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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
cleeds
6,548 posts
 
total111

I recently opened up a cable I had purchased. What I found inside was an industrial-grade cable with instantly recognizable, fully documented physical characteristics. Nothing exotic, nothing proprietary — just well-known, widely available construction. When I raised this with the manufacturer, the response was essentially that I didn’t fully understand what I was looking at.

Who was the manufacturer? Is there a reason you don't reveal their identity, and perhaps even the person there with whom you spoke?

This isn’t unique to this one manufacturer.

What other manufacturers have you spoken with regarding cable design and construction?

kennyc
2,875 posts
 

@gdaddy1 

Cable marketing fluff ≠ Actual cable performance

kennyc
2,875 posts
 

@gdaddy1 If you cut open a cable how would you know what you're looking at?Who knows what kind of copper is used or if it's been 'cryogeniclly treated or not. It could be anything.

+ 1 Cannot know sonic performance simply at looking at the metal, dielectrics, weave pattern, terminations, etc.

cdtd
38 posts
 

Genuine question,

How does this topic align with speaker wiring?

Many people think magnepan wiring is inferior.

Many speaker companies offer wiring upgrades.

Many people say silver is harsh unless done right.

Are there correlations between the posted topic and

these types of scenarios?  If they are different, why?  

total111
89 posts
 

 

@cleeds I’m not in a position to throw anyone under the bus — am I certain? Yes. Do I know? No.

When I said "not unique," I was referring to the marketing fluff of most if not all cable guys. Read the first section of my attached doc for context.

Can the objectivist prove there is nothing there? No — we are only bound by our current understanding of physics. But can the subjectivist prove there is something real? Also no. It ultimately comes down to who you choose to believe: those who cite established physics, or those who claim knowledge of secrets nobody else can verify. 

And more and more, I find myself leaning toward the objectivist side. Think about it — if some physical phenomenon made cables genuinely perform outside of established physics, wouldn’t the military, medicine, aerospace (NASA), and countless other fields have every incentive to investigate and exploit that same "magic"? The fact that this claimed phenomenon exists exclusively in high-end audio is worth reflecting on. This is an honest question.

No well-controlled double blind test has ever produced statistically reliable results showing listeners could consistently distinguish between speaker cables of comparable gauge and impedance. Why not? If its SO CLEAR? .... 

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