Reviews of $10k plus ics, speaker wires, and pcs

Tbg, I don't see that happening at all. Most expect the Republicans to take over the Senate when the midterms are run this year as well as hold onto the House. That's two more years of stalemate. No changes in sight, the pendulum will continue to swing in the same direction for the foreseeable future. Someday things will change and start the pendulum to swing back again, but not anytime soon.

Jmcgrogan2, I think it is the Teas that think they will win the Senate as they thought they would do in 2012, but lost six seats. Right now they are losing all four of the seats they thought were theirs to take.

As others have said, most reviewers don't seem keen on cable reviews. They seem far more subjective and system dependent than other components. Having said that, there do seem a few reviewers who seem to be trying to look at the subject systematically. I am thinking here, of positive feedback. There is a chap there, Levi is it? Who seems to try to grade cables he has used in his system and that I find, is useful.

Do really costly cables make a real difference? Absolutely, at least in my view. I still remember the manufacturer of Zensati cables, doing a demo in a UK show, which I found astonishing and confirmed at subsequent shows. Can I afford them? no. I do keep a look out for the entry level cables, that may come up, second hand. I could just about swing them

David12, I really don't think any component or wire is easy to evaluate, but cables are worse. All of them take breakin and most this may be erratic and to again be needed when moved. Isolation is another major variation. I have found that the StillPoints Ultra SSs work best with four under a component rather than three. But, of course, three points define a plane, so one of the four is likely to not be in contact with it. The Ultra SSs have a hard hat that must be loosened to work and this allows increasing it height to place it in contact with the component. Any moving of the component may loosen or tighten it and both removes its contribution to vibration control.

This happen again to me as I was evaluating my Koda K 10. The front right SS was locked but in contact. When I raised the other three and unlocked the tight one, the line stage was transformed.

There is nothing wrong to know what the references are in each category but if half of a popular magazine or website is dedicated to audio gear that serves only the 1% of the audiophile audience, we need to start asking ourselves if this adds any real value. Another indirect effect of the sota-centric approach is that some turn up on forums just to show off their newest bling (some even almost do hourly updates). My interest here on the Gon is to know how I get sonic wise close to cloud number nine whilst remaining with my feet (and head) on the ground.