>My favourite equipment review fiasco happened a number of years ago when
>Julian Herst decided to debunk the esoteric cable test done in "Audiophile"
>in an another test he performed for "Stereo Review". Anybody remember this
>one?
You are now preaching to the choir. Boy, do I remember that. I was ROTF.
>In Julian's test, auto jumper cables from K-Mart outperformed every single
>other cable tested, including those "golden ears only" $450 per meter
>jobbies...
The test I remember (mid-80's) was between 30' of zip cord and Monster
Cable. They may have also used some smaller gauge wire just for laughs. It
has been quite a while. Maybe this is the same test, maybe they did it more
than once.
As I recall the couple of pros on the test panel could actually hear a
"difference" about 60% of the time (or something similarly iffy) when they
used noise bursts and test tones, but when they played any sort of actual
MUSIC nobody could hear the difference.
I also recall that they did the same thing with a range of amplifiers, and
again with a range of CD players--larger spread but overall similar
results. The cheap stuff did surprisingly well with actual music.
The point is that if you're using your synth in a quiet studio you can hear
crap going on, but that's because of the austere circumstances.
>Nasty letters went back and forth in the two magazines for MONTHS after
>that....made for some damn fine reading!
My favorite: "I've experienced a 50% increase in sound quality since using
Monster Cable!". I just love when laymen use such highly technical
terminology.
--
Terry Bowman, KA4HJH
"The Mac Doctor"
"If The Amazing Kreskin was a mentalist then what the hell is a
fundamentalist?"