Cable curmudgeon
I'm not an 'audiophile" but I like to think I have a good ear having been a professional musician (principal wind player in major symphony orchestras) for 50 years. A number of years ago going into an excellent audio equipment store I talked with, what seemed, a knowledgeable salesman. Being a musician experienced in audio systems but not expert on all the equipment out there I had some questions concerning high (over-priced?) end cables. The salesman assured there was an audible differencet in a demo room switching back and forth etc. After a few minutes I noticed the sound coming out of only one channel. He complemented me on my "good ear." Hmmm? A few years later when setting up my home system I investigated speaker cables. Two sets of Monster, stranded standard cable, solid core copper (used for alarm system) attached with like connecters. There was a difference. However, not in terms of better or worse: bass and treble were acceptable as was clarity loud and soft. Differences were esthetic- like asking "whose the best tenor" (I like Plácido). Now I know as a musician used to live (i.e. un-amplified) music that all I hear coming out of a loud speaker is perforce ersatz. But most everything today comes out of a loud speaker whether a rock concert or a hi-fi system so perhaps my opinion is curmudgeonly. But, for me, spending oodles of money on hyped cables, well... I liked the solid core for my alarm system- still do.
Showing 5 responses by clearthinker
Do you think the more rational approach of the professional industry to cable could be something to do with the fact their professional experience and ears tell they they would be shafted? At the level of some misguided audiophiles, can you really imagine a business, even this one, paying $2m or so, in scale, to re-cable their studio? |
Thank you so much for your observation. Your only intention seemed to be to put down @exflute for having ears that can perform well in a top orchestra but you allege does not perceive differences in the sound of cables that you allege (without any objective testing) to be able to perceive. Thank you for your rational, cool, post which which I fully agree. I doubt Soix would agree with much of it so that makes you 'clueless' if you care what Soix thinks. Thank you for your rational question. The chief difference in my two posts you read is that one is a negative commentary on a music genre, which is a passive, non living person, and the other is a defence of an individual who was unnecessarily attack for holding an opinion and, as a top musician, may be sensitive. Passive objects suffer no discomfort from such attacks, although those who identify with such an object might get their feelings hurt a bit if they suffer from under-confidence. Whereas individuals can suffer damage. The former are therefore fair game whereas the latter are worthy of respect and understanding. I should be happy to post a photo of my system here if someone will tell me how to do it. But many here something of it from my other posts. Unusual elements are: No streaming or similar. CD and SACD players but rarely used. Electrostatics speakers since 1978. Currently Martin Logan CLS Anniversaries Simon Yorke S10 and Aeroaarm, the latter a very rare rig, air bearing, less than 10 customer units, the most effective air bearing arm ever designed. Awesome. Five or six high end low output moving coils van den Hul The Grail SE. Other amps are Audio Research. Cabling is mostly Siltech. I don't tweak much and don't spend money on passive components, save the room which has been purpose built. |
You are incorrect. My post was not derogatory to Soix. Unfortunately I don't keep copies of what I put up here. It could and perhaps should have been unsulting to Soix. Here is what he said about exviolin: @So, what the hell are you even doing here trollsicle? Enjoy listening to your cheap-ass, crap stereo in total ignorance, attend only un-amplified acoustic performances, and while you’re at it feel free to not come back here. Your post and uninformed opinions are absolutely meaningless in the context of this site. Troll elsewhere.' There, for those who want hints and tips on how to write bile. That should have been taken down immediately. I understand Soix is at present on his hands and knees trying to find differences in his cables. I sure hope he tells us if he finds one; we shall all be enthralled But if you ask him what music's he's listening to, he probably won't know. |
Let me see if I can throw some light on where @exflute was coming from. To him all music is not the same. For him pure unamplified live acoustic music is different from other forms. He's a classical musician. I think he's got a good point and one I can understand. For him electronic artifacts are an interference to his listening pleasure, be it an electric guitar, a tape recorder, a digital set-up, whatever. That's not unreasonable surely. After all, we all admit there is no perfect hi-fi system; in fact more are a poor substitute for live music. But its all we have. I am not prepared to concede, as quite a number here have posited, that exflute's ears are good for playing in a professional orchestra but bad for hearing cable differences.
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