Sighted reviewer claims about cables contradict controlled measurements
Evidence
In controlled listening tests and in measurements, electronic devices in general, speaker wire and audio-frequency interconnection cables are found to exhibit small to non-existent differences. Yet, some reviewers are able to write pages of descriptive text about audible qualities in detailed, absolute terms. The evaluations reported on were usually done without controls because it is believed that disguising the product identity prevents listeners from hearing differences. In fact, some audiophile publications heap scorn on double-blind tests that fail to confirm their opinions—the data must be wrong. — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 184
Categorization
- ADDENDUM: Supports and extends the skepticism about ungrounded claims in ‘Complaints About Immodesty’ style debunking of received wisdom, though the connection is to the epistemology of expert claims.
- SHARE: A perfect ammunition paragraph for a friend into audio gear who debates cable skeptics.
- XREF: connects to: Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests; High-end audio forfeited credibility by refusing blind testing — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 161; Sighted loudspeaker evaluations are demonstrably unreliable (+1 more)
Related
- Sighted loudspeaker evaluations are demonstrably unreliable (similarity 0.87)
- Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests (similarity 0.86)
- High-end audio forfeited credibility by refusing blind testing (similarity 0.84)
- Speaker wire and cables show negligible audible differences under controlled tests (similarity 0.84)
- Audible resonances drove low sound-quality ratings in early blind tests (similarity 0.84)
- Some audiophile claims about playback components flout physical laws (similarity 0.84)
- Blind listener tests reliably favor the most neutral loudspeakers (similarity 0.82)
- Consumer loudspeakers rated higher than professional monitors in blind tests (similarity 0.82)
- Objective measurements routinely expose flaws that subjective listening reviews miss (similarity 0.81)
- Consumer Reports loudspeaker ratings lacked rigorous subjective validation (similarity 0.80)
- Sighted loudspeaker evaluations are contaminated by non-auditory visual and social cues (similarity 0.80)
- Historically, published loudspeaker specifications were often artistic rather than factual. (similarity 0.80)
- Roughly 75 percent of people have sufficiently normal hearing to make reliable loudspeaker judgments (similarity 0.79)
- Consumer Reports speaker ratings were negatively correlated with blind-test fidelity ratings (similarity 0.79)
- Sighted listening evaluations are biased regardless of listener expertise (similarity 0.78)
Broader Connections
- Speaker cables and devices show near-zero audible differences in blind tests
#corroborates(0.85) - High-end audio forfeited credibility by refusing blind testing
#expands(0.80) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 161 - Sighted loudspeaker evaluations are demonstrably unreliable
#corroborates(0.80) - Some audiophile claims about playback components flout physical laws
#expands(0.78) — , Toole, Floyd E - Sound reproduction-…, 623