whoaru99
Epic Member
That's a whole different can of worms than what minkybut asked.
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Preamp to amp cables
- Thread starter minkybut
- Start date
mrehorst
Super Member
You apparently didn't see the video I linked for the OP. I suggest you take a look. It's about 5 minutes of your life that may save you a lot of wasted money. A real audio engineer, using a real audio analyzer that can measure things beyond the sensitivity of human hearing, demonstrates the adequacy of $5 cables to transfer audio signals between components.
Watch the video and tell me what you think is wrong about it.
Engineer failed to measure the bling factor which can be very important in some systems tho it is not audible.
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
And don`t forget the all important excessive big bucks spent nose up in the air bragging factor !
mrehorst
Super Member
Yeah, and what good are the cables be if they aren't so heavy and stiff that they break the connectors on your gear, and require you to put your gear at least a foot away from the back wall? And let's not forget the connectors on the ends of the cables- they need to require a hammer to insert and a pry bar to extract them from your gear, because lesser IC cables come loose and fall out all the time. Really!
And all that matters - the sound is all that matters.
mrehorst
Super Member
Do you hear differences between cables, or think you hear differences between cables?
Ears don't work independently of the mind, and the mind can play tricks. Have someone swap cables for you without telling you which is which and see how many times you
The trouble is, the ears must first be educated. It takes an awful lot of listening to an awful lot of different configurations to know what sounds best to you - or to even know what "best" is supposed to mean. Otherwise, even if something seems to sound good to you right now, you have no way of knowing if this is really the best. How would you know there isn't something else out there that would sound even better?
Measurements simplify this journey. They allow you to narrow down on the perfect (for you) equipment without having to waste a lot of money and time chasing unicorns.
Yep, the measurements are a starting point.
And yes the human ear/brain, mostly the brain, can do a lot if "properly" trained. IME many people can't get there, even those with great hearing may never get the "processing" (the brain part) down.
Thats true but maybe not important.
If a change helps someone enjoy the music, so be it.
Whether the change is real or imagined, the enhanced enjoyment & satisfaction is real.
Art & music have scientific & measurable sides to them for certain; but its the appreciation that drives the hobbies.
Otherwise its just equipment collecting & I suppose that can be rewarding too but its not about the music or the art then.
Or, I could be completely full of **** which ,as this is becoming a cable thread, someone will likely tell me shortly.
Your ear-brain system can be fooled by beliefs; the analyzer cannot be since it's not capable of believing in anything.
We all/most understand that... ad nauseum, haven't noticed one person that says they hear differences ever deny it in most of these threads. I might of missed it
The human brain is capable, with practice and training, to limit it.
guy48065
Member
I'm 50 years down this road. I keep an open mind--even to things I can't rationalize. There have been countless times I've sat down to evaluate a component or cable and have been completely surprised by the experience. That's a good thing and it tells you you're not boxed in by preconceived beliefs.
You know what never disappoints me? A live symphony. It always sounds "right", with excellent dynamics, perfect timbre, precise soundstage, air & space around the instruments. No audio analyzer needed there to tell me what's real.
Well, the live orchestra sound is the holy grail of audio. Sound like that, and you've got it made. It can't get any better. As for keeping an open made, it's good to have an open mind, but not so open that the brain falls out.
What if you don't like orchestral music?
Joking aside, I once sat-in with a big band (jazz, think Duke Ellington et al), and I mean I was sitting in the middle of the band. It made me realise that a hi-fi is only ever a good approximation.
Another memorable experience was hearing a pipe and drum band marching down the street. It was a "wow" experience. Those snare drums are huge, they have kevlar heads, they're cranked to a phenomenal tension and the drummers use huge sticks. Hearing 20 (or more?) of them played in unison was staggering as they walked past.
That kind of visceral experience is thrilling, but I don't think it's realistic to expect that from a hi-fi.
guy48065
Member
But it's good to keep pushing the envelope.What if you don't like orchestral music?
Joking aside, I once sat-in with a big band (jazz, think Duke Ellington et al), and I mean I was sitting in the middle of the band. It made me realise that a hi-fi is only ever a good approximation.
Another memorable experience was hearing a pipe and drum band marching down the street. It was a "wow" experience. Those snare drums are huge, they have kevlar heads, they're cranked to a phenomenal tension and the drummers use huge sticks. Hearing 20 (or more?) of them played in unison was staggering as they walked past.
That kind of visceral experience is thrilling, but I don't think it's realistic to expect that from a hi-fi.
I don't have to be blown over. When the hairs stand up on my neck I know I'm close.
guy48065
Member
Live unamplified music in a real space is a real point of reference. Something to reset your brain, and your goals.
Whether you like classical music or not will not alter its sound quality; only your level of appreciation of it will be altered based on like/dislike.What if you don't like orchestral music?
Joking aside, I once sat-in with a big band (jazz, think Duke Ellington et al), and I mean I was sitting in the middle of the band. It made me realise that a hi-fi is only ever a good approximation.
Another memorable experience was hearing a pipe and drum band marching down the street. It was a "wow" experience. Those snare drums are huge, they have kevlar heads, they're cranked to a phenomenal tension and the drummers use huge sticks. Hearing 20 (or more?) of them played in unison was staggering as they walked past.
That kind of visceral experience is thrilling, but I don't think it's realistic to expect that from a hi-fi.