WiiMer SJ
Senior Member
The 14 Stages of Falling Into the Audiophile Rabbit Hole
Whether you are just starting or already obsessed these stages will feel oddly familiar.
www.headphonesty.com
The Audiophile Rabbit Hole
- Thread starter WiiMer SJ
- Start date
dangermouse
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2023
- Messages
- 249
"As audiophiles dive deeper into the hobby, there’s a risk of shifting focus from enjoying music to analyzing sound. "
Yep. Been there, done that. Cured now.
Yep. Been there, done that. Cured now.
hgo58
Major Contributor
I use my equipment to listen to music. Audiophiles use music to listen to their equipment.
WiiMer SJ
Senior Member
Cured or in remission?"As audiophiles dive deeper into the hobby, there’s a risk of shifting focus from enjoying music to analyzing sound. "
Yep. Been there, done that. Cured now.
Vignus
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2024
- Messages
- 113
Not really a risk but a certainty, I say. (some of my) symptoms: 1) you don't listen to music you like anymore, but to music that sounds good on your system. 2) You listen to faults in the sound over enjoying the music. 3) You keep movibng and toeing your speakers and never sit still in your listening position for more then 5 minutes. 4) You keep comparing different versions of the same album looking for the perfect production. 5) You own more then 5 different speakers cables. (My) cure: 1) Stop following YouTube rewiers. 2) Stop Googling "Speaker placement". 3) Sit down, relax and just cocentrate on the music you're listening to.
Anyone cares to add to the list?
castalla
Major Contributor
Using cable risers
dangermouse
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2023
- Messages
- 249
Completely cured.
As soon as I spot a cable thread, I reach for the knife sharpener.
WiiMer SJ
Senior Member
BowsAndArrows
Senior Member
There is some merit to cable lifters. I know: just hear me out...
One thing that most bunking articles for lifters will NOT state is the benefit of reducing vibrations travelling from cables to the equipment it's attached to. And thus reducing the potential of microphonics being introduced into the signal path.
The other benefit they always mention is to minimise the deleterious effects of having a conductor lie close to electrically/magnetically active materials e.g. concrete or synthetic carpets. Which can eventually change the cabling's basic characteristics - e.g impedance.
Also, separating cables from each other has the same desireable effects...
Take me out the back and shoot me, I know!
castalla
Major Contributor
Are there optimal max. & min. separation distances? What about cable diameter effects? Colour of the cables?There is some merit to cable lifters. I know: just hear me out...
One thing that most bunking articles for lifters will NOT state is the benefit of reducing vibrations travelling from cables to the equipment it's attached to. And thus reducing the potential of microphonics being introduced into the signal path.
The other benefit they always mention is to minimise the deleterious effects of having a conductor lie close to electrically/magnetically active materials e.g. concrete or synthetic carpets. Which can eventually change the cabling's basic characteristics - e.g impedance.
Also, separating cables from each other has the same desireable effects...
Take me out the back and shoot me, I know!
dangermouse
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2023
- Messages
- 249
Take me out the back and shoot me, I know!
You're safe. We all appreciate a good joke.
Vignus
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2024
- Messages
- 113
True! They lift cables!There is some merit to cable lifters. I know: just hear me out...
BowsAndArrows
Senior Member
can't tell if you're trolling me or not but i'll bite!!Are there optimal max. & min. separation distances? What about cable diameter effects? Colour of the cables?
according to audioquest - they claim to limit the floor-borne RF interference you should elevate the cables approx 6 inches or more. according to them - you want an absolute minimum of solid material in proximity to the cable to minimize RF noise coupling as well - hence the weird design of their fog lifters. they do however claim that they prioritised RFI minimisation vs vibration control in their design - compared to other cable managment/lifting solutions. which may not be what your system needs...
i believe you need a good combination of both, but in my system the vibration control aspects are more important.
spacing i'm not sure matters as long as the entire cable is lifted off the ground and away from others - especially power cables. diameter probably does matter but not sure how
and obviously with the colour comment - that's pure trolling, isn't it?!
hgo58
Major Contributor
That would be true if you were to measure some sub-atomic particles at CERN. For audio signals this is pure snake oil.can't tell if you're trolling me or not but i'll bite!!
according to audioquest - they claim to limit the floor-borne RF interference you should elevate the cables approx 6 inches or more. according to them - you want an absolute minimum of solid material in proximity to the cable to minimize RF noise coupling as well - hence the weird design of their fog lifters. they do however claim that they prioritised RFI minimisation vs vibration control in their design - compared to other cable managment/lifting solutions. which may not be what your system needs...
i believe you need a good combination of both, but in my system the vibration control aspects are more important.
spacing i'm not sure matters as long as the entire cable is lifted off the ground and away from others - especially power cables. diameter probably does matter but not sure how
and obviously with the colour comment - that's pure trolling, isn't it?!
WiiMer SJ
Senior Member
can't tell if you're trolling me or not but i'll bite!!
according to audioquest - they claim to limit the floor-borne RF interference you should elevate the cables approx 6 inches or more. according to them - you want an absolute minimum of solid material in proximity to the cable to minimize RF noise coupling as well - hence the weird design of their fog lifters. they do however claim that they prioritised RFI minimisation vs vibration control in their design - compared to other cable managment/lifting solutions. which may not be what your system needs...
i believe you need a good combination of both, but in my system the vibration control aspects are more important.
spacing i'm not sure matters as long as the entire cable is lifted off the ground and away from others - especially power cables. diameter probably does matter but not sure how
and obviously with the colour comment - that's pure trolling, isn't it?!
BowsAndArrows
Senior Member
well, i mean if you don't believe in microphonics from vibrations in sensitive electronics - then it's hard to accept, i suppose.
and if the insulation/dielectric/shielding/geometry around wires didn't matter then why do cable manufacturers spend R+D on designing this stuff? things like skin effect in cables is very real. whether or not we hear a difference is another question...
you're entitled to your own opinons
hgo58
Major Contributor
I do. Just too weak to have any influence on the audio signal. Even if comming from a TT or microphone.
Yes it is real and it matters a lot especially for high speed digital signals. In the realm of audio this was however solved in the 1980's.
Thanks.you're entitled to your own opinons
slartibartfast
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2024
- Messages
- 3,709
How is skin effect related to cable risers?well, i mean if you don't believe in microphonics from vibrations in sensitive electronics - then it's hard to accept, i suppose.
and if the insulation/dielectric/shielding/geometry around wires didn't matter then why do cable manufacturers spend R+D on designing this stuff? things like skin effect in cables is very real. whether or not we hear a difference is another question...
you're entitled to your own opinons
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