Re: [Harp-L] Re: Cables: Are there really any sonic differences?

[MARK BURNESS <markwjburness@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Rick, what is it that makes a cable "premium", if it's not the sound it 
transmits? The price you pay doesn't influence the sound specifically (there's a 
1000% discrepancy in prices for similar performance cables that I have tested), 
the cable doesn't know how much it costs...it is however affected by capacitance 
of the stock, series resistance of the wire, resistance between layers, 
capacitance of the plugs, inductance of conductors & shielding, static 
rejection...just like a tube, or a speaker, a cable isn't simply one component, 
it's bunch of them working together, any differences in materials & construction 
introduce the possibility for audible changes.




________________________________
From: Rick Davis <bluesharpamps@xxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, 3 March, 2011 4:23:17
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Cables: Are there really any sonic differences?

There may be detectable differences for guitar players.  I don't really
know.  I've conducted casual blind tests with various cables for blues harp
- not guitar - and found it impossible for good players to distinguish
between one premium cable and another.

I suppose it is possible for "golden ear" players with exquisite control of
all other tone generators in the signal path (harp, mic, amp, etc) to
distinguish the miniscule effect a different premium cable might have on
their tone.  Good for them.  But for the rest of us (9999999.99 percent, I
suspect) any premium name-brand cable is fine.

-- 
-Rick Davis
The Blues Harp Amps Blog
http://www.bluesharpamps.blogspot.com/



On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 8:46 PM, Jim Rossen <jimjimdr@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>
> My band mates did a nice cable article for Premier Guitar Magazine,
> link below, and I tried some of the demo cables.  There were clear
> differences in sound- detail, frequency response, smoothness.  The
> differences were minor compared to the many other factors that affect
> the sound, but definitely detectable.
>
> Jim R
>
>
>http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2008/Jun/Guitar_Cable_Roundup_Part_Two.aspx
>x
>
>
>
> On Mar 2, 9:38 am, Rick Davis <bluesharpa...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Most of us use premium name-brand 20-foot instrument cables, unbalanced,
> > with a quarter inch phone plug on each end.  Such as Live Wire, Planet
> > Waves, Mogami, Monster, and others.
> >
> > I challenge the notion that there are real audible differrences between
> > various cables in this class.  It would seem obvious that we should avoid
> > the bargain bin at Guitar Center when shopping for a cable.  Any premium
> > name-brand cable will be fine.  You don't need to spend a bunch of extra
> > money for cables: It won't improve your tone.
> >
> > --
> > -Rick Davis
> > The Blues Harp Amps Bloghttp://www.bluesharpamps.blogspot.com/
>
>