David Looser wrote:

"Serge Auckland" wrote
"Eeyore" wrote
David Looser wrote
"Glenn Richards" wrote
David Looser wrote:

opinions are divided on this group but it does make a difference.
I love that!, "opinion is divided, but I'm right"

Heh, ok, posting written rather quickly... but you get the idea.

In your opinion of course.

In my experience, yes, speaker cables do make a difference to the
sound. As do interconnects to some extent.

But can you hear the difference when you don't know which cables you are
listening to?, that's the question.

Can you hear +/- 1dB ? or +/- 0.5dB ?

I can assure you some people have NO trouble doing so.

Rather depends on frequency, level and whether you're listening to tones,
noise or programme.

Programme. Sorry not to make that clear.


It will also depend on whether the +-1dB or +-0.5dB
change is across the band, i.e. a level change or, say, at 10kHz, where is
would have the effect of a tone control. +-1dB change on programme is
pretty difficult, but some would manage it, +-0.5dB is tougher still, and
most wouldn't manage it on most programme material.

Indeed, Graham's original question: "Can you hear +/- 1dB ? or +/- 0.5dB" is
meaningless unless qualified with all sorts of other information.

Sounds like a get out clause to me. I mean +/- 1 dB over the audio band. As
might be created by a cable / amplifier / loudspeaker interaction.


I would have no trouble hearing the change as a 1dB gain or loss is switched
into a circuit carrying tone or a continuous musical note, but if Graham is
claiming that he can listen to a programme, leave the room for 30 seconds
and when he returns be able to say if the level had been changed by 1dB in
his absence then I would be very sceptical.

I didn't say LEVEL. Although I have matched level on a tape machine 'line-up'
test BLIND to +/- 0.3dB. One track was within 0.1 dB.


Or if we are talking about a frequency response change it will of course
depend a great deal on where in frequency terms that change occurs, how much
of the band is affected, what the spectral content of the programme is etc.
And again if anyone claims that he could detect when re-entering the room
whether this change was made when he was out of the room I would be very
sceptical.

It seems to me that we are in the same area as with those who claim to be
able to hear the difference between expensive and cheap wire. It's easy to
claim that you can hear this or that, but doing so under double blind
conditions is a whole different ball-game.

Pontificate, pontificate, pontificate.

Either you can hear it it or you can't.

My eyesight isn't totally brilliant. I make no special claims for it. How's your
hearing ?

Graham