Esoteric cables

1) Yes, THX charges for their services, and there is a fee to use the logo.  To obtain THX certification a piece of equipment must pass significant performance testing to standards they established.  The lab is definately independent as you pay whether the gear passes or not... it is not in THX's interest to liscence their name to something that does not pass the requirements - THX has plenty of money and plenty of backing and does not need to "distinguish otherwise indistinguishable products."  THX certification is very tough in many cases, but it does not necessarily mean something is definately "better" than something else, only that it has been tested and certified to perform to certain requirements established by the lab and that the manufacturer has decided to pursue the cost of certification and lisencing.  That another piece of equipment is not THX certified only means that either it has not been tested (or perhaps it failed the tests, which happens a lot) or the manufacturer has not paid the lisencing fee to label it as certified.  There are many pieces of gear on the market that passed the THX tests but are not certified because the price was higher than the manufacturer wanted to pay, and many others that are out there after having failed the tests.

2) The current THX certification for cables is simply a set of standards to test that the signal is not degraded by the cable, that the cable has acceptable losses and RF shielding, that certain things like gold-plated connectors are used and properly marked, and that the cable construction is robust with good solder joints not crimps, etc.  The THX cable standard was developed at the urging of certain cable manufacturers and is mainly a marketting device for them.  They decided it was worth the money to pay THX to develop the standard and to pay for certification testing and the liscencing fee for the THX logo.  Again, the test does not indicate that THX branded cables are "better" than any other cable, only that they have been tested and the manufacturer pays the fees.  I would be willing to bet almost any well made cable on the market that uses the correct type of connectors can be THX certified...

Also, just because it is patented doesn't mean it is good.  It basically means that someone spent a great deal of money and no one contested it.  I suppose the best clue to whether a patent is good or not is whether other companies liscense that patent for their own use.  Although that isn't final as the patentee doesn't have to offer liscensing, or are wanting too much money.  But I'm sure if you saw some of the patents out there, you would know what I mean.

Steven Kephart

Adire Audio

/r7 said:

"This has all been based on lab environments, quiet and free of the noises heard on the street.if all these tests were conducted while driving your vehicles, i doubt there would even be a myth to talk about."

WELL SAID!

Dyon:

If you are such an A/V badass as you love to remind all of us, with your PHD and your 31 years of experience, blah, blah, blah...  Why do you spend your time on a little car audio web site, not a home audio site? Does it help your ego? Are you polishing your PHD as we speak?  :)