Most Important, Unloved Cable...


Ethernet. I used to say the power cord was the most unloved, but important cable. Now, I update that assessment to the Ethernet cable. Review work forthcoming. 

I can't wait to invite my newer friend who is an engineer who was involved with the construction of Fermilab, the National Accelerator Lab, to hear this! Previously he was an overt mocker; no longer. He decided to try comparing cables and had his mind changed. That's not uncommon, as many of you former skeptics know. :)

I had my biggest doubts about the Ethernet cable. But, I was wrong - SO wrong! I'm so happy I made the decision years ago that I would try things rather than simply flip a coin mentally and decide without experience. It has made all the difference in quality of systems and my enjoyment of them. Reminder; I settled the matter of efficacy of cables years before becoming a reviewer and with my own money, so my enthusiasm for them does not spring from reviewing. Reviewing has allowed me to more fully explore their potential.  

I find fascinating the cognitive dissonance that exists between the skeptical mind in regard to cables and the real world results which can be obtained with them. I'm still shaking my head at this result... profoundly unexpected results way beyond expectation. Anyone who would need an ABX for this should exit the hobby and take up gun shooting, because your hearing would be for crap.  
douglas_schroeder
We who disagree with the value of high priced, "specialized" cables are not (really) saying we cannot "hear a difference;" we are saying that their is no difference to hear (once basic length/gauge requirements are met).  We are your friends and trying to save you money and public embarrassment.
jinjuku, I have not listened to the composite track you made; it's not necessary. I am willing to accept that you were unable to get significantly different sound given your test. I am guessing that your system is sufficiently poor that it cannot resolve the differences well. That would be a logical explanation for the failure to distinguish between the cables, given my clear trials showing that ethernet cables carry different sonic properties. 

I am not willing to accept that your test means:
-I am not getting significantly different sound by use of a variety of ethernet cables. The differences are too pronounced to be the result of bias. The differences are on an order of seeing two very different shades of color. I have passed multiple double blind tests, and the threshold of difference in use of different ethernet cables is far beyond what I heard in the DBX testing. 

-that your method of producing sound is superior to mine. You are suggesting your inexpensive setup is superior and better than the server I am using. Only a direct comparison would tell. In my experience typically cheap systems have resulted in poor performance. 

Have you compared your performance to an aftermarket file server? If so, which one(s)? If not, then you are in no position to declare your digital setup superior. I suspect your setup is much worse, but I would have to listen to assess. 

Post removed