How much are we allowed to pay for a piece of wire? Thank you. Please provide separate limits for developed countries , developing countries, emerging markets, and frontier countries. Thank you for your service to the audio community!
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 9 responses by thyname
I knew the moment I saw the OP where this was going. The OP and the usual names who jumped on the opportunity. These folks are very predictable:
These “contrarians” who poo-poo the efficacy of expensive cables often appear in many other forums, threads, audio groups, questioning the merits of expensive audio products. They are either disgruntled with their lot in life (e.g. a spouse who wears the proverbial pants, a wallet that squeaks so loud they hate to open it, etc.) or their skills of self-persuasion require constant exercising with selfish expectations of indulgence on our part.
Not having a fact-based opinion because it's foreclosed by those circumstances, however, doesn't prevent them from expressing their frustration-based comments.
It's not about whether they can or cannot afford to pay more. Hobbyists who operate within a prescribed budget are quite content with value-based high performance systems and work diligently to accomplish that end. They bear no grudge against those who chose to spend more. |
This is 100% correct. Some general / common "treats" of such posters I have observed from almost all of them: 1 - They just joined Audiogon Forums recently. Sometimes as recent as the past few weeks 2 - Zero Feedback and Zero transactions in Audiogon 3 - No audio system listed under Audiogon Systems
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This is funny and ironic. Apologizing to the OP? 😂😂 Never occurred to you that the OP is the issue here, and the subsequent follow through. Disgusting 🤮
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Please give a break. The OP “compared” a shitty Monster cable from decades ago to alarm system cable. And arrived to a “scientific “ conclusion that cables do not make a difference. For him and all of the “audiophiles” (the parentheses are his). The usual cable deniers are rejoicing. As if the big proof has been revealed now. Pathetic |
Totally! Agreed. That’s all that matters. But I am very curious: if it’s possible that a $200 cable sounds better than a $50 to the listener in a particular system and room, Is it possible that a $800 cable sounds better than the $200 cable to the listener in a particular system and room? Or is it once you get to a $200 price point for a single cable, there is no more benefit to spending any more money, regardless of the listener’s system and room, and then it’s impossible that a more expensive cable can sound better than the $200 cable ?
Further, what if you buy a $800 cable for $200 via a screaming deal used? Is this allowed? Will then the $800 cable I bought used for $200 in theory MAY sound better than the $200 MSRP cable for the listener in the particular system and room? Last question: what if someone gifted you the $800 cable? meaning, you paid nothing for it. Is it possible that this FREE cable can sound better than the $200 cable you paid money in the listener's system and room?
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