Nope--that's like the opposite of what I'm doing.Read up on "pink noise".
I know about pink noise, but I somehow missed it in your explanation.
Just curious, did you try using white noise?
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Comparing the tone of three different "boutique" cables
- Thread starter bongomania
- Start date
I know about pink noise, but I somehow missed it in your explanation.
Just curious, did you try using white noise?
Well if I had paid $150 for a cable I would damn well want it to sound different to my regular $10 one. I don't think I have spent $150 on cables in 43 years of bass playing.
Anyway if one is deeper, brighter, warmer, fatter, darker, rounder, squarer, leaner, meaner, fitter etc etc etc all you are going to do is alter your eq to get back to 'your favourite sound'.
Great post by the way Bongo, following it with much interest.
Anyway if one is deeper, brighter, warmer, fatter, darker, rounder, squarer, leaner, meaner, fitter etc etc etc all you are going to do is alter your eq to get back to 'your favourite sound'.
Great post by the way Bongo, following it with much interest.
If you like a particular brand of cable because it seems to roll off the high end, then why not use a cheap cable and EQ your signal accordingly?
Wow. That's skirting awful close to arrogance, as in, "The reason you don't hear the difference is that you are an untalented listener."
Haven't you ever read "The Emperor's New Clothes"?
Or are you just trolling?
Nope--that's like the opposite of what I'm doing.
or read up on fourier analysis.
Hmm, I'll try to simplify: The pickup has two external wires; usually, one is connected to ground, and the other is the "hot" signal. It works by creating a constantly-changing differential between the two wires, as the string vibrates over the magnet. But you can also send a signal into it, and it will come out the other end, transformed by the resistance, inductance, etc. of the magnetic coils.Missed it, not that I understood the answer
Adding to the circus, I just ordered a "Zerocap" cable: Invalid Link Removed
The idea is that a battery-powered device is connected to the shield of the cable, and its function is to reduce the capacitance of the cable to ~60 pF at any length. They do not claim the cable itself is magic in any way, or that it has properties any different from other good-quality cables. Their only claim is near-zero capacitance, and the electronic device is in parallel with the audio, not in series--so it is not part of the audio path.
I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid, but I figured this was a worthy addition to the challenge tests.
Bongo, thank you for being a slick stupid scientist (to quote some rapper). This has been a very informative thread.
I gotta say that reading this particular post makes me really happy that I play active basses with a hot output, and have buffering at several spots in my board. I think I could run 100' of cable to my amp and not notice any difference in my tone. Of course, I don't play arenas, so this will never happen anyway.
Some of us like to know the truth. Others like to stay ignorant.
Since a few people have made the "best cable for metal" joke, here's the answer:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Dude,
you totally rock. I want it.
I have to agree that there can be a certain amount of truth in that.
People have different skill levels in everything and that includes the ability to listen closely and be able do identify the characteristics of tone.
You might be surprised how many people have a hard time picking out the sounds of different instruments in a piece. Ever take a music appreciation class? Learning how to do that is one of the exercises we had.
I'm sure that it's a mix of talent, experience and self-education to develop a refined sense of listening.
- Apr 24, 2004
- 1,359
- 53
- Disclosures
- Designer Fodera Guitars/Michael Pope Design, Inc., Trickfish Amplification
Ah, ok. So then I assume you're using the node at the output of the PU as the control and measuring the change in the signal at the other end of the cable. Yes?
Most musicians have no trouble whatsoever picking out individual instruments in a mix and have been exercising critical listening ever since they started playing. And yes, I've taken music appreciation classes. Have you ever read "The Emperor's New Clothes"?
Show me that you can discern one cable from another in a true double blind test and I'll look at the data; otherwise it's just you saying "I can hear the difference" and that's not evidence at all. It doesn't matter how "talented" you are at listening; you are as susceptible to the subjectivity of hearing as anyone else. Trying to dismiss those who disagree with your observations as being naive or unsophisticated is just a ploy to try to "win". No one can prove you wrong, so you must be right, eh?
But if you hear a difference then it's real to you. Spend your money however you like, but your point of view is no more objective than anyone else's.
Seriously did anybody read this link? It applies I think:
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/05/19/fanboyism-and-brand-loyalty/
http://youarenotsosmart.com/2010/05/19/fanboyism-and-brand-loyalty/
Most musicians have no trouble whatsoever picking out individual instruments in a mix and have been exercising critical listening ever since they started playing. And yes, I've taken music appreciation classes. Have you ever read "The Emperor's New Clothes"?
Show me that you can discern one cable from another in a true double blind test and I'll look at the data; otherwise it's just you saying "I can hear the difference" and that's not evidence at all. It doesn't matter how "talented" you are at listening; you are as susceptible to the subjectivity of hearing as anyone else. Trying to dismiss those who disagree with your observations as being naive or unsophisticated is just a ploy to try to "win". No one can prove you wrong, so you must be right, eh?
But if you hear a difference then it's real to you. Spend your money however you like, but your point of view is no more objective than anyone else's.
I never said anything about being able discern cables under any conditions. Where did you get that from anyway? All I did was agree that some are better at listening than others. And that is a fact, even amongst musicians.
However, your rant certainly says a lot about you. Apparently it's your clothes that are very transparent now.
My mistake. I had thought you were the same one who had said, arrogantly (IMO), "Known the truth for decades. Never had to go through all these gyrations figure it out. All that's needed is some talent in the art of listening," implying that he has the ability to hear the difference between cables because of his superior talent in the art of listening. Sorry; I'll be more careful to check who said what in the future.
But that wasn't a rant. When I post a rant, you'll know it.
