Speaker Wire Developments in last 10 years? Need advice.

[Hyfi]

If you wire fans were actually feeling secure in your wire religion you would not have the need to disparage people like me who disagree with you, now would you? Of course you would not. I do not disparage you, unless you view my non-acceptance of you wire religion as disparagement. E-S would often be overbearing and abusive but I always explained nicely why he was wrong. Perhaps he learned a few things.

From time to time I look back at my life to review what I have contributed to the world. This Jan I searched on my name and I learned that I am described as an inventor. This is true but it is also a small piece of what I did. Some patents are for the world's first high-efficiency gas turbines for producing electricity. A few years back a gas turbine was good if it delivered 17% efficiency. The new base-load GT's my patents are for now demonstrate 60% efficiency in service while the new peak-load units deliver 50% efficiency in service. These are big steps toward slowing global warming. But these are only a small part of what I did and they will be continuing to slow global warming long after I am dead.

So what are you wire-folks doing to contribute to the world? I mean, besides spending time listening to wires.

I don't see how I disparaged you. You jumped in the thread claiming that anyone who believes that cables can have an effect on the sound is an idiot, in so many words.

Most everyone else described their personal experiences with cables up to that point.

What do I do besides listening to wires, which there sure are lots of around here since I have 5 decent systems.

My wife and I volunteer at a local Senior Center even tho we cannot be members and are both only 50. I take care of my home and 1/2 acre, my mothers cabin in the poconos, and my mother in laws house in Jersey all while we take care of my father in law who suffers from dementia in a lousy nursing home.

So what are you looking for? A big AR pat on the back?

And what does any of that have to do with the fact that you cant, or don't hear any differences in any wires? And you are free to believe in that as long as you don't trash others who think differently. If you lived close enough, I could easily demonstrate it with ICs.

[emaidel]

My wife and I are retired, and are both active in our church. I sing in the church Chancel Choir, and have even performed a couple of solos. The choir also performs whenever there's a funeral service, whether or not we knew the person who passed away.

I also sing in the Spartanburg Festival Chorus, which puts on a performance of at least one great work twice annually. Having been a member of the SFC allowed me the opportunity to travel to Prague last year, and sing (along with 263 others) in the Prague Choral Festival at Smetana Hall.

I also record books for an organization called, "Learning Ally." Its former name was "Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic," so that should give anyone a fairly good idea who uses the material we read. Thousands of students across the country have managed to achieve college degrees as a result of our efforts.

And then too, I purchase new cables and speaker wire, and listen to - and appreciate - the differences. So one can make a difference for others in this world, and still hear the difference between cables.

[Hyfi]

@ Mash and PG

Stating the other side of the story is fine. It should have simply been "in my experience with my equipment, I have not seen the benefits of cables vs tubes or other upgrade and tweaks."

You have also missed plenty of cable arguments at AK. I have been involved in some myself there as well as at AVS.

Lets be real honest here too. For the sake of the OP, the first and best upgrade for him would be a real amp to drive the Audience, not sure which he has. They are a tough line to drive no matter what model and most mass market HT receivers will NOT drive these speakers to their fullest potential.(again not sure of model) I have 3 of them myself so can speak from first hand experience.

He may be able to alter his sound by swapping out the ICs between source and receiver more so than with speaker wire.

Just because you don't/can't hear the same differences as others still does not mean it doesn't exist. It just does not exist for you in your experiences.

[Poultrygeist]

BF Skinner would see operant conditioning at work here with predictable outcomes.

The negative behavior of spending large sums of money with the expectation of high reward ( positive reinforcer ) vs the negative reinforcer of no reward and loss of funds.

[JohnMichael]

BF Skinner would see operant conditioning at work here with predictable outcomes.

The negative behavior of spending large sums of money with the expectation of high reward ( positive reinforcer ) vs the negative reinforcer of no reward and loss of funds.

But the person buying the cable may not perceive the purchase as large sums of money. My AntiCables were $10 a foot pair. Or in my bi-wire case $20 a foot pair. My AntiCables cost $160 for the bi-wire cables. I also had the ability to return the cables if I was not happy. So my liking of the cables was not influenced by the purchase price. I have $2500 more reason to like my Krell S-300i. If I had a system worth $100,000 I might buy cables costing thousands of dollars.

Value is in the eye of the purchaser. Some friends do not understand my love of art and why I spend what I do but not Edvard Munch prices. Cars to me are A-B. I want basic transportation to take me from A to B. We all have to decide what is worth our money.

[Hyfi]

BF Skinner would see operant conditioning at work here with predictable outcomes.

The negative behavior of spending large sums of money with the expectation of high reward ( positive reinforcer ) vs the negative reinforcer of no reward and loss of funds.

2 different discussions

1- do the laws of diminishing returns kick in with cables? I say yes

2- can differences be heard between some cables? I say yes


But, not all of us spend ridiculous amounts on cables. I have $60 ICs that sound different with given components. I also have $350 ICs which cost me nothing so I have not wasted any money and I can enjoy the fact that most of my cables were well manufactured and terminated properly with good materials. What is so wrong with that given that I don't care to be a DIYer?

Over at AudioAfficianados, they are discussing the benefits of a pair of $28k cables. Do I think that's over the top? Yes but the people discussing them and purchasing them are apparently millionaires who also don't give a hoot about DIY and don't seem to mind spending their money on expensive cables. But why not when the rest of their setup is already in the plus $250K range.

You claiming that anyone not running a flea watt SET amp with OB or single driver speakers is wasting thier money is no different than me claiming everyone who spends more than $25 on a watch is too. But it's about more than that isn't it? It's called Personal Preference which cannot be regulated.

[E-Stat]

BF Skinner would see operant conditioning at work here with predictable outcomes.

Only for those who don't follow the normal approach for acquiring audio gear:

1. Listen to gear first using familiar settings (ideally your own) and familiar music
2. Make purchase following evaluation. Such includes considering cost vs. gain.

Perhaps you've have bad experiences before by reversing the order!