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Cables and "Audiophile" Gimcracks Reviews and Comments
The Cable Controversy
Much of the high-end "Audiophile" cable and accessory market is based on questionable pseudo-science and outrageous claims. Many manufacturers don't even offer any explanation or measurements to support their claims. Their products "Just work, because they work!"
Where I Stand
I don't believe it, and I don't subscribe to it. Most of the genuinely outrageous claims are just that. Unsubstantiated BS that cannot be proven or even honestly heard!
If you try one of these products and experience no improvements or perceive a decline in performance, the seller will trot out the same old, tired excuses.... your system or speakers are not resolving enough.... you did not implement or place the devices correctly.... your equipment is poorly designed and unable to reveal the vast improvements our cables (or whatever) provide; you did not correctly BURN IN THE CABLE.... And the best excuse of all.... YOU SIMPLY ARE NOT CAPABLE of perceiving the incredible improvement.
These people attempt to simply skew your listening through an unhealthy dose of perception bias. The power of suggestion can be a powerful thing, and it is the primary tool employed by salesmen and manufacturers of many of these products!
Fact or Fantasy
Mostly fantasy :-) Many of the claims contain a germ of scientific truth. Many times this basis in science is twisted or misquoted to fit the situation/product.
Some Other Opinions
Of course, there are opinions galore. It would not be a controversy if there weren't. I leave it to you to visit the many audio-centric websites and BLOGs out there and sort thru them. Truth or not? Please, you decide!
The Biggest Perpetrators
I could name names or select products to spotlight. But in the interest of keeping the angry lynch mobs from my doorstep, I'll just say look around and let me know if you agree or disagree.
Why I wrote the following "review"
There's a reason the high-end "Audiophile" cable market is so often associated with the idea of "Snake-Oil" panderers.
At the risk of being inflammatory I'm going to make a statement... "The Uber High-End cable market is the greatest ongoing fraud ever perpetrated upon the audio buying public!" I borrow and paraphrase this statement that has been repeated and written many different ways, by many different people. One has only to look around at the various manufacturers web-sites and the, sometimes, outrageous, outlandish claims that are made, to see what I mean. Watch YouTube... search for Audiophile cables and accessories and see what pops up.
Don't get me wrong... good, well built cables do matter! Having said that, a high quality, well built speaker cable SHOULD NOT cost enough to buy a really nice car.
Good cables do cost more money to build and they do, in most cases, perform better than $6.99 bargain cables.
As an example of outlandish pricing, check out the prices at MasterBuilt Audio Cables.... A two meter (6.5') bi-wire/bi-amp speaker cable costs $35,000. Recently upgraded to stereo? Just double that for a whopping $70,000.... Yes, $70,000!!!!! For. A. Pair. Of. Speaker. Cables!!!!
If you want to add a single 1.5 Meter POWER CORD from the same manufacturer it will set you back another $17,000.
Are these good cables? Yes, they appear to be well built and are real lookers! Is that enough to justify a price tag like that above?.... NO in my opinion!
The above manufacturer is not alone. There literally dozens, if not HUNDREDS, of purveyors of high-end "Audiophile" cables, accessories, and "sound enhancement/improvement" devices of every description. Some with claims that boggle the mind and break the budget. Shun Mook and Synergistic Research products spring to mind as far as the mind boggling part.... Look em' up....
Now... I want to believe as much as the next guy but the outrageous, totally unproven (and unprovable) claims made by some are simply mind blowing.
Just to be contrary and contradictory I'm also a big believer in the idea that if YOU HEAR, or SEE, or BELIEVE that any of these "Audiophile" tweaks make, can make, or will make, an improvement then you are certainly welcome to spend your money, your way.
Where it becomes an issue with me is when these questionable, at best, products are pushed by dealers and manufacturers as necessary and needed on people with money but limited knowledge. Again... your money... your choice. Caveat Emptor!
My Cable Philosophy
A few notes on my cable philosophy....
I have been in the business of audio and electronics for a long time.
At one time (ah... the '70s), I even owned part of a 16/24 track recording studio we wired ourselves (everything but the 110/220VAC, that is… we had licensed electricians to do that).
We also ran sound for local bands and sold large-scale PAs (one of my partners continued in this business and has only recently retired). So, that said, I have some experience with cabling, grounding, and power distribution to large and complex audio systems.
IMHO, keeping in mind that it is JUST MY OPINION... High-end cables are just not worth the very small differences if any, they provide.
The job of any cable is to deliver, without undue change, the signal to the next device. If a cable radically alters the sound, it is not doing its job correctly. Cables should never be considered a tone-shaping component of the system!
The idea that cables costing thousands of dollars provide real-world benefits and meaningful improvements to the sound of well-implemented AV systems using well-built but not overpriced cables is, frankly, ludicrous! This is especially true for the notion that overpriced power cables radically affect the heard sound of a system... or the idea that FUSES costing $200+ dollars each can positively affect the sound of a stereo system.
Now, don't get me wrong! If YOU think YOU hear or perceive any meaningful improvement using these exotic cables or gimcracks... Then it is YOUR MONEY... and YOUR CHOICE!
I am, however, a firm believer in the idea that quality cables DO matter, at least in the respect that they should be built WELL, mechanically sound, and of quality materials and components. And if they are built that way, the cable will perform as well as anything currently out there "in the wild."
And having said that, I do admit that I have neither the time, patience, nor MONEY to acquire, test, and evaluate the high-end cable market. If anyone wants to send me some $10,000 (or even $1000) stereo pairs to compare, I will do my best to do an honest evaluation and return them to you. And, if you have any of those $2500 per foot power cables lying about, I would love to give those a try as well :-)
When buying cable and "Audiophile" accessories and tweaks, my best advice is "Caveat Emptor!" (and make sure you can get your money back!)
AVNirvana.com reviews and commentary
AVNirvana.com
AVNirvana.com is a great website run by friendly, accommodating people. I was attracted to the site because of the open and convivial approach to interacting with the Audio/Video hobbyist.
The staff at AVNirvana made me welcome and published my earliest “Reviews/Ramblings” on their newly created (at the time) “End-User Reviews Forum.” I was privileged to publish the inaugural “End-User Review” in January 2019. That review was, on my then-new, Rythmik F-18 subwoofers and was titled ”Holy Subwoofers Batman!” Check it out HERE!
Fast forward a few months, and I was offered the opportunity by AVNirvana, to write reviews of manufacturer-supplied equipment.
Click the button below for the links to my AVNirvana.com published reviews and more.
I suggest you check out the many reviews, articles, and industry information written by the AVNirvana Staff and contributors!