Gramophone Dreams

That's some dog you got!

I've had a few dogs that were startled by an unexpected sound here and there emanating from the Hi Fi, but none to a degree that an AC power cord ever produced such audible improvement that the change would startle them. I keep déclassé dogs, I guess.

Kudos to your uncannily clever and critical canine compatriot! That is one perceptive perspicacious percipient pooch who can perceive the pulchritude of a properly prepared power cord!

_

I heard that Herb's dog is so perceptive that it stands and barks at the space between the speakers when listening to The Beatles' "All My Loving" in mono, and then barks at only the right speaker when listening to the stereo version.

;-D

"The Connection" ............ Emmylou Harris :-) ..............

Dogs can hear up to 45-60 KHz :-) ..............

Cats can hear up to 85 KHz :-) ............

"Before I spin this 23rd edition of "Gramophone Dreams," I must ask: How many of you are using zip-cord as your speaker cables? RadioShack interconnects? Those black universal 18/3 power cords that come standard with virtually every audio amplifier?"

I'm using Belden speaker cable, a selection of modestly-priced interconnects, and every power cord that came with any piece of gear.

It's ok, I'll hand in my audiophile club membership card as I'm shown out the door ;-)

(I've tried expensive, well known power cables, and could explain why they left and the cheap ones stayed...but that's another can of worms....)

Nice 23rd edition- HR.
Cabling is my fave aspect of our hobby. It is the forgotten or forsaken component. Good to read that you were able to mix-and-match between AQ and TWL power cords(PC). Sometimes, if we are lucky, mixing/matching different brands works.

Near the beginning of my audio adventures (about 30 years ago), a friend suggested that using the best AC power cord in a good power strip or power distribution block (or whatever this was called then) to go from the power strip/distribution block to the wall outlet was a way to bring a very significant upgrade to all connected equipment if you couldn't afford a power conditioner or good dedicated AC cables for each component. 30 years later, what is the cash strapped folks supposed to do now?

Naim purists have long sang the praises of the Wiremold Industrial power strips (6' 12 AC outlets, CAD $113 or USD$85.55). Buy one and a good IEC power inlet. Take the strip apart and install the IEC power inlet and then get whatever (best) quality AC cable you can afford (even if just a lowly Hubbel hospital grade one). As you can afford more good AC cables, the basic Wiremold/AC Hubbel (or whatever) cable will serve you well.

These power strips have gas tight receptacles, and the Hubbel hospital grade AC cables have a gas tight plug. I've bought these AC cables for under CDN $5 each. YMMV.

I do use a Monster HDP1800 AC distribution conditioner, but mainly as protection for my equipment from lightening strikes. I'd prefer not to use it, but do need some surge protection. If none is needed, the Wiremold/Hubbel set up will give you good quality, basic AC distribution that most will find a use for even if they end up with a good conditioner.

... then he should apply Stabilant 22 (aka Sumiko Tweek) to the contacts of the line cords and sockets.
http://www.stabilant.com/

Detox? :-) ..........

"Clean Up" ........... The Canton Spirituals :-) ..........

would have been startled by way much less a difference than by those derived from some gross audio power cable swap.

Herb I have known you for a very long time, I have to completely disagree with the line that you and many audiophiles talk about current limiting in power conditioners vs going directly into the wall.

In our shop we have tested most of the major brands of power conditioners: Synergistic, Shunyata, Audience, Audioquest, Isotek, Running Springs, Audio Magic, Silver Circle, Exact Power, to name a few.

In our reference rig the difference in running the power amplifiers into the wall directly vs a power conditioner are very audible.

Now we are running a dedicated 20 amp circuit directly to the breakbox with a Furutech outlet so you could claim that the amps directly into the wall should sound better they don't.

Our test amplifiers were all big powerful 300 watt tube monoblocks and big solid state.

The better power conditioners gave you much greater soundstage depth, a more 3d image, tighter bass, and greater macro dynamics.

If you would like to come for a visit we can demonstrate to you catagorically that a good power conditioner will dramatically improve a big power amplifier, only the wrong power conditioner will limit current and restrict the power amplifier.

Sincerely,

Dave Lalin, Audio Doctor

Google has several articles and videos about "dirty electricity" and "Stetzer Units" and "GS units" ..........

Herb another great entry here. Really enjoyed this one.
Interesting results seems a bit of "more ideal" synergy between setups there.

Have a friend overseas who is hassling me here and there to also try out things of this nature.
He's gotten into fuses as well.
I've gone beefier gauge power cables, made sure to get shielded, and was looking at the SurgeX SA-1810 units again tonight.

Thanks for the timely reminder, and as usual I'm never going to know unless I try it out firsthand, with my setup, with my ears. I'm on the fence still, but like with a few other audio related things had I not actually tried them ...

Speaking of setups and power conditioning /treatment, within your realm of affordability of excellent sonics, I really feel that the Teddy Pardo stuff would fit your modus operandi quite well.
Sound to me seems to be smack dab in the sweetspot between the ( sterotypical = no pun intended ) solid state and tubed area.
Why I specifically bring this up is that he uses multiple SuperTeddyRegs power treatment in each unit, which he has released to the DIY community assuming they do not use it for profit.
So power treatment is integral to his units therefore no real need to go extra unless one wants to.
SuperTeddyReg is a power regulator as he states : "It is not a linear regulator, it is not based on feedback, and IMHO is superior to linear regulators, even discrete..."

All I know is they look classy ( have the MB100 Monoblocks and large PRE, DAC and HP Amp ), different levels of affordability, he said power rating is nearly double the specs=something to that effect = , this sounds top notch with a nice black background, and have so far cured upgradeitis on this end. At least for ampage. Which is a VERY welcome sign.

Now you've got me looking into this other stuff. I had best send an email to that pal overseas...

P.S>
Jason I do really appreciate the excellent music posts as well.

Hey Herb you need to try out one of the non limiting Spiritual Audio VX-12 power conditioners. Plug any high-power amps right into them with no power loss, plus good sounding to boot. Nice job and Thanks

B.G.

"Immediately, I felt uncomfortable. After only two CDs, I became impatient. "That's enough of that!""

I once saw a metal worker bending iron rod into a pattern. They said they keep bending it until it doesn't make them anxious when they look at it.
There are things our brains like and don't like. We can't always say why they do or don't like something but it is there.
I believe this applies to sound too. Just like the metal working artist where nobody could say 'oh, you bent that leg a little to the left so it made it pleasing to my brain because the angle is...' one can't always say 'oh you changed the way this frequency sounds when played right after this other frequency so it is so much better now.
Some changes can be so small that you don't really notice the change but it is there and with more changes they will add to each other.
As I changed and tweaked my system there were times I'd listen to music for 10-15 minutes and feel on edge so I'd turn it off and go do something else. As I settled on the right tubes, right DAC and right speaker height and angles, etc. I found myself relaxing when the music was playing. I knew I had it right when I drifted off while listening to it fairly loudly and also found myself going 'just one more song and then I'll go do such and such' whenever listening to music.