Shocking Audio Experiment Reveals Listeners Can't Distinguish Copper Wire from a Banana

In a bizarre yet illuminating experiment conducted by a moderator on the diyAudio forum, participants were unable to reliably distinguish between audio signals passed through professional-grade copper wire and those transmitted through a banana or wet mud. The results challenge common assumptions about audio fidelity and the necessity of expensive cabling.

The Setup

Forum moderator Pano orchestrated the blind listening test to determine if audiophiles could identify different conductor materials. The experiment included four distinct audio samples: one from the original CD source, and three others re-recorded through 180cm of pro audio copper wire, 20cm of wet mud, and a 13cm banana. An additional configuration involving old microphone cable soldered to US pennies was also utilized.

The Results

Contrary to expectations, the sonic differences between the tracks were imperceptible to the human ear. Pano expressed surprise at the findings, noting that despite the poor conductivity of mud and fruit, the re-recordings sounded remarkably similar to the original. After a month of testing, only six correct answers were recorded out of 43 attempts—a success rate of just 13.95%.

Statistical analysis using binomial distribution confirmed that the outcomes were consistent with random guessing, firmly below the threshold of statistical significance. This indicates that listeners were effectively unable to detect changes introduced by the loop, regardless of whether the medium was high-end wire or backyard mud.

The Technical Explanation

While bananas and mud are traditionally viewed as poor conductors, the tester surmised that their presence in the circuit functioned similarly to adding a resistor in series. These materials lowered the signal level but failed to introduce the anticipated distortion or audible degradation. The experiment was inspired by historical telegraph systems that used the earth as a return conductor, prompting an investigation into whether audio signals could survive similar unconventional mediums.