I’m sure every industry has its share of snake-oil and bad science; the music/audio industry is certainly no exception. This made me giggle…
Audiophiles can’t tell the difference between Monster Cable and coat hangers (engadget.com)
It doesn’t surprise me, to be honest. I remember Ben Goldacre issued a challenge in his Guardian column, offering to take part in a double-blind test of some IEC mains cables (kettle leads, in other words) that cost several hundred pounds. The manufacturers never rose to his challenge, as far as I’m aware. I’ve seen super-expensive guitar leads that were supposed to be connected between the guitar and amplifier in one direction only and I can clearly remember the discussions in Q Magazine about whether CDs sounded better after a few hours in the freezer. Yep, there’s a whole industry out there, dedicated to relieving the gullible of vast wodges of cash in return for complete bullshit.
And if it’s bullshit you want, Machina Dynamica must be the masters of the genre. I still can’t decide whether this site is the absolute pinnacle of snake oil or just a clever spoof…
Yep, stones. In a plastic bag. For anything from $39 to $159 each :-D
I’ve got a book on valve amps where one of the builders SERIOUSLY said that guitar leads are polarised, and if you connect them the wrong way they don’t conduct as well.
I often think people like these should be taken to a substation I used to know, and told to put their hands on two contacts. That would teach them a thing or two about “polarisation of electricity”. My Arse.
Ha! I read that article too :)
It reminded me of the “oxygen-free” RCA cables gathering dust in the loft I bought about 10 years ago … for £40! Y’know, I was convinced I could tell the difference between those and my cheapo’s.
It was only the above experience that prevented me from instantly replacing the “bell-wire” that came with my home theatre system at Christmas. It sounds really good anyway … for godsake, just leave it :)