Cables - the definitive answer
- From: Glenn Richards <glenn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2006 09:40:26 +0000
Right, I'm sick of this argument coming up constantly, so I just set up a little test. Hardly pure science, but it's enough to make the point.
System - SPDIF output from Creative MP3 Blaster USB sound card (one of the few that outputs at native 44.1kHz and doesn't resample to 48kHz) connected to Arcam Black Box 50 DAC.
Yamaha DSP-A592 amplifier, Eltax Symphony 6, Symphony Centre and Millennium Mini surrounds. No sub in use on this test.
All the phono sockets were cleaned using isopropyl alcohol and allowed to dry before any connections were made.
The BB50 has two analogue outs. One connected to one input of the amplifier using Chord Cobra II interconnect, the other connected to a different input (the adjacent one on the input selector) using a freebie crappy one of the type that comes in the box. Got a friend to connect the cables, so I had no idea which way around they were connected. I'd told him which inputs to use, but not to tell me which cable was connected to which input obviously.
Both cables were connected to audio only inputs to prevent video switching from affecting the tests. I refer to the inputs as 1 and 2 below, in fact input 1 was the CD input and input 2 the tuner input. Both are electrically identical inside the amplifier, the labelling is just for convenience.
I left the room while my friend connected the cables up then pushed the amplifier back into the cabinet. I then returned to the room. The cables were not visible. If anyone doubts this then I'm prepared to take a photo of the equipment in-situ to prove that cables weren't visible.
Friend then stood out of my sight (to eliminate bullshit claims of "psychological telepathic communication", which is much more far-fetched than the idea that the cable in use just might make a difference) but where he could see me, to ensure I didn't cheat by looking around the back.
Played a high quality VBR MP3 (ABBA's "The Day Before You Came", ripped from the 1994 4 CD box set "Thank You For The Music", if it matters) and swapped between the two inputs.
On input 1 the sound was muddy, lacked focus, almost sounded like it had been brute-force compressed.
On input 2 the sound was open, detailed, had a lot more presence and generally sounded much more life-like, and more to the point much more musical.
Before looking around the back I repeated the test several times, with other tracks, and with the amplifier set to Pro-Logic mode (first test was in straight stereo). Each time input 2 sounded noticeably better.
Once I'd played about 4-5 tracks in stereo and Pro-Logic modes on each input (obviously using the same track and comparing) I determined that input 2 was the Cobra II and input 1 was the freebie.
I looked around the back of the amplifier and indeed input 2 was the Cobra II.
So as far as I'm concerned that proves that cables do make a difference, and I now consider this matter closed.
--
Glenn Richards Tel: (01453) 845735
Squirrel Solutions http://www.squirrelsolutions.co.uk/
IT consultancy, hardware and software support, broadband installation
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