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Technical and scientific discussion of amps, cables and other topics.

RE: Call me crazy but the difference in cables Isn't that much

It is indeed possible not hear any differences. The variables that create differences are many. The ability of your system to resolve such differences is a big one. To the other extreme issues like the source impedences can have affects.

Unfortunately, reported differences of one cable versus another are so affected by these variables as to render these reports irrelevant. Some claims as to reasons for these differences are dubious at best.

I know of one manufacturer who goes on about things like triboelectric charges and dielectric charge and it is clear he is either deceiving his readers or doesn't understand the basics of such things. Triboelectric discharges only become a factor when a cable is in motion and only substancially so. When you consider the impedences in consumer audio gear these affects are so low as to render these charges as inconsequential. "Tribo" discharge always manifests itself as loud crackles and pops, not as degradation of signals in terms of soundstage and imaging, and other low-signal detail aspects. The these discharges are only a factor in circuits where the source impedences are very high and inductive in nature, like from an electric guitar pickup or microphone. When the inherant source impedences are low, these dicharges only are a factor in very high signal-to-noise situations like in detectors used in particle physics research, telemetry or in nuclear engineering. In these cases S/N ratios are in the magnitude of 170dB or higher. In our world the noise floor sits on average at about 110-115dB, well above where these affects can be even detected, let alone perceived in any way. They are down in the noise, substancilally so. And again, the cable must be flexing AND moving for these triboelectric affects to occur in the first place.

He also makes claims about dielectric charge in insulators in cables as both having a very high level (100mv) and taking days or weeks to discharge or "relax" as he puts it. This is not true. In fact, he mentions if you take a cable out of a box and measure the charge on the cable he claims he has seen 100mv on his multi-meter. Of course, anyone who does this work knows that measuring a dielectric charge with modern digital voltmenter is deceptive. The impedence of the imput of these devices is very high the resulting voltage measured is also very high as a result.

When the cable is in place in an audio system the loads are so low as to render these charges down in the low milli-volts range (or lower), and they discharge and are gone in micro-seconds. The time contants of discharge are known and very short in duration (usually in micro-seconds) at the capcitances and impedences involved here. These time constants are also not affected by "biasing" or other schemes being used. They remain constant. He is using these assumptions (or deceptions) to explain cable break-in. The actual physics do not support these dubious claims.

So take into consideration the many numerous variables involved here and understand the only thing that matters is what works in your situation. If you do not hear a difference you may not be in the situation that either allows one, or in other words the variables are not stacked up for you to have a difference. That may be good for you. Cables, and the quest for the ultimate cable tweek can be costly. Consider yourself fortunate you're not in that trap.



Edits: 11/24/12 11/24/12 11/24/12 11/24/12 11/24/12 11/24/12

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