Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion HiFi & HT Chat The Old Snake Oil topic

OK, so have you specifically measured power cables looking for factors such as RFI rejection, etc? I posted a link to actual measurements from research earlier in the thread if you care to look. The cables in question I've been listening to are all of rather different designs, so I'm not sure why you find it so hard to believe there could be some difference?

Just to be clear on pricing, since you mention DIY and �3.5K cables, the cables which came with the speakers were free, I prefer these to the Belden cable which cost me approximately �30 (I already owned the plugs) I prefer these least, the Yello power cost me about �50 or so about 12 years ago, I prefer these most overall. You might also note that I didn't do a quick comparison and say one was better or worse, I took weeks to evaluate and gave quite detailed impressions (e.g. the Belden was more detailed in the bass, etc.), which doesn't quite fit with an expectation bias theory.

I don't find it so surprising that it's irritating to be told that I'm basically a gullible idiot, who's being conned into buying things I don't need, because you believe that I can't be hearing a difference. You are saying I'm not hearing a difference - belief and actually hearing something are two different things.

The other thing I find irritating is lay psychology being expounded in these cases. Using these kinds of theory in this manner is, at best, speculative pseudo science - in order to genuinely assess what you're suggesting, you would have to carry out a thorough, controlled series of tests (by someone who's actually qualified in psychology) into how suggestible, or not, I am, among other things, including testing the cables, conducting listening and electronic tests on my specific system in my room with my mains supply, etc., etc. simply to drop in and blanket state it must be expectation bias is meaningless.