Testing and the Scientific Method

[skeptic]

ABX tests are invalid. When you test wire "A" against wire "B", you are comparing two inaccurate devices and only making a judgement about whether the difference in inaccuracies are inaudible, or what you prefer if you hear a difference at all. The only valid tests are those where you DBT wire "A" against nothing or in other words a shunt. To the degree that Wire "A" sounds different from the shunt, that is the degree of its audible inaccuracy. That is the degree to which the wire distorts the sound and fails to perform its function perfectly. You have to take into account that you are assuming that the shunt performs perfectly. In a perfect test, the test circuit for wire "A" would incorporate a duplicate identical shunt as well.

[WmAx]

ABX tests are invalid. When you test wire "A" against wire "B", you are comparing two inaccurate devices and only making a judgement about whether the difference in inaccuracies are inaudible, or what you prefer if you hear a difference at all. .

IN an ABX test you do not compare A to B or vice versa. You compare A to X or B to X and decide which(A or B) sounds closest to X. A, B and X are randomly chosen in a valid ABX test. You can use a shunt in this test instead of two wires, that is, one wire and a shunt. No need to actually compare wire A to wire B.

The only valid tests are those where you DBT wire "A" against nothing or in other words a shunt. To the degree that Wire "A" sounds different from the shunt, that is the degree of its audible inaccuracy. That is the degree to which the wire distorts the sound and fails to perform its function perfectly.

If a shunt is to be used, you can use the shunt as one of the test samples in an ABX trial.

-Chris

[mtrycraft]

ABX tests are invalid. When you test wire "A" against wire "B", you are comparing two inaccurate devices and only making a judgement about whether the difference in inaccuracies are inaudible, or what you prefer if you hear a difference at all. The only valid tests are those where you DBT wire "A" against nothing or in other words a shunt. To the degree that Wire "A" sounds different from the shunt, that is the degree of its audible inaccuracy. That is the degree to which the wire distorts the sound and fails to perform its function perfectly. You have to take into account that you are assuming that the shunt performs perfectly. In a perfect test, the test circuit for wire "A" would incorporate a duplicate identical shunt as well.

Hardly invalid. Since you need to use wires except in self powered speakers. It is useless to compare one wire to no wire as you have no choice but to use a set of wires. After that, it is a matter of differences or no differences. If there are no differences, then it really matters not which wire is used.

[Pat D]

Hardly invalid. Since you need to use wires except in self powered speakers. It is useless to compare one wire to no wire as you have no choice but to use a set of wires. After that, it is a matter of differences or no differences. If there are no differences, then it really matters not which wire is used.

People are certainly throwing the terms "valid" and "invalid" around here freely, without specifying valid or invalid for what purpose!

Actually, there are amplifiers that can be mounted on a speaker and thus used with very short leads, thus almost eliminating what little effect speaker cables can have. Bryston makes their PowerPac monoblocks and the descriptions can be selected from the following list:

http://www.bryston.ca/ampsel.html