This may be a dumb idea, but I was wondering if in the cable demo and review program we couldn't make the whole thing more useful if we provided a set of "reference" cables with each contender.

For example, with every set of speaker cables, we could include a set of Home Depot wire of same length. The review would be written based on differences heard between at least three wires: yours, the contender, and the Home Depot.

That's just an example, it doesn't have to be speaker wire, and it doesn't have to be Home Depot. Without the common reference though, the comparisons will be hard to compare to each other.

I freely admit, I just made this up.

OK negotiableterms, I'm in, now cough up the platinum conductors. :)

Interesting idea but I'd be lost without a "base reference". I'd prefer to compare the new cables to the cables I am using right now.

Are they better? Worse? About the same? Improved midrange, lacking in bass, bloated bass, shrill trebble, laid back trebble, forward midrange... etc., etc., etc????

Or am I just a little more confused than normal this morning? ;)

Gary P, I'm suggesting just what you are, but with another low-end set added for commonality.

Bolly, sadly Home Depot must have discontinued their platinum line... and I sure don't own anything like that!

OK negotiableterms, I'm in, now cough up the platinum conductors. :)

Sorry for the confusion, my fault. By "reference" I meant something we could all hear any time we want, cheaply. Like Home Depot wire, or whatever. The only requirement is that it be common enough.

Example: I use Tributaries SCA-200. I write a review saying, "Compared to my usual cables the new ones had much more top end, and punchier bass." Unless you also have SCA-200, you've no idea whether more top end is good or bad, or whether the bass is supposed to be that punchy.

The "reference" cables should be inexpensive and easy to get, so that anyone on the site could go buy a set and be able to relate all the reviews.

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I think I shouldn't have started a separate thread for this. Russ and Erik, please move, edit, or delete, at your pleasure!

Actually, your reference is what you already have installed on your system. What you are acclimated to, what you use every day.

That's the key to this program - is it's all based on YOUR rig, and what YOU hear.

Not shooting the idea down, but 'cheap' (in price) cable, isn't worth the cost of shipping, you could go out and purchase it, and have your own set.

Cheers,
Russ

Not shooting the idea down, but 'cheap' (in price) cable, isn't worth the cost of shipping, you could go out and purchase it, and have your own set.

You're right about the cost of shipping the cheap cables. Note that I started the thread with the words: "This may be a dumb idea...". It was. :D

I like the idea but what Russ said makes sense to.

I actually use the Home depot outdoor lighting wire (speaker) and it's like $30 for 100ft.
It would be nice to hear the compairison of a certain wire against one that everyone
has a chance to hear so we do create a reference sound to the wire with enough of
a consensus on the reference one.

The wire I'm talking about is the low voltage stuff that is 12 gauge with a very thick
outer shell and large strands of copper wire. Works really good for me as speaker wire.

Anyways just throwing another oppinion in the mix.

I agree that this should be a comparison between the cables you are familiar with and the demo cables.

However, Negotiableterms brings up a valid point but for different reasons. If we wanted to see how are own personal assessment of the cables stacked up with others, we would need a common "control" cable. One that all comparisons were made to.

Unfortunatly this wouldn't help you decide whether or not the cables made improvements in their own system compared to their existing cables.

RC

If one wants a "control cable" lets just all buy a cheap Radio Shack cable. Their interconnects are pretty inexpensive.... not sure what kind they sell these days.

RS are almost everywhere, right?

Good idea?