2. cables
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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
jhills
627 posts
 
When I see all the other tech and music industries jumping on to the $1,000. per ft. cable band wagon, rather than the current trend of going wireless, maybe I'll become a believer.

Only in the home audio - audiophile - crowd (@prof... thanks for the previous correction - "not all") are there those gullible enough to believe that their $20,000 Audio system needs another $20,000 worth of cables and cords to sound good and then need to double all those expensive cables to make it sound really, really good. WOW, no wonder HEA is going under.....Jim
jhills
627 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder

Thanks for the clarification. It now seems to make better sense....Jim
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Jim, thanks. Nice to have civility and perhaps growing respect between us.  :) 




jhills
627 posts
 
@douglas_schroeder 
So, what about my question in regard to analogue?

Now don't be blasphemes...LOL 
Even though I do like both digital and analogue, I can kind of see your point. I am, myself, starting to question the sensibility of replacing expensive cartridges once every year or so (I'm retired and listen to music allot) and don't even want to think about the cost of replacing my TT and tone arm. Also getting a bit lazy and a bit less into getting up to flip LPs over every 15 min. But I do still have allot of LPs I really like, so my analogue will stick around for a while, just now spending more time with the digital......Jim
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Jim
I won't hold your being an analogue lover against you. ;)

So, you trust what the sellers say about the cartridges, but don't trust me with a free method? Seriously, how is the improvement of a platter , tone arm, mat, phono cable or phono pre, or isolated motor measured aside from subjectively? How is that not parallel to cables? 

Anyone care to explain? I am open to input on this.

Which of our skeptics wish to try Schroeder Method?

Precisely what science is applied in turntable evaluation? What distinguishes it from cable evaluation? What cost structure is defensible for analogue, and why are manufacturer claims accepted uncritically? What is the markup on analogue products relative to cables? Should expensive isolation products be accepted?

I wonder such things as an analogue skeptic. Are there sound (Pun!) Answers?

To me many of the assumptions and methods of analogue, specifically Vinyl, are more tenuous than Schroeder Method.
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