Power Cords - Just Say Yes

Is there such a thing as a "cheap" audiophile in this day and age?

Assuming an audiophile is one that will go to any length to achieve good sound, the lengths (financially) that one might go to is greater than ever. Can it be done for less than 6 digits, since that is where one willing to go to any length would find themselves these days?

Given this perspective, I am cheap. I have spent barely over 5 digits on my current collection of gear. Plus I question the value of everything and anything I consider buying. I do not think I could be called an audiophile accordingly.

Does not bother me a bit. Few good things tend to be associated with the term. I much prefer "music lover willing to go the extra mile".

Love this entry from the "audiophile" entry on wikipedia. Kinda sums it up nicely.

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Controversies

There is substantial controversy on the subject of audiophile components; many have asserted that the occasionally high cost produces no measurable improvement in audio reproduction. For example, skeptic James Randi, through his foundation, has offered a prize of $1 million to anyone who can demonstrate that $7,250 audio cables "are any better than ordinary audio cables".[18] In 2008, audio reviewer Michael Fremer attempted to claim the prize, and said that Randi declined the challenge.[19] Randi said that the cable manufacturer Pear was the one who withdrew.[20]

Criticisms usually focus on claims around so-called "tweaks" and accessories beyond the core source, amplification, and speaker products. Examples of these accessories include speaker cables, component interconnects, stones, cones, CD markers, and power cables or conditioners.[21][22]

There is disagreement on how equipment testing should be conducted and as to its utility. Audiophile publications frequently describe differences in quality which are not detected by standard audio system measurements and double blind testing, claiming that music contains elements which cannot be measured by electronic instruments[23], but without providing an explanation for those claims.

Mapman:
you are a bright light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. Hang in there.

Foster_9, how about we add back my initial comment in my paragraph, which you omitted? It makes a difference when it reads thus:

The sad thing is that for some people the price of experimentation has to be virtually nil before they are willing to entertain a change. I will simply say that being cheap holds back one's rig FAR more than most think. This is one of the reasons why I say, "The greatest impediment to building an audiophile system is the audiophile."

You swung the discussion to an extreme of $1K power cords and Fortune 500 salaries. That's quite the shift! My point, regardless of level of experimentation - for instance, perhaps sub-$100 power cords used - was that some people are SO cheap they won't tolerate even the thought of spending money on anything which is not supposedly guarnateed to improve their audio experience.

As I indicated that is "...one of the reasons," not the sole reason. As you suggest there are several reasons, including tight budgets why people can't experiment. My point was that some people are cheapskates, and I think they justify it by listening to the voices of those who have done little to no comparisons/testing of such matters. It's all a bunch of, "I think,...." versus putting up even modest amount of money to conduct a comparison.

You indicate that two of the reasons why audiophiles fail to achieve good sound are, "...knowledge, experience," which I assert can be gained through actually trying things such as aftermarket cabling, rather than sitting on one's opinion. :)

BTW, I did not say that being cheap holds one's rig back far more than other causes; I said that it holds one's rig back far more than the audiophile may think.

I believe you misunderstood my intent. My point is that at whatever level of cost, the decision to choose "value," i.e. disinterest in spending anything - note that I said, "virtually nil," - more on something not considered proven to improve is a big reason why many audio systems do not perform well.

Mapman, seriously? Six figures? You push the analogy to six figure systems? I think you are making the same stretch here as Foster_9. It's a long stretch to go from my complaint of people being cheap and willing to spend virtually nil to six figure systems.

Why is it that when aftermarket power cords are mentioned as a means to overcome insipid system building you guys jump to the 1%er argument? :)

Not sure where that will get me exactly, but thanks for the kind words Rok.

"The sad thing is that for some people the price of experimentation has to be virtually nil before they are willing to entertain a change."

IT might be about money but in my case it is more about how to spend or invest ones time best.


I do not have time to try every tweak I might, regardless of cost. What I have meets my needs currently already so there is little value to me. I'd rather spend the time listening. WHen I hear a problem or determine something might be better, I take some time to investigate what the problem might be, do some research on options to resolve it, chose one and try it,including repairs to what I have if that might be the problem.

I've spent considerable time bringing my system up to snuff over teh last 5 years, but spend increasingly less and less these days. Its more about value, which is a subjective thing, than cost. One must be careful and selective to attain value.