USB Cable Shootout

thsmith

Fantastic input guys, thank you for the input.


Should the test listeners be limited to 3 or is this a case of more is better?

falconcry72

thsmith wrote: »

Fantastic input guys, thank you for the input.


Should the test listeners be limited to 3 or is this a case of more is better?

I think more can be better, as long as everybody shuts the hell up and isn't rustling their clothes or making other noises. In my experience, even the slightest background noise is detrimental to evaluating gear, especially on something subtle as this.

Plus, only the dude in the sweet-spot is going to get the whole picture.

My dog's claws on the linoleum flooring is the worst!:biggrin:

heiney9

thsmith wrote: »

Fantastic input guys, thank you for the input.


Should the test listeners be limited to 3 or is this a case of more is better?

At one time?

I will tell you if you get too many people in a single room, just their positioning can change how something sounds.

Think of it this way, and damn I know this is anal but.........

If listener A is way off to the left of the listening group of people for say 2 cables and then listener A moves to the center of the listening group for the next 2 cables, he really isn't comparing apples to apples because depending on room and speakers he will hear things differently in each listening position. So the question then becomes were the differences actually in the various cables or because the same listener was in multiple positions when evaluating.

It can make a big difference in some cases listening from dead center on-axis vs. left or right off-axis.

H9

thsmith

Fair ball on number of listeners.

I can tell you as a preview that what I am hearing during burn in is not so subtle. I will leave it that for now.

tonyb

Good point Brock, listening positions are as important as anything else when doing evaluations. So is the amount of beer one consumes too.

falconcry72

I've done my best, most critical listening alone, though it can be helpful to have someone swapping inputs, or in your case cables, so that the listener doesn't have to move.

falconcry72

heiney9 wrote: »

...and damn I know this is anal but.........

I don't think it's possible to be too anal in this hobby, unless it interferes with your enjoyment.:biggrin:

heiney9

falconcry72 wrote: »

I've done my best, most critical listening alone, though it can be helpful to have someone swapping inputs, or in your case cables, so that the listener doesn't have to move.

Me too mostly, unless a bunch of us local polkies get together then we all listen for various things. But I am at my most critical when evaluating alone.

H9

Ern Dog

3 months later, did the shoot out ever happen and what was the verdict???

thsmith

Nope, the guy that was going into this with me lost interest and the frank, so did I. I kept the WireWorld starlight cable and sold the rest.

It was a tough choice as I liked the WW and Nivana with power leads removed.

Both were definate step up from W4S stock and Belkin Gold cables.