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.
A different view - SoundStage! Equipment Review - JPS Labs Kaptovator Power Cord (6/2000)
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
Originally Posted by Mustang Marvin
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.
Your neighbors called. They like your music.
Thanks,
That's what I thought...
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.
You obviously haven't tried the "Teleportation Tweak" from Machina Dynamica.
FWIW, i pretty much subscribe to the Roger Russell school of thought.
Roger Russell, McIntosh Lab., Scripto and Norma Pencils and leads
Not all vegetables make good leaders.
Just as a side note, when most electronic gear is fried from lightning strikes, the lightning runs in on the ground circuit. So, don't forget the surge protection. My sister had everything in her house destroyed from a lightning strike. Everything from the TV to the fridge and microwave. If it is connected to the grounding circuit, it is vulnerable. A good surge protector is cheap insurance considering the cost of a high end audio system. I used to work on computers where protection was essential. This is something a lot of us don't think about in a home environment.
Hey Chris,
I picked up a couple of surplus iso transformers on eBay for cheap. They are small, only 570VA each, but that's plenty for me. Each is about the size of a power transfo on a big tube amp. You can also find plenty of the plug-in type. Mine are hardwired.
As for the ground. Well, yeah, maybe you need a real electrician to sign off on it to strictly meet code, I don't know. Though usually the home owner is allowed to do his own work, as long as it meets code. Most household grounds do NOT meet NEMA codes (<25 ohms) anyway, so anything you do is likely to be an improvement. The grounds in my 1950's house are a mess anyway. Anything better is a huge improvement.
Is there a spot near your audio room where you can run a dedicated ground? You could get an electrician to install a ground rod there and pull a new ground to it. It's not much of a job, except pounding in the 10ft rod. Check with several guys, you are bound to get as many opinions as electricians, if not more. 2 ground rods are better than 1, if you go to the trouble of hiring someone. They need to be 6' apart to meet code.
Since my room (converted garage) has a subpanel, the separate ground is quite legit.
I think you nailed it with that last sentence. Since you have a separate panel in your listenng area, the ground connection is typical. Be sure you're not creating a different ground potential between the dedicated ground and the utility ground, though. Nasty things can happen and a trained electrician is usually the best bet for those contemplating a dedicated ground.
FWIW, I was looking at an iso transformer at the local Electronics distibutor. He had a setup for regulation that handles 15 amps and was willing to part with it for $200. Also, some smaller units (10amp?), NIB, for less.
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