@geoffkait , curiosity it useful. Let me know when you're determined.
Are audiophiles still out of their minds?
I've been in this hobby for 30 years and owned many gears throughout the years, but never that many cables. I know cables can make a difference in sound quality of your system, but never dramatic like changing speakers, amplifiers, or even more importantly room treatment. Yes, I've evaluated many vaunted cables at dealers and at home over the years, but never heard dramatic effect that I would plunk $5000 for a cable. The most I've ever spent was $2700 for pair of speaker cables, and I kinda regret it to this day. So when I see cable manufacturers charging 5 figures for their latest and "greatest" speaker cables, PC, and ICs, I have to ask myself who buys this stuff. Why would you buy a $10k+ cable, when there are so many great speakers, amplifiers, DACs for that kind of money, or room treatment that would have greater effect on your systems sound? May be I'm getting ornery with age, like the water boy says in Adam Sandler's movie.
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Geoff, truthfully if I published all I know about a couple of members on here, i'd be suspended or banned within 24hrs & receive reprisal attacks in return (as has happened before). Been there, done that. Not getting down in the sewer again. Besides, I think i've said all I need to say already.. |
audiolabyrinthandbirdiemayarecommericalshills 11 posts 06-29-2016 2:20am geoffkait3,657 posts06-28-2016 10:58pmaudiolabyrinthandbirdiemayarecommericalshills 10 posts 06-28-2016 8:01am @geoffkait , curiosity it useful. Let me know when you're determined. Lay it on me, Stringbean. Be gentle. Geoff, truthfully if I published all I know about a couple of members on here, i'd be suspended or banned within 24hrs & receive reprisal attacks in return (as has happened before). Been there, done that. Not getting down in the sewer again. Besides, I think i've said all I need to say already.. I wish to avoid all that sort of thing, personal characterizations and so forth. I thought you were referring to the truth involved with cables. My bad. Geoff Kait Machina Dynamica |
Wouldn't a system look cheap to your rich friends if you used non-designer cables on a six figure (or much more) system? There is a very small difference in the handling on my sports car with the absolute best tires I can get, and no the girls don't care. But why do we need to impress the boys with our toys? That is not all that matters, but it does to me. Besides, there is this one switchback over a railroad track; there is the Dragon at Deals Gap; and, there is the autocross track.... ...and there are the fellows who spend all their money on their cars who like to hear my music.. Tee Hee.
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danvignau 70 posts 07-02-2016 10:22am There is a very small difference in the handling on my sports car with the absolute best tires I can get, and no the girls don't care. But why do we need to impress the boys with our toys? You need to get an Alfa, dude. Then you will see how much difference tires make. |
Cables are about electricity. Thinking about my own experience over the years, the main jump forward was making a separate high grade audiophile circuit, ca ten years ago. I contracted an electrician and we did the job together. At first he protested, was this big cable really needed, we had to drag it halfway around the house. I assured him it was. The cable runs into a breaker box with three local circuits, two 15 ampere and one 10 ampere (230 volts). The system sounded much better on this circuit than the 10 ampere "lamp circuit" already in the room, so I have never looked back. |
o_holter Vince Galbo at MSB put together the following piece that explains the merits of avoiding line modulation. I use 10 gauge all the way to my isolation transformer. http://www.msbtech.com/support/wiring.php?Page=supportHome This wiring concept, a proper star grounding system and equipment isolation are the first steps in a holistic electrical design that will facilitate experiments showing the differences in cables. |
I just have to add that now that I’ve removed the source’s PC from the same outlet as the integrated, the sound has clean up measurably. I didn’t think it would be as dramatic an improvement but it goes to show that there’s always the potential to improve. When new, I put both PCs into the same outlet and thought I heard a "lessening" of sorts but wrote it off to the PCs being new and needing break in. Well, it’s been 300-400 hours since and I couldn’t believe the amount of feedback hash that the integrated was putting into the wall outlet and being picked up by the PC for the SACD player. Putting it into my Blue Circle Thingee on the other outlet did nothing untoward and everything for the betterment. Highs have extended, sibilance is greatly reduced, there’s more micro dynamics, and greater see-through and expression. I never realized just how much can be attained by following the basics. The trouble is, there is so much debate on this: outlets, isolation, conditioners, et al that one doesn’t know what to believe until they try. All the best, Nonoise |
Are audiophiles out of their minds for spending (relatively) large amounts of money on cables? Having been in the business and seen the margins on expensive cables, and having heard the frankly BS stories attached to many of them, first reaction is "yes, that's ludicrous." But: It's no crazier than what some people do with cars, or boats, or bicycles, or travel, or furniture, etc. If it makes people happier, then how crazy is it? Sure, if someone is spending the mortgage payment on an interconnect, that's a poor choice, but let's be real - most of us aren't doing that. It's all for fun, so have fun! |
....*LOL*.....Yup, "it depends..." Depth of wallet, tenacity, sheer 'IMHO' (spoken with gritted teeth, pounding the keys), and any variable one wants to prod, skewer, or merely tease the viewer(s) with. Hi, Geo....*G* Some things never change, huh? ;) (I'm certainly a 'worse case scenario' on my own POV and *ah* 'fobilies', but...Please, do carry on....beats late night television...*L*) |
Dracule: you make too much sense to be on this site. Have any of these ”enlightened” audiophiles ever reflected on why there are literally hundreds of cable manufacturers, or why some nay-sayers like Jason Bourne have been tarred and feathered on this site when all he was doing was stating that in his experience he didn’t notice a difference (count me in this group as well - but I know, don’t tell me: either my hearing is off or my system is not resolving enough to hear a difference). the proliferation of cable companies exist for a reason: it’s a money-making racket. Sorry that the truth hurts. |
@russellrcncom : I understand your urge to post on the topic any chance you get (you guys always do, it's your type of hobby), but you realize you are replying to the OP from June , 2016?? Which is 7 (seven) years ago. I guess the "rage against the machines" still rages on. |
@thyname ....of course we do...because some 'issues' just won't go away... Differences between speakers tend to be obvious; equipment a bit more subtle.... But cables? 8g v. 22g on a speaker I'd grant... It starts to creep into 'dog whistle' territory, figuratively and technically. Electron flow is the stuff one would expect from CERN....🙄 |
@thyname -
They'd be HILARIOUS, were they not so pathetic! Kind of a perpetual Greek Tragicomedy, or: Soap Opera (UGH). |
@rodman99999 ...or moths, with a love/hate attraction to flames....😏 A subset of 'splinter groups'....always getting under ones' skin. That last little bit, that you have to let grow out...lest you attack with an Xacto knife. ...and make it Worse....*sick L-ter* "Welcome Fellow Sufferer, to our 1K Step Program!* |
