Scientific reasons why cables matter for audio

[Audiofire]

Yes, here are evocation basics for summoning Amir:
Amir, who art in Washington,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Klippel come,
Thy will be done, in hifi
As it is in Audio Precision.
Give us this day our daily thread,
And forgive us our audiophoolery,
As we forgive those who subjectively test us.
Lead us not into temptation,
And deliver us from snake oil.
For thine is the SINAD, the power, and the directivity,
For ever and ever.
Amir.

 

[Keith_W]

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a curious forum of audiophile lore,
The incredible warmth of copper cabling,
The transparency of silver core,
'Tis but some moron, some moron typing,
Only this and nothing more.

 

[mhardy6647]

Had to look up "frippery".

Thought it was Toyah's husband!

 

[arqwfxdv]

In the endless endlessness of unending end-eavors for putting an end to seeking the end of all answers to the all-ending and ultimate question, and I'm afraid it's not as simple as "42",

Lachlan has answered to me and proposed:

What I understand is that you're holding onto the tests that suit your desired outcome while not calling for Amir to add to those tests the ones that are accepted industry standards for analog cable testing at companies like Belden who make industrial cables requiring exacting, reliable and proven performance.

(emphasis added)


To which I answered:

Again .. for the umpteenth time: Then what are the masurements "they" and you deem so critically important, but at the same time are apparently so super secret that you won't say.

I have listed the variables necessary for measuring and describing an audio signal in a cable elsewhere. You haven't provided a single one. Go and find out what those variables are. I'm sure the result of this research will be that what I'm telling you.

Oh, and by the way, please refrain from just simply turning my arguments around and then use them with an appeal to those yet-to-be-named "accepted industry standards" (instead of the relevant variables I mentioned over and over again) that nobody except for Galen knows and does't tell anyone (including you, I presume).

The answer to all of that -- ironically or unironically -- lies in your post anyway:

"companies like Belden who make industrial cables requiring exacting, reliable and proven performance."

Yes. Industrial. Those are made for completety different applications, carry completely different kinds of signals, requiring completely different kinds of cables -- as in very long and carrying RF. In audio, we are talking LF and very short distances.

I am now calling out officially, so to speak:

Amir, who art in Washington [state],
Hallowed be thy Name.
Delivereth unto us the hallowed Wisdom,
Of the secrets of Quantification,
There are upon the Great Mysteries,
Of Sacred and Magical Transmission,
Of Etheral flows of electricity,
Through cables spun by Heavenly Angels,
That Only the Wise Galen Knoweth,
And forgive us all our Sins,
So we may see the Light,
Of the heavenly Iconoclasm,
That resides in all of Belden,
For ever and ever.
Amir.

 

[TLEDDY]

Just for fun, I have “up-graded” stupid cheap boom-box integrated systems. The result of which astounds the owner! If you know someone with such - here ‘Tis:

A. Replace the ‘speaker wire’, stock being 50 gauge aluminum*, with any decent copper zip cord.
B. Set up the classic equilateral triangle and play their favorite piece.
C. See the shocked look on their face!

On less frequent events, I would loan a pair of Radio Shack (I truly miss that store!) Realistic Minimus 7 speakers - 7-1/16" x 4-7/16" x 4-5/16" (HWD) - for the ultimate in stereo high fidelity glory! **

*Come on - we allow hyperbole herein…regrettably, was frequently the case!
**I still own a pair of them I purchased in the later 1970s; simply cannot give them up.

 

[fpitas]

Thought it was Toyah's husband!
View attachment 558836

They are made for each other, aren't they?

 

[Ruediger]

"the ones that are accepted industry standards for analog cable testing"

Does Belden or Iconoclast publish these miracle tests? He makes it sound like everyone should know them from wikipedia already.

 

[arqwfxdv]

"the ones that are accepted industry standards for analog cable testing"

Does Belden or Iconoclast publish these miracle tests? He makes it sound like everyone should know them from wikipedia already.

I asked. Perhaps a bazillion times over. The farthest I (or anyone else) got was "it's in the Iconoclast technical papers".

Which, of course, they aren't.

And then the cycle starts all over again.

 

[Ruediger]

I asked. Perhaps a bazillion times over. The farthest I (or anyone else) got was "it's in the Iconoclast technical papers".

Which, of course, they aren't.

And then the cycle starts all over again.

I took the time and looked through some of the papers. Comprehensive info about why he thinks things should be like this and that. But I don't think there are test methods described, let alone industry standards.

It's nice that he goes into technical details a lot. If it's actually helpful and not just marketing fog to impress buyers.

But I would really like to see the tiniest grain of proof for anything.

The tests conducted on this site make sense to me and if there is nothing else (as it seems to be) then those facts stand.

 

[DonH56]

Thought it was Toyah's husband!
View attachment 558836

I do not know who they are, and after seeing the picture am frankly afraid to try to find out.

 

[mhardy6647]

Robert Fripp and his wife. Fripp is a rock guitarist who was a seminal figure in progressive rock.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Robert Fripp and his wife. Fripp is a rock guitarist who was a seminal figure in progressive rock.

Probably best known for the guitar sustain throughout 'Heroes" by David Bowie.

He is the core of King Crimson (who created probably the 1st progressive rock album). He has collaborated with just about everyone.

 

[wadude]

Another famous Fripp solo:

 

[DonH56]

Robert Fripp and his wife. Fripp is a rock guitarist who was a seminal figure in progressive rock.

Should have known him, loved ELP, and King Crimson was a significant precursor. Had not known he and his wife looked like that, however, so just going to pretend I never saw that.

 

[mhardy6647]

Should have known him, loved ELP, and King Crimson was a significant precursor. Had not known he and his wife looked like that, however, so just going to pretend I never saw that.

By and large, he (they) has/have a sense of humor about themselves.
I guess they became popular online during the COVID era..
He's had a somewhat rough go of it lately, though, healthwise.

 

[DonH56]

By and large, he (they) has/have a sense of humor about themselves.
I guess they became popular online during the COVID era..
He's had a somewhat rough go of it lately, though, healthwise.

But, what kind of cables does he use? And can she hear them from the kitchen?

 

[mhardy6647]

But, what kind of cables does he use? And can she hear them from the kitchen?

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[mhardy6647]

Probably best known for the guitar sustain throughout 'Heroes" by David Bowie.

I love that song (one of my favorite Bowie songs, indeed -- it brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it), but it'd be kind of sad if that what Fripp is best known for at this late date.

Heck, I think of his contribution to the Roches eponymous debut (I think!) album, which, in its own very quirky way is at least a mostly superb album.

I assume that's him at a little after 4 minutes in the track above, e.g.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Heck, I think of his contribution to the Roches eponymous debut (I think!) album, which, in its own very quirky way is at least a mostly superb album.

Wow!!! Never would have anticipated the Roches being mentioned in a thread on audio cables.

 

[mhardy6647]

I aim to confound.