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The Science of Cables

It seems to me that there is too little scientific, objective evidence for why cables sound the way they do. When I see discussions on cables, physical attributes are discussed; things like shielding, gauge, material, geometry, etc. and rarely are things like resistance, impedance, inductance, capacitance, etc. Why is this? Why aren’t cables discussed in terms of physical measurements very often?

Seems to me like that would increase the customer base. I know several “objectivist” that won’t accept any of your claims unless you have measurements and blind tests. If there were measurements that correlated to what you hear, I think more people would be interested in cables. 

I know cables are often system dependent but there are still many generalizations that can be made.
mkgus
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
glupson, BTW, in another post of yours I see that you have Kharma and Wilson speakers. But, I do not see the rest of your system listed. 

The speakers are older, so I presume that you are attempting to remain in a budget and get the best result. Is your resistance to more expensive aftermarket cables a matter of your fiscal priorities? 

I suggest that if you use aftermarket cables that are older and much less costly, then that might explain your resistance to current aftermarket cables and your repeated inference that persons such as myself are, "touting their wares here." Btw, I consider that extreme bias and skepticism.  :) 
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
If glubson has Kharma and Wilson speakers I’ll eat a bug 🐜

Then Douglas has the temerity to opine that glubson is probably trying to stay on budget. 😛

Am I responding to a Brer Rabbit and Tar Baby thread? 
glupson
7,842 posts
 
douglas_schroeder,

My system is not a secret although there are no pictures of it anywhere.

It is very modest and would not qualify for Schroeder method, just based on price.

It is Luxman 505UX amplifier and Revel Performa F208 speakers connected by Monster Cable speaker cables bought in 1994 for about $30/spool of many meters.

The sources are Technics SL-Q2 turntable, fully stock except for Soundsmith Otello cartridge, SONY HAP-Z1ES player, and Luxman D-05U SACD player (mostly used as a DAC on the rare days any of these actually get turned on). Interconnects are Shunyata Venom XLR (1 meter, I think), and JIB RCA from eBay ($20 or so for a pair). There is one more 90cm USB cable, unknown brand, bought for $10-15. Power cords are whatever came with actual machines.

All in all, a mix of stock and aftermarket cables with perfectly functional electronics on the lower side of passionate discussion. Once I use any of the above for a career/earning, it will become Pro. Until then, it is just a conglomerate of metal, rubber, plastic, and whatever else goes in it.

To keep in line with the title of this thread, do you have any thought why it takes $25 000 or 50 000 system to notice the difference/improvement with the Schroeder method while it took $60 to notice the difference between earphone cables (it was not for better, though)? Any science behind it? Theory? Wild guess?
rocknss
130 posts
 
OK,

So we are stating $25K min system before interconnect cable upgrades?
glupson
7,842 posts
 
rocks,

I have no experience with it, but from douglas_schroeder's post a few days ago...


Also, I wouldn’t expect to hear big changes with systems in the $5-10K range if I were changing a single pair of ICs. I remember doing all that and many times there was marginally different result. It takes a rig at about $25K to always hear changes to any cables. Rigs at $50K it has been easy, universal in hearing changes. YMMV
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