duped you, but you duped me too. So don't think you can vindicate yourself by playing the age-old finger-pointing game. It won't work. If you don't know what they're selling you, that means you don't know what you're buying, and you didn't do your due diligence in researching, and that's your damn job. I shouldn't *have to* send my wire to a lab. You should've done that long before you sold it to me. If you admit you don't know, then I have a iota more of respect for you, but you still screwed up big. The same goes for causation. If you tell me that "OCC" results in better sound quality, then you need to prove it. If your cable is better, prove it. Tell me why I should part with my hard-earned money. Give me a reason I can relate to.
If you're the consumer, it's your money. Know what you're buying. You have two options: Buy blindly, or research and buy. Make the right choice. Turning a blind eye is equivalent to enabling this sort of thing to go on. The industry thrives on this sort of apathy.
2.) Just because "everybody" does it doesn't make it right. If you want, you can give me a mile-long list of companies that use buzzword marketing. Guess what I'm going to do? I'm going to go find companies that *don't* use buzzword marketing. Why? Because they're not treating me, the customer, like I'm some kind of an idiot, like a guy who'll get that sparkle in my eye when I read that the wire is "OCC". Instead, I'll read "OCC" and ask, "What does that mean to me?". The guy who's honest when he's selling me a cable, and regards me as an informed consumer, the guy who respects the sanctity of what matters in the real world, is the guy I'd rather give my money to. That guy has his head screwed on straight, while the rest of the charlatans flap their gaping maws and try to pull me in with their gimmicks. I don't want gimmicks, I want something tangible for my money. I want to be sold a good product, not a bunch of words. Words are wind.
Go ahead and flame me. Tell me I'm wrong. I'm ready for you.
