Does "everything" REALLY matter? (A No-Arguing Thread...)

[Rensselaer]

Thank you for these comments. You cover a lot of ground here beyond my question to you. I agree with almost everything you wrote.

But, respectfully, it does not address my narrow and singular comment -- about your request for a particular methodological standard. That's all I was quibbling about.

See my entry/response #59

 

[wil]

If other factors keep unchanged an increase in humidity causes an increase in density of the air (more water vaporized in the air and water is heavier than air) and sound speed. In that specific situation you hear slightly lifted high frequencies.

Everything I’ve read from multiple sources, says that humidity decreases the density in the air.

 

[PeterA]

You are posting your videos on this thread, videos made by you to sell your equipment, no?
You are making claims that tweaks like cable elevators and special fuses improve the sound of one’s system.
There are other members of this forum who posted contradictory views to yours (just this thread):
#1., Zuman says that in his experience specialty fuses don’t help.
#12., Tima says cable risers don’t help.
#16., Ron says cable riser’s don’t help.
#18., jeromelang says cable risers didn’t work for him either.
#21., PeterA says that fancy power (and other wire) doesn’t help.
#22., ssfas claims fuses didn’t do anything for him.
#25., Lee says here that his experience proved to him that cable risers and AC power regeneration is a complete waste of money.
#27., PLF agrees that cable risers and power conditioners are a waste of money in that they provide absolutely no improvement.

I personally would like to see this website be used as a forum in which the experience of many is shared in order to lift up the quality of everyones’ audio experience rather than used as a captive audience to share suspect data designed to sell products.

The interesting thing to me is that the claim in the videos is that these devices make a difference, so we should be able to hear that difference in the video demonstration. My post response is two lists that do not simply indicate a difference, but more importantly, an improvement or worsening of the listening experience. When I went through my de tweaking experiments with my old system a few years ago, I usually heard a difference. That is not so unusual. The more important thing to me is whether it sounded more or less natural.

I often hear differences with tweaks. That does not really tell me much. I want to know if the tweak, or change, improves the listening experience or not.

I would like to read members actually describe how the sound changes with the addition or the elimination of a given tweak? What happens to the sound of the voice, the cello, the piano, the sense of space, the dynamics, the realism of the presentation? Simply claiming that something makes a difference is too basic.

 

[Zuman]

Can we try the "5-5-No Arguing" approach again?
Thanks!

Well, it was worth a shot!

 

[PLF]

What is an “Audiophile switch”?

Network switch. The one I am using is Ansuz D2 Powerswitch. Please see link below.

Ansuz PowerSwitch D2 / Ethernet Distribution | Audio Group Denmark

audiogroupdenmark.com

It replaced my previous switch which was a SOtM switch: snh-10g. Please see below.

sNH-10G – SOtM – English

www.sotm-audio.com

 

[Lee]

The interesting thing to me is that the claim in the videos is that these devices make a difference, so we should be able to hear that difference in the video demonstration. My post response is two lists that do not simply indicate a difference, but more importantly, an improvement or worsening of the listening experience. When I went through my de tweaking experiments with my old system a few years ago, I usually heard a difference. That is not so unusual. The more important thing to me is whether it sounded more or less natural.

I often hear differences with tweaks. That does not really tell me much. I want to know if the tweak, or change, improves the listening experience or not.

I would like to read members actually describe how the sound changes with the addition or the elimination of a given tweak? What happens to the sound of the voice, the cello, the piano, the sense of space, the dynamics, the realism of the presentation? Simply claiming that something makes a difference is too basic.

Even with computer audio on my iPad, it is often clear the accessory makes a positive contribution to the sound. The best way is to record the sound in 24/96 and play that back on the stereo and let potential customers make a judgment from there.

 

[PeterA]

Even with computer audio on my iPad, it is often clear the accessory makes a positive contribution to the sound. The best way is to record the sound in 24/96 and play that back on the stereo and let potential customers make a judgment from there.

I actually think the best way is to hear the device in your own system and pass judgment using whatever criteria you want based on your own values.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

Everything I’ve read from multiple sources, says that humidity decreases the density in the air.

...I think that is correct. It doesn't seem right (clouds would fall to the ground?) but water vapor is relatively light, compared to oxygen and nitrogen, which is most of our atmosphere.

Disclaimer: I was kicked out of physics class due to a misunderstood measurement experiment with a laser and a reflector on a corporate smokestack.

 

[Lee]

I actually think the best way is to hear the device in your own system and pass judgment using whatever criteria you want based on your own values.

Of course. But a sneak preview might convince you to try it.

 

[microstrip]

...I think that is correct. It doesn't seem right (clouds would fall to the ground?) but water vapor is relatively light, compared to oxygen and nitrogen, which is most of our atmosphere.

Disclaimer: I was kicked out of physics class due to a misunderstood measurement experiment with a laser and a reflector on a corporate smokestack.

Yes, it s correct. Water vapour has lower molecular weight than air. The only reason for confusion is that water vapour is a gas, like air, and clouds, fog or steam contain tiny liquid droplets of water and people often mix the concepts.

The suspension of clouds is a complex dynamic mechanism, it can't be explained by density.

 

[jeromelang]

Have found to make an improvement:
1. Ethernet cable directionality
2. ST Optical cable directionality, optical gel, aftermarket optical cables from Aural Symphonics
4. The right receptacle on a UK type AC duplex sounds better
5. Directionality of grounding cable (for turntable-to-phono purpose)
6. Directionality of grounding cable (for internal or external grounding CD player, pre-amp, power-amp)
7. Tap water as the final rinse on CDs, SACDs, and Vinyl Records
8. Contact-less Cleaning and Drying for CDs, SACDs, and Vinyl Records
9. Unplugging the Fridge in the house (or at least make sure the fridge door was never open/close during listening sessions)
10. Powering off Optical Disc Players before playing any CDs to clear residue playback memories
11. Certain types of belt drive turntables need to be powered off and on before playing another vinyl side

Have found to make sound worse:
1. Shakti Stones (but I continue to use them to treat CDs and SACDs)
2. Cable risers
3. Cat's fur brushing against audio cables' dielectric jackets
4. Human hand/skin touching audio cables' dielectric jackets while the whole system is powered up
5. Audio Racks made of Metallic Materials
6. Turntables' plinths, platters, and clamps made of Metallic Materials
7. Using a record brush on a vinyl record
8. Using a record brush over the vinyl record while it is spinning prior to playing the record
9. Stress and tension on audio cables and powercords
10. MOFI SACDs and Vinyl Records
11. Flac files

BTW, i love cats

I posted about this additional tweak that can make a difference something like 2 weeks ago.

[[ When the cd player has been totally powered down, pressing the buttons on the front panel a few times. ]]

I found that it helps not only on my CD player, but it helps quite tremendously on my Bergmann Modi Turntable as well.

On the Modi, other than the ensuring that the directionality of the umbilical cord is correct, I also practice full powering down of the pump/motor before playing every sides, and now I've just discovered another new trick to improve the sound even further.

It's similar to what I've also just discovered on my Playback Designs MPS-8 Player, and that is - when the Modi pump/motor has been fully shut down, if I press the 2 buttons on the Modi plinth a few times, before powering up again and playing, the resultant sound will be even more clearer, more detailed, and more opened.

The inspiration for this tweak came from a china co-worker in my office.

Usually on the test systems that I'm working on, right after a firmware upgrade, I would usually shut down the system and unplug the powercords to allow the system to fully dissipate any residual "something" (for lack of a better technical word). Just recently I noticed this china co-worker pressing the buttons on the system a couple of times instead of unplugging the powercords. According to her (she's a software engineer) this works just as well to clean up the system and allow the new firmware to properly settle.

I tried this on the MPS-8. On top of my usual powering down of the player totally, I pressed all the buttons on the top panel a few times. When I next power up and play a cd, oh my God, the sound improved so much!

So i tried it on the Modi.

The detail resolution, openess, and sense of musicality went up another level.

LOL I love discovering new ways to improve sound without spending any money.