A fresh approach to cable analysis


Here’s an interesting idea that I wish someone would do. Start a YouTube channel in which you take full range of power cords, interconnects, and speaker wire ranging from cheap to top-of-the-line and carefully dissect them and expose how they are constructed and with what. In the past, we have been through all the arguments about measurements and subjective evaluation, and that gets us nowhere. I think, looking at the physical construction of these chords, which I assume almost no one ever does, especially on the more expensive ones, would produce some surprising results and really be hard to argue with. I’m sure manufacturers would hate this idea, but I don’t think there’s any way legally that they could challenge it. 

bruce19

@seymour-krelborn 

Just because cable deniers refuse to acknowledge reality

What 'reality' are you talking about? I haven't seen anyone provide ANY factual reality that verfies the claims made. Wouldn't you think the manufacturers of these expensive cables be proud enough to back their grandious claims with something real? Maybe they could show how they test them and why they sound better. They don't. That's reality.

It will be like dissecting frogs, not too much difference unless a absolute anomalies is found. 

Wire, especially signal wire, only show real difference when electron microscope images are compared

 

A platform like YouTube is not need to discover grain structure belonging to a formed wire. 

 

Haven't posted in a long time. Hope I don't step on any toes :)

First high end cable I bought was a Cardas Hexlink. This was about the same time I started opening up and modifying my power amps.

My power amps where Counterpoint sa12's. I was able to talk to Mr. Elliot and we somehow got on the subject of interconnects. Boy did he laugh.

The vast majority of capacitors in EVERY piece of audio equipment is wound with tin foil. Let me repeat that. Hundreds if not thousand of feet of tin foil. But it is zero crystal.:)

The fun part of this hobby is trial and error. We all suffer with a need. Our systems allow us to satiate that need.

I miss Audiogon. Decades ago I had a lot of fun here, or is that hear?

@gdaddy1 

Just because cable deniers refuse to acknowledge reality

What 'reality' are you talking about? I haven't seen anyone provide ANY factual reality that verfies the claims made. Wouldn't you think the manufacturers of these expensive cables be proud enough to back their grandious claims with something real? Maybe they could show how they test them and why they sound better. They don't. That's reality.

Berkeley Audio Design makes a model "Alpha DAC Series 3" reference DAC.  It competes with DACs that are quadruple its price.

Reputable reviewers have sung its praises.

Where is the "provided factual reality that verfies the claims made" for that reference DAC?

How about the Aesthetix Metis pre-amp, and the Aesthetix IO Eclipse phono amp.

Where is the scientific proof of those product's reference level sound quality.

How about Vandersteen's M7-HPA reference level amps?  Where is verifiable proof of those amp's stellar sound quality?

The proof is in the ears of the people that have listened to those products with their ears.

If you wired up your stereo with Shunyata Research, Omega-X signal cables, your ears would give you the proof that you are seeking.

But, instead, you are denouncing cables you never demoed.

Dealers lend out those cables to reputable customers.  Shunyata Research also has review samples that they lend out.  The same goes for Audioquest and others.

I never demoed those cables.  But I have demoed others that are of similar quality, and the stereo system's sound quality improved, demonstrably.  I will not ask for proof of each model release.  My local high-end store would get me loaners, if I asked.  But I will not waste their time when I am not intending to buy them.

Apply the same "proof" standards to all audio gear, that you do to cables.  And when you put together a system based on lab reports, I will lay odds that that stereo will have so-so, or perhaps pretty good, sound quality.  But it will not have outstanding sound quality.

When I purchased my stereo, I never asked for proof of anything.  That was over a decade ago, and I still have no clue about 90% of my stereo's specifications.  I do not care, because my stereo sounds fantastic, and no specifications are going to convince me differently than what my ears hear.

Your idea is flawed because it would be financially impossible to spend thousands and thousands on high end cables that you then dissect and basically destroy in order to make YouTube videos to show how the cables are constructed. A YouTube channel that does this would not be getting millions of views, most people don't know or care about high end cables, it's a very niche audience.

Maybe this person is super rich and can afford to light cash on fire, in that case it's great and I would be curious to see, but I would be one of his few subscribers.