Why Do Cables Matter?

@tjag Here is something I bet you don't understand, listening is futile if you don't know how the instrument sounded originally it's futile if you don't know what mic was used to record it, it's futile if you don't know the room and the circumstances it was recorded under. I've done $200,000,000 dollar movies in which the carpenters had to keep working over the Oscar winners dialogue because it was the next shot up and they weren't ready. listening is generally always stupid because you have no idea what your listening to, liking the sound means nothing, arbitrary. I've said it before when you're working with Anthony Hopkins in a movie then have lunch with him and hear his voice when your sitting next to him you have an idea of how his voice really sounds, (even so, many actors and musicians don't speak nor play the same as when they are practicing or simply talking) but still listening to changes in the system means nothing unless you know how it should sound originally. The way music recording are made today that is practically impossible also, all you have to go buy is if the producer and artist like what you are doing and then hire you again. The entire foundation of "golden ears" on the audiophile side is ridiculous. Demos are BS, if you know how a particular microphone sounds because you have used it everyday for years you can go out and record a voice or an effect of someone or something you know exactly how it sounds to your ears  and the temperature isn't abnormal or the subject isn't feeling a bit under the weather, then you have a chance of making a proper judgement on if a system sounds accurate during playback. How do you know the component or cable isn't just adding frosting to the signal or double frosting and you enjoy it more? Demos will let you evaluate if you like the new component more or less but will practically never tell you if it is making the signal more accurate. Hope you can understand my poor way of communicating, I know Im not very good at it.

@donavabdear "I've been trying to understand why so many people are willing to spend so much money on cables, when no studio does, easy question really, 0 answers but plenty of attacking me and not the arguments."

To provide at least part of the answer to your question. There are two overriding reasons why specialist hi fi cables are not more widely used in recording studios: cost and logistics.

Recording studios are businesses - usually businesses struggling to make money these days. When they publish a gear list they want product that will attract customers and generate a return for them. So to make a comparison, if the studio spends six grand on microphone cable versus the same amount on a Neumann U67 microphone, it's a slam dunk as to which will generate the better return.

Secondly logistics - and I'm using the term widely. A lot of hi fi cables are too unwieldy to use in long runs. In addition, studio mic cables are effectively consumables. And, back to cost, consumables need to be cheap.

Finally, it is not to say that hi fi cables are not used in the recording industry. Van den Hull makes quite a range of microphone cables.  For example, Channel Classics' Jared Sacks uses them. Bob Ludwig's Gateway mastering is cabled with Transparent Audio cables.

PS Could you clarify your various references to the second law of thermodynamics as I'm unclear as to what you are driving at there?

@donavabdear

Cables make a huge difference for many.

Therefore, you will not convince people here.

You have the opportunity to test at Hifi store and experience something different, but you refuse.

You are not a seeker but a preacher.

You are not misunderstood you don’t need to explain more. You will never ever change your mind. And that’s fine.

listening is generally always stupid because you have no idea what your listening to, liking the sound means nothing, arbitrary

Wow!

The entire foundation of "golden ears" on the audiophile side is ridiculous

Wow! Wow!

Demos are BS

Just Wow!

I've done $200,000,000 dollar movies

Then what are you doing here in a forum with "lowly" stupid audiophiles who don't get it? By the way, if you put the $ (dollar sign) before a number, you don't have to write "dollar" after that number.

I’ve said it before when you’re working with Anthony Hopkins in a movie then have lunch with him

Dropping names again?

Might not be very good at communicating, but you do bang on.

Wows abound.

Especially that listening is stupid. I tried it, not listening. It was stupid. Couldn't hear a thing.