Is Audioquest a Scam?

[Circaflex 3,555]

So the HT side of technology is not my strong point and last night i was involved in a debate with a buddy of mine regarding expensive cables. I will start out by saying i am not a believer of 360 dollar power cables and 1000 dollar HDMI cables, but my buddy recently went to the audioquest facility for a demo and keeps saying how much of a difference it makes, especially their 650 dollar diamond USB cable. Everything he told me was not provable and more so just "i saw the demo... im a believer" and everything i read about audioquest is they make claims on items you cant physically measure with many known tools. Am i in the wrong? HEre are some examples of their cables:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/AudioQuest+-+NRG-4+6%27+AC+Power+Cable+-+Gray/Black/Blue/1267819.p?id=1218245456935&skuId=1267819

http://www.stereophile.com/content/audioquest%E2%80%99s-diamond-usb

[+Human.Online 8,443]

HDMI is digital. There is no signal degredation in digital, you either receive it or you don't.

If a claim is made without being measurable, then I'd dismiss it.

That's my understanding anyhow.

[medium_pimpin 202]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38731070/ns/technology_and_science-tech_and_gadgets/t/buyer-beware-misleading-hdmi-cable-labels-suggest-needless-upgrades/

[giantpotato 296]

I went to that facility for a demo and this is what happened, upon leaving they paid me $1000 to tell everyone I know the demo was awesome and you can really tell the difference with their products.

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. It is a scam for people with too much money.

[Anibal P 2,055]

http://www.msnbc.msn...dless-upgrades/

You know the scam is bad if MSNBC is covering it

[Southern Patriot 934]

IMHO, anyone who pays for that kind of premium cable is a total ****ing moron and gets what they deserve (ripped off).

[1337ish 266]

Right HDMI/Digital cables will have no difference but analogue and power cables do make a difference.

Replacing the power cable to an AMP is always something worth doing as far as I have heard, not mega expensive but better then the freebie kettle cable you got with you 10 year old dell pc ;)

[HawkMan 5,232]

Right HDMI/Digital cables will have no difference but analogue and power cables do make a difference.

Replacing the power cable to an AMP is always something worth doing as far as I have heard, not mega expensive but better then the freebie kettle cable you got with you 10 year old dell pc ;)

No. You can make your cheap power cable just as good with a simple cheap ferrite core. And even that is only for those that have issues with noise on their power lines.

As for speaker cables. While I personally wouldn't buy the cheapest crap. In blind tests where the big companies have actually dared to participate, they've been unale to distinguish high end speaker cable and wire hangers.

[medium_pimpin 202]

[chconline 158]

It makes ZERO difference. Either you get the signal or you don't. If you get a picture on the screen, it means it's working. Otherwise, it's not. Simple as that.

[+jamesyfx 362]

A kettle lead for $360?

WHY? :|

Unbelievable! And people say that $10 is expensive for one. JESUS. :o

[rajputwarrior 280]

doesn't HDMI signal get weaker the longer the length? as in if you are wiring something where the cable needs to be 50-60 feet, even 20-25 feet, you are better off using analog?

[+jamesyfx 362]

doesn't HDMI signal get weaker the longer the length? as in if you are wiring something where the cable needs to be 50-60 feet, even 20-25 feet, you are better off using analog?

It does, but cable construction makes a difference. You can get HDMI cables that are 65 feet long as long as they're decent quality.

[Malechai 116]

i get my hdmi cables off monoprice for like 6 bux each.