I don't believe cables make a difference, any input?

[SY]

According to me, if one start with EQ you undo everything that may be achieved by good cables.

I'd agree 100%. With a stable amp and a system not positioned under an FM transmitter tower, the only thing a cable can really do is change the frequency response. If you're going to spend beaucoup bucks achieving the EQ from a cable, it seems a pity to spoil the fun by achieving the same effect with 25 cents worth of passive components.

[Curly Woods]

Originally Posted by Kawaski11

What does being a videophile have to do with it? Are you saying HDMI cables will change video quality?

Don't know never tried anything else but these before. Not my passion and have zero interest in it, other than a movie setup for the family. Some people do say they make a difference, but have not knowledge one way or the other with video.

[Salas]

Its simple, not a DIY priority. If for any reason, be it illusionary suggestion by looking at them or not, many of us find cables influential, or parts quality, or equipment racks, or whatever, there are still much stronger influences around to play with. A change in the circuit architecture or noise performance will far outweigh any tunings. This is a DIY site, so our efforts must concentrate on spending over equipping towards measurement tools and parts so to practice and evaluate many circuits, than on secondary hook up or support elements, and my experience is that everytime that I could hear a cable change as most we humans think we do in our private system when alone lost in music, I could improve much more over it by evolving my circuits. In the long run, it is MUCH more rewarding, educational, and DIY. There are very objective things to explore for cables as well. Use a non well shielded or just twisted cable from TT to phono for instance (have seen simply twisted arm cable continuing all the way to the RCAs on $30.000 TTs, bcs they think of continuity first, can't dig priority) and see the noise floor going many dB up. Will lose resolution and be harsher. Is there RF around, XLR needed? There can be no serious valid questions about better cable, before questions of adequate cable are answered. If we are not able or interested in to making stuff, its only about resorting to commercially offered tunings if we get the itch to explore. Very expensive, very insecure, very short lived, VERY CONSUMER IMHO. Changing the sound does not equal bettering the sound. At least DIY some cables. Speaker guys with broken backs arrive to shows with VW except very few who made it big. Wire guys are lux. 50 fold margins, almost only cooking and then OEM, repetitive sales because it is an accessory market. You don't change your speakers as fast, cable is a toy.

[Andre Visser]

Originally Posted by cbdb

How do you keep a constant listening level? (which we all know effects EQ)

What do you mean by 'a constant listening level'?

[Jakob2]

@ SY,

let´s assume, passive parts worth 25cents would do the job, the very interesting question remains, is there suddenly no blind test needed anymore?

Which one of the possible bias mechanism would be excluded because some passive parts were thrown in?

(Second question is, which of these possible biases are still there even under blind test conditions? )

Wishes

[Andre Visser]

Originally Posted by Kawaski11

What does being a videophile have to do with it? Are you saying HDMI cables will change video quality?

Mostly I've seen differences on high-resolution moving pictures, some seem to make the movement smoother than other. I have seen small detail difference between two cables on a projector showing a still picture also, not enough for the price difference though.

[Andre Visser]

Originally Posted by SY

I'd agree 100%. With a stable amp and a system not positioned under an FM transmitter tower, the only thing a cable can really do is change the frequency response. If you're going to spend beaucoup bucks achieving the EQ from a cable, it seems a pity to spoil the fun by achieving the same effect with 25 cents worth of passive components.

Ai SY you must be super intelligent to get fooled so easy.

I believe you will never be able to make a cable better by adding L, C or R. If you want to use a cable to change FR, you are surely on the wrong path if sound quality is your goal.

[Andre Visser]

Originally Posted by Salas

and my experience is that everytime that I could hear a cable change as most we humans think we do in our private system when alone lost in music, I could improve much more over it by evolving my circuits.

Right, just make sure a bad cable doesn't slow down the 'evolving'.

[SY]

let´s assume, passive parts worth 25cents would do the job, the very interesting question remains, is there suddenly no blind test needed anymore?

That depends. What's the hypothesis you're testing? I wasn't proposing a test, I was proposing an engineering solution. If you want to make a test out of it, you have to be a lot more specific.

[Aengus]

Originally Posted by SY

...And for a lighter look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIaV8swc-fo (some language warning, but damned funny)...

Thank you for that one, SY.

Regards.

Aengus