I have to suspect that these preposterously priced cables are akin to auto manufacturer show cars. They exist only to gain consumer attention, and to get people talking about the brand, but not seriously intended for sale. I‘ve noticed that PS Audio seems to be moving to enter more premium market segments. Perhaps, these cables exist as part of a strategy to remake the PS Audio brand image in that direction. I can’t readily think of another reason they would so radically price cables in such defiance of their current brand identity.
The problem isn't the cable and its price, the problem is that exists stupids with large wallets with intention of buying them.
It doesn't stop at cables. What do you think about "Audiophile" network switches costing tenths of thousands of dollars? I know of a guy that has eight of those.
The problem, as I see it, is that people put most of their effort and money on tings that really don't make any difference. Yet they strongly believe they have "upgraded".
The problem, as I see it, is that people put most of their effort and money on tings that really don't make any difference. Yet they strongly believe they have "upgraded".
Which we know is - sadly - impossible, and doubly so with just two sound sources! I shall never understand that surround-sound never seems to enter onto the radar of serious hifi hobbyists. Even cheaply implemented it's an absolute game-changer.
As evidenced by the endless untreated listening rooms containing six-figure systems...
The expectation bias of the beautiful system components and speakers plonked between exquisite rosewood-and-gold-trimmed speakers must be considerable. I would urge people to hide their electronics and speakers behind a curtain or listen in total darkness to fully reveal the capabilities (or not!) of their own system.
Last edited:
The last major upgrade I did myself was to go from stereo to 5.1 by adding three speakers of the exact same type. If you want to do 5.1 properly, all five speakers must be equal, or else it's not going to work. Using a different type of center channel and surrounds will be just as bad as stereo with two different speakers. ...
I suspect that it has much to do with the expense of implmenting six or more quality playback channels. Think of how much only two quality channels can cost. Also, with home living space sharing factors, for those of us not fortunate enough to have a dedicated listening room.
Why "upgraditis"? The efficacy of a placebo diminishes with time. If a purchase is made based on subjective impressions, the placebo effect (which is valid albeit only in the short term) will eventually wear off. The effect is more severe with items like cables where the positive impression is fueled by a strong sale's pitch rather than what is actually there to be heard. It's why external touchstones such as quality specifications, measurements and the knowledge to understand what they mean is so important. Without it, much of the hobby is reduced to chasing one's tail for that next dopamine hit of a new purchase that does nothing.
Truth be told, high end audio is not for the poor.It will always involve a big house, big speakers , big amplifiers, heavy turntables etc ...It's the way it is.You go to a concert? That's played in a minimum 1000sqm space .Then there's a master recording engineer trying to get you a more revealing copy of that concert in stereo or whatever number of channels they feel competent or relevant to work with. Then they sell you the ilusion of going to a more open or closed space, but definitely different than the space you inhabit.The wealthier you are the less resonance with bigger more powerfull speakers you can afford.No technology on Earth will reproduce the sound you get live at that concert, but the more money you have the more convincing the illusion. And now we have DSP changing the face of technology making the illusion more convincing in small spaces, but what you ultimately get is actually a recorded ilusion of the real thing.If you are that rich guy you envy for its huge treated home theaters and speakers you know that you'll never get the feeling of this concert life, so you better pay for real life events that no recording or home audio system will ever reproduce.The poor buys a stereo system.The more rich guys buy an expensive big stereo or x channel system .The real rich guy buys an airplane and a ticket in the first seat to the concert he wants to see, feel and hear with no amplification.He buys himself a good looking lady for the press too....He knows the truth he can buy.You don't and never will.He enjoys scooba diving in Hawaii , and all sorts of dangerous sports or breathtaking sceneries everywhere in the world , his 4 million $ Bugatti, and his Boeing fleet, not just his stereo.
Just imagine being there.Imagination is cheaper than any audio system.You'll never get the real thing anyway .
So Miles Davis music was made by the rich, with the rich money and was sold first to the rich.
It sounds depressing , I know 🙂
Last edited:
You think these sound systems are too loud , with too much bass? Don't worry! They'll never bother you if you spend too much time diyaudio 🙂
Pleasure is addictive. Listening to music on a great system should (and can) bring immense pleasure. But like so many other addictive experiences, the pleasure dulls and we want new high.
It’s not perceived as going sideways, but as seeking a better thrill than we now have.
It’s not perceived as going sideways, but as seeking a better thrill than we now have.
IMHO upgrade-itis started with PC's. I remember knowing tons of people who were not STEM types who were so into 8088-80286-80386-80486...Win 3.1, NT, XP....
Many years ago I was a controls engineer. The typical system we sold was fully redundant. Of course there was pressure to come out with new software features all the time, but what made us shake our heads was when we would see clients (typically IT types vs engineering types) who would insist on continually upgrading to the newest controller image for the actual control algorithm processors. Complete idiots.
Many years ago I was a controls engineer. The typical system we sold was fully redundant. Of course there was pressure to come out with new software features all the time, but what made us shake our heads was when we would see clients (typically IT types vs engineering types) who would insist on continually upgrading to the newest controller image for the actual control algorithm processors. Complete idiots.
Considerably better. Depends on your good old cable and the rest of your system. If you want 'the best,' then start out with the a big enough room and pay careful attention to its acoustical treatment. That treatment may vary depending on what type of system you decide to put in there. Cost of the system itself, for 'the best sound,' is maybe up in the range of $100,00 - $200,000. That's if and only if you pick the exact right components, otherwise the system may end up a dud. There are lots of potential rabbit holes, lots of snake oil, etc. But there is a class of systems that might appropriately be called 'best.' Expect to have a big room, big speakers (could be Sound Lab ESL panels, could be Dunlavy, there are a few plausible options). Dual mono-block amps, at a minimum. Electrician pulls a dedicated power line from your entrance panel. You have very top notch power conditioning. And so on. Forget about class-D, you will be wasting a lot of power to get good sound so you will need to upgrade your air conditioning. By the time you are done you could play a CD and with your eyes closed swear you at are a live event, the sound is spectacular, and you can keep listening for hours hearing things in recordings you never heard before, and do it all without the slightest bit of listening fatigue. Of course, it still won't be perfect 🙂