Pear Cable CEO Calls James Randi's $1 Million Offer a Hoax

I have serious doubts whether or not the test will ever happen. The name slinging taking place on both sides prohibits any kind of compromise. Sad though, because I would really like to see a test like this. I read the magazine a bit and love the forum here. Both sides have valid criticisms. The ideas for testing procedures and such are great!
 
apmason said:
I have serious doubts whether or not the test will ever happen. The name slinging taking place on both sides prohibits any kind of compromise. Sad though, because I would really like to see a test like this. I read the magazine a bit and love the forum here. Both sides have valid criticisms. The ideas for testing procedures and such are great!
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Sorry, but only one side has valid criticisms, and that is not the side that sells snake-oil cables.

Paul

:) :) :)
 
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rsaavedra said:
Not really dBs. At around 20kHz in that graph the difference (red) reaches only 0.45 volts. What that might translate into dBs is not totally clear from that graph.
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I calculated the dB differences in an earlier post. At 20kHz, the difference is 4.8dB, however, most adults can't hear that high. My own hearing runs out at 17kHz so I'm not too concerned with what happens at 20kHz.

For the dB impaired, here are the equations to use:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decibels#Amplitude.2C_voltage_and_current

To calculate dB, just pick the voltages off the graph and plug them into the equation.
 
If you read the thread at stereophile I think you will see that there is an honest debate going on there, as there is here. The debate there is over whether or not they ought participate in the face of the criticism coming from here.
 
That is the correct link. I read through about eight pages of it before I got tired. My original statement about their criticisms had nothing to do with what elk or any other poster said about electronic equipment. Cables, burn in, or db whatever. Expensive hobby and not my thing. I was commenting on the complaints about dialogue from both sides.
 
apmason said:
I have serious doubts whether or not the test will ever happen. The name slinging taking place on both sides prohibits any kind of compromise. Sad though, because I would really like to see a test like this. I read the magazine a bit and love the forum here. Both sides have valid criticisms. The ideas for testing procedures and such are great!
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We never had any illusions that a test would ever actually take place. We already know that Mr. Fremer cannot perform as claimed. The closer he gets to brass tacks the more carefully he's going to tread, until he reaches the point where he refuses to move forward at all, and negotiations come to an end. That's when he starts accusing Randi of negotiating in bad faith (see Michael Anda thread for reference).
 
It does not matter if they even agree with the setup before the test, when they fail and they will, they will find something wrong with the test, it will not be that they were wrong.

Paul

:) :) :)
 
I think there are two good reasons why Pear used such 'small' signal levels. First, the speakers were only 5.25 inches in diameter. Even if the amplifier was capable of 1,000 watts, the speakers probably couldn't take more than 30 watts or so. Second, frequency response of a linear system does not depend upon signal level. Even if the system had some nonlinearities, a small signal is still desirable so as not to allow the nonlinearities to influence the results.

In my own impedance vs. frequency sweeps, I use something like 350mV. I found that was plenty loud, especially for a Fostex 400HT horn tweeter, which has a 108dB sensitivity!
 
Gr8wight said:
As Sol pointed out, in anechoic circumstances only, which describes absolutely no-one's listening room.

I don't quite understand why this thread has devolved into a discussion of technical aspects of audio gear, as they have absolutely nothing to do with the challenge.
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We're discussing it and trying to work out where to start the split, and would be very appreciative if people took the technical discussion to the Technical forum, actually.

ETA: Splits later made.
 
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On the subject of the original $1M challenge, is Fremer still in the running at all?

Any sightings of a pair of Anjou cables, or have none ever been purchased?

rsaavedra said:
PS. To close my technical straying, or for those interested in the technical exchange discussed here: http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/manufacture/0907/
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You do realize that's written by a manufacturer that sells amplifiers (among other products), don't you? It's just an ad to try to sell you a much more powerful amp than you need.
 
I don't *care* if these cables test really, really well. I care about the amazing materials science claims on their site. Are they really putting this expensive material into their cables?

Because if THAT is a lie, we don't need to go further.
 
BenBurch said:
I don't *care* if these cables test really, really well. I care about the amazing materials science claims on their site. Are they really putting this expensive material into their cables?

Because if THAT is a lie, we don't need to go further.
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Your question boils down to - "Are they deluded, or are they frauds?".

Judging by the responses of Mike Lavigne of this parish, and having looked at a few audiophile sites, I really don't think fraud is inolved, at least not here. This is sincerely held delusion...
 
volatile said:
Your question boils down to - "Are they deluded, or are they frauds?".

Judging by the responses of Mike Lavigne of this parish, and having looked at a few audiophile sites, I really don't think fraud is inolved, at least not here. This is sincerely held delusion...
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Sorry, but no, it is sincerely held FRAUD.

Paul

:) :) :)
 
In the case of Pear (as opposed to whoever sells those light-switch covers Randi blogs about, say), I'm pretty damn sure they're using the materials they claim.They believe this stuff as much as their customers do...
 
volatile said:
In the case of Pear (as opposed to whoever sells those light-switch covers Randi blogs about, say), I'm pretty damn sure they're using the materials they claim.They believe this stuff as much as their customers do...
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They believe, oh please, they know that it is snake-oil, that is why they will never take a true DBT and say after they fail, that the test was right and they were wrong, the magic word here is called MONEY.

Paul

:) :) :)
 
volatile said:
Your question boils down to - "Are they deluded, or are they frauds?".

Judging by the responses of Mike Lavigne of this parish, and having looked at a few audiophile sites, I really don't think fraud is inolved, at least not here. This is sincerely held delusion...
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Some of the more charismatic preachers I ever heard didn't believe a word of it themselves, or so their actions later showed, so the appearance if sincerity is simply not any proof.
 
Please be sure from this point on to keep this thread specifically on topic to the Million Dollar Challenge as relates directly to the PEAR Cable Challenge.

Technical discussion split:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99141

3D Hearing split:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99142

PEAR's location discussion split:
http://www.internationalskeptics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99143

Replying to this modbox in thread will be off topic  Posted By: chillzero
 
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Bump.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/4adamblake

I notice that Mr. Blake now lists the company he founded and ran as "Past Experience," since going back to school in September. The Pear website is still up, but I wonder if the bad publicity resulting from the MDC challenge actually killed the business....
 
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