Sassmaster

iTrader: (2)

LOL actually.. all that stuff WILL make a difference, but I doubt that any readily available audio gear will correct power factor, but it is possible to smooth out the waveform and correct some of the distortion.

Industry pays a HUGE premium on their power if they start distorting the power fed back into the grid (electrical current runs in circuits, remember? so what comes out, has to go back in) if their power factor drops below .9 (the value of the power factor is the cosine of the angle by which the current lags or leads the voltage) then they start paying massive surcharges. However, all of the combined effects of electronic PWM drives, and power supplies, electronic ballasts etc, do have an effect on the power feeding into our homes. that said... 99% of that can be fixed by running through a transformer, then putting a "pi" circuit in to clean up the signal, turn it into DC, filter it once or twice, and it's as DC as DC gets.

What I get a kick out if is the products that claim to reduce RF noise in your power lines... the amount of RF noise induced in a 120V line can't be much more than .001%, and if you can hear that, then I applaud your "I can fall for any marketing trick" abilities.

mike bisson

iTrader: (1)

1 - I could accept using a meter if you are trying to improve SPL, but for Sound Quality? Do Symphonies use meters to measure the level and frequency of various instruments before performances? Improving the "sound" of an audio system has little to do with measurements and a lot to do with tone and how it sounds to you -- what I may enjoy in an audio system, may differ from what you enjoy -- it is "music" afterall. How do you meter taste? For example, Electrostats are great for Classical, but maybe not for Hard Rock.


2 - That statement is wrong for so many reasons -- I have performed many demos where there were obvious differences between interconnects.

When improving your audio system, the ENTIRE reason you are doing so is in order to enjoy better sound which would IMPLY you are hearing an audible difference.

I never did say that power conditioners improve sound quality.... I said they help protect equipment -- in fact 2 clients and 1 staff member report their line conditioners protected their system after the recent storms here in BC.

In Philosophy, there are two classic schools -- Objectivism and Subjectivism. Objectionists say if you cannot measure it, it does not exist (God anyone?) and Subjectivists believe we only know what we ourselves are sure of and that is all we can really be sure of ( or how do we really know anything and do we really exist). Which school is correct? There really is no "right" or "wrong" answer; however, would it maybe make sense to say that enjoyment of music is "subjective" (somthing we can only truely quantify for ourselves) and that the pursuit of high SPL is "objective"? (something you can measure)

Just a (subjective) opinion...

SweetnLow91SC

^ X2

Thanks for doing all the typing....... i can't agree more.

mayhem

iTrader: (1)

well a couple of moons ago i would have agreed, but after some research i`m becoming a skeptic. i hate to bring up his name but after reading some of the theories of Richard Clark it has cast quite a doubt in the way i perceive audio.

Can you hear a difference between interconnects? now i have to say i`m un-decided.

Twenty2

I have a APC battery backup on my PC, it also act's as a power conditioner.
I run this because my last apartment (terrible wiring) killed 3 monitors and 2 lamps due to electrical noise.
Now my current apartment doesn't have near the electrical issues but my APC still kicks in when the power isn't as clean as it should be or the AC voltage is too low, therefore protecting my equipment.

now this being said it only cost my around $65 for the APC, not a $1000

SweetnLow91SC

what type of research did you do?

mayhem

iTrader: (1)

check out Richards Clarks $10,000 amp challenge. i believe he has a similar one for interconnects as well. if your wondering if i performed a type of "clinical study" for research than the answer to the type of research is restricted to reading the findings of RC, and debating on other forums.

i would love to run a test on equipment to measure the differences (if any) between interconnects, maybe in the future.

Dukk

I did a fair bit of research over a couple of years involving a Nakamichi CD player, SUMO preamp and Class A amplifier and a pair of Martin Logan Sequel IIs. So, around a $10,000 home system

My results are my own but I'll tell ya - I don't pine over expensive cables...

mike bisson

iTrader: (1)

Long story short

We had a Class A Luxman Integrated hooked up to a Luxman CD player and a pair of Paradigm Studio Series 60v.2

RF Triple X on cd input

Ultra Link - md input


RF Triple X walked on the Ultra Link - switched the inputs and cables same result -- good enough for me.

It was a $100 interconnect not a $1000 or $10,000 one however.

I think how something sounds is far more important than how much it costs provided it fits within my set budget

mayhem

iTrader: (1)

yeah thats the way i look at it. i could never put a cheapie pair of cables on my system, but i wouldn`t drop a grand on some either.

i few years back i was at an home show in guelph and this audio store had a tube amp on display. he played a cd with a regular pair of rca`s and than a real expensive pair. i swear i heard a difference?