User Manual

CABLE THEORY

Page 27

The only thing that needs to be learned is how not to be misled by the incredibly deceptive process

of listening to equipment. People hear real sounds all day long. None of these real sounds has the

added layers of distortion which exist in every audio system. Whether or not we have ever heard a

particular singer or instrument, we can recognize whether more or less “extra stuff” is in the way.

• As for comparisons where there seem to be only “insignicant” differences between components,

this is usually proof of a faulty context and/or methodology. This is most obvious in the discussion of

ABX testing.

In an ABX set-up, the listener does not know whether or not there has been any equipment change at

all. ABX testing is not a question of how a xed but blind “A” compares to a xed but blind “B”. Be-

cause there are too many unknowns, the ABX test becomes primarily an opportunity for embarrass-

ment. Context is everything, and the ABX set-up is one very distorted context, much too far removed

from the purpose of an audio system. ABX fans believe that a lack of repeatable hierarchy proves

there are no valid differences. Others of us believe the same evidence proves that the ABX test is an

invalid methodology.

Does all this mean that trustworthy conclusions are impossible? No. It means a balanced perspective

is paramount. It’s a little like shopping for advice (which really is more useful than shopping for equip-

ment): If honesty is the sole criterion, you’ll probably end up taking advice from someone honest, but

incompetent. If competency is the sole criterion you get the picture.

Burn This

We sincerely hope that after you have absorbed some of this information, and after you have set up

your music system, you will put on a recording and hear the music, not the equipment. Unfortunately,

the very process of being an informed and careful consumer involves at least temporarily increasing

your awareness of the equipment. When the evaluation process is over, we hope you can turn it off.

Toward that end, burn any print outs of this text, or better yet, give it to a friend.

The Final Sell

There is one more thing AudioQuest does want to remind you about-the AudioQuest Music record-

ing label offers some of the nest artists performing some of the world’s greatest music-and they

just happen to be superb recordings using the nest studios, tube microphones, cables(!) and lots

of loving care.