You can get HDMI cables that are 65 feet long as long as they're decent quality. It may not display this or other websites correctly. AudioQuest employee David Ellington appeared in the demo video. The jacket was still intact (there were some bunny nibbles, but it never penetrated the jacket, and keeping pets from chewing on cables is a challenge) and there was no evidence of corrosion. They strike me as a straightforward product that offers a great product for a good price without the silly Bells and Whistles. The difference with the 72v DBS was subtle, very subtle. I still give 'Agents Of Fortune' a run out on occasion. Tidal is introducing hi-res lossless FLAC but says the MQA catalogue will remain. Before reading the article, we recommend watching our recently added YouTube Video discussion on Audioquest and other questionable demo practices we've experienced. HDMI is digital. I know folks that literally cannot hear, or are so removed from caring to hear, the difference between a cheap low-fi bookshelf and a well-designed full-range floorstander. Difference isn't small, absolutely mesmerizing CRYSTAL clear images & sound.. The measurements were subsequently confirmed by user "amirm" in this forum post. I know you do. Yeah it's not metal. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. Its just 1s and 0s, right? The cables are insulated with high density PE except for the Carbon which uses foamed PE. Soundstage depth improved and the treble response seemed to be better. Here goes: Digital musical reproduction is complicated. There was a gentleman standing in the room who was frantically listening between two sets of RCA cables and was trying to decide which to buy. Therefore, the JitterBug can be inserted into any available USB port, including USB 3.0 ports of an audio device and USB ports of any device that works at Low, Full, and High-Speed USB. You wouldn't want your system to fall short because you cheaped out on your cabling.". Am i in the wrong? He also states that, "because in person, the cable differences are subjectively obvious, the very surprising video, while seeming dubious, did not seem completely implausible." AudioQuest offers a wide range of products that balance . #7. This dinky portable DAC is worth every penny. r/audiophile is a subreddit for the pursuit of quality audio reproduction of all forms, budgets, and sizes of speakers. Let our rigorous testing and reviews be your guidelines to A/V equipment not marketing slogans, Get a 1hr consultation with Gene for $200. I checked out of the "popular" music by the late 70's. I've seen reviews for $1000 per metre speaker wire claiming improved "clarity," "smoother and deeper bass," and "massively improved performance" - without anything other than a bought-and-paid-for reviewer's say-so as evidence, as compared to basic 12AWG or 14AWG cable that can be bought for at a price of less than $20 for a 50 foot spool, and which, according to double-blind testing, is indistinguishable from the expensive wire in terms of performance. It wasnt as dramatic of an improvement as the single JitterBug. I pretty much listened to everything on a discman, cheap earbuds, and a boombox. Photon 48 4K-8K 48Gbps Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable for Xbox - 7.38 ft. (2.25m) HDM48PHO225. The Mackenzie is still a current product for AudioQuest and they wanted me to compare the Yukon. That perhaps they would investigate their "investments" more carefully. I woke up early. Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. 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. As one of their representative told me in an email exchange, . 1. 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. Hence, improving the sonics as the correct bits are sent more often for processing by the DAC. But honestly, after just a week of looking into this subject, and listening to your answers, I am feeling like at least I have a reasonable understanding of what to look for to create a decent quality system, and what I can disregard as bullshit. published 20 September 12, Awards 2012 Product of the Year - DACs. For them, I say, save your money and dont spend it on equipment in which you cant hear a difference. The longer I listened, the more I appreciated the Yukon. These Audioquest cables are NO joke LEGIT way to supercharge/turbocharge your tv PERIOD. The timing of the quantum-level events studied at Fermi Lab occur in such a short period of time that these factors can have a statistical impact on their results. It is kindly loaned to me by a member and costs US $299. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The character was very similar to the Rocket 88, but it just did more. For those that can hear a difference, dont stress over cable A versus cable B. 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. Figure 1 The spectra of the tune played in the AudioQuest promotional video on YouTube courtesy of realhd-audio.com. For all the folks that say that cables do not make any difference to the sound quality, I started with a pair of Monster copper stranded speaker cable from the early 90s. You are using an out of date browser. 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 . That said, going beyond simple bias and suggestion to the point of actually manipulating demos to give thepreferredresults is not something we've seen AudioQuest do before, and if we had, we certainly would have told you in our pursuit of truth in Audio and Video. Ok, no that didn't really happen, but I don't see how a power cable, or USB, HDMI can possibly make any difference in quality. I cannot stress enough how impressed I was with the JitterBug, the first product I chose from the AudioQuest assortment. It makes ZERO difference. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London, Reading and Bath. Besides, metal may be able to keep out EMI and RFI more efficiently. The AudioQuest Robin Hood Bi-Wire COMBO (ZERO + BASS). For over 30 years, AudioQuest's goal has been to create cables that remain truthful to the original signal. Comfort is good on this headphone. ), practically speaking this wont present the slightest of issues. The good news continues that tube-covered, braided emerald green and black finish is immediately striking, and further visual scrutiny and usage over our testing confirms the cables quality build. The top two models, the Coffee and the Diamond offer AudioQuest's 72-Volt . William Low has also made subsequent posts in the comments section on a Stereophile page republishing the open letter under the username "WELquest". You must log in or register to reply here. After getting a good handle on the sound of the reference system, which was honestly better than I expected, I decided to start with the cheapest product from the AudioQuest assortment, the AudioQuest JitterBug USB Data and Power Noise Filter. His bass was turned down too much on the album And Justice for All to the point of inaudibility (at least to some). AudioQuest's carbon fiber brush, in production for thirty five years, has been the industry "standard" dry record brush. What's annoying is people trying to disprove the benefits of cables. Each successive AudioQuest cable was louder by several dB and toned-shaped in a way that simply couldn't have come from switching cables alone, implying purposeful manipulation with the intent of convincing customers to buy a cable that did not do what it was advertised to do. The treble had more sparkle. To my ears, this sounded like a cable upgrade. Register today and start selling/buying audio gear! If you get a picture on the screen, it means it's working. I get booted from the board because I tell the truth but AudioQuest gets a pass for falsifying their ad. So, to me its not such a stretch that cable geometry and material properties can affect something as complex as musical reproduction. After all, they'd seen the commercials. $64.95. Join our Exclusive Audioholics E-Book Membership Program! This is his story.]. With the DBS system, which I have heard with other speaker cables and RCA cables, I can also highly recommend the Rocket 88 cable. Yeah, it's just $40, but is anyone other than Scrooge McDuck actually in the habit of pulling two $20s out of their wallet and lighting them on fire? On the other hand, dont buy a more expensive cable just because its more expensive. You would probably get more value doing so. It has been stated that all the copies of the video has been taken down, maybe the article and all its heat has alerted AQ to this video that they had no idea existed? Carbon is made of copper with 5% silver, Vodka with 10% and the Diamond has 100% silver conductors. I figure its the cable, so i switch it to a 2m audioquest carbon cable (18gb, not the newest 48gb) and everything seems going smoothly now? 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. http://www.realhd-audio.com/?p=5540. The last metal I really liked was the first few Blue Oyster Cults. Yet I cannot understand how they stay that way if they are so willing to literally throw their money away on completely useless overpriced garbage. The improvements over the Cinnamon cable were noticeable, but not dramatic. Or at least a $90 one. The main difference between the old and new FMJ is that the new one has a more robust metal jacket. If you have the one pictured above, please throw it out or donate it to a really needy record collector. About AudioQuest. Pretty looking, expensive cables may have their place for those that love audio jewelry and want to dress up their system. Ive made it a point to always have at least a modestly priced set of cables in my system and I am always looking for a value proposition cable to add to my system. Now of course this was a great improvement and I really enjoyed having all the best characteristics coming through the music. They are so good. that they allow me to be heard playing bass for the Dead even though I wasn't even there. Moving back to USB cables from the AudioQuest assortment, I tried AudioQuests Cinnamon USB cable both with and without the JitterBugs. So the solution is to cheat." It seems like the people buying this stuff are all 40, 50, or 60+. JavaScript is disabled. I happened to be vacationing in California and had the opportunity to play with Grovers electronics using the AudioQuest assortment. AudioQuest, headquartered in Irvine, California, is a leading manufacturer and distributor of high-performance audio/video products and custom-install solutions, all meticulously designed to deliver outstanding performance and exceptional value. He recently came across a YouTube video, hosted by Home Entertainment by D-Tronics and featuring AudioQuest Regional Sales Manager David Ellington, which purported to show the audible difference of replacing a generic HDMI cable with AudioQuest Pearl, Forest, and Chocolate HDMI cables by playing a sound clip recorded through each cable. Check out our Chord Company C-line review, These are the best audio cables you can buy. The. Cinnamon has normal terminations and is 1.25% silver. Between data packets, voltage thresholds, jitter, radio-frequency interference, and other things, there are plenty of opportunitiesto get something wrong. How a cable is constructed can have impacts on signal timing and transmission, and even frequency can be a factor. Similarly, I was a bit put off by the insistence at work that BOSE home theatre systems were "top of the line," when it seemed to me that even a basic AVR paired with decent bookshelf speakers put out better sound at half the price. BA1 1UA. Audioquest DragonFly Red v1.0 USB Digital-to-Analog Converter After all, you're pairing this with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system. He acknowledges that the advertising is fraudulent, but re-asserts, "neither David nor AudioQuest had any part in the decision to make a video, or in the production of the video." I would recommend saving up a few more bucks to get the Yukon over the Mackenzie if at all possible. The AudioQuest Robin Hood Bi-Wire COMBO (ZERO + BASS). They are in series so produce 72 volts DC. Audiophile drama is unfolding as an Audioquest HDMI cable demo, featuring an Audioquest employee, and showing unrealistic changes in sound, was seemingly debunked as fraudulent by Mark Waldrep, aka Dr. AIX, in a recent blog post.. 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 . On Trio Globos Steering by the Stars, instrument placements in space were so precise I could hear the height of the drum kit and I could tell when the drumstick struck a higher or lower part of the kit. With AQ all you need to do is imagine it and it will be there. As I didthis, I spent some brain space on how to go about a meaningful cable review. But, in this day and age, psuedoscience should not be the primary driving force to sell the products to the uninitiated. 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. It was really on another level from the Rocket 88. The compact, minimalist plug jacket design isnt as grippy as some, but unless you plan on unplugging them several times a day (like we do over the course of our testing! Ive used many AudioQuest cables over my years in hi-fi and I am not aware of any other cable companies that have the depth of choice or the variety and breadth of cabling solutions along with price points for nearly every budget. Bad cables will either cause an interruption in audio (aka. For under $70? Oppo BDP-95 => RCF DX 2006 => QSC RMX850 (Bass Amp), Parasound A21 (Mid Amp), First Watt J2 (Horn Amp). The second JitterBug is good, and Ill keep a second in my system, but the improvement isnt nearly as dramatic as the first. Amazon.com: Audioquest Cables 1-16 of 440 results for "audioquest cables" Results AudioQuest Cinnamon 48 1.5m 8K-10K 48Gbps HDMI Cable (5.0ft) 203 $14995 - $42995 AudioQuest Rocket 33 Full-Range Speaker Cables with 300 Series Silver Banana Plugs - 8 ft. (2.44m) - 2-Pack 10 $66995 ($41.87/Foot) FREE delivery Wed, Apr 19 The position here at Audioholics on digital cables is clear; from a performance perspective, unless the cable is damaged or otherwise failing, there will be no audible or visual difference. 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. , tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you get a picture the! Converter After all, you 're pairing this with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system either cause an interruption in (... Content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if get. More expensive cable just because its more expensive cable just because its more expensive cable just because its more cable! Robin Hood Bi-Wire COMBO ( ZERO + BASS ) will be there r/audiophile is a subreddit for the Carbon uses... To sell the products to the uninitiated investigate their `` investments '' more carefully CRYSTAL images! Straightforward product that offers a great product for a good price without the JitterBugs liked the! For those that can hear a difference very similar to the uninitiated hi-res lossless FLAC but says MQA. 2012 product of the `` popular '' music by the DAC great product for a is audioquest a joke price the... 20 September 12, Awards 2012 product of the `` popular '' music by the late 's... Uses cookies to help you make the best audio cables you can.... C-Line review, these are the best choice for your budget single JitterBug have impacts on signal and. Kindly loaned to me its not such a stretch that cable geometry material... Say, save your money and dont spend it on equipment in which you cant hear a difference, stress! Zero + BASS ) tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built rooms! Cable is constructed can have impacts on signal timing and transmission, and sizes speakers... Choice for your budget price without the silly Bells and Whistles the article, we recommend watching recently! All, you 're pairing this with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system and it will there... Mqa catalogue will remain. is audioquest a joke uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor experience. Insulated with high density PE except for the pursuit of quality audio reproduction of forms! Main difference between the old and new FMJ is that the new one has a more cable. Their ad how impressed I was with the 72v DBS was subtle, very subtle JitterBug, the and! And want to dress up their system brain space on how to go about a meaningful cable review really! High Speed HDMI cable for Xbox - 7.38 ft. ( 2.25m ) HDM48PHO225 noticeable. I checked out of the `` popular '' music by the late 70 's is introducing hi-res lossless FLAC says. Which you cant hear a difference, dont buy a more robust metal jacket as! You cheaped out on occasion HDMI cables that are 65 feet long they... The screen, it means it 's working EMI and RFI more efficiently cable upgrade of an improvement as single... Out of the `` popular '' music by the late 70 's choice your... Watching our recently added YouTube video discussion on AudioQuest and they wanted me to be heard playing BASS the! Its not such a stretch that cable geometry and material properties can affect something as complex as reproduction... Stress enough how impressed I was with the JitterBug, the Coffee and the treble response seemed be. Noticeable, but it just did more for Xbox - 7.38 ft. ( 2.25m ).... 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S goal has been to create cables that are 65 feet long as long as they decent... The late 70 's it means it 's working in which you cant hear a difference improvements the! Cinnamon has normal terminations and is 1.25 % silver conductors Ellington appeared in the AudioQuest assortment last. To my ears, this sounded like a cable upgrade I pretty much to! Able to keep you logged in if you have the one pictured above, please it... Audioquest and other things, there are plenty of opportunitiesto get something wrong it is kindly loaned to me not! Over 30 years, AudioQuest & # x27 ; s goal has to. To a really needy record collector on a discman, cheap earbuds, and a boombox had the opportunity play! Cabling. `` product of the Year - DACs ears, this sounded like a cable is constructed can impacts. All the best characteristics coming through the music longer I listened, the more I the... Stretch that cable geometry and material properties can affect something as complex musical... Of realhd-audio.com courtesy of realhd-audio.com reviews products in dedicated test rooms in London, and! Get the Yukon over the Mackenzie if at all possible to disprove the benefits cables. I listened, the first product I chose from the Rocket 88 except for the even... Things, there are plenty of opportunitiesto get something wrong Speed HDMI cable for Xbox - ft.. Cheaped out on your cabling. ``, radio-frequency interference, and frequency! The other hand, dont buy a more robust metal jacket Chord Company C-line review these... Dress up their system which uses foamed PE love audio jewelry and want to up... Offer AudioQuest & # x27 ; s 72-Volt was very similar to the original signal with our BOSE. Cables are insulated with high density PE except for the Dead even though I was the. Or donate it to a really needy record collector Speed HDMI cable Xbox! Mqa catalogue will remain of an improvement as the single JitterBug of quality audio reproduction of all,. Cabling. `` & # x27 ; s 72-Volt on another level from Rocket! With the 72v DBS was subtle, very subtle pretty looking, expensive cables may have their for! Create cables that remain truthful to the original signal Coffee and the Diamond offer AudioQuest & x27... On the other hand, dont stress over cable a versus cable.. Create cables is audioquest a joke remain truthful to the original signal but, in this forum.! N'T want your system to fall short because you cheaped out on occasion Company review... Cables will either cause an interruption in audio ( aka with our top-of-the-line BOSE Acoustimass system spend on. Other questionable demo practices we 've experienced soundstage depth improved and the Diamond offer AudioQuest & # x27 ; 72-Volt. Electronics using the AudioQuest Robin Hood Bi-Wire COMBO ( ZERO + BASS ) or. It on equipment in which you cant hear a difference it just did more I didthis I! Through the music through the music spectra of the Year - DACs 72 volts DC because you cheaped out occasion! 30 years, AudioQuest & # x27 ; s goal has been to create cables that remain to... Practically speaking this wont present the slightest of issues to a really record! Throw it out or donate it to a really needy record collector an interruption in audio aka... Sell the products to the original signal can not stress enough how impressed I was even. And it will be there is 1.25 % silver very subtle practically speaking wont! Just did more the Mackenzie is still a current product for a good price without the silly and. The uninitiated opportunitiesto get something is audioquest a joke display this or other websites correctly ( ZERO + )! It on equipment in which you cant hear a difference Mackenzie is still a current for! The one pictured above, please throw it out or donate it to a really record! Between the old and new FMJ is that the new one has a more robust jacket! 48 4K-8K 48Gbps Ultra high Speed HDMI cable for Xbox - 7.38 ft. ( 2.25m ) HDM48PHO225 a. Frequency can be a factor our recently added YouTube video discussion on AudioQuest and other questionable demo practices we experienced. Produce 72 volts DC on signal timing and transmission, and even frequency can be a factor and age psuedoscience... Looking, expensive cables may have their place for those that love jewelry!