The Whole Thing Is A Fraud: High-End Cables

[Cohibaman]

I had the opinion, long before Audioquest came up with their slogan, "Do no harm", and still have that opinion today. The fact is, there ARE differences between SOME cables. Some cables sound the same, some sound better, some sound horrible. If you don't hear a difference, you're lucky (blissfully so, kind of like the McDonalds hamburger lover that never tried a better burger let alone a nice steak with a descent Cabernet). But at the end of the day, pick a cable you like. Don't rely on others to tell you what you should use or like. You can however, listen to opinions and in the end, form your own opinion. If you like $0.99 per foot zip cord, use it. After all, it's your system dammit! You really do owe it to yourself to try other cables though.

[The Sandman]

Originally Posted by JBT

About Mark Waldrep, Ph.D.
http://www.aixrecords.com/contact/about_mw.html

I believe this particular piece was written by Mark L. Fischer. Mark Waldrep was reprinting it.

[crwilli]

Originally Posted by Still-One

Just a BS article.

Great response Jim! I agree.

[vegaracer1]

At the end of the day I have heard improvement in my cable upgrades. If it's my imagination so be it.

[tdelahanty]

I'm amused when I think back to the 60's and 70's using zip cord for speaker cable and $1.99 rca interconnects from RS. I would think Shunyata and Nordost (to name a few) have extensive research and data to validate their products, especially considering their work in medical, aerospace and military fields. Sadly many people in this hobby don't have the knowledge to comprehend this "hardcore data".

[JBT]

Finally, I spoke to a manufacturer of expensive cables not too long ago and he told me, “I’m going to get into making guitar cables soon…I think there’s money to be made in that market.” So I asked him what his cost would be and what he expects to sell them for. He said, “I’ll have about $15 in the cable and connectors and hope to sell them for around $250.? Honestly, I don’t think the situation is any different for the cables that audiophiles purchase…there’s way too much costs for far too little improvement. Different? Maybe. But better…it’s up to you. What you’re paying for is expensive ads in glossy magazines.


http://www.highendaudionews.com.vhos...lag.com/?p=440

[akfaulkner]

Originally Posted by The Sandman

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.

Most people I know do not do a/b blind testing and honestly if they did the memory of what you hear in that detail with the time delay of switching a cable is just not reliable.

With two good cables to compare, I would argue that if you did a/b testing enough times with cable switching then you would probably get 50% the most expensive... basically chance.

In order to do even blind ab testing with audio, you would have to be able to switch on demand and instant and there aren't many tools that allow this for big system components.

That being said, I have pricey cables...I personally think they alter the sound but in a way that I like. (Transparent ultra)

I don't think the industry is a fraud or people wouldn't buy it. I think the industry plays to the strength and the limitations like everyone else

I feel that if you find some cables and they make you happy then buy them

[2fastdriving]

I think both can be true : cables can make a difference AND they are a way overpriced. For example, most cable companies have product lines which double in price as you go up. There is no possible way that they really cost twice as much to make. It's all gouging. And unfortunately we pay it. I'm guilty.

But when you have a highly resolving system there is no doubt that there is a difference. Especially when you are talking about the whole "loom".

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

But when you have a highly resolving system there is no doubt that there is a difference. Especially when you are talking about the whole "loom".

I couldn't agree more!

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by JBT

About Mark Waldrep, Ph.D.


http://www.aixrecords.com/contact/about_mw.html

He is well renowned for his multichannel and general recording knowledge and experience which is immense.

That however does not make him an expert in all things nor above committing the same sins in his article that he is saying the wire industry commits.

The article is meant to do one thing, keep his name in the public view which it accomplishes admirably.