LCSeminole
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Res firma mitescere nescit.
Posts: 20,494
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Post by LCSeminole on Oct 1, 2009 21:08:29 GMT -5
Just ordered my X-series RCAs and HDMIs. I'm currently using the HDMI cables included with components and most are flimsy. On occassion, I find they come lose and that can't be good. I'm using cheap RCAs I picked up when Circuit City went under, so the Emo RCAs have to be better! You won't be dissappointed!!!
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2009 23:46:57 GMT -5
I know there are non-believers and I rarely get involved in these types of threads, but most Emo member are open minded and not jerks like some can be (look a few posts up and you'll see what I mean). Sorry, no offense intended, but I think it is unkind that you classify as "jerks" those who disagree with you about speaker wire/cables. Yes, there are those that feel there is no sound difference as long as they use wire of sufficient thickness. There are those like yourself who feel 100% the opposite and feel that you can hear definite differences. I have not done a comparison test myself but always tended to be on the former side mainly from what I have read. That reading is from long time experts in audio/HT. The other side also has many with long time expert experience in audio/HT. For me the main difference that tends to get my acceptance of their position is that they back up there opinions with objective A/B blind testing. The other side seems to rely mostly on their claimed superior hearing ability. The purpose of my post is not to start another speaker wire argument. It is only that being open minded does not necessarily mean agreeing with you. Open minded means still being willing to listen to both sides of the issue. When I have time and some extra funds, I would like to actually test out some speaker wires. This would be a blind test (similar to my other tests with my wife's assistance to do the switching). I have fairly long runs of speaker wire and it would be very expensive for me to rerun all of it and hide it again. I would do a test by buying one short Emo X-series wire and testing it against some of my AR flat wire and also plain zip cord wire from the hardware store. I think most people as yourself would presume I would be able to detect some differences. If in fact I do hear clear differences I will agree with you but only because I did a blind test to verify it. Whether there is a sound difference or not, just the fine build quality and appearance of the Emo interconnects is a good reason to purchase them, that pride of ownership. I have already proved to myself in the past that my ears are not as good as we all think. Just do a speaker gain setup with the test tones in your pre/pro by ear. Then check the results with a Radio Shack meter and you will see how inaccurate your ears can be. I know some might be tempted to respond to my post by saying something like: You ears just are not as good as mine. I know what I hear and what I hear is a clear difference and I don't need no damn blind test to tell me that. ;D
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TJHUB
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Post by TJHUB on Oct 2, 2009 7:38:41 GMT -5
I know there are non-believers and I rarely get involved in these types of threads, but most Emo member are open minded and not jerks like some can be (look a few posts up and you'll see what I mean). Sorry, no offense intended, but I think it is unkind that you classify as "jerks" those who disagree with you about speaker wire/cables. Yes, there are those that feel there is no sound difference as long as they use wire of sufficient thickness. There are those like yourself who feel 100% the opposite and feel that you can hear definite differences. I have no issues with people that disagree with me. I agree my post with the use of the word "jerks" is harsh and uncalled for. Forgive me as I am a long time AVS forum member and over the years I've gotten hypersensitive to certain types of posters. The ones that only post to cause a stir and argue things that I'm certain they don't understand. So my issue is not what they are agreeing or disagreeing with, it's more of how they go about doing it. Maybe I'm turning into them?
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Animo
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Post by Animo on Oct 2, 2009 8:08:14 GMT -5
I was shocked to hear differences and I started to worry about using wire and cables as tone controls. Then I learned that it's really all about system synergy and what you think is "right". In the "OLD" days, this is exactly what we used to do. Speakers were not as efficient, not as faithful to the original sound, and not as transparent as they are today. Different cable materials, shielding, and designs, all led to different tonal characteristics. Today, the goal seems to be speakers and components that are neutral and don't add any sonic signature to the end product. Basically a "flat" response. Cable designs take into account for radio frequency interference (RFI), electro magnetic interference (EMI), inter-modulation distortion (IMD), impedance, polarity, skin effect, to name a few. I have found (personally) that stranded or braided copper cabling gave the most neutral sound, whereas solid core cables or silver cables, tended to liven up the high frequencies, leading to that top end "sparkle" that you mentioned. Others might take it to mean "crisp", bright, or sibilant. Basically, I feel that if you want to play with how the final output sounds to you, grab yourself an equalizer and tweak away. Myself, I want something to sound "natural"., and not have anything altered or changed by a component in the signal path.....including a cable or interconnect. I also rarely use the tone controls on my processor for the same exact reason.
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Post by littlesaint on Oct 2, 2009 8:15:53 GMT -5
Sorry, no offense intended, but I think it is unkind that you classify as "jerks" those who disagree with you about speaker wire/cables. Yes, there are those that feel there is no sound difference as long as they use wire of sufficient thickness. There are those like yourself who feel 100% the opposite and feel that you can hear definite differences. I have no issues with people that disagree with me. I agree my post with the use of the word "jerks" is harsh and uncalled for. Forgive me as I am a long time AVS forum member and over the years I've gotten hypersensitive to certain types of posters. The ones that only post to cause a stir and argue things that I'm certain they don't understand. So my issue is not what they are agreeing or disagreeing with, it's more of how they go about doing it. Maybe I'm turning into them? I guess I'm the jerk for my tongue-in-cheek emoti-post. Anytime you'd like to argue the scientific merits of different cables let me know. This jerk is more than happy to oblige. Truth is, I don't agree with you at all, but it's not worth arguing the science because it's a "religious" topic. I decided to have some fun, which I always do with threads like this. If you take that personally, you need to lighten up.
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TJHUB
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Post by TJHUB on Oct 2, 2009 9:12:37 GMT -5
I have no issues with people that disagree with me. I agree my post with the use of the word "jerks" is harsh and uncalled for. Forgive me as I am a long time AVS forum member and over the years I've gotten hypersensitive to certain types of posters. The ones that only post to cause a stir and argue things that I'm certain they don't understand. So my issue is not what they are agreeing or disagreeing with, it's more of how they go about doing it. Maybe I'm turning into them? I guess I'm the jerk for my tongue-in-cheek emoti-post. Anytime you'd like to argue the scientific merits of different cables let me know. This jerk is more than happy to oblige. Truth is, I don't agree with you at all, but it's not worth arguing the science because it's a "religious" topic. I decided to have some fun, which I always do with threads like this. If you take that personally, you need to lighten up. See what I mean...
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Lonnie
Emo Staff
admin
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain
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Post by Lonnie on Oct 2, 2009 9:16:01 GMT -5
Politics. Religion. Cables.
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Post by littlesaint on Oct 2, 2009 9:18:14 GMT -5
I guess I'm the jerk for my tongue-in-cheek emoti-post. Anytime you'd like to argue the scientific merits of different cables let me know. This jerk is more than happy to oblige. Truth is, I don't agree with you at all, but it's not worth arguing the science because it's a "religious" topic. I decided to have some fun, which I always do with threads like this. If you take that personally, you need to lighten up. See what I mean... Now who's the jerk. I guess you can leave the AVS forums, but the AVS forums never really leave you.
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Post by 2infinity on Oct 2, 2009 12:48:08 GMT -5
Interesting article indeed!
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Post by 2infinity on Oct 2, 2009 12:49:02 GMT -5
Politics. Religion. Cables. . . . and her. . . sorry I couldn't resist ;D
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Post by ryan08 on Oct 2, 2009 13:20:17 GMT -5
OK then...what about these $900.00 power cords out there? The electricity travels miles to your home and runs through you fuse box and wall wiring and this last 2 meters is going to make an audible difference.
I have read the reviews of the Blank Mombas and what not and laughted out loud.
Whats your take?
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Post by monkumonku on Oct 2, 2009 13:37:57 GMT -5
OK then...what about these $900.00 power cords out there? The electricity travels miles to your home and runs through you fuse box and wall wiring and this last 2 meters is going to make an audible difference. I have read the reviews of the Blank Mombas and what not and laughted out loud. Whats your take? That's why they cost $900. They clean up every single fault that comes through the lines into your house and also do a precleaning on the wiring inside your equipment, too. You don't think that $900 is for nothing, do you? Sheesh! ;D
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Animo
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Post by Animo on Oct 2, 2009 19:46:05 GMT -5
OK then...what about these $900.00 power cords out there? The electricity travels miles to your home and runs through you fuse box and wall wiring and this last 2 meters is going to make an audible difference. I have read the reviews of the Blank Mombas and what not and laughted out loud. Whats your take? It makes perfect sense only if they are equipped with Electrostatic Retrodrive!! ;D
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Juice
Minor Hero
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Post by Juice on Oct 3, 2009 14:36:50 GMT -5
I think it really all comes down to having a sound that you like. It's no different then comapring many tube amps to solid state, I gave up looking at electrical performances a long time ago. Its also no different then how many consumers run their TV on torch mode although it is not the most "technically accurate" setting. Go with what makes you happy. Although its easy to show how a device or system can perform scientifically, its only half the science. It cant tell how an individual likes something to sound, so many things can affect this throughout your life. Find a cable that makes you happy.
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qwip
Seeker Of Truth
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Post by qwip on Oct 3, 2009 16:43:09 GMT -5
I used to be one that thought interconnect cables made no difference in the sound. I have on a few occasions tried listening to different interconnects. The first time was when the shop where I had purchased some components loaned me a set of interconnects to try (I think they were JM Labs). I compared them to Audioquest interconnects I was already using. I also tried the cheap, free interconnects that almost every mass market component ships with. The difference to me was so subtle that any difference could be attributed to psychological perception.
But, when I tried testing interconnects with a friend using my Benchmark DAC-1 1 going through the interconnect directly to my amp (Apple lossless music from my computer wireless to Airport Express and Toslink to DAC) one cable sounded significantly different from all others tested. Most interconnect again had little noticeable difference. These same interconnects when tested through my surround processor and a second set of interconnects from pre/pro to amp sound almost the same as all of the others.
My conclusion (which I was not in a position to confirm) was that for testing purposes with multiple interconnects in series, they all need to be the interconnect.
So, I buy cables for build quality than knowing that I am one that won't notice sonic differences when I am just listening to music or watching a movie for my pleasure.
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Post by muzicianx on Dec 3, 2009 10:40:05 GMT -5
I just hooked up Ultra series speaker wires for my front three channels, and I can sincerely say I hear no difference from the Z100 Monster wires I had before (they were getting dried out and falling apart after 10 years in my system). I have extensively done A/B comparisons with different grade of Monster brand interconnects/cables (I used to sell the stuff...), and my conclusions tell me there IS a difference in cables, but once you've reached a certain quality of cable, the differences becomes insignificant. Again, this is my opinion. I used to have customers come into the store and ARGUE with me that there is no scientific proof in cable technology, and I would simply say "then these cables are not for you" and give them the cheapest I could find. Customer comes first!
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Post by flamingeye on Dec 3, 2009 11:45:44 GMT -5
Politics. Religion. Cables. Oh my
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Post by nozzlejockey112 on Dec 3, 2009 19:25:12 GMT -5
Well I have to say I have purchased the X series XLR cables and I replaced the Tributaries RCA cables with the Xs and they have improved the whole look of my back end ummmm of my system!! No longer a tangled web and they sound awesome.Then went for the HDMI 6m for my TV and now waiting for the X series power cord to arrive for my XPA-5. All in all they look and sound like the real thing and I don't see any drop in the sound quality that I had with the more expensive Trib interconnects. Emo has a genuine winner here all around with cost, quality and looks !!!
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Dec 3, 2009 22:04:23 GMT -5
I noticed a difference between stranded/braided and solid core also. I was surprised but I thought all the solid core sounded harsh/noisy, but all stranded/braided sounded fine.
Why? "HellifIknow" But, that's what I heard...multiple pairs of each, regardless of price point.
Other than that, cables that would not play at all (such as ones that kept triggering my XPA-5 to shut down selected channels) were the only other ones I could detect any audible difference from. Of course, they were inaudible, so that was easy to differentiate.
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klinemj
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Post by klinemj on Dec 3, 2009 22:07:08 GMT -5
PS - when I bought new cables from Emo, I chose the higher priced ones. Why? I have a couple cats known to chew on cables. The pricier ones have thicker outsides...harder for them to chew into the tasty copper portions of real value. Old Wheezer (see avatar) is too old/fat/lazy to chew on them these days, but the younger ones...
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