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how to best a/b cables

Ok, I admit it: I have serious doubts about the claims of those who believe in cables. But I am willing to take their challenge - let my ears decide. So I went to a local dealer (who is probably reading this thread - Hi!!) and got some Transparent speaker cables and interconnects to audition. My setup: Linn LP12 turntable, Linn Linto phono stage, Linn Ikemi CDP, Plinius 8200 integrated, B&W N804 speakers and 10 year old Audioquest cables & inters (I believe they are the "Ruby" models.)

My question: my Linn Linto has dual outputs. Can I connect my old cables into one output and the Transparents into the other and then run them into two different inputs in the line stage pre and thereby get a good way to a/b the cables? My dealer says it is not a good way to get an a/b comparison because the two sets of cables will affect eachother and it will muddy the water. Does this make sense? If I hook one into the tape1 input and the other into the tape2 input and if I'm switched to tape1, then tape2 is an open circuit and should be completely inert and vice versa. Any comments?

PLEASE!!! I DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE ANOTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER CABLE QUALITY AFFECTS SOUND QUALITY!!! JUST HELP THIS LOST SOUL TO FIND THE TRUTH!
gboren
madisonears
117 posts
 
I think your dealer, like so many dealers, is full of hot gas. He is trying to influence your decision and make a sale by impressing you with this bit of hooey about two sets of cables between different outputs and inputs affecting each other. I find this intimidating techno-babble reprehensible. Equally upsetting is all the nonsense about elaborate testing set-ups. You have an absolutely ideal set-up for testing two pairs of IC's. Asking a friend to randomly switch between them is good advice, as is letting them both settle in the system for as many hours as possible. Then switch between them whenever you feel you have a grasp of what one set sounds like. It can be minutes or hours or songs or movements or phrases. If the music sounds more like music, that's the better cable. Forget highs and lows and soundstage and all that junk. Which one makes a violin sound like a violin? Have fun, and don't take this too seriously.
bob_bundus
1,834 posts
 
I wasn't going to comment on this, but the misinformation in some of the above has caused me to reconsider. You have two pair of phono outputs in parallel to each other. You take two pair of cables, only one at a time terminated into the preamp depending upon which is selected. The inductance/capacitance of the unterminated cable in parallel to the signal-carrying cable can definitely influence the behavior of the "working" cable. I've heard this myself so I know that it can happen.
The only way to determine if this is a consideration in your own application is obviously to experiment; it may or may not be an issue.
nilthepill
842 posts
 
I agree with Bob_bundus. I have experienced it with my set-up, even measured the difference. Not great, but nonthless present enough to change freq balance and thus sound. Safer to connect and listen individually and be certain.
joe_b
421 posts
 
I have tried a method similar to what you propose and found that it only "worked" if the cables were significantly different, like, say, copper vs silver. When dealing with cables that are fairly close in sonic characteristics, I found your proposed method can sometimes be confusing and frustrating. I prefer the approach advocated by Sugarbrie above. This is supposed to be for fun and enjoyment (I have to wonder sometimes) so I would avoid any approach that is going to put any pressure on yourself. I also wholehearedly agree that if you find yourself singing along or tapping your feet this is much better than sitting there clenching your teeth or wondering what differences you are supposed to hear, so if one cable makes you more relaxed than the other, this is usually the "keeper" (this has worked for me for the past 20 or so years).
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