I asked Skynet to rate my HiFi and...

[GroeneLeeuw]

Obviously my so-called joke got misinterpeted

You thought you were and still I went all silly.
I humble apologise!
Mates?

 

[Al ears]

You thought you were and still I went all silly.
I humble apologise!
Mates?

Of course, l didn't mean to confuse.

 

[James105]

Then don't ask it to rate your speaker cables.....
🙂

Will it implode?

 

[Al ears]

Will it implode?

I'd hate to think it simply regurgitates what happens on this forum...
😎

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

I'd hate to think it simply regurgitates what happens on this forum...
😎

AI apparently can hallucinate, image a few of those having a cable conversation here?
The moderators would be busy! 🤣

A.I. Is Getting More Powerful, but Its Hallucinations Are Getting Worse

A new wave of “reasoning” systems from companies like OpenAI is producing incorrect information more often. Even the companies don’t know why.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Jasonovich]

Ok I thought I have some fun with AI.
I asked the question ❓ do speaker cables make difference to sound quality?
I asked Gemini, I asked AI Pilot.
Got different answers each time.
It seems to extract information from various forums, such as Reddit and such.
So if the paradigm or the body of opinion shifts in another direction, AI will **** it out, like it's laid the golden egg.
Smoke and Mirrors, nothing intelligent about it.

Below is what AI has regurgitated

This is one of the most fiercely debated topics in the audiophile world. Depending on who you ask, you’ll either hear that cables are "tone controls" or that anyone spending more than $20 is a victim of marketing.
The truth, as it usually does, lies somewhere in the middle. Here is the breakdown of how speaker cables actually impact sound.
1. The Physics: Wire is Wire (Mostly)
From a purely scientific standpoint, a cable's job is to transfer an electrical signal with as little change as possible. There are three primary electrical properties that can affect this:
Resistance: This is the most important factor. If a wire is too thin or too long, it resists the flow of electricity, which can actually lower the volume and even slightly alter the frequency response of your speakers.
Inductance: This can affect high-frequency roll-off (making things sound "dull"), though this usually only matters at extreme lengths.
Capacitance: This is generally negligible for speaker cables unless the cable is designed with very strange geometry.
The Golden Rule: As long as the cable is thick enough (lower gauge) for the distance it’s traveling, the electrical "damage" to the signal is effectively zero.
2. When Do They Make a Difference?
There are specific scenarios where you will notice a change in sound quality:
Scenario
Impact
Gauge vs. Length
If you run 50 feet of very thin wire (e.g., 22 AWG), you will lose bass definition and overall volume.
Build Quality
High-quality connectors (banana plugs or spades) ensure a tight seal. A loose, oxidizing wire connection will degrade sound over time.
Shielding
In environments with massive amounts of electromagnetic interference, better shielding can prevent audible hum or buzz.
Extreme High-End Gear
If you have a $50,000 system, it is transparent enough that the minute differences in cable geometry might be audible to a trained ear.

3. The "Placebo" and Diminishing Returns
The audio industry is famous for "snake oil." You will find cables priced at $5,000 that claim to use "directional silver" or "quantum-aligned molecules."
The Double-Blind Test: In almost every scientific double-blind study, listeners (even experts) struggle to tell the difference between a high-end "boutique" cable and a standard, well-made oxygen-free copper (OFC) cable of the same gauge.
Psychology: If you spend $1,000 on a cable, your brain wants it to sound better. This is a very real phenomenon, but it’s a change in perception, not physics.
The Verdict: What Should You Buy?
Unless you are running a world-class recording studio or a hyper-expensive listening room, follow these practical guidelines:
Don't overspend: A good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 5-10% of your total system cost on all cables combined.
Focus on Gauge (AWG): For runs under 20 feet, 16 AWG is fine. For longer runs, go with 14 or 12 AWG.
Material Matters: Look for Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC). Avoid "Copper Clad Aluminum" (CCA) if you want the best conductivity and longevity.
Terminations: Buy cables with pre-installed banana plugs. They don't make the electricity "faster," but they prevent fraying and ensure a perfect contact point.
Bottom Line: A better cable won't make a bad speaker sound good, but a bad cable can make a great speaker sound mediocre. Get a decent, thick copper wire, and spend the rest of your budget on better speakers or acoustic room treatment—that's where the real magic happens.

 

[GroeneLeeuw]

Bottom Line: A better cable won't make a bad speaker sound good, but a bad cable can make a great speaker sound mediocre. Get a decent, thick copper wire, and spend the rest of your budget on better speakers or acoustic room treatment—that's where the real magic happens.

That´s decent advice.
If AI was really intelligent it would start and finish with it and call it a day.

 

[Jasonovich]

That´s decent advice.
If AI was really intelligent it would start and finish with it and call it a day.

Yeah I definitely agree with the last part.

 

[Fandango Andy]

Ok I thought I have some fun with AI.
I asked the question ❓ do speaker cables make difference to sound quality?
I asked Gemini, I asked AI Pilot.
Got different answers each time.
It seems to extract information from various forums, such as Reddit and such.
So if the paradigm or the body of opinion shifts in another direction, AI will **** it out, like it's laid the golden egg.
Smoke and Mirrors, nothing intelligent about it.

Below is what AI has regurgitated

This is one of the most fiercely debated topics in the audiophile world. Depending on who you ask, you’ll either hear that cables are "tone controls" or that anyone spending more than $20 is a victim of marketing.
The truth, as it usually does, lies somewhere in the middle. Here is the breakdown of how speaker cables actually impact sound.
1. The Physics: Wire is Wire (Mostly)
From a purely scientific standpoint, a cable's job is to transfer an electrical signal with as little change as possible. There are three primary electrical properties that can affect this:
Resistance: This is the most important factor. If a wire is too thin or too long, it resists the flow of electricity, which can actually lower the volume and even slightly alter the frequency response of your speakers.
Inductance: This can affect high-frequency roll-off (making things sound "dull"), though this usually only matters at extreme lengths.
Capacitance: This is generally negligible for speaker cables unless the cable is designed with very strange geometry.
The Golden Rule: As long as the cable is thick enough (lower gauge) for the distance it’s traveling, the electrical "damage" to the signal is effectively zero.
2. When Do They Make a Difference?
There are specific scenarios where you will notice a change in sound quality:
Scenario
Impact
Gauge vs. Length
If you run 50 feet of very thin wire (e.g., 22 AWG), you will lose bass definition and overall volume.
Build Quality
High-quality connectors (banana plugs or spades) ensure a tight seal. A loose, oxidizing wire connection will degrade sound over time.
Shielding
In environments with massive amounts of electromagnetic interference, better shielding can prevent audible hum or buzz.
Extreme High-End Gear
If you have a $50,000 system, it is transparent enough that the minute differences in cable geometry might be audible to a trained ear.

3. The "Placebo" and Diminishing Returns
The audio industry is famous for "snake oil." You will find cables priced at $5,000 that claim to use "directional silver" or "quantum-aligned molecules."
The Double-Blind Test: In almost every scientific double-blind study, listeners (even experts) struggle to tell the difference between a high-end "boutique" cable and a standard, well-made oxygen-free copper (OFC) cable of the same gauge.
Psychology: If you spend $1,000 on a cable, your brain wants it to sound better. This is a very real phenomenon, but it’s a change in perception, not physics.
The Verdict: What Should You Buy?
Unless you are running a world-class recording studio or a hyper-expensive listening room, follow these practical guidelines:
Don't overspend: A good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 5-10% of your total system cost on all cables combined.
Focus on Gauge (AWG): For runs under 20 feet, 16 AWG is fine. For longer runs, go with 14 or 12 AWG.
Material Matters: Look for Oxygen-Free Copper (OFC). Avoid "Copper Clad Aluminum" (CCA) if you want the best conductivity and longevity.
Terminations: Buy cables with pre-installed banana plugs. They don't make the electricity "faster," but they prevent fraying and ensure a perfect contact point.
Bottom Line: A better cable won't make a bad speaker sound good, but a bad cable can make a great speaker sound mediocre. Get a decent, thick copper wire, and spend the rest of your budget on better speakers or acoustic room treatment—that's where the real magic happens.

I asked Google AI for a recommendation for a speaker cable between Audiolab and B&W, didn't mention model numbers. It came back with three recommendations. I picked one and said ChatGPT told me that brand was a waste of money.

It came back with a quite well measured explanation of how some people think it makes a difference others don't. It even quoted it's sources.

It had a pararagh on the importance of the correct gauge of wire.

Referenced the famous coat hanger test. And came up with the following:

"Scientific Perspective: Most rigorous scientific studies and double-blind listening tests conclude that there is no statistically significant audible difference between high-end "audiophile" cables and standard, well-constructed cables of a sufficient gauge. Electrical differences between cables are typically so minute they fall below the threshold of human perception."

While this is pretty much in line with my thinking, it only came after I pushed back on the original answer. AI can easily become an echo chamber.

 

[davidf]

While this is pretty much in line with my thinking, it only came after I pushed back on the original answer. AI can easily become an echo chamber.

And rife for manipulation....

 

[Jasonovich]

I asked Google AI for a recommendation for a speaker cable between Audiolab and B&W, didn't mention model numbers. It came back with three recommendations. I picked one and said ChatGPT told me that brand was a waste of money.

It came back with a quite well measured explanation of how some people think it makes a difference others don't. It even quoted it's sources.

It had a pararagh on the importance of the correct gauge of wire.

Referenced the famous coat hanger test. And came up with the following:

"Scientific Perspective: Most rigorous scientific studies and double-blind listening tests conclude that there is no statistically significant audible difference between high-end "audiophile" cables and standard, well-constructed cables of a sufficient gauge. Electrical differences between cables are typically so minute they fall below the threshold of human perception."

While this is pretty much in line with my thinking, it only came after I pushed back on the original answer. AI can easily become an echo chamber.

Indeed it's just an echo chamber, all it does is harvest the views and opinions of people, shift the paradigm or change the consensus and you'll get a different answer.

 

[Jasonovich]

And rife for manipulation....

If it hasn't already happened, wait till sponsors with vested interests come abroad.
You see this in Wikipedia.