From: MATGBB@LURE.LATROBE.EDU.AU (BYRNES,Graham)
Newsgroups: rec.audio
Subject: Re: Very expensive cables
Date: 10 Sep 92 00:01:19 GMT
 <1992Sep9.050303.18554@lugb.latrobe.edu.au> <1992Sep9.150741.141@scic.intel.com>
Organization: La Trobe University
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.22

In <1992Sep9.150741.141@scic.intel.com> sbradley@scic.intel.com writes:

> In article <1992Sep9.050303.18554@lugb.latrobe.edu.au> MATGBB@LURE.LATROBE.EDU.AU (BYRNES,Graham) writes:
> >> What we need is some sort of standard measurement criteria that is printed on
> >> all high end cabling packaging.
> >> It should state it's impedence / capacitance / inductance etc.
> >If you use a standard linear model E-M propagation in a cable, for usual
> >(low) amp impedance, 2 to 8 ohm speaker impedance, your predicted response
> >for any sane cable will be that it is perfect. It might be possible to
> >construct a cable that would roll off hf or cause your amp to oscillate,
> >but surely that is a defect, not a feature.
> >
> >Ok, the world is not linear, strange things can happen. What we really need
> >is a signed guarantee that, under certain circumstances a rep of the maker
> >can distinguish the cable from 12g lamp cable in a double-blind test. And
> >that if s/he fails to do so when challenged, the maker will refund a 
> >multiple of the purchase price. A multiple of 10 would be my suggestion.
> 
> Well, lets see: we can submit samples of various wines to mass spectrum
> analysis.  Therefore, we can tell exactly which proportions of each
> element exist in each sample.  We can conclude that this will enable
> us to determine which wines taste better than others by objective means.
> What?  You mean to say we CAN'T tell which is better by the method?
> But surely we know what to measure!  I guess that the vineyard that
> produces a wine that costs $50 bottle should offer the same 10X guarantee
> if the purchaser can't tell it from Ripple.  I suppose we should ignore
> the empirical evidence that different wine judges tend to produce like
> ratings (a similar state of affairs exists in high-end audio).  There is a 
> word for those who assume all that is known is all that will ever be known: 
> hubris.  If you can't tell the difference between Ripple and a fine
> Auslese, then fine, buy the Ripple.  But to state that others can't tell 
> the difference is supreme arrogance.
> 
> -- 
> Seth J. Bradley, Senior System Administrator, Intel SCIC
> Internet: sbradley@scic.intel.com   UUCP: uunet!scic.intel.com!sbradley
> "A system admin's life is a sorry one.  The only advantage he has over
> Emergency Room doctors is that malpractice suits are rare.  On the other
> hand, ER doctors never have to deal with patients installing new versions
> of their own innards!"  -Michael O'Brien
So it is, Seth, to abuse someone without reading their post. ( I do it too.)
Read the 2nd para.
I said that the makers rep has to be able to HEAR the difference. That is,
I ask only that there be ONE PERSON in the whole world who can reliably
HEAR the difference.
And remember that wine judges test blind: they don't see the labels before
they taste, sunshine. So is it outrageous to ask someone to hear a cable
without seeing it?
Also, MSA on wine DOES reveal differences.
Graham B
Newsgroups: rec.audio