#1
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The Whole Thing Is A Fraud: High-End Cables
The success of the audiophile wire industry is based entirely on the utter ignorance of the market. Notice that whenever these manufacturers advertise their products, they almost invariably discuss qualitative issues, they rarely if ever give hard numbers to their theories let alone put them in a technical context that will indicate to what degree what they say is significant. And so the whole thing is based on hope and fear among potential customers. That is why I think the whole thing is a fraud. Before this cottage industry got started, nobody thought audio equipment customers would be stupid enough to believe any of this. They were proven wrong.
http://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=5565 |
#2
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Just a BS article.
Last edited by Still-One; 08-04-2017 at 07:06 AM. |
#3
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The author of that piece gives no evidence that "audiophile" wires and cables are a fraud - only his opinion that is is so. And while claiming that the whole thing is based on hope and fear among potential customers, he is in fact basing his whole thing on fear and ridicule couched in scientific jargon.
Electrical engineers don't have any particular advantage in appreciating high fidelity than anyone else - not that at any point this particular EE goes as far as to say he's actually done any kind of listening tests to determine whether or not he can perceive a difference in cables. Ultimately, there are two types of audiophiles - those who can hear subtle nuances and those who can't. Those who can don't need anyone else's opinion as to whether something sounds better than something else. Unfortunately, those who can't are at the mercy of whoever's opinion they happen to be in earshot of. |
#4
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Well said, Howard, well said indeed!
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Michael 4K QLED|Aerial Acoustics|McIntosh D100 - MC501 - MX151|Bluesound|Schiit|Wyrd4Sound
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#5
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You need a very resolving system to hear cable differences and improvements. IMO cables come into play only after you have reached a high plateau of system quality.
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#6
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This much debated topic will probably go on much longer than need be. Having some scholarly knowledge in this area I will point to the "Distortion-less Transmission Line" theory proven over 150 years ago. And having input from several metallurgical workers/professors helps some also. This is an area of seriously diminishing returns. It has become an area where the product is price. Please consider the actual cable components. Are the "ingredients" that much different in different brands? If one cable seems to be doing markedly different than another please go back to the aforementioned theory. I know what works for me and I want to hear the sound of the components and not how the connections are altering them. Let the debate continue. But whatever you do.... do not let proven scientific facts sway you. Spend your money.
Last edited by The Trace; 08-03-2017 at 09:50 PM. |
#7
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There is a world of difference between saying "seriously diminishing returns" and "the whole thing is a fraud". Either there are audible differences or there aren't. If there are, the market will determine their value. If there are not, than the market will collapse. It's not rocket science.
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#8
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#9
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Quote:
- Buck
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Library: Speakers: Avalon Acoustics Isis, Subwoofers: (2) REL Acoustics 212SE Amplification: D’agostino Momentum preamplifier, D’agostino S250 stereo amplifier Digital: dCS Rossini CD/SACD transport, dCS Rossini DAC/streamer/master clock. Analog: Brinkmann Taurus table, Lyra Etna Lambda, Audio Research Ref. Phono 3 |
#10
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If you have a crappy stereo then cables won't make a difference. You also won't be able to tell the difference between a Steinway and a Baldwin piano. If you on the other hand have experienced high fidelity systems and/or played an instrument then the differences will be obvious.
What's amusing to me is most people who make the claim that cables don't make a difference also think Bose is the pinnacle of audio.
__________________
Primary System (Always in flux): Analog Source: Rega RP10 Phono Preamp: Bryston BP2/PS3 Digital Software: Roon, Tidal Streaming Digital Music Server: Melco N1A/2 Digital Sources: Totaldac d1-twelve SE MkII (factory upgraded from MKI) with "live power" 4 output power supply, Oppo UDP-205 Preamplifier: Rogue Audio RP-9 (factory upgraded from RP-7) Amplifier: Vandersteen M5-HPA Speakers: Vandersteen Quatro Wood CT w/IsoAcoustics Gaia 1 feet Cabling: WW Platinum Starlight 7 digital wires, Totaldac Gigafilter USB filter, AQ Sky XLR, AQ Fire RCA Speaker Cables: AudioQuest Oak spades ---> bi-wire spades Power Cables: Esprit PC (for DAC), 2 WW Platinum Electra PC (Preamp/Phono Preamp), AQ NRG10 (Melco N1A/2), AQ Blizzard (Quatro Wood CT built-in subs) Power Conditioning: 2 AQ Niagara 1000, 3 Oyaide R1 outlets Sound Treatments: 23 ASC Tube Traps and 10 Panels |
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