Guess who ain't getting any - satisfaction, at audio shows? The cable guys. In the wake of RMAF 05, that privately organized runaway Denver show, one cable importer who arguably had the mostest presence -- the highest number of exhibits who were relying on one specific cable line; his -- found out that it all amounted to naught when it came time to collect mentions in show reports. Zip. Nada. None of the 60-some press members in attendance (that number sticks in my head as something show organizer Al Stiefel told me on closing day: "there's sixty of your kind here this year" - "whaddya mean, virile handsome studs?" - "no, press hacks running around like headless chickens") - none of these chickens noticed that the skinny Crystal Cables were the reason why their favorite rooms sounded so favorite. Joe Shanaphy, Crystal's man in the Americas, wasn't crushed but checked in with me today to ask how he had failed. He hadn't. That's the breaks. Gleaming tubes, monstrous horns, massive Boulders and outrageously styled turntables always get all the attention. If a cable guy in attendance dares to suggest that his wares have an impact on the sterling sonics on tap, he's suspiciously regarded as a hanger-oner. If the room elicits criticisms, his cables are the first to be blamed. So what's a guy like Joe to do? First off, contact all the magazine publishers likely to cover your event with a tidy pre-announcement e-mail notification about your personal presence - the where, how, what and when. Next, prepare one-page handouts for each room you're in, to be given to press members who love nothing better than not having to take notes. These hand-outs should list the equipment on display: basic specs, pricing and website URLs. Obviously, your cables are listed as well. Now make sure to also list all the other rooms at the event where your cables can be found - room numbers, who you're showing with, the whole schmear. Spell it out!
The moment you return (or still from the venue on closing day), fire off another round e-mail to the press (use the blind carbon copy field to hide the recipients). Thank everyone for attending the show. Express your hope that
you'll be covered in the show report. Ask to be contacted if any further info is required. Keep it short and sweet and sign off. Then in the post script, list all your rooms by number and associated manufacturers. Now you've done everything in your power shy of pouring cheap gin, hiring long-legged cheerleaders at the show with your company name embroidered across their trembling chests or handing out engraved pens or carrying bags with your logo imprinted. If you're still not getting any after all that effort? Well, at least now you can rest assured you've done what you could. Perhaps raise your margins to get even? Oops, bad idea. Most cable guys got even a long time ago. On another cable-related subject -- connectors -- here's something fresh from my desk: "Every commercial connector known to me has problems here or there: the Neutrik Pro-Fi (used on the Valhalla, for example) has its center pin break off and the broken part is left inside the RCA female impossible to extract. I used Neutrik Pro-Fi in the past but no more. This breakage happened way too often and wasn't warrantied by what happens to be the world's largest connector manufacturer.
	The good sounding Bullet Plugs by Eichmann and the even nicer WBT Nextgen often break while being attached to cables. What's more, their dielectric melts and the connectors deform so badly that they become no longer usable. Eichmann in fact recommends to insert a metal RCA female before soldering his connectors to make sure they hold their shape after being soldered. The WBT Nextgen simply cannot be used without extra reinforcement and even with the reinforcement, one out of 10 breaks.
		Even the very well designed Cardas -- in general sturdy and reliable -- do get loose with use and after a year of moderate use, they need to be either retightened or replaced. Since we use Cardas connectors, our standard service to our users is free tightening of their connectors. All spring-loaded connectors loosen over time, be it Audio Note or Wireworld or anybody else's. We have tried all the commercial connectors we could find and
nothing is perfect. Aside from perhaps custom connectors, the traditional all-metal locking WBT appears to be the most reliable and longest-lasting choice in RCAs. Too bad the other connectors do sound a lot better ..." Cable guys, it seems, really can't get any no matter how hard they try. That's why a woman finally had to enter the fray. With 33 countries distributing her wares within the first year of operations, Gabi van der Kley knows a thing or two about satisfaction. Move over, Mick...