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how to best a/b cables

Ok, I admit it: I have serious doubts about the claims of those who believe in cables. But I am willing to take their challenge - let my ears decide. So I went to a local dealer (who is probably reading this thread - Hi!!) and got some Transparent speaker cables and interconnects to audition. My setup: Linn LP12 turntable, Linn Linto phono stage, Linn Ikemi CDP, Plinius 8200 integrated, B&W N804 speakers and 10 year old Audioquest cables & inters (I believe they are the "Ruby" models.)

My question: my Linn Linto has dual outputs. Can I connect my old cables into one output and the Transparents into the other and then run them into two different inputs in the line stage pre and thereby get a good way to a/b the cables? My dealer says it is not a good way to get an a/b comparison because the two sets of cables will affect eachother and it will muddy the water. Does this make sense? If I hook one into the tape1 input and the other into the tape2 input and if I'm switched to tape1, then tape2 is an open circuit and should be completely inert and vice versa. Any comments?

PLEASE!!! I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER CABLE QUALITY AFFECTS SOUND QUALITY!!! JUST HELP THIS LOST SOUL TO FIND THE TRUTH!
gboren
bomarc
501 posts
 
People who study hearing for a living use quick switching because they've found that humans do not remember subtle differences for very long (like measured in fractions of seconds). But there are lots of audiophiles who believe otherwise. Nonetheless, you can do ABX testing any way you want, either quick switching or listening to whole passages. Just don't expect it to be easy!
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Generally I can hear differences in equipment in the first split second of being exposed to the sound and Bomarc is right, the ear adapts to the new sound very quickly and the brain soon regards it as normal. It therefore makes good sense to pick out certain passages of recordings one knows well and concentrate on how different DUTs will play them. Only then, I find, you will get a grasp on what the differences really are. These differences, when heard on these distinctive passages of music are then far easier to memorise, especially if you have found a language for yourself to describe them. After that, at least to me, it makes sense to listen to the devices under test for longer stretches, making notes all along, to base your judgement on as many parameters as possible.
seandtaylor99
1,262 posts
 
If a difference is so subtle that quick A-B switching means you can't distinguish the difference then I certainly wouldn't pay money for such a slight difference. Beware the oil of the snake.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
A very reasonable collection of posts for this topic - Gboren's imploring request seems to have worked! But to all of the above, I would add: Don't forget to allow the new cables some break-in time of being in the system continuously for several days before passing judgement. (For the record, I would definitly try the dual-outputs and switch method first, despite what the dealer says.)
madisonears
117 posts
 
I think your dealer, like so many dealers, is full of hot gas. He is trying to influence your decision and make a sale by impressing you with this bit of hooey about two sets of cables between different outputs and inputs affecting each other. I find this intimidating techno-babble reprehensible. Equally upsetting is all the nonsense about elaborate testing set-ups. You have an absolutely ideal set-up for testing two pairs of IC's. Asking a friend to randomly switch between them is good advice, as is letting them both settle in the system for as many hours as possible. Then switch between them whenever you feel you have a grasp of what one set sounds like. It can be minutes or hours or songs or movements or phrases. If the music sounds more like music, that's the better cable. Forget highs and lows and soundstage and all that junk. Which one makes a violin sound like a violin? Have fun, and don't take this too seriously.
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