WSJ Article on Audiophiles & Speaker Cables

[aberkowitz]

Short little article, but interesting.

I love how the experts described the more expensive cables as "richer," "crisper" and "more coherent."... was it an apple pie or a CD????

 

[Johnd]

Gospel. That's what it is.

I was especially fond of this statement:
"In absolute terms, though, the differences weren't great. Mr. Atkinson guesstimated the expensive cables sounded roughly 5% better."

And this one:
"Remember, by definition, an audiophile is one who will bear any burden, pay any price, to get even a tiny improvement in sound."

What a moron.

 

[Tom Andry]

I was there and tried to get into that room but either they were doing a test and had the door locked or were at lunch (it was about that time of day). Of course, none of the results are anywhere close to statistical significance (especially that 52% result ) but it is an interesting read. If more stuff like this was done, perhaps people would start doing it right and we'd have some real information upon which to base some decisions.

 

[aberkowitz]

I was there and tried to get into that room but either they were doing a test and had the door locked or were at lunch (it was about that time of day). Of course, none of the results are anywhere close to statistical significance (especially that 52% result ) but it is an interesting read. If more stuff like this was done, perhaps people would start doing it right and we'd have some real information upon which to base some decisions.

It actually really surprised me to see the article in the journal when I opened it. I spend most of my day on 2 websites- this one and WSJ (I work for an investment bank), so you can imagine my pleasure when I saw my worlds colliding for a day!

 

[fmw]

Some cables do affect sound. When I did my blind testing, one pair out of the 15 I tested had audible characteristics. The electrical properties of the product were not something you would expect or want in a cable, but it did manage to reduce the high frequencies enough to be audible. I would like to see the Stereophile staff engage in a blind test on cables with neutral properties. I'm sure they wouldn't be willing to do it - or be honest about it.

 

[fmw]

Of course, none of the results are anywhere close to statistical significance (especially that 52% result ) but it is an interesting read. .

I think they are very significant statistically. The numbers say that, without a doubt, there is no audible difference between them because the test subjects' choices were statistically random.

 

[Tom Andry]

I think they are very significant statistically. The numbers say that, without a doubt, there is no audible difference between them because the test subjects' choices were statistically random.

They may be interesting in that you can't reject the null hypothesis but they are not significant.

 

[BGLeduc]

I think they are very significant statistically. The numbers say that, without a doubt, there is no audible difference between them because the test subjects' choices were statistically random.

I think the 52% stat pertained to a CD vs. wav (on an iPod) comparo at the same event.

I think the cable test was more like >60% preferred the expensive Monster, give or take.

I agree with the comment that a cable could have an affect on the sound, but then it becomes a non-adjustable tone control.

Personally, I stay as far away from voodoo cable as I can;-)

Brian

 

[Audioholics]

It actually really surprised me to see the article in the journal when I opened it. I spend most of my day on 2 websites- this one and WSJ (I work for an investment bank), so you can imagine my pleasure when I saw my worlds colliding for a day!

That's so cool, lol.

 

[fmw]

They may be interesting in that you can't reject the null hypothesis but they are not significant.

Ah, thanks for the correction. Statistical significance and the significance of the outcome of the test are two different things.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I think the 52% stat pertained to a CD vs. wav (on an iPod) comparo at the same event.

I think the cable test was more like >60% preferred the expensive Monster, give or take.

I agree with the comment that a cable could have an affect on the sound, but then it becomes a non-adjustable tone control.

Personally, I stay as far away from voodoo cable as I can;-)

Brian

I am just wondering how randomized the cables in play were, and how many guesses each listener had.