Good, Neutral, Reasonably Priced Cables?

Alright Tvad, all-

Overdue post re. cable distortion references- (life, or what passes for it, sometimes gets in the way of online chats...)

Spent some time searching through the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI for short) databases. (If you don't know about these folks, they are the premier cataloguers and cross-referencers of all things published in technical fields. Very expensive to use, unless you have an academic account, or a corporate/site license. In my case, don't ask...)

Searching from 1950 to 2004 brings up two broad categories- 'Wires and Cables' at about 5500 articles, and 'Audio Equipment and Systems' at about 9300 articles. 'Signal Distortion' as a search term brings up about 950 references. Cross-searching all three drops results to about 40 references, of which maybe 5 involve signal distortions in coaxial cable designs. I can't actually access the articles immediately- will need to make a visit to one of the friendly nearby university libraries.

For what it is worth, if others want to pursue this, most useful related articles seem to come from 5 sources:

Journal of the Audio Engineering Society
Wireless World
IEEE Symposia on Circuits and Systems
IEEE Transactions on Audio and Electroacoustics
Funkschau (in German)

It would have been nice to see articles come up with titles like 'Analysis of audio-frequency signal distortion as a function of conductor properties, geometry, and environment...'. These don't seem to exist, at least not when searched for by the method outlined above. There are some interesting looking 'tutorial' articles on assorted signal distortion phenomena by Doug Preis in the ECE Dep't at Tufts University, but they are more general in scope.

It's possible that I'm not looking in the right places- either this stuff is so elementary that it is all in textbooks, or it is largely found in literature from another field that doesn't cross-reference with the search areas above.

In any case, I may follow up if there is interest. For now, a trip to your local university libraries to look at the journals above is probably the place to start for those of you who want to pursue this more.

But hey, the exercise wasn't all for nothing- there was an article or two about distortion-free signal propagation in superconducting wires. This should solve all of our problems. ;-)

Actually, when you think about it, the cost of running a liquid nitrogen/liquid helium cooling sheath around some cheap copper cables would probably be less than buying something like the Stealth Indra. (Eventually, the cost of coolant would add up, though.) Anybody want to try selling that as a high-end product? I'll provide 'Angel' funding with the $3 that is currently in my disposable income account... (On the one hand, I'm kidding, but on the other, I'm fully expecting someone on this thread to point out that it has already been done...)

Re. Alpha-Core, I agree with Rooze above- in the only dealing I've had with them, they were very responsive and went out of their way to supply me with what I needed, even though there was very little money in it for them. (Basically, I needed a few inches of AG-1 ribbon to build some jumpers- no problem.)

Cheers,

Tommy, that's certainly good work you've done there. It was not my
intention to spur anyone on to do that kind of research, but thank you.

My post regarding military/NASA research was really intended to shine a
light on the science and lack thereof when applied to audio cables. I just
can't believe the basic work and research hasn't already been done years
ago into the science involved in creating a neutral, EMI, RFI rejecting
cable, whether interconnect, speaker or power.

Let me put this another way. I don't believe the power
requirements of high end audio equipment are any more
specialized than highly sensitive scientific equipment, medical
equipment, manufacturing equipment or electronic military equipment.
It therefore makes common sense that excellent quality cabling already
exists to serve these needs, and would cross over nicely to high end
audio applications. Once the barn door is opened, and the light shines
on the source, then this insanity of four digit cable prices will deflate.

Certainly, someone has determined how to make a high quality cable
based on good science for less than $6000 retail (Electroglide Epiphany).
Yeah, I've got an epiphany...NO, I will never, ever spend $6000 on a
power cord. But if Electroglide Audio would like a Hyundai Excel in
trade, I might consider it.

The world is going mad, and a certain subset of audiophiles is no
exception.

...and schooled again I am. Sorry you're not able to appreciate what I am willing to share Sean. Like I suggested if you want more facts and so forth, then go on your own mission and start your own business if you find your product has something of value to offer. Like it or not, I bet your position would change from serving an agenda to protecting your interests while trying to be helpful at the same time.

What I posted is about as good as I'm willing to let it get. Otherwise, it's like I said, everything turns into challenges, debate and who's the most right. As a result a few players get to have x amount of champions in their little corner and the champions get to parade around their "god on a stick". Meanwhile too much stays stuck for the wrong reasons.

I believe what I posted did a credible job of communicating that Ridge Street is not another "me too" Mfgr who simply shoves wire through a Teflon tube, braids it, posts a few favorable numbers, waves their hand over it and proclaims the latest and greatest has arrived. I believe I communicated that there is real thought, innovation and purpose behind what we do. As for numbers, graphs, white papers, facts, facts and more facts to appease those who base their judgments on such…forget about it. For everyone who wags and doesn't "agree" with the numbers, there will be a hundred who do or don't care. For everyone who wags and does "agree" with the numbers, there will be another hundred who don't or don't care. This type of camp usually drives me up the wall to some extent. Music is usually and mostly an intellectual exercise for them that also affirms for them they have really cool gear. I've never had anyone report back to us and say "Man! I've never heard such good inductance (or D factor or whatever)! My system's inductance has never sounded so good!" Our customers usually just say who much more they're enjoying their music. Not very technical, I know. Which reminds me….

Customers coming to our rescue? Sean, please! Who said that? Why did you interpret what I said that way? Well, really, I think I already know why. I wasn't being clever and looking for a rescue. I suppose it would be a "feel good" for me if any of our clients would post here but what I consider more important and take as a compliment is that I think most of our clients have a life they live of which their music is a part of and they're busy living their life and enjoying their music as time permits. They use these boards for whatever help they may need at times and as for engaging in endless debate…who's got time for that?

If I understand correctly from what I've seen of your posts, you're an advocate and self appointed watchdog for the enthusiast. Good for you and I applaud that. Nevertheless, simply because some manufacturer doesn't promote or sell their wares the way you think they should doesn't make them illegitimate. It seems that if one conflicts with how you think the world of audio should look, then your agenda or views or whatever doesn't get fueled. Your suspicions are served and all is obviously a scam in your view. So it seems to me anyway and I bet I'm not alone. (somebody please post here and rescue me!!! LOL!) You are not the be all/end all for enthusiasts and whether a company is legit or not. I'll assume you already know that but perceptions say different sometimes.

I'll make clear this too while I'm thinking about it. They are plenty of manufacturers who post this fact or that measurement or whatever. Good for them and I for one would not say that's stupid, useless or whatever. That's how some companies choose to promote their product. If that were how I chose to promote, believe me, you or anyone else wouldn't have to ask for "proof". I would just do it. Interesting though that still, with all the "proof" some companies chose to offer, it still comes down to listening and still, no one has cornered the market with any audio "stuff". "Stuff"…just so you know in case you're thinking otherwise, we have invested thousands of dollars over the years on "stuff" so we have some clue as to what we're doing. And no, I didn't get took by someone selling a Rat Shack SPL meter (the decent analog, not the digital) at four hundred times the regular price.

I'll share this just cause I think it's good analogy. I'm a percussionist. Let's say I've just written a five part solo score along the lines of what Terry Bozzio innovates. Someone says "Oh I'd like to know what it sounds like." I say "okay, sure." and hand them the sheet music and sit back and wait for a response. Suddenly I'm lauded as a great percussionist!…I don't think so. In the score I've added a peculiar twist where a cymbal pattern that rides an ostinato changes from 4/4 to 7/8 to form a polyrhythm and someone who understands and knows how to read looks at it and says "that won't work! It won't flow.". I play it so he hears it and suddenly it's like "hey, that's really cool! I never would have thought of putting that together like that." Or maybe he says it sounds like crap…LOL! Anyway, I think this illustrates some of what I'm trying to say.

BTW Sean, I'll assume you're correct that another Mfgr won't chime in here in regards to the purity/Q thing and I'll also forgive your found less accusation that I was trying to dodge one of your bullets. Purity has to do with the level of impurities. We all know that I think. Q has to do with levels of types of impurities.

BTW, how did you know I like cowboy boots? I really do…LOL! But I'm not a cowboy, I don't have a ten gallon hat to finish the image and I don't have spurs or jangles on my boots. I just like cowboy boots. I also like Converse Chucky T tennis shoes, flip-flops and stream lined tailored dress shoes. Outside of that, I run bare foot a lot 'cause I like that too.

Again, all this. Debate and flame or do whatever amongst yourselves if you must. Sean I'm guessing you'll have at least something to say that seems to look good or apparently de-bunk what we do. It won't cause us to go away and it won't change the validity of what we offer. I'll let you have the last word so the king can reign over his little kingdom.

Cheers,
Robert

This afternoon RX8man came over to meet me and bring some of his goodies. We listened to his Audio Logic DAC, some pretty expensive Shunyata snakes (had about six!), modded B&K monoblocks and Cardas Hexlink 5C interconnects (two pairs). We compared them to my MSE Gen II's and it wasn't funny. My 20 yr old neighbor came over and he was nodding his head. The MSE is superior in all respects--and by no small margin. We listened to a Liuba Maria Hevia recording--solo singer and grand piano. This was recorded in Cuba in one of their state of the art all tube studios. It was like there were two entirely different audio systems. RX8man *experienced* the ultra low noise floor & beef of a 220V isolation transformer based system and cotton insulated silver cables. My psychic prediction is that Rx8man will be contacting Robert and Sean soon. Treat him well, guys...

***

Robert, regarding your post containing the following:

Marketing ploy: Our cables float in water. So far, that marketing approach has not worked for us...LOL!

Is this directed at Purist Audio? They are the only company I know using fluid. In spite of how they look, the conductors in Purist do not come in contact with the liquid (I do their photography).

Regarding this entire subject and all the technical data posted (by everyone). I enjoy specifications as much as the next guy. However, it is not infrequent that a Yamaha or Denon's technical specifications "prove" them to be superior in the (all important) distortion and signal to noise specifications. Much superior to a VTL 750, Audio Research VT200 or (at signal level) an Aesthetix Callisto.

Problem is, the audiophile gear keeps kicking the cheap stuffs ass when it comes down to listening to the music.