Loudspeakers: Effects Of Amplifiers And Cables.

**mah** · July 21st, 2009, 09:54 PM

I came across this 5-part series of articles and thought they may be of interest to members of this forum.

Loudspeakers: Effects of amplifiers and cables - Part 1 | Audio DesignLine

The last page of each part has a link to the next part.

The parent site is well worth a look.

Marshall.

**mah** · July 23rd, 2009, 09:43 PM

A different view - SoundStage! Equipment Review - JPS Labs Kaptovator Power Cord (6/2000)

**Mustang Marvin** · July 24th, 2009, 11:49 AM

I read the review of the power cable from the above link. I wonder though how much effect does the power cable have on the sound coming from the speakers? The same goes for speaker wire.

I see where people use everything from silver speaker wire to regular zip cord to solid wire from Ma Bell. Now I know length can have an effect, but how much? If the power cable is that important, why don't the manufactures of the amps and other devices say so?

If there is a link somewhere that explains all this I would like to see it. In the mean time, could some of the experienced members on the forum make a comment or two? I mean, who is going to pay $1200 for a power cable?
Thanks,
MM

**Old Guy** · July 24th, 2009, 06:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mustang Marvin

I read the review of the power cable from the above link. I wonder though how much effect does the power cable have on the sound coming from the speakers? The same goes for speaker wire.

I see where people use everything from silver speaker wire to regular zip cord to solid wire from Ma Bell. Now I know length can have an effect, but how much? If the power cable is that important, why don't the manufactures of the amps and other devices say so?

If there is a link somewhere that explains all this I would like to see it. In the mean time, could some of the experienced members on the forum make a comment or two? I mean, who is going to pay $1200 for a power cable?
Thanks,
MM

Note that magazines who give favorable reviews to expensive power cords feature big ads for the same...assuming they were not paid for the article.

90% of everything is bullshit, except for power cord reviews, where 99 percent is bullshit.

**Mustang Marvin** · July 24th, 2009, 07:18 PM

Thanks,
That's what I thought...

**Panomaniac** · July 24th, 2009, 08:10 PM

However......
A lot of power cords are made like crap. You guys may not own any, but I do! Mostly just poor contstruction and bad mechanics that lead to bad contacts.
If you want to spend a couple of bucks on a power cord, it's hard to do better than the Volex stuff. Well built and sheilded to boot. For those of us who have power cords running up the back of the rack along side the signal cables, well.....

A good, low impedance ground for your audio circuit can be a big improvement. I installed a dedicated grounding rod not 6' from my audio power. Made a big improvement in everything. An isolation transformer can be a big help, too.

Not big money, just good sense.

**oface1** · July 24th, 2009, 08:24 PM

Hey Panomaniac,

How much are you talking about for an iso xfmr?

I have an issue where I live near a few RF Radio towers, and I remember a few years ago in my listening room, there was bleed in form one of the 2 signals that were coming in through my speakers, but faintly. This problem was worsened when I hooked up a powered sub I was using at the time....

Any idea on how to negate this issue?

Only equipment I have is a multimeter, paper pen, and my head...... So I can do very little line signal reading/troubleshooting.... I know my basics in Electronics, former navy aviation et here......so I am not afraid (but respect) electricity & getting my hands dirty....

Better shielded cable (s)?

This is in a finished room above the garage aka around here as a frog.....

On the ground bus... do you have to get permission form the local power company or get a permit pulled? What about have a master electrician come out and sign it off? ( probably depends on local codes , huh?)

sorry to hi-jack the thread.

Thanks,

-chris

**Old Guy** · July 24th, 2009, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by oface1

Better shielded cable (s)?

-chris

Perhaps a tin foil hat?

All kidding aside, might want to google "Faraday cage"

IF WAF isn't an issue lining the walls with chicken wire and grounding it helps...we had to do that for a studio we had...

An isolation transformer only helps power line interference...

There are a zillion ways to get interference....

**selmerdave** · July 24th, 2009, 09:38 PM

The proof is in the pudding. Audio is a listening activity, not a science activity. If you can't hear a difference, it shouldn't matter what you use. If you do hear a difference, use the one you like better.

Science is a long, long way from explaining everything there is to know about sound and our hearing, and within what science does allow there are plenty of reasons that different cables make things sound different. They don't always, it's not always clearly discernable, the expensive one is not always "better", etc., but it certainly can make an audible difference.

Please don't go on about double-blind tests.

Dave

**Old Guy** · July 25th, 2009, 10:00 AM

Come on Dave- I find the subject of $1000 power cords so offensive ...there is no "live and let live" on this...

If someone wants to use a $1000 power cord, fine. I don't care. Just shaddup about it.

Read the reviews..."No question, it’s one of the finest-looking product packages on the market. "

"The Kaptovator was made using no inductive or capacitive devices and uses no shielding elements that Skubinski feels would limit the uninterrupted and speedy flow of power to its destination."

Absolute garbage.

I'm sure snake oil doctors had their defenders too. There were thousands of patent medicines, many of which did more harm than good.