Snake Oil Department, Top This

[Offler]

If you do, please stay in the audio snake oil business where people don't get hurt (except in feelings and wallets). Unlike, say, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADE_651

I have heard about this from mr. James Randi.

 

[oldsysop]

I thought I'd already seen it all...

From min 3:51

 

[Bow_Wazoo]

Preparing my new HP Cable

 

[boswell]

I have a friend who is the owner of a high end store (30+ years) bow wows and big macs etc. and he has to stock and offer expensive branded cables and the rest because he learnt that people would not buy stuff from him if he didn't. The really insane margins occur with the manufacturer/retailer such as Audioquest not a small retailer who is caught up in the game. He simply doesn,t push cables, customers demand them, he lets them take them home to try them, they most always keep them and pay. He shakes his head and says "boys must have their toys".

 

[DimitryZ]

I have a friend who is the owner of a high end store (30+ years) bow wows and big macs etc. and he has to stock and offer expensive branded cables and the rest because he learnt that people would not buy stuff from him if he didn't. The really insane margins occur with the manufacturer/retailer such as Audioquest not a small retailer who is caught up in the game. He simply doesn,t push cables, customers demand them, he lets them take them home to try them, they most always keep them and pay. He shakes his head and says "boys must have their toys".

I consider low priced AQ cables to be good value - they are well built, last forever, have nice connectors and are low capacitance.

Expensive range, not so much.

 

[mansr]

I consider low priced AQ cables to be good value - they are well built, last forever, have nice connectors and are low capacitance.

Very funny.

 

[beeface]

Very funny.

A 1m stereo pair of Audioquest Evergreen RCA cables is 50 USD. Seems reasonable, given they appear to be well made. What would you suggest as an alternative?

 

[AdamG]

You know it’s quality kit when Guys in White Jackets Pre-shake the cables baby.

 

[mansr]

A 1m stereo pair of Audioquest Evergreen RCA cables is 50 USD. Seems reasonable, given they appear to be well made. What would you suggest as an alternative?

That's about 5x reasonable, and the build quality is atrocious.

 

[MaxBuck]

A 1m stereo pair of Audioquest Evergreen RCA cables is 50 USD. Seems reasonable, given they appear to be well made. What would you suggest as an alternative?

The RCA cables that come packaged for free when one purchases something like a CD player, television, preamplifier or box of Cracker Jacks.

 

[DimitryZ]

That's about 5x reasonable, and the build quality is atrocious.

I disagree.

Many cables that are cheaper have connectors that are mostly too loose. AQ are just right - they will never fall off not will take the chassis plugs with them.

I have several switch boxes handling additional sources and my system is close to the wall, so tight connectors are important.

And $25 per "pair" is reasonable. Many of us pay more for alcohol of questionable quality.

 

[beeface]

The RCA cables that come packaged for free when one purchases something like a CD player, television, preamplifier or box of Cracker Jacks.

I'm absolutely opposed to overpaying for cables, but I would not rather use those.

 

[Galliardist]

I consider low priced AQ cables to be good value - they are well built, last forever, have nice connectors and are low capacitance.

Expensive range, not so much.

TIme was, I would have agreed with this. While the marketing BS was always there, the actual products were well made and reliable. I don't know when this changed, but now AQ like other manufacturers in this category make their cheap cables... cheap. These usually realise that most sales are due to the marketing, rather than the cables being decent, somewhere along the line, and the obvious thing to do at that point is to reduce quality of the cheaper cables - dealers will know to show that the next model up is "better".

 

[JSmith]

JSmith

 

[gfinlays]

I live in the UK and buy my RCA cables from Ultimate Pro Audio Ltd. They have a range of standard lengths or can custom make to your requirements. A pair of 1m interconnects (Van Damme Pro Grade Classic SP OFC XKE Instrument Cable + Neutrik Rean plugs) costs me about £18. Assembly quality and soldering workmanship are top notch. I've never felt the need to spend any more than this.

 

[boswell]

3D printer or AQ

 

[mansr]

TIme was, I would have agreed with this. While the marketing BS was always there, the actual products were well made and reliable. I don't know when this changed, but now AQ like other manufacturers in this category make their cheap cables... cheap. These usually realise that most sales are due to the marketing, rather than the cables being decent, somewhere along the line, and the obvious thing to do at that point is to reduce quality of the cheaper cables - dealers will know to show that the next model up is "better".

An AQ "Tower" RCA lead I somehow acquired (I certainly didn't buy it) was so bad it broke while sitting unused in a box.

 

[boXem]

View attachment 152262



JSmith

Can anybody explain the "science" behind such a setup?
This is clearly not bi-amping.
Not looking like bi-wiring.
Are the "+" and "-" kept separated?

 

[Grumpish]

Can anybody explain the "science" behind such a setup?
This is clearly not bi-amping.
Not looking like bi-wiring.
Are the "+" and "-" kept separated?

Not sure of the science behind it, but I have heard that similar improvements can be had from the strategic positioning of small but expensive crystal pyramids.

 

[JSmith]

Can anybody explain the "science" behind such a setup?

Maybe it doubles as a toy? Unsure...





JSmith