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Interconnects, speaker wire, power cords. Ask the Cable Guys.

placebo?

You said

"I think we all buy this stuff because we're told it improves things. It makes us happy to think we've done all we can to maximize performance."

True, we buy things because others recommend them, just as with any other product. The second sentence I very much agree with.

However, you also said:

"In medical terms it's the placebo effect.

How would this explain my wife hearing (sometimes large) differences between cables, when she doesn't even understand why I have two amps (i.e. pre and power)? She played the piano for 13 years, and while doesn't understand the word 'interconnect' she can tell if something sounds close to natural (regarding the piano at least). I never tell her before the 'listening test' what she should hear (if anything at all).
Of course she knows that I am trying two different cables, so she may be inclined to say that one sound different from the other (the placebo effect), but her observations about the sound are generally very close to mine, which cannot be explained by the placebo effect.

You also said:

"We all like to think a bit of DIY is a great investment."

I wish this was true. I have made several cables (ACs, ICs, spk cables) and some had terrible results. One of the most expensive DIY cables was an AC cord where I used 4N solid silver wire with teflon insulation, twisted and shielded and it sounds worse than the stock cord. Now I am wondering what to do with the silver wire, maybe some jewels....


Zozo



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  • placebo? - Zozo 18:40:36 09/21/03 (0)


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