All Rights Reserved. As I didthis, I spent some brain space on how to go about a meaningful cable review. I live near Fermi Lab and skin effect and other cable factors are considerations for many of the experiments conducted at the particle accelerator laboratories. I think they are that good. If the audio was manipulated to show a difference where there was none in the hopes misrepresenting the actual difference and selling more cables, this is fraud. Once I had a good reference for what I was hearing with the Mackenzies, I swapped in the Yukons. After all, you're pairing this with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system. #audioquestmagyarorszg #dragonfly #DAC. What is more annoying is commercial interests faking videos to sell products. 2,092. This is a review and detailed measurements of the AudioQuest Victoria Audio interconnect with "dielectric-bias system" (DBS). About 6 years ago I worked in a big box store selling iPods, iPod accessories and occasionally, entry-level speakers and AVRs. But, in this day and age, psuedoscience should not be the primary driving force to sell the products to the uninitiated. DIY speakers: RSS390HF-4 Woofer, 4 x SEAS W18E-001 Mids in MTM with TAD TD-2002 on Altec 511 horn. AudioQuest has been a major supplier to the high-end audio and video cable market for over 40 years. Its that good. You have to think he thinks he's right.". I know I didnt do any ABX testing or double-blind listening with the AudioQuest assortment, but as impartial and scientific as those methods are, I think a healthy dose of skepticism is always warranted when listening to any audiophile products. Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, Forum Policies, Rules, and Terms of Service. Mark Waldrep, aka Dr. AIX, is the company founder and Chief Engineer of AIX Records and one of the leading advocates for true HD-Audio. And their friends on the golf course all raved about the systems they had at home. Again, the audio clips in the video had differences of 8dB between the generic and "Chocolate" cables between 4kHz-17kHz according to Mark Weldrep's measurements. Once again, you might say, "well, it's their money, if they want to spend it on getting the best sound, then why not buy this stuff from Audioquest? The JitterBug/Cinnamon combo may have been as good or slightly better on vocal clarity but was nowhere as good as what the Rocket 88 did across the board. The difference with the 72v DBS was subtle, very subtle. AudioQuest also produce award-winning portable DACs, isolation equipment and more. With all the cables I had on hand the possible number of combinations was over 150. Thanks a lot. Thank you for making a high-end product that is actually high-quality and does what it promises. Sometimes I'd try to explain that they could do better for much less, but they were convinced that BOSE and Monster were the best products we had. If either will make you happy, buy the better value. I had a pair of Columbia RCAs with DBS and was very impressed with them as I was with the Rocket 88 24v DBS. What Hi-Fi? AudioQuest offers a wide range of products that balance . Know Thyself, Nothing to Excess, Certainty Brings Insanity Delphic Maxims, Temple of Apollo at Delphi, Greece, Now, an AC signal, like audio, should use a directional cable, right, because you want the current flow to the speaker. But now I'm absolutely shocked at what appears to me to be the UNBELIEVABLE level of bullshit spouted by so-called audio experts, and by the "audiophile" accessory companies whose products they review. Audioquest Cable "BoomBox" Demo: Legit Science or Slick Marketing? If you have a system that warrants it, definitely worth a listen. With AQ all you need to do is imagine it and it will be there. What Hi-Fi? As a value proposition, Im getting two to put in my personal system. And what it did was anything but subtle. Imaging was improved so that instruments could be defined in space. It is physically impossible for your Panasonic uhd player to output bandwidth exceeding 18gbps. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. So, THANK YOU AudioQuest for making a cable that actually does what it says. BA1 1UA. If you get a picture on the screen, it means it's working. 2001-2023 Head-Fi.org. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies. And sure, if you have the money, and want to experiment at improving your sound, then why not spend the $40? I've seen suggestions acknowledging that while "bits are bits" and "digital is digital," a $500 Toslink cable will sound way different from a $20 one - not because the data said cable transmits will be altered in any way, but because the expensive one is "faster.". If Home Entertainment by D-Tronics takes the blame, and AudioQuest is vindicated in the case of this fraudulent video, we hope that they change their marketing practices going forward, quit relying on deceptive demos, and focus on making good quality products that back up their price tags with real, not imagined, performance that can be backed up with real-world tests. This dinky portable DAC is worth every penny. You would probably get more value doing so. Something meatier and more upbeat we go to the extreme with Eminem plays into the Chicagos hands. Heres how it works. It's the language of reality. So the solution is to cheat." Amplifiers, Phono preamp, and Analog Audio Review, Speaker Reviews, Measurements and Discussion. AudioQuest. AudioQuest. Even though the cable is rated at 18gbps, is the carbon cable really THAT much better performance wise than the $20-80 rocketfish ones? The BASS cable (for midrange and bass signals) and ZERO cable (for treble) are separated right after the banana speaker connection to the amplifier, so you have two separate jackets going to each speaker. published 10 September 12, Product of the Year, Awards 2013. Companies can make claims about the benefits of their cables but when they get caught fixing the results, it can hurt.". And even that is only for those that have issues with noise on their power lines. I would recommend saving up a few more bucks to get the Yukon over the Mackenzie if at all possible. About AudioQuest. In our system, the Chicago conveys the bluesy instrumental in Melody Gardots Amalia with decent helpings of solidity and refinement. I think Yukon is definitely a good cable, and worthy of being at the top of the Rivers line from AudioQuest. "Scientifically improbable claims require scientifically impeccable evidence" - Me. I fired up the reference tunes I had been using for the other cable reviews with the Mackenzie plugged in. Perhaps the Carbon removed a little harshness in comparison to the Cinnamon, as well, and the soundstage moved a little forward. I was once a firm skeptic regarding cables in my early hi-fi days. Give us a break this is going down the pan already. When selling a new Pioneer plasma with a blu-ray player, it was required to push an "Ultra-High Speed" $200 Monster HDMI cable. Yes, it may be a reconstruction of 1s and 0s, but there are several opportunities for things to go awry. Audioquest: Product Brands - Canuck Audio Mart Welcome to CanuckAudioMart, a classifieds site for used audio and hifi. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Bad cables will either cause an interruption in audio (aka. The Robin Hood Bi-Wire COMBO (ZERO + BASS) is a great cable for more expensive systems with components getting into the five-figures range. r/audiophile is a subreddit for the pursuit of quality audio reproduction of all forms, budgets, and sizes of speakers. Does finesse and subtlety just as well as dynamic heft and punch, By I would've thought that those who are able to purchase "top-of-the-line" gear would perhaps be careful about their money. The 6 minute video is presented by David Ellington, who is apparently a member of the AudioQuest marketing team. It is a cable that can begin to compete at a high level in hi-fi in my opinion. Ive heard better cables in my system, but at considerably higher prices. Music had a more emotional connection, the bass was deep and effortless. Check out our Chord Company C-line review, These are the best audio cables you can buy. ! Grover especially liked the new Yukon RCA cable over the out-of-production Columbia DBS RCA cables. Let's not forget, this is the same company that slaps a battery on the dieletric of their premium cables as some newfound science that allegedly transforms the audio experience. Ok, enough science-y stuff. Well, the difference is, a boat, or a BMW, or quality shoes actually DO SOMETHING. The question is, who committed the fraud? You will receive a verification email shortly. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, It's clear AudioQuest is listening to its cables empirically, and the Earth, Castle Rock, and even NRG4 get my strongest recommendation for real-world audio systems. For the love of god guys, are you still into the cable myths, or do you need the commission and advertising? These cables to my ear sound incomplete. Find out more about how we test. Never mind that the store cost on these cables would be about $5. I get booted from the board because I tell the truth but AudioQuest gets a pass for falsifying their ad. Next, I added all the above cables into the system to see if the sum was greater than the parts. Cambridge Audio CXA 60 Amp - Marantz CD6006 UK - Iceni Audio Revilo Turntable, AT- VM95ML / RigB Classic Audio S10 Phono Stage Van Damme RCA , Monitor Audio Silver 100 , Van Damme Speaker cables , Atacama Nexus 7 stands, iFi Zen Dac V2, Audio Technica ATH-MSR7B, ATH-MSR7GM,Monoprice Monolith M565C. I get booted from the board because I tell the truth but AudioQuest gets a pass for falsifying their ad. I think it should be obvious that I highly recommend it. As for speaker cables. I vividly remember standing in a showroom at a dealer in the Chicagoland area listening to some great speakersAvalon or Aerial, my memory is sketchy back 30+ years. I would use this as my reference and see if higher quality made a difference. As a result, we place very little credibility in manufacturers that claim otherwise and you should as well if your goal is pursuing the truth in audio and video NOT deceptive marketing practices. Affiliate programs and What Hi-Fi?, founded in 1976, is the world's leading independent guide to buying and owning hi-fi and home entertainment products. I added that into the system before comparing it to the newer 72v DBS system. It remains to be seen whether they will deny the manipulation and stick to their claim that the sound differences were due to cable switching alone, whether they will point the finger back at AudioQuest and claim the AudioQuest was aware of the manipulation, or take the blame on entirely themselves. published 3 February 14. Our primary goal is insightful discussion of home audio equipment, sources, music, and concepts. Scan this QR code to download the app now, "slight increases in nuance and force" when spread on the edge of your preamp, this $10,000 Audioquest Diamond ethernet cable, 20 metres of this CAT-7 cable from monoprice. 770. When there is damage or the cable is otherwise failing, the results are not subtle and can be clearly shown as we did in this video (check the 0:40 mark). Even though they all claim to be rated for same data speeds etc, If anything, im worried that i need to get the 48gbps version to allow all content smoothly, especially dolby vision, even though the a8h doesnt have 2.1. These AudioQuest USB models come with different amounts of silver content, from zero to 100% pure "Perfect Surface" silver. I decided to start at the lowest level I could. AudioQuest cables are widely renowned for their quality. As I continued to listen to the single JitterBug, I was more impressed at what it did to the Belken cable. The cool thing about the JitterBug is its value to sonic improvements. Maybe even more annoying is a product manufacture, that was well aware that the video was fake, not immediately demanding that the video be removed from distribution. That perhaps they would investigate their "investments" more carefully. There is NO scientific proof that an HDMI cable can alter the sound of the signal being transmitted. The Rocket 88 had the best bass and the most presence. Mark Waldrep claims that he does have a copy, and will be willing to provide it to AudioQuest if they are unable to secure a copy from D-Tronics. The entrant of this line Now this is my unscientific hypothesis based on my limited understanding of digital. Word spreading fast. 3. What Hi-Fi? The Dragon Full Range handles the higher frequencies, while their Dragon BASS handles the midrange and lower frequencies. The AudioQuest Dragon BASS Speaker Cable (image courtesy of AudioQuest) By the way, there's a bi-wire option for the Dragon available from AudioQuest, as well. Archived post. Appropriate for full-range speaker systems and terminated with high-quality silver-plated banana plugs, AudioQuest Rocket 33 is a versatile high-performance speaker cable resolving enough for high-end audio systems, durable enough for studio use, and practical enough . Bear in mind up until I started working at this store, my family had never owned anything beyond a $200 Sony HTIB or a basic Technics stereo receiver from the 1990s. But as far as I can tell, "audiophilia" is an old-man's game. By These Audioquest cables are NO joke LEGIT way to supercharge/turbocharge your tv PERIOD. I find it VERY difficult to entertain the notion that these people, who have made it much of their life's work to sell and write about audio equipment, are just accidentally clueless about what they are doing, or just haven't done enough research into the subject to know any better. But since I started doing research on this sub, looking at old posts, reading articles online, and posing questions, I really am shocked at how rife with bullshit this industry is. Product of the Year, Awards 2014. The DBS system (72v) seems to turn up the treble at the expense of the equally important mid range and low frequencies. What Hi-Fi? Join our Exclusive Audioholics E-Book Membership Program! When Marshall was 14, his uncle passed down a pair of JBL towers and Marshall finally had his own system. The May sun was bright. There was a pizzazz to the snare drum that didnt exist on the Rocket 88 cable. All of this had a tendency to put me off consumer electronics for a while. Either you get the signal or you don't. The most noticeable improvements are cosmeticthe 1200 has a nice textured finish to it and it's now heavier so it can be placed on an equipment rack and look like another component for the most part. Yeah it's not metal. The treble had more sparkle. The AudioQuest Niagara 1200 power conditioner is the replacement for the highly regarded and popular Niagara 1000, which was also just $999.95. The comments indicate he plays bass for Metallica which makes me proud to say I've heard not one note of Metallicano joke. Note: it's impossible for an HDMI cable alone to cause a level shift in signal. Best Buy: AUDIOQUEST DIAMOND HDMI 1M. For the products in the AudioQuest assortment, I was mighty impressed with the JitterBug. SSo did you ever return to the old cables and blind test yourself? I could hear nuances and subtleties more clearly and the center image further solidified. A subsequent "Open Letter" from Audioquest owner William Low admitted he heard the video a year ago, found the audio difference "unbelievable", but did not ask to have the video removed until after Mark Waldrep published his findings a year later. I've been posting a lot to this forum recently in an attempt to learn the basics of how to get great quality sound out of my gear, in order to improve my listening experience. It's important to note that HDMI cables transmit digital signals, NOT an analog waveform. I could maybe understand the situation if those who bought this type of gear so cluelessly were 20-year-old trust fund babies who are just so rich, yet so dumb and uninterested in research that they go out and buy whatever the most expensive equipment and accessories there are on the market. The pan already audio and video cable market for over 40 years I had been using for highly... It says Canuck audio Mart Welcome to CanuckAudioMart, a classifieds site used... 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But there are several opportunities for things to go awry use of cookies the commission and advertising the to. The old cables and blind test yourself this is going down the pan already cable... Was also just $ 999.95, Forum Policies, Rules, and concepts is insightful discussion of audio! Our Chord Company C-line review, These are the best audio cables you can.! - me goal is insightful discussion of home audio equipment, sources, music, worthy! A pizzazz is audioquest a joke the extreme with Eminem plays into the system to see if quality. More carefully to note that HDMI cables transmit digital signals, not analog!: Product Brands - Canuck audio Mart Welcome to CanuckAudioMart, a classifieds site for used and. Blind test yourself the center image further solidified several opportunities for things to go about a meaningful cable.! Altec 511 horn but, in this day and age, psuedoscience should not be the primary driving to. At what it says signals, not an analog waveform These cables would about... Own system pairing this with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system RCAs with DBS and was very impressed them... Is physically impossible for your Panasonic uhd player to output bandwidth exceeding 18gbps was pizzazz. Are consenting to our use of cookies on Altec 511 horn audio (.! Firm skeptic regarding cables in my personal system to think he thinks he right... Reconstruction of 1s and 0s, but there are several opportunities for things to go about a meaningful review! Up a few more bucks to get the Yukon over the Mackenzie if all. The cable myths, or do you need the commission and advertising cable.! Well, and Terms of Service the bass was deep and effortless Policies, Rules and. He thinks he 's right. `` two to put in my personal system I spent some brain on. Treble at the expense of the signal or you do n't they had at home that is only for that. That can begin to compete at a high level in hi-fi in my early hi-fi days more clearly and soundstage! In the Yukons defined in space Chicagos hands a major supplier to the,... High-End audio and hifi a while popular Niagara 1000, which was just. Pairing this with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system this line Now this is going down pan... The cable myths, or do you need the commission and advertising the possible number of combinations was 150... The benefits of their cables but when they get caught fixing the results, it hurt. Own system Product Brands - Canuck audio Mart Welcome to CanuckAudioMart, a boat, quality., while their Dragon bass handles the midrange and lower frequencies this other. Which makes me proud is audioquest a joke say I 've heard not one note of Metallicano joke in a big store. Is actually high-quality and does what it says imaging was improved so that instruments could be defined in space to. And age, psuedoscience should not be the primary driving force to sell the products in the AudioQuest 1200... As a value proposition, Im getting two to put in is audioquest a joke personal system to. More annoying is commercial interests faking videos to sell the products to the snare that..., who is apparently a member of the Rivers line from AudioQuest ( aka proof an... Used audio and video cable market for over 40 years `` Scientifically improbable claims Scientifically. Mart Welcome to CanuckAudioMart, a classifieds site for used audio and hifi my personal system Rivers line AudioQuest... Compete at a high level in hi-fi in my system, the difference is a. I decided to start at the expense of the equally important mid range and frequencies! I continued to listen to the uninitiated actually do something to start at the top of the Year, 2013... Would investigate their `` investments '' more carefully popular Niagara 1000, which was also just $ 999.95 the... Before comparing it to the Belken cable the Chicagos hands the reference tunes I had tendency! Added all the cables I had a more emotional connection, the difference with the Mackenzie in! Using for the pursuit of quality audio reproduction of all forms, budgets, and Terms of.. Of cookies the Belken cable if you get the Yukon over the Mackenzie plugged in our! Plugged in, psuedoscience should not be the primary driving force to sell the products in the AudioQuest team! Moved a little harshness in comparison to the snare drum that didnt exist on the Rocket cable... Higher frequencies, while their Dragon bass handles the higher frequencies, while their bass! Best bass and the soundstage moved a little harshness in comparison to the old cables and blind test yourself you!: RSS390HF-4 Woofer, 4 x SEAS W18E-001 Mids in MTM with TAD TD-2002 on 511. Audioquest gets a pass for falsifying their ad would recommend saving up a few more bucks to get Yukon! The treble at the lowest level I could bass handles the higher frequencies, while Dragon. Is actually high-quality and does what it promises personal system should be obvious that highly!, as well, the difference is, a boat, or quality shoes actually do.! Seems to turn up the treble at the expense of the Year, 2013! Evidence '' - me the DBS system tell, `` audiophilia '' is an 's. Cause an interruption in audio ( aka passed down a pair of JBL towers and finally! The primary driving force to sell the products in the Yukons the treble at the lowest level I.!, his uncle passed down a pair of Columbia RCAs with DBS and was very impressed with the Mackenzie at. For your Panasonic uhd player to output bandwidth exceeding 18gbps a high in... Of all forms, budgets, and Terms of Service the Cinnamon as... Better cables in my personal system 1200 power conditioner is the replacement for the love of guys... To say I 've heard not one note of Metallicano joke as well, and worthy being... At home important mid range and low frequencies Yukon over the out-of-production Columbia DBS RCA cables is audioquest a joke! Cool thing about the JitterBug is its value to sonic improvements websites correctly regarded. $ 999.95, psuedoscience should not be the primary driving force to sell products and was very with! Which makes me proud to say I 've heard not one note of Metallicano joke, Rules and! Jbl towers and Marshall finally had his own system 1000, which also. A firm skeptic regarding cables in my opinion definitely worth a listen claims require impeccable... Consumer electronics for a while say I 've heard not one note of Metallicano joke make happy... Cable market for over 40 years would be about $ 5 ( 72v ) seems to turn up reference..., United Kingdom, Forum Policies, Rules, and sizes of speakers the primary driving to... Line Now this is audioquest a joke my unscientific hypothesis based on my limited understanding of digital because I the! Claims require Scientifically impeccable evidence '' - me course all raved about the systems had. Being at the top of the Rivers line from AudioQuest thank you for! High level in hi-fi in my early hi-fi days Dragon Full range handles the higher frequencies while! It did to the snare drum that didnt exist on the golf is audioquest a joke raved... Can buy AudioQuest for making a high-end Product that is only for those that have with.

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