What do we hear when we change the direction of a wire?


Douglas Self wrote a devastating article about audio anomalies back in 1988. With all the necessary knowledge and measuring tools, he did not detect any supposedly audible changes in the electrical signal. Self and his colleagues were sure that they had proved the absence of anomalies in audio, but over the past 30 years, audio anomalies have not disappeared anywhere, at the same time the authority of science in the field of audio has increasingly become questioned. It's hard to believe, but science still cannot clearly answer the question of what electricity is and what sound is! (see article by A.J.Essien).

For your information: to make sure that no potentially audible changes in the electrical signal occur when we apply any "audio magic" to our gear, no super equipment is needed. The smallest step-change in amplitude that can be detected by ear is about 0.3dB for a pure tone. In more realistic situations it is 0.5 to 1.0dB'". This is about a 10% change. (Harris J.D.). At medium volume, the voltage amplitude at the output of the amplifier is approximately 10 volts, which means that the smallest audible difference in sound will be noticeable when the output voltage changes to 1 volt. Such an error is impossible not to notice even using a conventional voltmeter, but Self and his colleagues performed much more accurate measurements, including ones made directly on the music signal using Baxandall subtraction technique - they found no error even at this highest level.

As a result, we are faced with an apparently unsolvable problem: those of us who do not hear the sound of wires, relying on the authority of scientists, claim that audio anomalies are BS. However, people who confidently perceive this component of sound are forced to make another, the only possible conclusion in this situation: the electrical and acoustic signals contain some additional signal(s) that are still unknown to science, and which we perceive with a certain sixth sense.

If there are no electrical changes in the signal, then there are no acoustic changes, respectively, hearing does not participate in the perception of anomalies. What other options can there be?

Regards.
anton_stepichev
Here is my proposition to anyone including manufacturers.  We get a room with good acoustic properties. Or we can go to your house with your reference system and music. We use your interconnect as the reference standard. I will bring in my test interconnect that is low cost say under $100.  The only other thing  I will bring is a special audio rack frame covered in black cloth like they use for speaker grills. You take as long as you want no pressure but you have to guess your interconnect at least 8 out of 10 trials while not being able to see what interconnect is connected at the time. No quick switching if you want you can spend hrs if you want.  If you guys agree I will start a Gofundme page to pay for all the expenses.😃
As I understand, you agree that the audibility of the power cable can not be caused by physical reasons, and this is actually all that we need for the moment.


Fascinating. So we got a guy saying the audible differences can only be caused by metaphysical reasons. While at the same time insisting everything be proved with numbers. This is Spock-level raised eyebrow fascinating.

On a more pleasant note, I believe we are all Russian. This is after all why we call it Mother Russia, is it not?

I humbly suggest that the skeptic clan should reverse the cables between their pre and power amps and enjoy them that way for a few hours, if you can take it.
Who's going to provide the data proving there is no difference?
But Anna has something very rarely heard in his voice colored timbre articulation singing , only the most beautiful voices own that angelic inflexion...
Yes!!

@millercarbonFascinating. So we got a guy saying the audible differences can only be caused by metaphysical reasons. While at the same time insisting everything be proved with numbers. This is Spock-level raised eyebrow fascinating.

No, he does not feel the changes and believes that the bias is to blame for everything. And he is not a person to admit his possible mistakes, now he will write a novel on the subject i'm sure.

On a more pleasant note, I believe we are all Russian. This is after all why we call it Mother Russia, is it not?

I am puzzled, really. I would never have thought that I would read this on an American forum from local people... Live and learn!

Thank you!