This is very complex and superbly important concept and with this I have pissed a lot of people in audio. So, while you participate in evaluation of an audio element DO NOT recognized the sonic benefits of this element in it’s comparing to other similar elements. It is way more effective, self-educational, less misleading and offers higher level of final correctness to build up your perception about an absolute performance of the component rather then it’s relative performance. You have to very clearly recognize what distinct the performance of a given component form “how it should be” instead to recognize the performing delta of a component relative to it’s competitive. If you do not accustom to mentally stratify a performance of an audio component using the component’s absolute performing level and if you feel more comfortable with the component’s relative distinctions then one of the following is true: 1) You are a clueless Audio-Moron who should run from audio with a speed of light. 2) You are an audio reviewer. 3) You are a blinded hostage of audio who do audio (started last month or 35 years ago) but never find any sense about your actions and your judgments. BTW (and I am not kidding) if you do not know what I meant but this post then it is very likely that you fit in all 3 of the mentioned categories….

Romy the Cat wrote:

This is very complex and superbly important concept and with this I have pissed a lot of people in audio. So, while you participate in evaluation of an audio element DO NOT recognized the sonic benefits of this element in it’s comparing to other similar elements. It is way more effective, self-educational, less misleading and offers higher level of final correctness to build up your perception about an absolute performance of the component rather then it’s relative performance. You have to very clearly recognize what distinct the performance of a given component form “how it should be” instead to recognize the performing delta of a component relative to it’s competitive. If you do not accustom to mentally stratify a performance of an audio component using the component’s absolute performing level and if you feel more comfortable with the component’s relative distinctions then one of the following is true: 1) You are a clueless Audio-Moron who should run from audio with a speed of light. 2) You are an audio reviewer. 3) You are a blinded hostage of audio who do audio (started last month or 35 years ago) but never find any sense about your actions and your judgments. BTW (and I am not kidding) if you do not know what I meant but this post then it is very likely that you fit in all 3 of the mentioned categories….

i am searching this site to read older posts and i found this topic.

i had an A/B test between Acoustic Revive USB cable and Purist Anniversary USB cable.

Acoustic Revive sounded super clean , very transparent , very detailed , very controlled , very accurate , not enjoyable.

Purist Anniversary Sounded less clean , less controlled , less accurate but more enjoyable .

at first glance an listener think acoustic revive is more neutral but I told my friend i think i should use both cables in series to detect which of them alter the sound.

i used an iusb usb signal reclocker between two usb cables in two configuration :

macbook -> Acoustic Revive USB cable -> iUSB 3.0 -> Purist Anniversary USB cable -> Berkeley Alpha USB to SPDIF -> DAC

macbook -> Purist Anniversary USB cable -> iUSB 3.0 -> Acoustic Revive USB cable -> Berkeley Alpha USB to SPDIF -> DAC

the result was fun. in both configuration i have heard Acoustic Revive Sound . it means acoustic revive is less neutral.

i think 90% of audiophiles prefer Acoustic Revive to Purist but i think some guys could detect the right way even in A/B tests.

i think we could not escape from A/B tests but we should try to improve our ability to detect what's right what's wrong.

Romy the Cat wrote:

You have to very clearly recognize what distinct the performance of a given component form “how it should be” instead to recognize the performing delta of a component relative to it’s competitive.

no body could define a reference in his mind before listening to many systems.

I think A/B tests are not good for most of audiophiles but it has no harm for professional listeners.