Does Everything Make a Difference?

[Republicoftexas69]

Not only is Brads reference a live violin , it has to be played by a pretty girl !

I prefer sultry ladies singing the blues.

 

[PYP]

who buys $100K cables with the idea that they don’t make a physical audible difference? And let’s say you do find one or a couple individuals. Do you not think that some audiophiles have bought these and other expensive cables and power cords believing that these things make a substantial difference? And do you not think that is exactly what the makers are in effect saying?

@Analog Scott Let's assume I am the CEO of Procter & Gamble. Thanks to your family using Charmin, Bounty and the like at your home, my annual compensation exceeded $17 billion (with a b) last year (and I'm not too happy to be only #100 on the list of top paid CEOs) For my main abode, I"m going to spend a modest $1 million for my hifi (the more expensive home theater not included).

Would 15% of the $1 million be a reasonable cable budget? If not, what would you suggest?

 

[PYP]

who buys $100K cables with the idea that they don’t make a physical audible difference? And let’s say you do find one or a couple individuals. Do you not think that some audiophiles have bought these and other expensive cables and power cords believing that these things make a substantial difference? And do you not think that is exactly what the makers are in effect saying?

@Analog Scott The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released data revealing that consumers lost over $10 billion to fraud in 2023. Consumers reported losing more money to investment scams — more than $4.6 billion — than any other category in 2023.

I don't see the Audio Industry listed, but should we consider the $100k cable be called a scam? Instead of providing money and getting nothing in return, you do get some nice looking cables and they work, even if you think they sound that same as cables costing less ($10k, $1K, $100, $10?).

 

[Geoffkait]

Nobody buys $100k speaker cables. Hel-loo!

Besides, you can make a lot (rpt a lot) more money selling inexpensive cables. Do the math.

 

[PYP]

Nobody buys $100k speaker cables. Hel-loo!

Besides, you can make a lot (rpt a lot) more money selling inexpensive cables. Do the math.

You might be right. This one is less ($84.2k for 10 ft): https://www.psaudio.com/products/pa...20193779750&h_ad_id=659778742287&gad_source=1

What they don't tell you is Music Room II is so small the speakers are only 3 feet apart.

 

[Another Johnson]

In the last few years I’ve gone from building my own speaker cables (as a 35 year cable denier), to AQ Rocket 44, to AQ Rocket 88, to AQ Thunderbird Zeros, to Transparent XL series … each time with very clear comparisons in my own system.

I’m not going higher because I’ve reached my maximum limit … but I’ve also listened to Transparent Opus level, and they are another step up.

I know guys who are insensitive to price, and the ultra high dollar cables are often their choice.

My personal reaction when someone's pooh poohs high dollar cables is that there must be other flaws in their system, or characteristics of their hearing that obfuscate the effects.

No one should spend more than they can afford … but even if you’re happy with what you have, you may find that an audition will change your mind.

YMMV, of course.

 

[facten]

Let's assume I am the CEO of Procter & Gamble. Thanks to your family using Charmin, Bounty and the like at your home, my annual compensation exceeded $17 billion (

He only made $22 million ($1.6 million salary, rest in other compensation) so he can't afford the $1 million cables

 

[PYP]

In the last few years I’ve gone from building my own speaker cables (as a 35 year cable denier), to AQ Rocket 44, to AQ Rocket 88, to AQ Thunderbird Zeros, to Transparent XL series … each time with very clear comparisons in my own system.

Just looked them up. Didn't realize they are custom-built: "XL Speaker Cable must be calibrated to your specific amplifier and be crafted to fit precisely and easily with your specific amplifier, speakers, and system layout."

 

[PYP]

He only made $22 million ($1.6 million salary, rest in other compensation) so he can't afford the $1 million cables

$1 million for a whole system! Well, maybe he saved some money from 2022 or sold some stock options. Everyone makes sacrifices for audio!

 

[morricab]

If that is your pleasure. I enjoy Jazz and Blues, preference on electric blues. Your parameters are not mine for sure.

Not saying for listening pleasure. I enjoy electrified Jazz quite a lot (plenty of good venues in Zurich). Just that live amplified is not suitable as a reference.

 

[morricab]

Not only is Brads reference a live violin , it has to be played by a pretty girl !

Indeed that enhances the effect 10x.

 

[morricab]

But that’s why I selected the famous RCA Living Stereo CD - because it’s a recording from the Golden Age of recordings, I.e., RCA Living Stereo in general and this recording in particular is widely considered to be a “reference recording.” Of course the best way to compare the “real sound” and the sound of any recording would be to go back in time and listen to the original performance. But only Superman can go back in time.

Or make your own recordings…

 

[Another Johnson]

Just looked them up. Didn't realize they are custom-built: "XL Speaker Cable must be calibrated to your specific amplifier and be crafted to fit precisely and easily with your specific amplifier, speakers, and system layout."

Yes. And the calibration includes custom terminations to match your amp and speakers. The Burmester 911 mk3 has extended winged tighteners, and Transparent recognized this and gave me terminations on the amp end (flat spades instead of the usual angled spades) that work perfectly.

Also, recalibration is free if you’ve bought from an authorized dealer. And the time for calibration in my experience has been about 10 days, door to door.

And, some dealers will make generous trades for your old cables.

 

[Republicoftexas69]

Not saying for listening pleasure. I enjoy electrified Jazz quite a lot (plenty of good venues in Zurich). Just that live amplified is not suitable as a reference.

Until you have been to the clubs in St. Louis, Chicago, New Orleans or Austin…..

 

[Republicoftexas69]

$1 million for a whole system! Well, maybe he saved some money from 2022 or sold some stock options. Everyone makes sacrifices for audio!

Listened to a $500K system last night at Supra HiFi and was blown away. Scott was a awesome host!

 

[PYP]

Listened to a $500K system last night at Supra HiFi and was blown away. Scott was a awesome host!

Which speakers did he demo?

 

[Geoffkait]

What they don't tell you is Music Room II is so small the speakers are only 3 feet apart.

Actually I believe speakers sound better when they’re closer together, they should not be seven or eight or nine feet apart, more like five to six feet apart, maybe less, unless you’ve got a really big room. The reason some people set them far apart is thinking they‘ll get a better/bigger soundstage that way. The speaker set-up track on the XLO Test CD demonstrates that closer together is usually better. Takes the guesswork out of it. Trying to locate speakers by guessing is like trying to solve x simultaneous equations in x + n unknowns.

 

[morricab]

Until you have been to the clubs in St. Louis, Chicago, New Orleans or Austin…..

Chicago some but not the other cities you mentioned.

 

[hopkins]

@morricab Just a quick follow up on our discussion concerning "live" music as a reference for listening to our systems. I just came back from a concert, so I was just thinking of something I wanted to share, that we may have already discussed.

Here is a short video I took.

It seemed like he pretty much played tracks from his album sticking close to the recordings (no improvisation). I have not listened to all the album to know for sure, but it sounded like a well rehearsed performance - anyway, that is not essential.

The album is on Qobuz.

He probably recorded it with the same trumpet that he played tonight.

So I was wondering - if I were to listen to that album on my system (I have not yet), would the live performance inform me in any way to assess the sound of my system? I honestly don't think so. The memory of the sound of that trumpet would be too vague for it to be useful in any way.

Had the recording been done "live", I don't think it would change anything. Even the video I took with my phone does not really sound like what I was hearing at the same time, because a microphone does not translate the room like our ears do. Our mind also focuses on different things during a live performance than when listening to a recording. A recording is always pretty far from a live experience, as we have probably discussed before.

My gut feeling here is that there are some general sound characteristics that we look for and that tell us how close we are to live sound, or to things sounding "realistic". These attributes transcend, in a sense, the sound of specific instruments.

It may simply have to do with how our brain works and it's ability to recognize "patterns".

It is hard to explain, and maybe I should think about it some more to express it more clearly and in more detail.

That being said, if we can have a direct comparison between a recording and a live performance, as you have done with your violinist wife, then I am sure it is useful. I just don't know if it is necessary. Does this make any sense? I'm not sure

At the end of the day, we (all of us) may simply explain things differently but the objective may be the same (and the results are always imperfect).

 

[Analog Scott]

@Analog Scott Let's assume I am the CEO of Procter & Gamble. Thanks to your family using Charmin, Bounty and the like at your home, my annual compensation exceeded $17 billion (with a b) last year (and I'm not too happy to be only #100 on the list of top paid CEOs) For my main abode, I"m going to spend a modest $1 million for my hifi (the more expensive home theater not included).

Would 15% of the $1 million be a reasonable cable budget? If not, what would you suggest?

I wouldn’t make any suggestions until I know what his or her objectives are regardless of what hypothetical budget we set. But I am quite sure O would never recommend 15% of any budget for something that doesn’t actually impact the physical performance of the system.

If someone wants eye candy/audio porn in their room I’d allocate more money on other hardware. You can get blingy cables pretty cheap.