The audio cable in the photo costs $4,000. Embarrassingly, it sounds exactly like a cable that costs just $7.
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The RCA standard has existed for over 100 years, and it remains in widespread use in audio systems.
We most commonly encounter it as a cable with a pair of round connectors in red and white, used to connect audio components (the cable on the right in the photo).
If a 100-year-old technology sounds like something that isn't worth much, you're not wrong — a cable like this sells on Amazon for $7.
Yet an American manufacturer called Kimber offers an RCA cable for $4,000, promising construction incorporating silver and other premium materials, along with exceptional sound quality.
The Audio Science Review channel decided to put this to the test using professional equipment, and the conclusion was that there is no difference whatsoever between the Amazon cable and the Kimber cable. The resulting audio sounds completely identical.
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The reason the audio is identical comes down to the simplicity of the technology and the low frequency of electronic audio signals.
RCA cables are unbalanced audio cables. This means they have no built-in noise-cancellation technology, making them susceptible to interference.
The hum that speakers sometimes produce is a result of using cables like these. If they pick up noise, or if electrical current penetrates through the shielding layer, they will pass that noise along to the speaker as well. This is in contrast to XLR cables (the one on the left in the photo), which transmit the audio signal twice, enabling noise to be identified and cancelled out.
Furthermore, the electrical signals used to transmit audio that humans can hear operate at relatively low frequencies compared to internet or radio signals. As a result, RCA cables use low voltage and current, and the cable's resistance has virtually no effect on the signal.
This simplicity makes the cables reliable and effective even when made from basic materials like those used in the Amazon version, rendering the use of silver and other expensive materials essentially meaningless.
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Audio experts may still report an exceptionally good listening experience when using cables like these — and the reason for that is confirmation bias.
Our brains are always inclined to seek reinforcement for things they already believe, and tend to ignore evidence that contradicts them. When we expect an immersive listening experience from a cable that costs thousands of dollars, we pay far greater attention to every detail of the audio reaching our ears — even though what we're actually hearing is perfectly ordinary audio.
Confirmation bias shows up in many other areas of life as well, from political and religious beliefs to the enjoyment of driving a car or eating at a restaurant.
We probably can't avoid it entirely, but awareness of this bias can help us maintain objectivity when it truly matters.
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👋 Hi, I'm Shlomo Strauss — follow me for more interesting content on science and technology.