perfect example of why many cables are.....
Sept 11, 2006 18:38:40 GMT
Post by rickcr42 on Sept 11, 2006 18:38:40 GMT
WAY overdone and WAY overpriced
www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/stager_e.html
how does one make a nice "minimalist" cable that has both sonic merit and good science behind it in the face of opinions such as this :
"Here's the recommendation, right?
Well, no. As I said earlier, they are a twisted pair of cables, terminated with RCA jacks. At over $100 per pair, I find them to be overpriced. Look at the picture again. These cables can be assembled by virtually anyone for a small fraction of the cost, with a minimal amount of time invested.
I've written other cable reviews, and I have recommended other cables. Why can't I give a recommendation here? It's simple really: the other cables sounded better, exhibited a bit more in the research and development department, and the manufacturers created something that I can't... at least without quite a bit of work, and, I suspect, a bit of frustration. That's not the case at all with these cables. I can easily build them. You can easily build them. I suspect a child could easily build them with a bit of supervision. In my opinion, they are overpriced even for those who aren't comfortable with a soldering iron.
If they were priced approximately 25-30 % less, maybe I'd feel differently, but as it stands, I recommend a pass. "
It is more than obvious the "look" and build style had as much to do with the final recommendation and even possibly the sonics perceived as any other factor and I'm thinking adding fancy high end $$$$$$ RCA plugs,custom heat shrink with a company logo and a heavy exterior 'teflex" sheathing would have had a different outcome even at 4X the retail price and even if all that excess heavy metal and cable capactiance raisng "excess" made for an actually inferior perfomrer.
High end audio and especially high end audio tweaks need to have a certain "look" to be taken seriously and this is well known by manufacturers who WILL take advantage of that by selling dolled up overpriced products and most consumers will gobble it up only because it has that certain "look"
these cables may or may not sound good (though my guess is they actually sound great considering the topology and materials used) but by looking ordinary,having no cocobolo wood shells or fancy trimmings,look like a thing any DIYer can make (even though many/most audiophiles do NOT do DIY ) means beneath notice.
This is an audio industry wide attitude that actually has at its roots the consumer who WANTS to pay more for a look rather than performance and if it looks good it sounds good no matter what is inside the wrapper.Sad state folks but no one to blame but the "ooh,that looks good,I bet it sounds good too" type consumers that seemingly are multiplying like bunny rabits ;D
www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/stager_e.html
how does one make a nice "minimalist" cable that has both sonic merit and good science behind it in the face of opinions such as this :
"Here's the recommendation, right?
Well, no. As I said earlier, they are a twisted pair of cables, terminated with RCA jacks. At over $100 per pair, I find them to be overpriced. Look at the picture again. These cables can be assembled by virtually anyone for a small fraction of the cost, with a minimal amount of time invested.
I've written other cable reviews, and I have recommended other cables. Why can't I give a recommendation here? It's simple really: the other cables sounded better, exhibited a bit more in the research and development department, and the manufacturers created something that I can't... at least without quite a bit of work, and, I suspect, a bit of frustration. That's not the case at all with these cables. I can easily build them. You can easily build them. I suspect a child could easily build them with a bit of supervision. In my opinion, they are overpriced even for those who aren't comfortable with a soldering iron.
If they were priced approximately 25-30 % less, maybe I'd feel differently, but as it stands, I recommend a pass. "
It is more than obvious the "look" and build style had as much to do with the final recommendation and even possibly the sonics perceived as any other factor and I'm thinking adding fancy high end $$$$$$ RCA plugs,custom heat shrink with a company logo and a heavy exterior 'teflex" sheathing would have had a different outcome even at 4X the retail price and even if all that excess heavy metal and cable capactiance raisng "excess" made for an actually inferior perfomrer.
High end audio and especially high end audio tweaks need to have a certain "look" to be taken seriously and this is well known by manufacturers who WILL take advantage of that by selling dolled up overpriced products and most consumers will gobble it up only because it has that certain "look"
these cables may or may not sound good (though my guess is they actually sound great considering the topology and materials used) but by looking ordinary,having no cocobolo wood shells or fancy trimmings,look like a thing any DIYer can make (even though many/most audiophiles do NOT do DIY ) means beneath notice.
This is an audio industry wide attitude that actually has at its roots the consumer who WANTS to pay more for a look rather than performance and if it looks good it sounds good no matter what is inside the wrapper.Sad state folks but no one to blame but the "ooh,that looks good,I bet it sounds good too" type consumers that seemingly are multiplying like bunny rabits ;D
) the opinion is these are in fact good sounding cables for a good price.
)