The question of whether a tree falling in the forest makes any sound is really a way of asking: Are the characteristics of sound features of the WORLD or features of human MINDS. Philosophers have asked similar questions about colors, word meanings, morality, and a host of other subjects. It one way or another, these kinds of questions form the basis of philosophical debates between Realism and Idealism, Objectivism and Subjectivism, and Internalism and Externalism, among others. In the most rudimentary possible form
Realism vs. Idealism
Realism = X is a characteristic of the WORLD
Idealism = X is a characteristic of the MIND
Objectivism vs. Subjectivism
Objectivism = Xs characteristics are INDEPENDENT OF THE MIND
Subjectivism = Xs characteristics are DEPENDENT UPON THE MIND
Externalism vs. Internalism
Externalism = Xs characteristics are EXTERNAL TO THE MIND
Internalism = Xs characteristics are INTERNAL TO THE MIND
All of these philosophical views are about the nature of REALITY what a philosopher would call metaphysics. What does all this have to do with power cords? Not much, actually, but its a slow day here at the Cunningham household. I do have a point though, which is
The controversy about power cords isnt really a metaphysical question, the way that the controversy about trees falling in forests is a metaphysical question. The controversy about power cords, as typically debated by audiophiles, is an epistemic question. That is, its a question about what we know, how we know it, and how we resolve disputes when people have conflicting beliefs. In my view, the controversy about power cords can be understood in terms of different attitudes toward Verificationism. A Verificationist believes that
A statement about audio is valid ONLY IF it can be verified, and it can be verified ONLY IF there is some finite, repeatable, public procedure for determining whether it is true or false.
It seems to me that Verificationists tend to be skeptical about the putative characteristics of power cords (among other things), while non-Verificationists tend to accept what their ears tell them without worrying too much about what other people hear.
None of this is to say that there are not genuine questions about the physical characteristics of power cords and their audible effects on components and systems. There certainly are such questions, and many of them have yet to be answered, and some probably havent even been formulated yet. But these are not metaphysical questions, like trees falling in forests. They are scientific questions, like electrons spinning around nucleons. But audiophile discussions about power cords, and cables more generally, often ignore those kinds of questions, which is why Tvad advised the OP to move away from the tracks. There are, of course, exceptions to this generalization. Als post on 9/23 is a notable one.
As for my own anecdotal, unverified, unscientific view on power cords, I have heard differences among them, but nothing miraculous. I own some quite expensive power cords, but I sometimes find myself wondering why.
Realism vs. Idealism
Realism = X is a characteristic of the WORLD
Idealism = X is a characteristic of the MIND
Objectivism vs. Subjectivism
Objectivism = Xs characteristics are INDEPENDENT OF THE MIND
Subjectivism = Xs characteristics are DEPENDENT UPON THE MIND
Externalism vs. Internalism
Externalism = Xs characteristics are EXTERNAL TO THE MIND
Internalism = Xs characteristics are INTERNAL TO THE MIND
All of these philosophical views are about the nature of REALITY what a philosopher would call metaphysics. What does all this have to do with power cords? Not much, actually, but its a slow day here at the Cunningham household. I do have a point though, which is
The controversy about power cords isnt really a metaphysical question, the way that the controversy about trees falling in forests is a metaphysical question. The controversy about power cords, as typically debated by audiophiles, is an epistemic question. That is, its a question about what we know, how we know it, and how we resolve disputes when people have conflicting beliefs. In my view, the controversy about power cords can be understood in terms of different attitudes toward Verificationism. A Verificationist believes that
A statement about audio is valid ONLY IF it can be verified, and it can be verified ONLY IF there is some finite, repeatable, public procedure for determining whether it is true or false.
It seems to me that Verificationists tend to be skeptical about the putative characteristics of power cords (among other things), while non-Verificationists tend to accept what their ears tell them without worrying too much about what other people hear.
None of this is to say that there are not genuine questions about the physical characteristics of power cords and their audible effects on components and systems. There certainly are such questions, and many of them have yet to be answered, and some probably havent even been formulated yet. But these are not metaphysical questions, like trees falling in forests. They are scientific questions, like electrons spinning around nucleons. But audiophile discussions about power cords, and cables more generally, often ignore those kinds of questions, which is why Tvad advised the OP to move away from the tracks. There are, of course, exceptions to this generalization. Als post on 9/23 is a notable one.
As for my own anecdotal, unverified, unscientific view on power cords, I have heard differences among them, but nothing miraculous. I own some quite expensive power cords, but I sometimes find myself wondering why.