Jon Hodgson wrote on Thu, 13 July 2006 12:55 |
Dan, Since we've already established that cables are an area where there are many misconceptions and many charlatans ready to take the money of the unwary, I think it would be useful for people to know what is and is not important. Noone wants to be ripped off, but on the other hand noone wants to end up with rubbish. So, in the simplest terms, what should people really look for in a cable? For Microphones For Line level For speakers For digital connections ?? |
Teddy G. wrote on Mon, 24 July 2006 19:19 |
Because I don't really have a clue... When I need a new cable I look and listen for a few things: 1. The brand name. A good one I have heard of. 2. The connector maker(Switch craft, etc. Some very recognizable name.). 3. The cable itself(Belden is my preference). 4. The "look" of the build quality. 5. Does acceptable sound come through it(Or whatever I'm trying to get from one end to the other.). I just wouldn't know if it is "lossy" above 35khz or whatever... If it sounds OK, I use it. 6. The price(I won't spend more on a cable than the gear I connect it to - generally not even a fraction of the gear cost - certainly only a fraction of what some cables cost!). Again, I don't know? So I just look/listen at/to the stuff as best I can. So far, so good - I guess(Though I have my suspicions above 35k, I'll try to live with it, best I can.)? TG |
Jon Hodgson wrote on Tue, 25 July 2006 11:31 | ||
This is pretty much the approach I've used in the past, with success. However recently in a discussion when I pointed out how much bullshit there was in the audiophile market a colleague asked "so what do I need to look for?" and I realized I didn't actually know! It's one thing when you're choosing for yourself, because if you get it wrong that's your problem, but recommending to someone else is a different matter. That'S why I'd like to see a simple guide to what to look for and what doesn't matter. Something based on sound science, but which is easy to understand and use. I second the hope that Dan with put something on the Lavry Engineering site |
danickstr wrote on Tue, 01 August 2006 02:38 |
Just from a purely pragmatic point of view, I can honestly say the only noticeable difference I have heard in cabling is attenuation. The other stuff is negligable when compared to your position in the room, the dac on the CD player, who is in the room and where they are standing, etc. If you ahve a crappy 50 ft. 16 ga. hosa cable and you switch it out with a 50 mogami 12 g., you will probably see a bit more signal coming through. That's what common sense tells me about cables. Take apart any piece of gear and look at the crappy cabling running from the connectors to the transformers (and the winding wire!) and pc board inputs. that should make you think about cables. unless you plan to replace and "burn-in" those as well. one disclaimer; if you listen to the same mix 500 times in a row (working) and someone changes a cable, you may notice it. but two weeks later you probably won't. |
danlavry wrote on Thu, 13 July 2006 17:50 |
Hello Jon, On this forum about a year ago I did have a cable and clock thread that took a lot of my time. I had graphs, lots of technical information and straight forward talk. Reader interest was extremely high, there were lots of posts some extremely clever and creative. These were the 2 most popular threads here since the forum began. My truths, however, were taken as personal insults by a well-known converter company who sells cables. "Out of the blue", the threads were gone. Politics and censorship won out over truth. I was not asked or notified ahead of time. Many here thought that I had removed the clock thread and the cable thread. I did not. I was as surprised as everyone to see them gone. I was later told that it was "becoming a war between 2 manufactures". It was not. I was talking about the technical aspects, and at times pointing out various "marketing sleaze" aimed at confusing the customer. I did use a word that was objectionable to the people running ProSound Web that word was "Bull Shit" At the time there was a wonderful book published by Harry G. Frankfurt is Professor of Philosophy Emeritus at Princeton University, called "Bull Shit" http://www.pupress.princeton.edu/titles/7929.html If any of you have read it you will know that what he said was relevant to the discussion we were having on that thread. Jon Stewart had Harry on "The Daily Show". I almost left ProSound Web but instead decided to start my company forum http://www.lavryengineering.com where I now post information that may be objectionable to the people who run this forum. Dan Lavry Lavry Engineering, Inc. http://www.lavryengineering.com |
crm0922 wrote on Sat, 19 August 2006 08:12 |
I can't believe they actually deleted those threads. I thought they were just locked and went away for that reason. It was nice of the censors at PSW to decide that us readers are to stupid to draw our own conclusions about what is or is not appropriate industry discussion. They did protect an advertiser though. I'm not sure if they are a PSW advertiser, actually, but I wouldn't be surprised. I'd like to read those threads again. What a load of Bull Shit. |
chrissugar wrote on Mon, 21 August 2006 04:42 |
Now if we could have back the 96k versus 192K thread, it would be great. |
bblackwood wrote on Sun, 20 August 2006 20:18 | ||
No problem, read them here and here. I had forgotten about this or would have put it back long ago. Please note the fact that the company in question was not an advertiser at PSW. And fwiw, it would be nice if you guys actually knew what happened before casting aspersions. |
crm0922 wrote on Fri, 25 August 2006 09:30 | ||||
Brad, I said I didn't know whether they were an advertiser or not. Still, they are a potential advertiser and have dealers that advertise here. Dan said the threads were "gone". I was not just making things up...the forum mod said they were gone, so I believed him. Anyways, the more important thread was the clocking/Big Ben one. I haven't looked for it but, now I do recall it being deleted to many some forum members' dismay. Chris |
danlavry wrote on Fri, 25 August 2006 15:00 |
Hi Chris, Brad Blackwood put the 2 threads back a few days ago.The following day Fletcher made the decision to move the thread "Proper Word Clock Implementation" with no prior explanation and no discussion. I did not move it. Instead of "moved by moderator it should have said "moved by Fletcher, a PSW general site administrator" Do you think the move is appropriate? Regards Dan Lavry |