I can hear a difference!

[E-Stat]

So this whole week I've been comparing them with every one of my cables and I have to admit, that what I consider edgy, could be considered more detailed. In any case, I can confidently say this for myself: there is a difference.

Unfortunately, many engineers view cables in a vacuum. They look at the basic metrics, compare that with theory and cannot find a reasonable reason why they should make any difference. In the real world, however, they become part of a system. That system contains characteristics that may be more sensitive in one way or another to different cables. Such is not necessarily a good-bad or poor design sort of thing either. My electrostats present arguably the most challenging load of any speaker - highly reactive - where lower DC cables than zip offer real audible benefits. Similarly, I eschew using my preamp for use with CD playback. The player has sufficient gain and low impedance to drive the amp directly. The sound does not suffer from going through an otherwise superfluous gain stage - but does require exceptionally low capacitance so as not to roll off the top.

In my experience, when one IC is brighter than another, it is most often an artificial brightness caused by interactions between the components or insufficient trapping of RFI. Dark is good. Naturally, there are exceptions like phono cables where higher capacitance may be desirable for a given cartridge / arm combination.

Welcome to the larger, more challenging and more fulfilling world.

rw

[Smokey]

Unfortunately, many engineers view cables in a vacuum. They look at the basic metrics, compare that with theory and cannot find a reasonable reason why they should make any difference.

Well, that works well with any other branch of electronics. So why not with audio?

Transparency in cables is easy to achieve by following few simple rules. It only becomes hard when trying to use a cable as an equalizer.

[E-Stat]

Well, that works well with any other branch of electronics. So why not with audio?

Why stop there? In the real world, electronic components interact with each other. While all cables "work", some work more effectively in a system. Isolated testing also ignores another real world presence: RFI / EMI. While the cables themselves don't "sound" any different by themselves, they can be effective transmitters of all sorts of noise that may affect downstream components. The differences you hear are manifested by the amplification stages in various ways.

Transparency in cables is easy to achieve by following few simple rules.

If all you listen to is a cable, I would agree. As for me, I listen to a system where cables taken on active contributing roles. Systems add variables which create a more complicated scenario. It also depends upon your objectives. If all you seek is "professional sound reinforcement" quality, then indeed the task is quite simple.

It only becomes hard when trying to use a cable as an equalizer.

Who does that?

rw

[IBSTORMIN]

It only becomes hard when trying to use a cable as an equalizer.

If what you are trying to say is: Instead of searching for transparency, trying to "equalize" a system, make a bright system not so bright, or the reverse, I agree. It can be done, but you have to know what each brand of cables do and almost have to compare them in your system, which is tough.