AudioQuest

AudioQuest, founded in 1980 by William E. Low, is a manufacturer of audio/video cables, digital-to-analog converters, headphones, power-conditioning products, and various audio/video accessories—all claimed to match high levels of performance and sold at high prices.

AudioQuest is based in Irvine, California, has offices in the Netherlands and Hong Kong, and distributes its products to approximately 65 countries throughout the world.[1]

AudioQuest uses pseudoscience as their primary driving force to sell its products to the uninitiated.[2]

Best Buy wants you to spend 940.00$ on a 3.00$ cable. What a steal... What a criminal ripoff.[3]

History

AudioQuest's founder, William E. Low, has described himself as "an absolute hedonist." In the December 2008 issue of The Absolute Sound, Low explained to TAS’s Neil Gader, "Everything I’ve learned about hi-fi or cables is purely the result of being interested in getting high on music."[4]

In his early days of selling high-end audio equipment, William E. Low discovered that the sound of an audio system was easily influenced by the quality of the cables connecting its various components. Hi-fi journalist, Richard Hardesty explained:

"With experimentation Bill found that better interconnect and speaker cables could make bigger audible improvements than many costly upgrades to amplifiers and speakers. And he recognized the opportunities afforded by this new category of audio components. He founded AudioQuest to explore and develop new and innovative wire, connectors and accessories."[5]

While AudioQuest remains best known for its analog and digital cables, in recent years the company has entered new product categories, most notably in its launch of the DragonFly USB digital-to-analog converter/headphone amplifier, recipient of numerous awards, including: Stereophile’s 2012 "Computer Audio Component of the Year"[6] and 2012 "Budget Component of the Year;"[7] Tone Audio’s 2012 "Digital Product of the Year;"[8] Computer Audiophile’s 2012 "Computer Audiophile Product of the Year;"[9] AudioStream’s "Greatest Bits;"[10] and What Hi-Fi?’s 2014 "Product of the Year."[11]

At the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, AudioQuest officially entered the headphone market with its NightHawk over-the-ear headphones, designed by Skylar Gray. In October 2014, NightHawk was named 2015 CES Innovation Award Honoree (Headphones) and 2015 Best of Innovation Winner (Eco-Design and Sustainable Technologies).[12]

Ethernet cable evaluation

AudioQuest sells ethernet cables that they claim are "directional".[13] One independent blinded ABX test of the ethernet cables at The Amazing Meeting in 2015 found that the cables do not produce a measurable effect. Independent physical testing of the data transmission quality of AudioQuest's ethernet cables show they perform no better than class compliant cables costing less than 1/10 the price.[14] Audiophile bloggers that receive free sample products to review have said that their unblinded, subjective listening experiences justify the high price of the product.[15][16][17]

See also

High-end audio

Stereophile

Speaker wire

Nordost Corporation

References

  1. ↑ "3 Questions for Bill Low (Fidelity Magazine)". YouTube.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  2. ↑ "Potential Audioquest Rigged HDMI Demo Exposed". Audioholics Home Theater, HDTV, Receivers, Speakers, Blu-ray Reviews and News. Retrieved 2016-11-01.
  3. ↑ Chan, Casey. "Best Buy Wants You to Spend $1000 on a HDMI Cable". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  4. ↑ The Absolute Sound, December 2008, "9 Questions for William E. Low, Founder, CEO & Designer, AudioQuest," by Neil Gader
  5. ↑ "An interview with William Low" (PDF). Auriclepublishing.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  6. ↑ "Stereophile 's Products of 2012 Computer Audio Component of the Year - Stereophile.com". Stereophile.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  7. ↑ "Stereophile 's Products of 2012 Budget Component of the Year - Stereophile.com". Stereophile.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  8. ↑ "Tone" (PDF). Tonepublications.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  9. ↑ "Computer Audiophile - 2012 Computer Audiophile Product of the Year". Computeraudiophile.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  10. ↑ "AudioQuest Dragonfly v1.2 USB Digital-Audio Converter - AudioStream". Audiostream.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  11. ↑ "Best DACs 2014 - What Hi-Fi? Awards 2014". Whathifi.com. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  12. ↑ "AudioQuest Named as 2015 CES Innovation Awards Honoree & 2015 Best of... -- IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --". Prnewswire.com. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  13. ↑ "The audiophile's dilemma: strangers can't identify $340 cables, either [Updated]". Ars Technica.
  14. ↑ "Expert electrical analysis: $340 audiophile cables test "marginal"". Ars Technica.
  15. ↑ "AudioQuest Ethernet Cables". AudioStream.
  16. ↑ "AudioQuest Pearl and Vodka Ethernet cable review". DAR__KO.
  17. ↑ "Review: Audioquest Ethernet Cables, Diamond, Vodka and Cinnamon". Part-Time Audiophile.
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