A New Believer

"being biased into a logical conclusion" you wanna retract that:)

No because my logic always won out until I started doing extensive listening and realized I was hearing differences, sometimes profound differences between ic's and speaker cables. Sometimes there are no apparent differences. How can this be?

"Whether the difference is better or worse is a subjective judgement made by the listener" I agree Ahendler

The history of this hobby always has the naysayers and a healthy dose of skepticism is always a good thing to maintain to keep reality in check. All I'm saying is that I can hear differences between cables that matter to me in the best examples and don't in many or even most cases.

Ahendler--

If there is a specific study at Audioholics, I would be glad to read it. As for the Cardas link, that pertained to speaker wire, not interconnects. I would certainly agree that speaker wire should be as short as possible to minimize resistance. Anything fatter than 14-gauge, however, is probably overkill except on the longest runs.

But there really isn't a measurable difference among reasonably well-made interconnects (i.e. decent connectors, well-shielded cable). R, L & C are the only variables, and none of them vary enough in industry products to make any measurable--certainly audible--difference. Use whatever you like, but if you're changing out one decent cable for another, you are wasting money, time or both.

ahendler:
my only concern is for the guys just getting started, and post asking for advice on how to get started. one person wrote in asking for that advice, and on the first response, was told to start off with a very good power cable. That is an outrage. The pity is many many ecperienced people on this site know better, but seem to be reluctant to challenge the "if YOU can hear it, its real" crowd.

The advice to start with good power cord or cords is valid provided there is an equipment to attach it to. And if someone wants to try and understand the science that goes into designing cables, better call Jim Aud from Purist or Stealth people. They would fill your head with this stuff in no time.

To be a believer you must have 'faith', to which proof is not available. To those who believe, no explanation is possible, or necessary.