You need to add that AQ Diamond is x15 more expensive than MeiCord e.g. with 1.5m
My main concern with this thread is that it may encourage people to believe that expensive ethernet cables are better than those that meet the standardised requirements. What I suggest is people ask their wife/husband/friend to swap the cables in a blinded test before writing about their experiences. A success rate of 8 out of 10 times is probable grounds for statistical significance.
It has a great deal to do with it. But you seem unwilling to see how. We are susceptible to suggestion, including self-suggestion, as I would have thought you would be very familiar with. But you seem very unwilling to consider the possibility, which seems strange. Did you ever watch the video by Floyd (IIRC) about loudspeakers and the influence that cost and appearance can have on people’s ranking of them? What do you think of the many examples in wine tasting where experienced tasters are fooled by labels and the colour of the wine?
Yes, I agree on that. I should indeed have pointed that.
The same between Naca 5 and Superlumina, Lavender vs Hiline…
Standard power cord (maybe 50 dollars) and Powerline ( 700 dollars).
In each case the differences are audible between big differences in prices.
Very often.
But sometimes, not. The Audioquest Forrest Ethernet cable sounds crap vs the Blue Jeans, and is more expensive. You can hear easily the differences.
I am not denying suggestion , placebo effects, illusion, hallucinations, projective identification…etc. They exist.
But not always. Sometimes if it sounds better, it sounds just better.
I’ve removed a few posts here. Would members please not try to provoke others by using certain key words, that evidently have wider meanings outside of common English usage. A suggestion for those who wish to argue, for what looks just to be for arguments sake; let those who wish to discuss the benefits (or otherwise) of ethernet cables and switches do so without constantly getting harassed and challenged to double blind tests et al. There are plenty of threads for everybody here, so lets all try to play nicely please. Thank you.
Agree the AQ Forest is not worth the money, but again I have mention (again) that I have found more contradictory differences in relation to the system components than with the cable irrespective of price points. I’ve listened with others to various cables on my system, and then the same cables on their Linn & Cyrus streamers, not all the results were consistent across the different systems. I will add that the Linn owner tried an AQ Diamond did not like it, but the Cyrus owner did. FTR I did not try it on my system.
Agree too, all is also system dependent. Different streamers, commercial routers, ac mains…and interactions between all these different components, will give different results.
I have not denied that.
… and the reason why we all need to make it clear to all the forum readers the system components that we have used to come to whatever SQ conclusion
We just share individual experiences and hearings. No more. There is no absolute truth.
But the truth in our individual experience is REAL, not a mental construction or brain phenomenon.
Someone who buys a Nap 500 dr and hears improvement vs the 300 dr doesn’t need to check and verify, double blind…to be sure that he has heard an improvement.
The same for someone who hears a clear improvement between a tp link switch and an Etheregen. Even if the white paper is rubbish.
The white paper means nothing,.it can only indicate in a certain direction.
What matters is,.how the product delivers a musical performance in the music-system.
You need to try physically and actively the product,.not just read some “paper”.
Too many make the mistake of just reading this “paper”
/Peder🙂
Hey Magnussen, nice informative post. I have a bad habit of getting sucked in and trying / buying things as recommended on the forum and in all honesty 90% of the time it has not improved the sound of my system.
If you’re enjoying your system at the moment then I’d leave it alone and just listen to the music.
Hi Magnussen, and welcome to the forum - and the maddest thread in it!
Please excuse the fact that sometimes things get a bit out of hand here - it is not the same in all parts of the forum!
Your post was interesting - and I it is good to note that you went to the trouble to blind test, which is very important in my view to eliminate sources of bias. Depending how thoroughly you read through the forum, you may have observed quite a range of varied responses, and that some people take care to evaluate carefully and try to be as objective as possible, while others simply go by what they hear at the time without a reference point or care to avoid possible unwanted influences.
You will also have noted that there is considerable variation as to what is best - maybe because there is considerable difference in associated equipment, some streamers/DACs seemingly being very susceptible to effects other quite the reverse, while everything around the network could be significant when dealing with susceptible system front ends.
It is good that you have found resolution!
Welcome, your first post in some ways mirrors my own experience. The word that came immediately go mind was ‘cogent’, although I accept that you are not presenting an argument.
My wife has always been interested in that she accompanies me to demonstrations, shows. Actually conducting a blind test might be asking too much. Despite having hearing difficulty she hears and appreciates differences. She has no training, except that she used to run a dance class (hence timing and rhythm are important). The only difference of opinion we have is which level of Quadraspire rack is best.
Stay and continue to post interesting, sensible comments to balance the manic.
I do not always agree with FR & Peder, in fact, most of the time I disagree with them with respect to ethernet cables and network switches.
However, I appreciate their contributions to the forum, and their enthusiasm is unmatched.
Nice new avatar Quinn_MIT… it was pink color before?
Thanks FR, I decided to use the cover album of The Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd, it was set up by default before.
@anon56221831,…Thanks for the other kind words .
But regarding these words above.
I guarantee,.that if you had been given the opportunity to listen in our music-systems.
Well,.then you would have experienced the same differences as us…Guaranteed.
/Peder🙂
I’m drawing a line under this thread, especially after 7,000+ posts. If members wish to continue the discussion then by all means please start a new fresh thread, and summarise the findings from this thread if you feel so inclined.