Funniest snake oil theories

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Max Headroom said:
So how is it that the 'q' word not relevant ?.
All behaviours of all materials and systems are rooted in quantum physics, so what's the problem ?.
If you have to ask the question then you cannot understand the answer.

gabdx said:
Good cables are not that expensive to make or purchase so to remove this from the equation it is better to use good cables.
Good cables are inexpensive to buy but very difficult to make (unless by "make" you just mean putting bought connectors on the ends of bought cable). Almost all DIY cables are seriously inferior to sensible bought cables. Bad cables can be very expensive to buy.
 
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Speaker wires are like capacitors, most people say they make a difference but cannot prove anything. Good cables are not that expensive to make or purchase so to remove this from the equation it is better to use good cables.

I think consumers are not going to try to prove anything. I have made some tests on short lengths many years ago and stick to using specific internal wiring until I find it necessary to change. But it makes no sense to try an win an argument.
 
Speaker wires are like capacitors, most people say they make a difference but cannot prove anything. Good cables are not that expensive to make or purchase so to remove this from the equation it is better to use good cables.

Capacitors have measurable nonlinearities which are significant for some applications. In some cases the effects are easily audible, such as tantalum capacitors used in a tone control filter for a guitar distortion pedal.
 
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There are significant differences, the initial 1.5 seconds room sound is one difference.

Dan.
 
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If you have to ask the question then you cannot understand the answer.
Try to be a teacher, we are all ears.
Good cables are inexpensive to buy but very difficult to make (unless by "make" you just mean putting bought connectors on the ends of bought cable). Almost all DIY cables are seriously inferior to sensible bought cables. Bad cables can be very expensive to buy.
So what defines a 'good' cable versus a 'bad' cable, physical durability etc considerations excepted for the purpose of this discussion.

Dan.
 
Dan, both look clipped which would cause some distortion. Also, since the room sound went up in one case, it may be that whoever was doing the sound recording turned up the gain when the "good" cable was switched in. Maybe that was done so the folks watching online could hear a "difference" given the low fidelity of most streaming audio.
 
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Easily visible by eye, there possibly is a difference in spectral balance that is perceived as louder. There looks like some clipping too, not a good sign for critical listening.
The clipping is likely the audio AGC pushing too close to the wire.
Agreed, constant gain would be better but the differences are audible as is.
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Dan.
 
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Max Headroom said:
Try to be a teacher, we are all ears.
Find a good undergraduate textbook on quantum mechanics. Read it. I cannot recommend one as my books are from 40 years ago. If necessary, learn the prerequisite mathematics first: linear vector spaces, concept of orthogonality, complex numbers, second-order differential equations etc. Also, it helps if you have a good grasp of classical mechanics, especially in the Lagrangian and/or Hamiltonian form.

So what defines a 'good' cable versus a 'bad' cable, physical durability etc considerations excepted for the purpose of this discussion.
Adequately low series resistance, and can carry required current without overheating. Adequately high shunt resistance, and can carry required voltage safely. Moderate (not too high, not too low) inductance and capacitance. If unbalanced, then well shielded accurate coaxial construction. If balanced, then adequately tight twist of pair.
 
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