From: kester@mte.ncsu.edu (Dan Kester)
Subject: Re: Very expensive cables
Organization: Mat. Sci. & Eng., NCSU
Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1992 16:02:11 GMT

The cable controversy (do different cables sound different) makes me think of
an account (excuse me if the details are wrong) about the Royal Academy in
England during the 1600's, or thereabouts.  They were debating the issue of how
many teeth a horse has.  The debate went on for a long time, based on all the
knowledge and theories they had acquired in their studies, yet could not be
resolved. Did anyone go out and look in a horse's mouth?  Of course not, these
were scientists, not farmers!  They didn't need to look at horses, they had
books!

The methodology of those engineers who use electromagnetic theory to "prove"
that audible differences in cables can't exist, seems quite similar!

Since the whole purpose of hi-fi equipment is to make it possible to listen to
recorded music, then isn't how that music sounds the only significant issue? 
If different cables sound different, then they sound different.  The engineers
and scientists should spend their time trying to figure out why they sound
different, not trying to prove that they don't!

A comment on listening:  Everyone on either side of this discussion seems to
agree that psychology plays a role in hearing. Therefore to test cables, the
listener should be in a "psychologically comfortable" situation, i.e. if the
issue is how do cables sound on his/her stereo at home, that should be where
they are tested.  I have a much harder time listening to differences between
components at a stereo store with a salesman watching me, hoping I'll buy
something, than I do at home, listening to a stereo and to music I am familiar
with.  This is a problem with A/B/X type tests.  If there is someone with a
clipboard behind a curtain switching cables, demanding answers on whether or
not you hear a difference, that is not the same experience as being alone,
listening to a cable, and after a while switching the cable, and no one caring
whether or not you hear a difference.  In my experience I hear very clear,
repeatable differences. So I have a problem with engineers telling me that
based on electromagnetic theory I don't really hear any difference!

A few years ago, the same discussions took place about amplifiers. (Also CD
players).  The engineers claimed that based on engineering theory, there were
no sonic differences if there were no measurable differences.  That claim seems
to be rarely heard any more.  Either the whole audio listening community has
been brainwashed by amp manufacturer's claims, or else people have actually
listened to different amps and heard real differences.

So I repeat my previous question (from an earlier posting): Have those
engineers who claim there are no differences actually tried to hear if there
are any?  Go to a high end store and borrow two pairs of good cables with
different sonic characteristics (ask the people in the store for
recommendations). Then go home and listen on a good stereo system.  You may be
surprised.  Remember: Almost everyone who claims there are differences (myself
included) probably started out believing that there were none. Unlike the
members of the Royal Society, we tried the experimental method and listened for
ourselves!

Dan Kester
kester@mte.ncsu.edu