The Science of Cables


It seems to me that there is too little scientific, objective evidence for why cables sound the way they do. When I see discussions on cables, physical attributes are discussed; things like shielding, gauge, material, geometry, etc. and rarely are things like resistance, impedance, inductance, capacitance, etc. Why is this? Why aren’t cables discussed in terms of physical measurements very often?

Seems to me like that would increase the customer base. I know several “objectivist” that won’t accept any of your claims unless you have measurements and blind tests. If there were measurements that correlated to what you hear, I think more people would be interested in cables. 

I know cables are often system dependent but there are still many generalizations that can be made.
mkgus

Showing 6 responses by roberjerman

@elizabeth +1 if only we had the Pope of Seacliff (HP) to give us his blessings! Ah, the good old days waiting for the new TAS to arrive!
@dave_b : You are right! Audiophiles can believe the stupidest things (copper vs. silver, rhodium-plated outlets, power cables, magic fuses, directionality, wire burn-in ...). Quackery is profitable, unfortunately!
@douglas_schroeder : so an IC made of many strands of litz wire should have the best sound quality? According to your "theory" doubling the connecting wire will improve SQ. Conversely, halving the number of connecting wires will reduce SQ. And the basis for this "theory" is "my g**den ears" told me it is so! Hardly what I consider scientific!
@douglas_schroeder : I will try this as soon as I get another two y connectors (already have two). IC's will be AQ Silver Extremes. First test will be between CD player and preamp. 
So why not make IC's out of Litz wire!? According to Schroeder's hypothesis this should have the same benefits. Multiple conduction paths!
@millercarbon: That already exists! Litz wire! I had speaker cable made of that back in '78. Polk Cobra cable! Worked fine, didn't damage my GAS Son amp from the extra capacitance!