Audiophiles can't tell the difference between Monster Cable and coat hangers

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by eljr

Just read this and thought about all the cable talk and how it has changed over the years.

"Our motto with cables has always been "only poorly designed cables can be sonically distinguishable". One has to really go out of their way to design such a cable."

Used to be, everyone believed better cable made a difference... now fewer and fewer enthusiasts do.

I don't know about that...why are there SO MANY cable companies coming out of the woodwork, and older ones like TA is expanding all the time? I mean, we all thought a 30k cable was the top of the hill, then they come out with a 60k one.

[BlueFox]

Exactly, I continue to be amazed at how many cable companies there are, and existing vendors keep bringing out better performaning models. It is more than apparent that cables are a component, and a very important component at that.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by eljr

Just read this and thought about all the cable talk and how it has changed over the years.

"Our motto with cables has always been "only poorly designed cables can be sonically distinguishable". One has to really go out of their way to design such a cable."

Used to be, everyone believed better cable made a difference... now fewer and fewer enthusiasts do.

I have no idea where you get that idea.

[eljr]

Originally Posted by Still-One

I have no idea where you get that idea.

well, 10 years ago I don't ever recall reading a quote like I posted. Now I read something similiar daily.

This particular site seems to harbor more pro quality cable aficionados than any other on the net and I'd say it's a politely controversial subject. At least that is my impression.

All the other sites I stop in on all seem to be in support of the quote I posted and I don't recall it ever being like that in the past.

just my impressions

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by eljr

well, 10 years ago I don't ever recall reading a quote like I posted. Now I read something similiar daily.

This particular site seems to harbor more pro quality cable aficionados than any other on the net and I'd say it's a politely controversial subject. At least that is my impression.

All the other sites I stop in on all seem to be in support of the quote I posted and I don't recall it ever being like that in the past.

just my impressions

You do realize that most people participate on sites (not just audio) where they find participants with similar mindsets. That is why you will find certain sites may lean more towards analog than digital, or tube not SS, or Salvation Army finds versus the latest "new thing". There they find commentary that validate their purchases.

There are plenty of sites out there on which I have desire to participate. My comments would only be looking at as trolling. Even here there are many topics that I choose to pass on participating.

[Car commander]

Unless you are tone def, all the cable I have tried sound different. Admittedly I have not tried monster cable or coat hangers.

Maybe at the very low end they don't.

[Family Progtitioner]

Originally Posted by Car commander

Unless you are tone def, all the cable I have tried sound different. Admittedly I have not tried monster cable or coat hangers.

Maybe at the very low end they don't.

If these cables are different sounding that means they are altering the signal somehow. Not a characteristic I want from a cable. Nor should anyone.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Family Progtitioner

If these cables are different sounding that means they are altering the signal somehow. Not a characteristic I want from a cable. Nor should anyone.

FP.......That is a broad brush you are painting with. There is no such thing as a cable that does not alter the signal. The same is true for a resistor, diode, transistor, capacitor, circuit board trace, ribbon cable, and on and on. If your criteria is to own and use only a cable that does not influence the signal in any manner, it will be extremely difficult to hear music from your speakers because they will not be connected to the amp, nor will your source components be connect to anything. Good luck with that.

[Car commander]

Dan is right. Anything you put in the signal path changes the sound. I have tried several high end cables and they all sound different and they sound different with different equipment.

[tima]

Originally Posted by jdandy

.... There is no such thing as a cable that does not alter the signal. The same is true for a resistor, diode, transistor, capacitor, circuit board trace, ribbon cable, and on and on. ...

True. And gain creates distortion, yet some amps sound better than others.

An amplifier modulates the flow of current coming from the wall via its power supply using a low-voltage signal coming from a source as its guide. Should the wire the amp uses to send its output to the speakers further modulate that signal? What would guide that? What strikes me as odd is the audiophile who selects a preamp, amplifier, and speakers then goes looking for cables to adjust or compensate for their sound. (No one does it the other way around.)

That no signal passes anywhere without alteration does not rule out the notion of more or less alteration. Take the distortion that comes from dielectric capacitance and relaxation as an AC signal traverses an insulated wire. There are at least two companies whose audio cable designs thwart that distortion to a significantly audible degree. There may be practical and theoretical reasons why "pure" signal is impossible, but efforts to reduce distortion fight the good fight.