Why Do Cables Matter?

And this:

https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/electrical-delivery-systems-overview/

Notwithstanding what you might see on TV shows, premium power cables are indeed used in the medical industry, with actual case studies supporting their use. Shunyata has a whole division devoted to it.

 

This might be a good read for some, for others maybe not. @donavabdear working on a TV show (I do not own a TV so I have no idea what that show was or is) hardly makes an expert, EE, or Lab Tech. 

Should read this as it may turn a light on for you. 

https://www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/audiophile-sonic-terms-redux.36485/

@donavabdear 

 

I have some questions for you, and some suggestions to make that might help your troubled journey.

 

You had mentioned earlier that you have personally heard Anthony Hopkins in direct conversation and know what his actual voice sounds like, as with musical instruments and musical actuality, having good access to such as a former recording engineer. Would this not be a good basis to evaluate how close to reality playback sounds to you? Or do you not trust your listening skills sufficiently to be able to determine so?

 

You had also written that for all the cabling, cheap or slightly more expensive you have bought, you have not actually tried many cables. I believe this is what you had written…”I never said I haven't tried different cables (only a few I'd have to say) I've spent 10s of thousands on cables, I never said my mind is made up and I won't demo cables, I'm just pointing out logical problems with the audiophile community as a whole.”

 

First, I am truly glad you haven’t made your mind up, having just started out on your audiophile journey : ) That said, don’t you think you could begin demoing different cables of vastly different makes and price points in your specific listening space, using and developing your listening skills while doing so, in order to gather more experience regarding what is truly out there?

 

Regarding your request for greater logic among audiophiles; I’m not sure if you will be able to find the exact form of logic you seek among the most experienced audiophiles, because so much of what they have discovered and know is precisely through experience, and not from graphs, numbers and in ways that are easy to factually explain. However, I have a little description of my own regarding cables and signals that might help.

 

You remarked earlier that few audiophiles realise that electricity doesn’t actually travel, or get conducted in the cable itself, but through the magnetic field around it. You had said…”Why do audiophiles think the electronic signal goes down the strands of the medium (the signal moves in a field on the outside of the conductors).”

 

As I am not an expert on the matter, please forgive me if what I suggest next seems completely implausible, but I believe the answer that may satisfy you logically, already lies in the knowledge you have about signals and electromagnetism.

 

You see, if the signal is indeed carried in the field outside the cable itself, does the only means (or in fact, the most vital means) of measuring that signal come from measurements taken off the electrical impulses from within the cable? Or should the measurements that mean the most actually come from the magnetic field that carries that signal? And, by ‘magnetic field’, I do not mean magnetic flux, or strength, which albeit important, do not most accurately describe what a three dimensional field that changes with time actually looks like, in all its complex beauty. The simplest magnetic field generated by a basic bar magnet gives subtle clue as to how profound and beautifully nuanced an actual signal of musical origin can be - how in God’s name does one measure that? Perhaps this is what is meant when audiophiles tells us that if the measurements don’t correlate with the sound, that we are measuring the wrong thing.

 

And if indeed this is the case, and the nuance and fragility of that magnetic field is the most vital and precious thing to protect, would the simple cable not be such an important part of its transmission? Regardless of how badly degraded a signal might become in its passage from source to speaker, wouldn’t any particular segment of cabling in the signal path be vital in preserving whatever is still intact?

 

I believe that while some measurements of electrical current do tell us something about the way a signal sounds, the most important clues actually lie embedded in the realm of the magnetic field, that ever changing, elusive, beautiful, unbelievable and all inclusive world that electromagnetism truly is. 

 

If nothing else, it helps me somewhat logically explain why some cables are just so amazing, they seem to unlock (in the prior words of those with experience) and transmit as close to a hundred percent of the original signal that began the audiophile journey.

 

I wish you well, and hope you begin to hear those electromagnetic differences. 

 

In friendship - kevin

When I first got into streaming seriously, I used a cheap but convenient USB cable from an Aurender N100H to my Bryston BDA-3 DAC. To make the install tidy, I later bought a Wireworld cable in the proper length to replace the cheap-o cable. I was surprised at the sonic difference, especially because I wasn't expecting a one.

The two cables were slightly different lengths, so I suppose it wasn't a truly scientific comparison. Oh well.

@donavabdear 

Some food for thought.

https://www.furutech.com/technology/#:~:text=Recording%20Studio%20Trptk.Com%20Tests%20NCF%20–%20Netherlands%20July%202017

https://shunyata.com/technology/#clear-image-scientific-link

https://www.medicaldesignbriefs.com/component/content/article/mdb/pub/features/articles/35510

 

I’m a cable skeptic. Especially speaker cables. As long as they aren’t 20 gauge or something like that. But I am open minded. It could be that I just don’t know any better. That happened once before. Just once though.

I also suspect that most of it is psycho acoustics and doing an A B test is difficult because changing cables takes some time.

So my stupid question is this. What about just putting the "better, new, trial" cable on one channel, the old one on the other and then compare left / right with a mono source. For good measure switch sides after a while. Presumably the difference should be more readily heard.

I ask because right now I just have 12 g plain speaker wire. And perhaps relevant is that I’m using Magnepan LRS speakers that need a bit of current.  Oh and plain wire connection, no bananas.  

And the same thing for the phono to pre cables etc.  Just try one side first?

@rodman99999 I read your link to Home Audio. It was great and reiterated many of my frustrations with the audio cable industry. Home run! I would buy some of this cable.

This site answered my questions, I don't have anything more to ask.

Thank you!

@rodman99999
So your educated answer is, deflection.
Everyone understands there could be an unquantifiable aspect of cables that helps sound systems sound better. In engineering, physics and math you look at an extreme example like the worlds most sophisticated machine or the most sophisticated audio testing or an extreme example like DNA scanners. If the fidelity of the signal changed when using normal quality AC cables then these machines wouldn’t use them as you surely know these machines couldn’t work if the quality of the AC cable allowed infidelity.

Engineers at a company that flashes Tin molecules with light to use the vapor as a reflection to cut 3nm semiconductors on a half a billion $ machine could use MIT AC cables if it somehow made a difference in the accuracy and fidelity of the signal.

I just saw your post about the NASA cable, thank you I’ll read it soon. I genuinely appreciate it. Best

This thread will be closed in 30 minutes if the name calling, trolling and silly posts do not stop. It's not fair to others or the topic at hand. Please stay on topic. If you have a problem with a particular post, just flag it for the moderators. 

https://support.audiogon.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039334611-How-Do-I-Request-A-Post-or-Thread-Be-Removed-

 

@recklesskelly 20k on regenerators is stupid. No argument there. I bought one for my listening system and it wasn't big enough so I bought another simple as that. Now I use one for the listening system and one for the professional system in my listing room. 

 

But But there is no science... Nice post @rodman99999 may buy a set of their speaker cables for giggles. 

I'm selling my system and buying a telescope. 

        Some (genuinely inquisitive regarding cables) may find it interesting that NASA ordered Big Silver Oval from Analysis Plus, for some of their LASER projects, because: they found it PERFORMED BETTER than other cabling.

       That foreknowledge influenced my decision to purchase the same, for my system, years back.

                         Read the letter from NASA, here:

             https://homeaudio.analysis.plus/knowledge-base/

            

I think $20K on AC regenerators is stupid. Makes spending $4500.00 on a power cord look rational. 

No one has answered this easy question.

Why is it that the worlds most expensive and accurate machine made by ASML does not use AC cables that are in any way like expensive audiophile cables?

Why don’t audio test equipment, oscilloscopes or DNA scanning scientific test equipment use (MIT/Transparent) AC cables if they are more accurate?

           Which ones of the above are designed to, used for, or- expected to faithfully produce a believable simulacrum of performers in a particular venue, from a good recording*?     

                                           OH, YEAH: NONE!

                                       Like I said: Give it a rest!

         *Simply: my goal.    Favored effects of improved PCs will vary. 

                               

So @donavabdear $70.00 is a lot of money for a PC? Transparent has a full range of cables. Why are you such a sealion?

Oh and a PS for DNA Scanning device is $2300.00 and what did you spend on those 2 Regens from Paul?? Pot meet kettle. Such a sealion. 

https://www.medicalexpo.com/prod/azure-biosystems/product-108350-1049610.html

https://www.transparentcable.com/products/perfect-power-3-conductor-power-cord?variant=28523137368128

 

Guys who witnessed what just happened, please consider reporting JohnK for his behavior here.

No one has answered this easy question.

Why is it that the worlds most expensive and accurate machine made by ASML does not use AC cables that are in any way like expensive audiophile cables?

Why don’t audio test equipment, oscilloscopes or DNA scanning scientific test equipment use (MIT/Transparent) AC cables if they are more accurate?

******************************

Also I'm not just trying to cause turmoil I'm honestly trying to get answers from passionate people who love audio like I do. 

What the hell was that???????

I felt like I was in an episode of the Looney Tunes

I never heard of the term, sealioning before this. Thanks...I learned something new.

 

OMG lolololololololololol

Yes, apparently they can hack a credit card if they just know the school name.

lol

Consider that tjag has no name location or feedback but frequents an audio sales site posting trolls attacking members with high feedback. And he insists he only sells over seas. Ask yourself why? Is he shilling, is he a troll or bot? I’m a real person how really is tjag?

You just wrote that for the second time!

You think if you repeat it often it will have stronger effect, What are AI?

Dude... 

By telling the truth and exposing the person making them John?

I guess truth hurts john 

lol

 

Ppl are not taking their meds today or something

Nope. It's just that anti cable people (or really, anti anything that does not come free or cheap) get very emotional with their online quests and conquests. It's a thing