A “Loom”? Why Not a “Complete Set of Cables”?

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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In my possibly annoying but nevertheless well-intended efforts to encourage proper grammar, punctuation and definitions here on WBF I have noticed that some members refer to a complete set of a particular brand and model of cables as a “loom.”

This appears to be an innocent and inadvertent misuse of the noun “loom.”


8291B5CD-0D68-4614-A6E2-0D0C0541DB5C.jpg


As a complete set of audio cables of the same brand and model is not an “apparatus for making thread or yarn into cloth by weaving,” perhaps we can describe the former as a “complete set of audio cables of the same brand and model”?

As that admittedly seems a bit cumbersome perhaps we can write the very simple and succinct “complete set” or “full set”?

“Loom” is inapposite.
 

microstrip

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In my possibly annoying but nevertheless well-intended efforts to encourage proper grammar, punctuation and definitions here on WBF I have noticed that some members refer to a complete set of a particular brand and model of cables as a “loom.”

This appears to be an innocent and inadvertent misuse of the noun “loom.”

(...)
As a complete set of audio cables of the same brand and model is not an “apparatus for making thread or yarn into cloth by weaving,” perhaps we can describe the former as a “complete set of audio cables of the same brand and model”?

As that admittedly seems a bit cumbersome perhaps we can write the very simple and succinct “complete set” or “full set”?

“Loom” is inapposite.

Ron,

I am a non native english writer, and probably could learn a lot from your well intended efforts. But since I have been reading about "cable looms" since many decades from Keithley, HP, Tektronix and other manufacturers, I see no reason to change and I intend to go on using such wording.

Anyway, a quick search shows that writers such as M. Fremer and Harry Pearson used it frequently, Stereophile and Hifi+ magazines also do similarly, why shouldn't WBF posters use it?
 

DaveC

Industry Expert
Nov 16, 2014
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4 letters and one syllable vs more? :)
 

Steve Williams

Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Ron,

I am a non native english writer, and probably could learn a lot from your well intended efforts. But since I have been reading about "cable looms" since many decades from Keithley, HP, Tektronix and other manufacturers, I see no reason to change and I intend to go on using such wording.

Anyway, a quick search shows that writers such as M. Fremer and Harry Pearson used it frequently, Stereophile and Hifi+ magazines also do similarly, why shouldn't WBF posters use it?

I agree

“Loom” is a well accepted term that is imo understood in audiophile banter

I see no reason to change
 

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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Thank you, microstrip, for your reply. But I don’t find terribly persuasive the argument that “people we respect do it wrong, so that means we can do it wrong, too.”

Steve, it certainly is possible — in fact, you are very likely correct — that “loom” has become a kind of audiophile slang. (Of course I would reply that we should try to use proper English and to avoid slang, even in our own hobby. :D)
 

microstrip

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Thank you, microstrip, for your reply. But I don’t find terribly persuasive the argument that “people we respect do it wrong, so that means we can do it wrong, too.”

Steve, it certainly is possible — in fact, you are very likely correct — that “loom” has become a kind of audiophile slang. (Of course I would reply that we should try to use proper English and to avoid slang, even in our own hobby. :D)

Sorry, but you are misunderstanding and misrepresenting my argument. It is not audiophile slang, it is a technical expression.

Do you think that companies that wrote technical documentation for decades, such as Keithley, Hewlet Packard, Tektronix, and many scientific /technical writers who wrote known books on instrumentation, all did it wrong?
 

NorthStar

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Feb 8, 2011
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Loom is sexy, I like it. Plus it rhymes well with loon and moon and vroom. :b

 

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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Sorry, but you are misunderstanding and misrepresenting my argument. It is not audiophile slang, it is a technical expression.

Do you think that companies that wrote technical documentation for decades, such as Keithley, Hewlet Packard, Tektronix, and many scientific /technical writers who wrote known books on instrumentation, all did it wrong?

In this case I think you are implying that they all used the word “loom” as technical jargon. Technical jargon is extremely common in virtually every field. I use technical jargon myself.

To answer your question if we assume they were all using technical jargon, then that’s one thing. Technical jargon has a long and proud history . :cool: If they were attempting to use proper English then, yes, they all did it wrong.
 

RogerD

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In this case I think you are implying that they all used the word “loom” as technical jargon. Technical jargon is extremely common in virtually every field. I use technical jargon myself.

To answer your question if we assume they were all using technical jargon, then that’s one thing. Technical jargon has a long and proud history . :cool: If they were attempting to use proper English then, yes, they all did it wrong.

The term "Loom" is used in pro audio for multi cable assemblies..also known as patch cables and a few other names I can't recall. It think "kit" came from Ham radio also.
 

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Ron Resnick

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That is so funny that you should mention “kit,” Roger. “Kit” is another word I personally find annoying when it is used to refer to a bunch of audio components.

“Kit” does not come from the amateur radio world, as I have had my FCC license since I was 12 years old.

I thought “kit” came from “drum kit”?
 

DaveyF

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Jul 31, 2010
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Ron, since you have decided to elect yourself as the the head of the grammar police, it will be our job to make sure that any grammar failings on your behalf are immediately rectified! LOL!!:p:D
 

RogerD

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That is so funny that you should mention “kit,” Roger. “Kit” is another word I personally find annoying when it is used to refer to a bunch of audio components.

“Kit” does not come from the amateur radio world, as I have had my FCC license since I was 12 years old.

I thought “kit” came from “drum kit”?
I have some amateur radio friends and they use the term...lol. I hope to get my general this year...have wanted to since I was a kid.
 

RogerD

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A kit is a sound system in Europe.
A rack is a structure with your audio components.

Spring is in the air.
___

Bonus:


I thought a rack held wine bottles,horns on a elk or a busty chested woman...wth do I know.;)
 

Ron Resnick

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Ron, since you have decided to elect yourself as the the head of the grammar police, it will be our job to make sure that any grammar failings on your behalf are immediately rectified! LOL!!:p:D

100% absolutely correct!

FYI: I often write posts on my cell phone, and then when I read them later on the computer I see typos. I always correct typos I see. I believe it is difficult for people to proofread their own writing, and virtually impossible to proofread accurately one's own writing immediately after writing it.
 

Johnny Vinyl

Member Sponsor & WBF Founding Member
May 16, 2010
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That is so funny that you should mention “kit,” Roger. “Kit” is another word I personally find annoying when it is used to refer to a bunch of audio components.

“Kit” does not come from the amateur radio world, as I have had my FCC license since I was 12 years old.

I thought “kit” came from “drum kit”?

A sports team's uniform is also referred to as a "kit"...in England anyway. I hear it referred to in North America with increasing frequency among MLS fans. Remember also that language evolves...and I'm OK...or is it Okay ...with that.:D
 

NorthStar

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Feb 8, 2011
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I thought a rack held wine bottles,horns on a elk or a busty chested woman...wth do I know.;)

A wine rack of course. Me I never hunted, my Dad did, and even if we are French, we used to call them "rack" for the moose on top of the car, with his rack in front of the hood. The year was 1959.

Rack: http://www.testing1212.co.uk/r
 

Ron Resnick

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Jan 24, 2015
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I have some amateur radio friends and they use the term...lol. I hope to get my general this year...have wanted to since I was a kid.

I have had a General Class FCC license since I was around 15. I could not copy Morse Code today at 13 wpm to save my life. (I would say my current Morse Code copy speed is two or three wpm!)
 

Speedskater

Well-Known Member
Sep 30, 2010
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In electronics the world 'loom' has always meant:
A flexible nonmetallic tubing placed around insulated wires for protection.
Later it referred to a 'wiring harness' like in the dashboard of your car.

Audiophiles are known to re-purpose words. Words like 'subjective' for one.
 

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