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
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
 
jinjuku

"I got into a conversation with William Low at WBF forum. He said people, all over the world, all the time, at all sorts of venues (trade shows) hear the difference in their Ethernet cabling.

Even in this very thread someone said they had people over that could hear the difference. Were they camping out for two weeks?

Michael Lavorgna said the differences in Ethernet cabling are 'Plain as Day' and 'Readily Apparent'.

So someone is lying."

well, not lying necessarily. So it goes.

dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
445 posts
 
@ jinjuku: the OP suggested, no...he essentially said, that the equipment in your test did not cost enough and therefore would only provide mediocre results.  There it is!  The crux of the matter.  Accordingly to him and other "subjectivists," spending more money is the only pathway to audio Nirvana.  Exotic cable manufacturers and marketeers love people that believe this.  The more you spend the better sound you will get.  Like a Rolex...spend more and your time will be more accurate.  No.....wait; that has been disproven in a head to head Rolex vs Casio competition.  But, again....wait; those time test results MUST be inaccurate because the Casio didn't cost enough.

Me thinks the OP is ”in the business" and his opinions/reviews are biased in the direction of keeping the exotic cable myth alive. Ethernet, HDMI, USB and other digital connectors are the next wave of profit centers for these guys.  Preying on the easily convinced and poorly informed....again.
 

geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Actually the OP suggested no such thing. Good try.

jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
226 posts
 
@dynaquest4

I understand about gear snobbery. Thankfully I’m into at least doing some measurements to get an idea of what is going on.

It was mentioned about the Salk Streamer (just a computer), I’ve had chance to talk with Jim over the years and he’s a straight shooter as they come, but the Salk StreamPlayer, much like the Bryston that is based on the Pi, are common computers running Linux and MPD.

I can take the ECS Liva Z, add in M.2 storage and get it to sound just as good as the Salk and Bryston units. But I would rather just have a NAS elsewhere and not limit myself to just a few TB of storage.

All you need to know about the subjectivists in this thread is that if they don’t trust their ears, neither should anyone else.

Intellectual honesty is rare.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Next up, controlled blind testing and how it would show there’s no difference between zip cord and the Megabuck cable and that it's all psychological. Ten, nine, eight, seven....

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