Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Do you believe that specifications determine sound quality ? ?

So do you have the belief that measurements determine sound quality and why ?  Do you also believe that if there are two components that measures the same that they will sound the same ?  Do you believe that there is no difference in the sound of cables even if they measure differently ?  

4 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 month ago
    Favourite answer

    Specifications ALONE don't determine sound quality, 

    but a Combination of specifications And circuit design Does.   

                                            

    Equal measurements Theoretically Should, but in the 

    Real World do not, guarantee equal performance.  

                                           

    I don't believe cables make a Significant difference,  

    but that doesn't mean they make No difference.     

                                

    The point is --- don't let your imagination spend your money for you. 

  • 3 weeks ago

    Pretty good answer ? Who ever you are.  Measurements definitely does not determine sound quality it is only a tool for designers to see if there are problem areas that need to be addressed.  To the cable debaters, cables do make a difference just be cautious and don't let the price determine the overall sound quality.

  • 1 month ago

    In technical terms, yes.

    Properly done comparative tests and measurements can give a good guide to how well something will work, but it's not a total absolute as everyone has a different idea of how a piece of music should sound.

    Tastes vary & eg. some people think such as recording hiss or synthetic "ambience" effects somehow add authenticity.

    However, any company that does not provide proper specifications using standard units for audio equipment they sell, should be avoided like the plague - the only reason not to provide specs is because they show how bad something really is. One or two big-name home hifi makers come to mind..

    Cables for analog audio can work very differently, depending on their construction.

    That does not mean they have to be expensive, just properly made - and the equipment they are being used with properly configured to avoid ground loops and stray pickup.

    The "hype" features and claims on expensive cables are usually meaningless waffle, or things that any reasonable cable complies with, like it being oxygen-free copper.

    For digital interconnects, cables either work or do not; there is no subtle degradation  with digital audio and any cable that complies with whatever frequency and impedance requirements some connection needs will work exactly the same, whether it costs a trivial amount or thousands.

    The simple fact is that recording studios do not use stupidly expensive cable, or the cheapest lowest-quality versions.

    Professional grade audio cables cost typically 30p a metre for fixed installation types or about a pound a metre for heavy duty flexible trailing leads like for mic cables or guitar leads.

    In functional terms you cannot get better than the types typically used; silly priced ones just have gimmicks and hype to con people in to playing stupid amounts.

    Multipair snakes for such as mixing consoles are obviously more expensive, but are equivalent to many separate cables in one overall sheath.

    [Electronics designer for several decades, as well as audio enthusiast].

  • 1 month ago

    As a 40+ year electronics tech and audiophile i can speak with authority and experience that specs do NOT accurately predict sound quality.

    These over priced speaker wires and patch cords are mostly just advertising hype to peddle extremely overpriced products.

    Ordinary copper RG59 coax makes the best audio patch cords and 16 gage zip cord speaker wire is all you will ever need for best sound.

Still have questions? Get answers by asking now.