Again what we have here so clearly is an inability for some to comprehend how anyone could spend what they feel is an excessive amount of money on something when in fact they are simply unable to do so because of their own budgets, priorities, responsibilities and choices. But for some other people a US $5,000 expense on something such as a a cable for their Music Reproduction System is a trivial expense that in no appreciable, significant or impactful way effects their monthly budget for whatever reason. Yes of course this would be an excessive expense for some but for others it is not and why this should disturb someone so much as to suggest that it is a scam or that it should not be allowed is simply a result of their own lack of understanding of the basic factors that influence luxury products in general and not just those involving
Music Reproduction Systems.
Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?
I recently ordered high end speaker, power amp, and preamp to be installed in couple more weeks. So the next search are interconnect and speaker cable. After challenging the dealer and 3 of my so called audiophile friends, I think the only reason I would buy expensive cable is for its appearance to match with the high end gears but not for sound performance. I personally found out that $5K cable vs $10 cable are no difference, at least not to our ears. Prior to this, I was totally believe that cable makes a difference but not after this and reading few articles online.
Here is how I found out.
After the purchase of my system, I went to another dealer to ask for cable opinion (because the original dealer doesn't carry the brand I want) and once I told him my gears, he suggested me the high end expensive cable ranging from $5 - 10K pair, depending on length. He also suggested the minimum length must be 8-12ft. If longer than 12ft, I should upgrade to even more expensive series. So I challenged him that if he can show me the difference, I would purchase all 7 AQ Redwood cables from him.
It's a blind test and I would connect 3 different cables - 1 is the Audioquest Redwood, 1 is Cardas Audio Clear, and 1 my own generic 14AWG about 7ft. Same gears, same source, same song..... he started saying the first cable sound much better, wide, deep, bla...bla...bla......and second is decently good...bla...bla...bla.. and the last one sounded crappy and bla...bla...bla... BUT THE REALITY, I NEVER CHANGED THE CABLE, its the same 14AWG cable. I didn't disclosed and move on to second test. I told him I connected audioquest redwood but actually 14AWG and he started to praise the sound quality and next one I am connected the 14awg but actually is Redwood and he started to give negative comment. WOW!!!! Just blew me right off.
I did the same test with 3 of my audiophile friends and they all have difference inputs but no one really got it right. Especially the part where I use same generic 14awg cable and they all start to give different feedback!!!
SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?
Here is how I found out.
After the purchase of my system, I went to another dealer to ask for cable opinion (because the original dealer doesn't carry the brand I want) and once I told him my gears, he suggested me the high end expensive cable ranging from $5 - 10K pair, depending on length. He also suggested the minimum length must be 8-12ft. If longer than 12ft, I should upgrade to even more expensive series. So I challenged him that if he can show me the difference, I would purchase all 7 AQ Redwood cables from him.
It's a blind test and I would connect 3 different cables - 1 is the Audioquest Redwood, 1 is Cardas Audio Clear, and 1 my own generic 14AWG about 7ft. Same gears, same source, same song..... he started saying the first cable sound much better, wide, deep, bla...bla...bla......and second is decently good...bla...bla...bla.. and the last one sounded crappy and bla...bla...bla... BUT THE REALITY, I NEVER CHANGED THE CABLE, its the same 14AWG cable. I didn't disclosed and move on to second test. I told him I connected audioquest redwood but actually 14AWG and he started to praise the sound quality and next one I am connected the 14awg but actually is Redwood and he started to give negative comment. WOW!!!! Just blew me right off.
I did the same test with 3 of my audiophile friends and they all have difference inputs but no one really got it right. Especially the part where I use same generic 14awg cable and they all start to give different feedback!!!
SO WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK? OR I AM THE LAST PERSON TO FIND OUT THAT EXPENSIVE CABLE JUST A RIP OFF?
Showing 6 responses by clearthink
" rolls lack the ability to participate so they troll ... can't afford any expensive gears." This is a very true assertion and in fact those who cannot afford the cost of a high performance Music Reproduction System actually suffer a form of what they call "confirmation bias" because they can't afford it they think it is not high performance you see this with those who assert that cables do not make a difference because they have science that tells them this when in fact to their credit many admit they have never even tried high performance cables and the reason they have not tried is that they know the better cable will not make a difference! |
dynaquest4"Well...you know when you pause a CD or up-cue the tonearm on a record and then turn the volume way up? That hiss and other interfering noise that you don't hear at all....it fixes that." This is an apparent effort at what the contributor presumably believes is a humorous post but all it really is in effect is another snide remark towards those who know more than him and even more importantly have actually conducted thorough, hand's on, scientific exploration into the very nature of carbon fiber including its properties and applications in Music Reproduction Systems. What this carefully conducted research reveals is just as expressly claimed here regarding its inherent abilities to reject substantial quantities of RFI and EMI which have been empirically shown to have a deleterious effect on Music Reproduction Systems. Those who postulate to the contrary from the comfort of their sofa should consider avoiding making their statements as though they are revelations of fact and instead endeavor to express their opinions while making clear they are only opinions and avoid the belittling of those who are embedded in research. |
dynaquest4"Clearthink: I think I am going to grab my folding currency holder, get in my personal motor transportation device and drive to my nearby retail sound and vision equipment dispensing outlet and see if they actually have something called a "music reproduction system." " I think you are mocking my language and if that makes you feel better it is fine with me English is not my first language or even my second I speak basically 7 languages they are all different and I don't pretend to be equally fluent in all of them. You are probably American and most of you just speak one language which is a substantial part of why you have a selfcentered view of culture and the world. |
"geoffkaitAll this ruckus over high priced audiophile cables is starting to sound a lot like sour grapes" If by sour grapes you mean envy/jealousy then of course you are correct that has been quite obvious from the numerous postings here about cable prices for quite some time and I have pointed this out previously. It is an understandable matter because of course if among you're primary concerns is meeting the needs of basic life such as housing and food then the value offered by improved performance in your Music Reproduction System is of lesser overall value to you because of these other needs. On the other hand if these basic needs are securely met and not of primary concern then even marginal improvements in your Music Reproduction System will be worthwhile because the actual cost of obtaining the improvement does not come at the price of limiting your ability to meet your other basic needs. This is why those who oppose such things as superior cables almost always lack first hand experience with them because they can't afford them and no dealer will loan them a set because the dealer knows they are not a customer and cannot afford them. It is also why those who oppose superior cables find it so frequently necessary to insult those who choose them by saying they are deluded or snake oil suckers or suffering confirmation bias or are scientifically illiterate because they need to do this to feel comfortable with their lot in life. It is very much a matter of their simple inability to even imagine living a life where for example a $10,000 speaker cable could be in the overall budget of an audiophile a fairly trivial expense and whenever I point this out I am subject to complaints here but that is the cost sometimes of telling the truth in a public forum. |