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$340 Audiophile Ethernet Cable Tested

An anonymous reader writes: Ars Technica has posted a series of articles attempting to verify whether there's any difference between a $340 "audiophile" Ethernet cable and a $2.50 generic one. In addition to doing a quick teardown, they took the cables to Las Vegas and asked a bunch of test subjects to evaluate the cables in a blind test. Surprise, surprise: the expensive cables weren't any better. The subjects weren't even asked to say which one was better, just whether they could tell there was a difference. But for the sake of completeness, Ars also passed the cables through a battery of electrical tests. The expensive cable met specs — barely, in some cases — while the cheap one didn't. The cheap one passed data, but with a ton of noise. "And listeners still failed to hear any difference."

11 of 391 comments (clear)

  1. Mission accomplished by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They sold at least 2 of them now. I'm betting someone just won a bet.

    1. Re:Mission accomplished by Mike+Van+Pelt · · Score: 3, Funny

      Argh, I tried to mod the above as "funny" and the mouse slipped just as I clicked. Somebody mod it as funny, please.

  2. Re:On Stage With The Amazing Randi by jandrese · · Score: 4, Funny

    Found the audiophile.

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    I read the internet for the articles.
  3. Re:Audiophoolery by Fire_Wraith · · Score: 4, Funny

    I use only locally generated solar power from unidirectional panels with audio-rated Monster cables to preserve smooth integrity of the power, connected to special reserve batteries with a non-volatile charging mechanism to prevent the introduction of harmful battery fluctuations that might induce noise artifacts into the components. I then had my entire house lined with a special AudioQuest aluminium sheeting to block any gamma rays or neutrinos that might strike a cable or component and cause stutter in the electron flow through the cables and cords.

  4. Re:Don't buy the cheapest cable by Legionary13 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Agreed, and I have some data to support this. It’s bogus, but you can’t have everything. After noticing that my Ethernet switch and its wall wart were getting hot I ordered a replacement plus a few cables. They were brand name cables bought from Amazon. Not only is the switch faster but the cable to my main computer is red - bound to make a difference. On Wednesday, the first day the new equipment was in use, a cricket match started. For those who have not come across it, this is both a sport and a rain dance. Although I was working I kept a tab open with a cricket feed - and everything was happening far faster than anybody could believe. The match ended in less than three days - many fail to finish in the five days allowed. The red cable is probably the key component.

  5. Blindfold test by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm starting to wonder if all the loud music when I was younger damaged my ears. Every time I turn on the radio, everything sounds like shit.

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    You are welcome on my lawn.
  6. Re:Audiophoolery by Fjandr · · Score: 4, Funny

    You need to upgrade your house shielding to prevent muons from wreaking havoc on the up/down quark balance in the helium-injected conductors. You do use helium-injected wiring, don't you?

  7. Obvious fail is obvious... by Joce640k · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think I see the problem: They didn't allow any burn-in time for the cables before doing the listening test - they just plugged them in and started listening as if that was going to sound correct.

    A real listening test needs at least of couple of weeks for the atoms in the cable to settle down after moving/bending it in any way.

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    No sig today...
  8. Re:Passed data with a ton of noise? by Mike+Van+Pelt · · Score: 3, Funny

    I got into this with an audiophule type a few years ago. He, with a completely straight face, asserted that double-blind testing was an inherently flawed methodology for evaluating the objective marvelosity of some silly audiophule crap he was touting. (This obviously being some entirely new definition of the word "objective" that I was previously unacquainted with.) In that case it was 12-gauge solid copper speaker cables at $$$$$/foot. I said "And that is different from $0.12/foot Romex... how, exactly?" He started going on about how these things were oxygen-free rectangular cross section, hand-forged by the Kebler Elves with tiny silver hammers... and then summarily dismissed double-blind testing when I suggested it.

  9. Re: Passed data with a ton of noise? by DrLang21 · · Score: 5, Funny

    (or just go fiber)

    Using fiber is a difficult expense for true audiophiles. The fibers typically used can contain a lot of impurities which distorts the color of the light signal, introducing noise into your audio. This is why when using fiber for audio, true audiophiles only use diamond fibers extruded through Emerald dies enchanted by a wizard after he puts on his robe and hat.

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    I see the glass as full with a FoS of 2.
  10. Re:Passed data with a ton of noise? by Coren22 · · Score: 3, Funny

    You can actually hear the whore snorting coke in the recording studio bathroom, it is insane!

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    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?