A corollary to Ernie above: "I wish to have the "best" transducers & amps I can afford, so I know I HAVE the sound in my house even if I can't actually HEAR it YET (because I don't have the appropriate connecting wires, support, etc)". Likewise, some of us have been happy living in a city where a lot is going on -- even if we don't actively participate (I'm one these people -- pre-Maslowian?). |
Interesting bio note, Asa (& enviable system(s)!); as a side note, did you find Jung more present in this hobby -- or your "past" profession?
On topic, Judith & Albertporter (10/10) summed up my experience with cables... |
Detlof, didn't know that about C-G. BTW, weren't we told to meet the devil head-on? Knowing he should NOT listen to music and acting upon it, Jung obviously brought his awareness to "passage a l'acte" level.
Funny thing, Asa, I trained as a lawyer (eons ago). Lost my way to Damascus & never practised! Oh well...
BTW, it's sometimes comical when one's officially supposed to be "in the know". The subjective (i.e. personal listening experience) becomes objective (i.e., whatever the guru says is objectively correct-- but let me check out this guru...). So, if following the "audio-guru's" suggestion yields a good experience, things are "staggering". If the perceived sonic value of following the suggestion is not perceptible to the subject, we completely reject the "guru".
Of course, one & all may stress the points "listen first, buy later", "in my opinion", "to my tastes", ad nauseam but to no avail...
Now, wires connecting pieces of equipment. I believe pricing is one thing, sonics another and I try to distinguish between the two: a) price, b) sonic qualities. If (b) agrees with my system and keeps my ears happy, I address (a): can I afford this? No. Good.
Likewise, comparing cables vs. electronics, bang to buck, is a nebulous matter -- akin to explaining the price of our equipment to the non-audiophiles.
As we've more or less accepted the prices for electronics, why don't we swallow the pricing for cables?? Probably a matter of visual conditioning or, "what do I SEE I am I getting for my money:
A full set of Purist Dominus (2xIC) costs about as much as one of my amps -- for which money you get a sizeable box containing ~150pds of circuitry producing a hefty current in class A. Ok, I've swallowed the asking price of those ~150 pds. But the same price for a few pds of wire??? I mean, I can't design & produce the ~150pds of class A alone, so be it, I'll buy. But wire??? Surely there's a way around the $7kx2 for THAT wire!!! (Remember, I LIKED that wire!) So, I compromise, and purchase (or make) another wire.
The question is: do I get closer to my sonic nirvana with the $7k x 2 wire and, say, a lesser chunk of electronics circuitry -- or the other way round? If it's the first case, cables offer equal if not more bang for the buck...
Admittedly, I've never tried it that way round (but many dealers I know, do)! |
Detlof, Asa, others: NOW we're getting somewhere (ref to Bourgogne, Detlof's latest post).
Isn't it unfortunate that the guru can only *point* but cannot carry you there; the actual journey cannot be made by proxy, each for, & by oneself... but we all know that, whether we accept it or not.
Asa, I believe I understand the path to which you're pointing.
If I may, so does this thread's iniator, Nrchy -- in fact, his initial post and his latest (16/10) sequel are quite clear.
Fortunately, we all have our opinions on this thread's subject without which, we could fall into Descartes' trap with the donkey: a hungry donkey is contemplating two IDENTICAL hay-stacks, at equal distance, without ANY elements (visual or otherwise) that could draw its attention to one particular stack. The donkey has to START eating one of the two stacks, mouth is watering -- which stack to choose? None, because there is no data allowing it to make the choice, so the donkey will die of hunger :). (nowadays, maybe order out for a pizza!)
Sorry for ranting -- clink! |
Asa, shouldn't they should coexist, the one taking precedence over the other through the fear of loss (Kant?) -- or the expectation of bliss (Feuerbach?)?
(Have I masked my ignorance of Jung well enough? I wish I were as assiduous as Detlof when the time was ripe...)
On topic: Psychic, you're not going to invest in an extruder now, are you? FORGET capital intensive projects nowadays... Just come up with the cable & price it @ $+10k. It'll be A'gon approved (that's our contribution) and there MUST be at least ONE taker -- surely. Word of mouth & you'll soon have a small but devoted following, ready to swear in your favour. THEN, we'll work out the Mk II model together; previous owners get a special "upgrade" number & price; new buyers are only admitted to the "wire purchasing club" (i.e. to spend their $11.767 - price has gone up) after being recommended by TWO other MkI owners. We'll issue a personalised card that allows access to the most esoteric information on music. Three tips per annum is max.
The objective is to build a small, select, ultra-elitist global community.
Of course, ALL our products are and will continue to be built by hand (who needs to spend a mill. on extruders & the like). We'll enlist the names of various members here on the management/product development team for marketing credibility reasons: a shrink (psycho-acoustics, VERY important): +5% on the asking price), an EE (obvious), philosophers (more than obvious; +5% on the price). Maybe, even a lazy middle-European (me, please).
Who can beat this cable?
On a more serious note, I wonder what would happen if Dominus were priced @ mass-market level: would the manufacturer be better off? I doubt it: imagine the investment required to cover the demand. I doubt they'd ever break-even, poor devils! |
Hey Psychic, why don't we hammer out the B-plan just in case there are takers... this is a crazy world, you know! |
I am glad that a new normality has returned. Clueless remains (clueless -- not adieu), Asa: are the waters are dark because I made them so & you believed me?
Detlof: I have not yet grasped knowledge allowing me to append a comment -- however frivolous.
I believe that Nrchy & 6 would agree with -- only would have put it better than I. |
It is with extreme sorrow that I take upon myself the heavy burden of imparting the irreversibly sad news that Dr Jung is no longer with us...
It has been rumoured that he was a great admirer of Dr Goebbels aka the Ogilvy of pre-war advertising (or is it the other way round?).
As Detlof & another (old) teacher of mine both noted, Asa's two facets (dark & light) coexist usually as sides of the same coin.
The old teacher maintained that this situation is a dynamic paradox and will ineluctibly lead to one of the two taking precedence over the other. In his opinion, the devil is frustration, i.e., the force of destruction/negation. The "angel" is the mark of sublimation, the force of creation.
It seems Jung was fascinated by the Nazi (or maybe Mr Goebbels') ability to manipulate and focus collective negative energy. Deus ex machina, and then some.
So many things "seem". I suspect that Detlof *knows* a thing or two -- from experience & otherwise..
p.s. Pls don't mistake my comment as a judgement on other posters. My knowledge on this & many other subjects, ex post & ante, is insufficient to judge the posters above -- but it is enough to acknowledge my ignorance! |
Asa than you for throwing an intimate light. Of course, I put forth the proposition that darkness is a personal affair -- but we (I) may sometimes try to pull others into our (my) perceived darkness... (we'll cook/hang together).
A more positive approach would be the other way 'round, look up toward the light. My darkness in inside me -- outside the sun is shining! |
In french this is, "mon semblable, mon frere" |
