I wonder why WireWorld, a major manufacturer of cables and interconnects, has quietly dropped double-blind claims in their ads. These claims purported to show the validity of double-blind testing to prove differences between and interconnects. Very conveniently, these claims were based on using the WireWorld Comparator which sells for $500. (They saw a good thing and now sell a complete cable and interconnect testing setup for $2400! It is reviewed in issue No. 11, November 1998 Fi) I don't claim to be the reason for the this marketing/advertising detour but my questions to WireWorld regarding basic double-blind listening requirements met with silence. My feeling is that they realized their bread and butter clientele (the tweak world) doesn't take kindly to double-blind testing, even if it's from one of their own. The WireWorld claims of double-blind testing proving differences in cables and interconnects has died quietly due to (tweak) customer complaints and an embarrassing lack of knowledge regarding double-blind testing.

I wonder as I look over the latest issue of the abso!ute sound if the new corporate owners will give Harry Pearson the editorial autonomy that he deserves. I hope so. Love him or hate him, there's only one Harry Pearson. Our differences are many but I admire the hell out of his never straying from his stated beliefs as have so many of his former writing staff. Many people were counting the man and his magazine out but he fooled them.