To Rcrump and Ridgestreetaudio,
Thanks Bob and Robert. I'm glad to see that you both employ a methodology for determining and labelling directionality on your cables. Despite my personal beliefs as an objectivist, I am certainly not militant about it and I accept that others have different views and methods that work for them. Whether your methodology is based on objective measurements or subjective trials is not as important, in my mind, as the fact that your methodology is consistent and repeatable. And for that, you both should be applauded.
To GregM,
I know what you mean, and can sympathize. I personally believe that there's little magic in audio and that the more we approach it as a science and try to educate ourselves on how and why things work, the smarter we become as consumers.
Impedance matching is a good example of a parameter that if understood and scrupulously adhered to, would go a long way to prevent component mismatches and "bad synergy". It amazes me when people select gear without regard for impedance matching, based solely on anecdotal evidence that the individual component(s) had at one time sounded "good" in a stranger's system. Thus equipped, they might try to mate a passive preamp to an amplifier with an input impedance of <10K Ohms, using a 1m length of IC with unknown capacitance. Then when the results are a rolled off treble and lack of dynamics, they'll grasp at straws seeking one particular component to blame. Or they'll simply brush it off as "bad synergy". The latter is true or course, but there is a perfectly logical explanation for it, if one tries to seek it out. The issue to me is not simply a debate between the merits of subjectivism versus objectivism. Rather, I see it as a willingness to be open minded and to learn, and to use all methods and sources of knowledge at your disposal to become an educated consumer and listener. Like in the case of cable directionality. Some hear it, even though I couldnt in most cases. I dont have all the answers for why it happens they way it does, but Im doing my best to learn. However, I do admit that in the absence of scientific evidence to the contrary, I will trust my ears. And I'll point my cables in the direction that sounds best. :)
Thanks Bob and Robert. I'm glad to see that you both employ a methodology for determining and labelling directionality on your cables. Despite my personal beliefs as an objectivist, I am certainly not militant about it and I accept that others have different views and methods that work for them. Whether your methodology is based on objective measurements or subjective trials is not as important, in my mind, as the fact that your methodology is consistent and repeatable. And for that, you both should be applauded.
To GregM,
I know what you mean, and can sympathize. I personally believe that there's little magic in audio and that the more we approach it as a science and try to educate ourselves on how and why things work, the smarter we become as consumers.
Impedance matching is a good example of a parameter that if understood and scrupulously adhered to, would go a long way to prevent component mismatches and "bad synergy". It amazes me when people select gear without regard for impedance matching, based solely on anecdotal evidence that the individual component(s) had at one time sounded "good" in a stranger's system. Thus equipped, they might try to mate a passive preamp to an amplifier with an input impedance of <10K Ohms, using a 1m length of IC with unknown capacitance. Then when the results are a rolled off treble and lack of dynamics, they'll grasp at straws seeking one particular component to blame. Or they'll simply brush it off as "bad synergy". The latter is true or course, but there is a perfectly logical explanation for it, if one tries to seek it out. The issue to me is not simply a debate between the merits of subjectivism versus objectivism. Rather, I see it as a willingness to be open minded and to learn, and to use all methods and sources of knowledge at your disposal to become an educated consumer and listener. Like in the case of cable directionality. Some hear it, even though I couldnt in most cases. I dont have all the answers for why it happens they way it does, but Im doing my best to learn. However, I do admit that in the absence of scientific evidence to the contrary, I will trust my ears. And I'll point my cables in the direction that sounds best. :)