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Most Important, Unloved Cable...

Ethernet. I used to say the power cord was the most unloved, but important cable. Now, I update that assessment to the Ethernet cable. Review work forthcoming. 

I can't wait to invite my newer friend who is an engineer who was involved with the construction of Fermilab, the National Accelerator Lab, to hear this! Previously he was an overt mocker; no longer. He decided to try comparing cables and had his mind changed. That's not uncommon, as many of you former skeptics know. :)

I had my biggest doubts about the Ethernet cable. But, I was wrong - SO wrong! I'm so happy I made the decision years ago that I would try things rather than simply flip a coin mentally and decide without experience. It has made all the difference in quality of systems and my enjoyment of them. Reminder; I settled the matter of efficacy of cables years before becoming a reviewer and with my own money, so my enthusiasm for them does not spring from reviewing. Reviewing has allowed me to more fully explore their potential.  

I find fascinating the cognitive dissonance that exists between the skeptical mind in regard to cables and the real world results which can be obtained with them. I'm still shaking my head at this result... profoundly unexpected results way beyond expectation. Anyone who would need an ABX for this should exit the hobby and take up gun shooting, because your hearing would be for crap.  
douglas_schroeder
jinjuku's avatar
jinjuku
223 posts
 
@dgarretson

You need to re-read what I did: While I was capturing those two tracks I was ACTIVELY swapping out cables. Yes I was able to record tracks in their entirety while disconnecting Ethernet cabling and plugging another back in and as you can hear there was no break in the playback. Please let the significance of this sink in for a moment. 

The tracks you are listening to are a composite of both cables.
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
196 posts
 
Rodman99999,

I said that I have listened to a variety of cables, maybe a dozen.

I found the differences to be barely perceptible, and certainly in no way justifying some of the exhorbitant  prices.

I think that if you spend more than $5 a ft you're  smokin' sumptin'. 
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
4,637 posts
 
Good point Rodman. I know some folks cannot hear the difference, what is beyond my understanding as why they assert everyone else, with every other system, must have the same experience and reality. Very narrow and closed minded. I do so tire of those who must have the rest of the world be just like them. They leave no room for truth or real experience beyond what they assume and in rare instances tested for themselves.

Back to Ethernet cables. Everyone in my home could easily hear the difference in the two I tested. Now if I had an average system, then perhaps the system would mask those differences making it hard to discern. I completely understand why some cannot hear differences. No surprise at all really.
dgarretson
2,394 posts
 

@jinjuku

I’m afraid that your approach violates the basics of a proper ABX test. As ClarityCap’s OEM Sales Manager, I’m privy to research that we did with focus groups ABX testing coupling capacitors. This was done in conjunction with the graduate-level psychoacoustics dept. at a UK University. It’s critical to present listeners with a consistent sample and to allow them the leisure of comparing samples under their own control without the dissonance of toggling arbitrarily between samples. Redo the recordings and I’ll be happy to participate.

dynaquest4's avatar
dynaquest4
368 posts
 
We who disagree with the value of high priced, "specialized" cables are not (really) saying we cannot "hear a difference;" we are saying that their is no difference to hear (once basic length/gauge requirements are met).  We are your friends and trying to save you money and public embarrassment.
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