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Are $7250 Cables Really Better? Part 2

2007_10_03 AnjouSC.jpg

It was just a matter of time. We blogged about these outrageously priced $7250 cables before and the accompanying challenge to prove that these are better than regular, although still pricey, Monster Cable. It looks like we have a taker.

 
 

Michael Fremer, a Stereophile magazine writer will be the one taking on the challenge. Here is the response from Pear Audio:

$1 Million Speaker Cable Challenge Accepted
Audiophile Reviewer Michael Fremer Agrees to Double-Blind Loudspeaker Cable Test

Newton, Mass. - October 15, 2007 - Responding to accusations that the high-fidelity Pear Cable Anjou loudspeaker cables could not be differentiated from typical equivalent Monster Cable, Michael Fremer, writer for Stereophile Magazine and musicangle.com, has agreed to double-blind listening tests to prove that cables can be differentiated sonically. Accuser James Randi has claimed to offer a $1 million dollar prize if the high-fidelity cables can be detected.

While Pear Cable remains highly skeptical that the challenge is genuine, full support for Michael Fremer's effort has been offered. Although the cables to be used in the test have not yet been selected, Pear Cable has offered to loan Mr. Fremer any Pear cables necessary to conduct the test if he desires to use them.

To date, James Randi has provided no scientific evidence of any kind to support his accusations. No test protocol for the challenge was stipulated in the original accusation, however James Randi reserves the right to change test protocol in any way he personally desires.

Official rules for the James Randi Educational Foundation challenge state that $1 Million will be paid to "any person who can demonstrate any psychic, supernatural or paranormal ability." Michael Fremer has expressly stated as a condition of his challenge acceptance that he does not possess any psychic, supernatural, or paranormal abilities, and that he does not believe he has above average hearing. Fremer has also asked that interconnects be tested in addition to loudspeaker cables unless James Randi will concede that they affect sound quality.

Now they just have to figure out the details to the actual listening experiment, we can't wait to see how this one turns out.

-via Gizmodo

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Comments (6)

That doesn't change the fact that they're $7250 CABLES. And they're not even professional audio cables... they're HOME AUDIO CABLES! Come on now, not all consumers are idiots.

posted by sparkle on October 16th 2007 at 9:34am
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It's idiotic. Proof positive taxes need to be raised thru the roof - we have far too many idiots in this society with far too much money on their hands.

posted by sunspot42 on October 16th 2007 at 11:08am
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I know that there is some what, $500-$2000 dollar power cables, not these, that do make sound 'better' but its a severe audiophile level - only a slim % of people can hear it. Who knows, maybe you can hear better with these, we just lack the capacity to do it. But even if I could, I lack media with the fidelity to truly be enjoyed with super-awesome equipment, and that $7,000 price tag has more tacked onto it if you truly want to get into the audiophile world. Yeah, Ill pass.

posted by Amphetamine on October 16th 2007 at 11:40am
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I'll bet you Fremer figures out which one is which.

posted by spinsLPs on October 16th 2007 at 1:03pm
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I wonder how many of you like "Sparkles" have even heard a real high end audio system. You shouldn't use terms like "idiot" until you have some knowledge. Do you think people who spend $500 on a bottle of wine are "idiots?" Do you think people who buy a Maserati instead of a KIA are "idiots"? Frankly, when you use the word "idiot" as if it is self-evident that only an "idiot" might consider spending that much on cables, you sound like an idiot. People for whom fine reproduction of music is a passion and who have the means to support that passion are not "idiots." Do you consider Rick Rubin to be an "idiot?" Or Paul Simon's long time recording engineer Roy Halee? Both of these guys have spent a great deal of money assembling expensive audio systems in their homes for their enjoyment and both have spent well more than $7000 on speaker cables. Your arrogance and that of other posters here is really indicative of a great deal of ignorance. As for the challenge, I will take the challenge if Mr. Randi and I can come to terms as to the test protocol. Since I will be putting my money where my ears are, I am trying to keep the costs reasonable. A glib person might say "well you're going to win a million bucks so what's the difference how much you spend?" But really, there's no guarantee that I have a 100 percent chance of producing a statistically significant number of identifications under the pressure of test conditions. I am fairly confident that I can but we'll see. Should I fail, I know the people who know there are sonic differences among cables (and big differences in materials costs and construction quality) will continue to be supportive and those who think it's all "idiotic" will continue to think that, so really, I have nothing to lose and plenty to gain. My experience as an audio reviewer for more than 20 years has always been that cables do sound different and make a difference. Are they the most important component in a system? No. But they are the "spice" that can "finish" a system and make everything sound "right." If you listen to music on a computer or on plastic cubes, well knock yourself out and enjoy it. But please don't call people who prefer a finer and more expensive experience "idiots." I mean by all means do, but only if you wish to look foolish among people who know better. The people who read me and who trust me over the years because their experiences are similar to mine in audio, are mostly doctors, lawyers, financial analysts, airline pilots, etc. These people are hardly "idiots" and not easily fooled. Get yourself some experience in this field if you don't have much, before calling anyone an "idiot"--Michael Fremer

posted by analogcorner on October 17th 2007 at 9:03am
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It shouldn't be too difficult for him to tell a difference; monster cables are crap.

posted by mscot on October 17th 2007 at 2:21pm
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