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What were your own blind cable test results?

Did you ever conduct a blind speaker cable test yourself? Please share your experiences, results, and the gear level associated with your test. For example, test conducted with cable types: DIY, Lo/Mid/High end, Components: Lo-Fi, Mid-Fi, High End-Fi. Feel free to elaborate on your gears if you like.

Please note that this is not a debate on whether DIY, or cheaper cable makes a big difference with high end cables. Nor about snake oils, etc.

I'll start first, a buddy of mine and I did a recent test on our Mid-Fi system with 5 cables, 1 Home Depot, 1 DIY, 3 Mid End cables from various cable Co. After 2 hours of listening and swapping cables, our results - it was very difficult to tell. The longer you listen, the more fused the music becomes, perhaps of listening fatigue. However, we were able to pick out one branded cable consistently as it has a 'flattening' effect on the music in our system, funny that this cable contains the most high-tech approach. As far as the other four cables, it was very difficult to discern the difference. This exercise helped us to weed out the one that we dislike the most, and enjoy the music with the others.
springowl
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
Excellent, well-reasoned position, Zaikesman. That most of us don't use this method says ... well, I'm not sure. Perhaps that we are not interested in objectivity. Or maybe we don't have preamps with tape loops.

But as useful as your prescribed test is, it does not consider the performance of an interconnect between two specific components. Perhaps it shouldn't because that raises the whole question of system matching, which is a variable that introduces so much complexity as to make reviews almost useless. But still.
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heyitsmedusty
227 posts
 
Drubin: as your prescribed test is, it does not consider the performance of an interconnect between two specific components

I think that's exactly Zaikesman's point; when you're testing an intereconnect's performance between two specific components, you're introducing more variables into your test. The only way to objectively measure the performance of the *cable* is to isolate the cable as the only added variable in the equation of your system. He's not addressing the cable in relation to other components, because then your test ceases to address the cable by itself.
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
My point is that one *could* argue that a cable's performance is only meaningful in the context of the components it is used with.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Zaikesman, I think using a tape loop is an excellent means of A/B in IC's, far superior than just doing it by aural memory, noted more for fallability than anything else. But, what concerns me is the design/implementation of the tape loop. Are they all neutral, or are they additive themselves. If the latter, how would you break out the differences between the IC under consideration and the additive nature of the tape loop?
undertow
1,033 posts
 
Honestly, not to start any further debate, But I have done some A-B testing (Not blind) with some very well known power cords, and speaker cables, and Interconnects, mixed with both brand name and home brewsÂ…. Well most of the time it is very difficult to go up against the best interconnects, they seem to be the most benificial when you have a top tier cable against a home brew..

However many times I can come very close or better for the money Via my own Power cables, or Speaker cables. Some are just simply different, and with different systems many of the speakers or components can be slightly better with brand name power cables, or speaker cables.. But in the end the difference of another 400 dollars for that cable over some good home brew does not always justify the cost.. Interconnects are the most effected cable in my opinion in any system however, and the hardest to match with the best sound and best cables.
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