Cable Elevators-snake oil and fist fights

xfett · 12-30-08, 01:00 AM

Ok let me state that I'm not an audiophile but do appreciate good quality sound...So one of my neighbors who calls himself an audiophile invites me over to listen to one of the best investments he has ever made. Dark Field Cable Elevators. What they basically are is some foam around what looked like thick hard rubber that elevates audio, power cables up off the floor and keeps them from vibration and static build up. Long story short....I listen to his system which was really good to begin with (PSB speakers with a Rotel amp and pre-amp) and was told to listen to the improved focus, better dynamics, etc. Let me say that I just don't get it, proceeded to to say that I didn't get it and told him that I had some swamp property for sale and all hell broke loose. Is it just me or have people lost all common sense? Picking cables up off the floor improves focus?...dynamics??? I have been a member to this forum for some time and find it hard to believe that people still buy into the snake oil.

BuGsArEtAsTy · 12-30-08, 01:07 AM

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#expensive

Come to think of it, maybe I should get a couple to support the cables plugged into some of my components. They kinda sag under their own weight, and put a bit of stress on the inputs.

Oh and I'm only half joking. HDMI is the worst. I wish they made HDMI like DVI, with optional thumbscrews. Much more robust attachment.

xfett · 12-30-08, 01:26 AM

Wow I'm glad I didn't ask how much he payed for them..

mcnarus · 12-30-08, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Is it just me or have people lost all common sense?

Ya can't lose what ya never had.

AV Doogie · 12-30-08, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xfett

Wow I'm glad I didn't ask how much he payed for them..

You are just jealous that you are not the chap who sold him the cable supports

whoaru99 · 12-30-08, 10:23 AM

I don't believe in the cable elevators either, but pissing in his Cheerios probably wasn't the most neighborly thing to do.

eljr · 12-30-08, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoaru99

i don't believe in the cable elevators either, but pissing in his cheerios probably wasn't the most neighborly thing to do.

+1

whoaru99 · 12-30-08, 11:16 AM

Not that I'm toally against pissing in someone's Cheerios with just merit, but good neighbors are hard to come by...especially ones with nice stereos.

David James · 12-30-08, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whoaru99

I don't believe in the cable elevators either, but pissing in his Cheerios probably wasn't the most neighborly thing to do.

I'm firmly rooted in the skeptics position when it comes to things like this yet I agree with your comment. Audiophilology is a religion and as I do with religion and politics, in conversations with family and friends, I steer clear of passing judgment.

Ethan Winer · 12-30-08, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xfett

was told to listen to the improved focus, better dynamics, etc.

Which just goes to prove that some of the most fervent audiophooles are in fact ... deaf.

--Ethan

Chu Gai · 12-30-08, 12:06 PM

His wife must be devastated that the cables don't vibrate anymore.

penngray · 12-30-08, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Not that I'm toally against pissing in someone's Cheerios with just merit, but good neighbors are hard to come by...especially ones with nice stereos.

lol, good education is even harder to come by

Who wants to hang with a dumb and stubborn neighbor anyways

Bob Lee (QSC) · 12-30-08, 12:16 PM

Your neighbor seems determined to prove PT Barnum correct.

I always wonder if astrologers get angry and upset at astronomers for not buying into their hoopla.

theelviscerator · 12-30-08, 12:21 PM

I am the type who is brutally honest..I would have laughed myself out the door...ROFLMAO in real life.....

B3Nut · 12-30-08, 04:10 PM

Perhaps the clientele purchasing cable elevators themselves have elevators that don't go all the way to the top floor?

BuGsArEtAsTy · 12-30-08, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David James

I'm firmly rooted in the skeptics position when it comes to things like this yet I agree with your comment. Audiophilology is a religion and as I do with religion and politics, in conversations with family and friends, I steer clear of passing judgment.

Well, if they ask my opinion then I tell them what I think.

An acquaintance once asked me what I thought of his $1200 speaker cables. I quite frankly said it was a foolish waste of money. However, I did temper that with the statement that it's always good to err on the overspec'd side for in-wall wires.

Randybes · 12-31-08, 11:08 AM

If someone asks what someone thinks about cable elevators, I think they should expect a skeptic's reply. If he is an audiofool, then he probably knows that is a controversial area.

Mr. Audio · 12-31-08, 01:57 PM

Dude I have a hug rat's nest of cables in the back of my system. I would need like 30 of those things. Oh well, anything for sound quality. I guess I'll have to buy these instead of that nice subwoofer I had my eye on.

Randybes · 12-31-08, 02:08 PM

If you decide to get cable elevators, I suggest the kind that have the automated floor lifts-very nice as you can lift the cables high enough to avoid the ground effect. Hopefully, everyone knows that the standard height is woefully inadequate.

12-30-08, 01:00 AM	#1 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a4ac4393' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:30&n=a4ac4393' border='0' alt=''></a>
xfett Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 37	Cable Elevators-snake oil and fist fights Ok let me state that I'm not an audiophile but do appreciate good quality sound...So one of my neighbors who calls himself an audiophile invites me over to listen to one of the best investments he has ever made. Dark Field Cable Elevators. What they basically are is some foam around what looked like thick hard rubber that elevates audio, power cables up off the floor and keeps them from vibration and static build up. Long story short....I listen to his system which was really good to begin with (PSB speakers with a Rotel amp and pre-amp) and was told to listen to the improved focus, better dynamics, etc. Let me say that I just don't get it, proceeded to to say that I didn't get it and told him that I had some swamp property for sale and all hell broke loose. Is it just me or have people lost all common sense? Picking cables up off the floor improves focus?...dynamics??? I have been a member to this forum for some time and find it hard to believe that people still buy into the snake oil.

12-30-08, 01:07 AM	#2 \| Link
BuGsArEtAsTy Swollen Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: AVS Forum Posts: 7,051	http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#expensive Come to think of it, maybe I should get a couple to support the cables plugged into some of my components. They kinda sag under their own weight, and put a bit of stress on the inputs. Oh and I'm only half joking. HDMI is the worst. I wish they made HDMI like DVI, with optional thumbscrews. Much more robust attachment. __________________ Everything Apple \| Xbox 360 HD DVD audio lag \| HD DVD movie size \| Funai Blu-ray disc compatibility

12-30-08, 10:23 AM	#6 \| Link
whoaru99 AVS Special Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,260	I don't believe in the cable elevators either, but pissing in his Cheerios probably wasn't the most neighborly thing to do. __________________ Don't look too hard for black and white in a grayscale world.

12-30-08, 11:16 AM	#8 \| Link
whoaru99 AVS Special Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 5,260	Not that I'm toally against pissing in someone's Cheerios with just merit, but good neighbors are hard to come by...especially ones with nice stereos. __________________ Don't look too hard for black and white in a grayscale world.

12-30-08, 12:06 PM	#11 \| Link
Chu Gai AVS Addicted Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NYC area Posts: 10,380	His wife must be devastated that the cables don't vibrate anymore. __________________ One Arm Guitar Player - Check It Out Indecent Proposal - Check it out Michael Jackson's Real Cause of Death - Check it out

12-30-08, 01:26 AM	#3 \| Link
xfett Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 37	Wow I'm glad I didn't ask how much he payed for them..

12-30-08, 12:16 PM	#13 \| Link
Bob Lee (QSC) AVS Special Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Costa Mesa, California Posts: 1,650	Your neighbor seems determined to prove PT Barnum correct. I always wonder if astrologers get angry and upset at astronomers for not buying into their hoopla. __________________ Bob Lee Applications Engineer QSC Audio Products, LLC Costa Mesa, Calif. Secretary, Audio Engineering Society

12-30-08, 12:21 PM	#14 \| Link
theelviscerator tweaky Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Elkhart,IN Posts: 635	I am the type who is brutally honest..I would have laughed myself out the door...ROFLMAO in real life..... __________________ I am no longer able to watch a movie. I am monitoring a video display with regards to chroma, brightness, contrast and correct pulldown.

12-30-08, 04:10 PM	#15 \| Link	<a href='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adclick.php?n=a591f81a' target='_blank'><img src='http://rev.avsforum.com/phpAdsNew/adview.php?what=zone:36&n=a591f81a' border='0' alt=''></a>
B3Nut I need a beer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: near Madison WI Posts: 53	Perhaps the clientele purchasing cable elevators themselves have elevators that don't go all the way to the top floor?

12-31-08, 11:08 AM	#17 \| Link
Randybes Guest Join Date: May 2002 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,622	If someone asks what someone thinks about cable elevators, I think they should expect a skeptic's reply. If he is an audiofool, then he probably knows that is a controversial area.

12-31-08, 01:57 PM	#18 \| Link
Mr. Audio Pulsating Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 709	Dude I have a hug rat's nest of cables in the back of my system. I would need like 30 of those things. Oh well, anything for sound quality. I guess I'll have to buy these instead of that nice subwoofer I had my eye on. __________________ Your system can shine no matter what it's made of.......except if it's Bose.

12-31-08, 02:08 PM	#19 \| Link
Randybes Guest Join Date: May 2002 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,622	If you decide to get cable elevators, I suggest the kind that have the automated floor lifts-very nice as you can lift the cables high enough to avoid the ground effect. Hopefully, everyone knows that the standard height is woefully inadequate.