{"id":706,"date":"2008-06-21T11:39:50","date_gmt":"2008-06-21T03:39:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nargalzius.com\/blog2\/http:\/www.nargalzius.com\/blog2\/archives\/2008\/06\/2008_06_21_1139.php"},"modified":"2008-06-21T11:39:50","modified_gmt":"2008-06-21T03:39:50","slug":"how-stupid-do-they-think-we-are","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nargalzius.com\/blog\/archives\/2008\/06\/21\/how-stupid-do-they-think-we-are","title":{"rendered":"How stupid do they think we are!?"},"content":{"rendered":"

So Denon’s selling digital<\/strong> interconnects<\/a> at 500 dollars a pop. Cable is 5 feet btw in case anyone’s interested.<\/p>\n

It’s basically an ethernet cable, which could be had at $3 at that same length. Yeah, it’s the same shit you use to connect your computer to broadband internetz.<\/p>\n

I had tears in my eyes (from laughing) after reading one of the comments\/reviews:<\/p>\n

\n

If I could use a rusty boxcutter to carve a new orifice in my body that’s compatible with this link cable, I would already be doing it. I can just imagine the pure musical goodness that would flow through this cable into the wound and fill me completely – like white, holy light. Holding this cable in my hands actually makes me feel that much closer to the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n

I only make $6.25\/hr at Jack in the Box,<\/em> but I saved up for three months so I could have this cable. It sits in a shrine I constructed next to my futon in Mother’s basement.<\/p>\n

I only gave it four stars in my review because I can’t find music that is worthy enough to flow through this utterly perfect interconnect.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Ok I know this is pretty obvious, but just in case<\/strong> there are<\/em> people too stupid to fully grasp the fundamental concept behind the word “digital” I’m going to explain it as simple as possible.<\/p>\n

While analog<\/strong> data is basically fluctuations in frequencies (waveforms if you will), digital<\/strong> information is just bits – 1s and 0s to be precise.<\/p>\n

Applying it to Audio<\/h2>\n

So having said that, applying that to audio of any<\/strong> kind – what’s the most obvious thing you will notice? That in digital communication, it’s an all or nothing<\/strong> game. Either you get the data as intended or you don’t get it at all.<\/p>\n

With analog signals, we’ve have EMI or all sorts of noise\/interference that can be introduced into the waveform data; which is why it’s reasonable to invest in analog interconnects. I have to stress the term reasonable<\/em> – because there are companies<\/a> that just take everything to a ridiculous level – and at that point, it all becomes absurd once again.<\/p>\n

But again, when talking analog, you can see how quality of materials, sheilding, lengths, etc. can make a difference – because the analog waveform can be altered by different external factors.<\/p>\n

And because the the audio converter will interpret that data as is,<\/em> if the frequency has been altered by interference, you will<\/em> hear it – which is why you have noise and hum and such.<\/p>\n

In digital<\/strong> information however, you only have two states<\/strong> to contend with. 1\/0, on\/off, etc. Outside interference cannot make that information turn into a 1.58 or -36 because the converter will still read that as either a 0 or 1. Those 0s and 1s ultimately make up the audio waveform. 1 <\/sup><\/a>Unlike in analog, the audio waveform IS the waveform itself.<\/span><\/span>