2. cables
  3. 128927-305

Most Important, Unloved Cable...

Ethernet. I used to say the power cord was the most unloved, but important cable. Now, I update that assessment to the Ethernet cable. Review work forthcoming. 

I can't wait to invite my newer friend who is an engineer who was involved with the construction of Fermilab, the National Accelerator Lab, to hear this! Previously he was an overt mocker; no longer. He decided to try comparing cables and had his mind changed. That's not uncommon, as many of you former skeptics know. :)

I had my biggest doubts about the Ethernet cable. But, I was wrong - SO wrong! I'm so happy I made the decision years ago that I would try things rather than simply flip a coin mentally and decide without experience. It has made all the difference in quality of systems and my enjoyment of them. Reminder; I settled the matter of efficacy of cables years before becoming a reviewer and with my own money, so my enthusiasm for them does not spring from reviewing. Reviewing has allowed me to more fully explore their potential.  

I find fascinating the cognitive dissonance that exists between the skeptical mind in regard to cables and the real world results which can be obtained with them. I'm still shaking my head at this result... profoundly unexpected results way beyond expectation. Anyone who would need an ABX for this should exit the hobby and take up gun shooting, because your hearing would be for crap.  
douglas_schroeder
cleeds
6,318 posts
 
shadorne
But the golden eared gurus who review and advise the masses are able to hear the difference in the quality of the coal burning at the coal-fired electric power station from 50 miles away
Can you actually document that some have made this assertion, or did you simply fabricate it?
jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
226 posts
 
@cleeds 

Not one step too far as something the violates TOS but one step too far in ascribing realtime analog properties to a non-realtime system.

Did you know that during playback, for power saving purposes, parts of the NIC's power supply circuitry gets switched off?

Did you know that you can start playback, pull the Ethernet cable and still hear 3/6/10/20 or more seconds of playback?
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,646 posts
 
Shadorne, I actually agree with you! Great point on even the slightest movement of the head, seating position, humidity, etc...

That is yet one other reason A/B testing is useless. One needs to compare over long periods of time....days and weeks before they really come to grips with changes in sound with wire, tweaks, or gear. You really need to settle in and live with the new sound over a period of many, many days.

Sure out can hear some differences pretty quickly, but how you emotionally and physically respond over a long period of time is most important. What seems "better" in the short term may in fact be irritating over the longer term. 
jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
226 posts
 
"That is yet one other reason A/B testing is useless. One needs to compare over long periods of time....days and weeks before they really come to grips with changes in sound with wire, tweaks, or gear. You really need to settle in and live with the new sound over a period of many, many days."


Thanks for the laugh....

Oh to find an honest subjectivist. 

grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,646 posts
 
Malpai, you are right and I usually don't bother. I guess I did not control my impluse well enough here. Self control will now take over.
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