| Karl |
| Is there anyone interested in here in sound voodoo-placement of components,why your cd sounds better after you shook it as if there was dirt on it,why cables sound different when you switch them around and so on?Just post me and we do some experiments,there seem to be very few people who care about this.Have fun,Karl. |
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| cp642 |
| Talking about strange stuff:rolleyes:, there was an article in Stereophile, about claims of 'audible' sound improvements with tweaks such as using unopened soup cans as speaker stands??? You might want to try it out.....as I'm not so optimistic ;) |
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| M_Anker |
I know a guy who will do whatever any expert tells him to do. He purchased these speaker cables from Mapleshade that are essentially 14 guage magnet wire twisted together. for about a ten foot pair he paid $85. He also has wis wires coiled around cardboard pyramids and elevated exactly 8" off of the floor. Personally, I can't tell the difference, but he thinks he can.
I've also heard of showing a CD different colored cards will improve the sound; however, you must pay for a specific color from another audio sage to have any effect. Seems like stimulating the brain to me.
Maybe you should stop by the Tweaker's Asylum sometime when Steve Eddy gets started on tweak bashing. You can get quite an education.
The answer to your question: PLACEBO EFFECT!
Here's those cables I was talking about. I'm sorry if you spent $1K on Audioquest because these are supposedly better (for motors):)
http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tw...eakercable.html |
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| GRollins |
As an out-of-left-field observation, I heard on NPR two or three weeks ago that there was an article in JAMA, New England Journal of Medicine, or something that the 'placebo effect' has been disproved.
Grey |
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| mg16 |
I believe if someone just thinks he/she hears an improvement or actually in fact does hear an improvement in the sound of their system by whatever means is irrelevant. The name of the game is to enjoy the musical experience. If sitting in the Lotus position with the gear under a pyramid enhances the experience for someone, then who am I to say why it sounds better to them.
Some of the tweaks do sound a little far fetched, but not long ago I thought firmly that cables didn't make a difference as long as the wire is of sufficient diameter, and made of a decent metal.
I was totally wrong.
When I changed from rat shack mega cable to Cardas, the difference was apparent to all who listened to the system. It definately was not a figment of my imagination, or a "wish" on my part to justify the added cost.
Anyone who owns tube equipment can hear the difference in using rubber or cone feet under the equipment, or putting tube "dampers" on some tubes. Damping vibration in equipment is a real tweak. Tap a tube during a quiet passage, or no music playing, you'll hear the tap amplified through the system. Vibrations in the room from music playing does the same thing and obscures detail in the soundstage. Called "microphonics.
Don't knock "tweaks" till you try em. |
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| M_Anker |
I have nothing against the tweaks themselves, but I do take issue with the outrageously high prices that people charge for these tweaks.
The thing is, if you put your mind to it you can make these products yourself.
-M.A. |
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| mg16 |
I wholeheartedly agree with that point! Prices, for what you get, are outrageous on many of them.
mg16 |
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| Karl |
Im totally into the "do it yourself mode"
why not talk about tips and tricks in this forum? |
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| Super |
Out of curiosity, has anyone here built their own suspension rack for any piece of their equipment? I had an idea using some heavy rubber bands and some MDF...
By the way, if your looking for some cheap, good, adjustable spikes, try the practice point arrowheads! The ones I got were very heavy and had a light teflon coating on them. They worked wonderfully. |
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| GRollins |
Use a bicycle (or other small) inner tube sandwiched between two pieces of MDF. Or, as another option, I've been collections these new 'Air Pillows' that have been coming in as packing with the intent to find several of the same size and place them between the boards.
Grey |
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| dice45 |
Hello tweakers,
back in the days when I used 2 or 3 way speakers, I used to shunt XO caps with tiny micas.
The cap parallel to the woofer cap was not more than1nF and the cap in series to the tweeter usually had 200pF of single-plate silver mica. This cap was audible, tellya!
Once I demonstrated my 2way speaker to a friend, a hobby musician but not anything near to an audiophile. I had the 200pF soldered off at one leg. then I changed the musci and pushed the unsoldered leg with the finger in its solder joint. Then I let the music play for a while and released the unsoldered leg.
Immediate remark from my friend "what went broke, sounds so different".
Now you all tell me that 200pF || to 4.7µF of superior quality is not voodoo from the engineer's point of view :).
Greets, |
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| planet10 |
A good, Frugal-phile (tm) anti-resonance tweak is to place half-tennis balls (3 for $2 CAD) under your electronics. I'm sure squash balls or any number of similar half-spheres will work -- probably not golf balls. And they would be a ***** to cut in half.
An example can be seen here.
dave |
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| dice45 |
| quote: | Originally posted by planet10
A good, Frugal-phile (tm) anti-resonance tweak is to place half-tennis balls (3 for $2 CAD) under your electronics. I'm sure squash balls or any number of similar half-spheres will work
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Hello Dave,
good trick, well-known trick :)
If you punch one or two small holes in the half-spheres to ensure the air can flow in and out and the springy actio comes from the rubber alone, the things work even better. And, squash balls are fine. |
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| wuffwaff |
CP642,
does the soup taste better after standing under some real good speakers;) If so does it depend on the music played?
william
P.S. is there anybody out there that still paints his CD´s edge green? |
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| planet10 |
| quote: | Originally posted by dice45
If you punch one or two small holes in the half-spheres to ensure the air can flow in and out and the springy actio comes from the rubber alone, the things work even better. |
That makes sense. Lotsa half tennis balls to try it out on...
dave |
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| AuroraB |
What about cycling your CDs in the freezer ???? :cool:
A truly amazing idea.....:D |
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| dice45 |
| quote: | Originally posted by wuffwaff
P.S. is there anybody out there that still paints his CD´s edge green? |
no, William,
not me, CDs not being important enough for me. Maybe i'll do it after i copied Manfred's or Thomas' DIY CAD/CD player. My current CDP is not good enough.
But i do know from a listening test at a buddy's place that the green paint has to be green etching ink like used for technical drawings on mylar foil. The ink has to etch itself into the CD's edge, getting it to be as optically rough as possible. |
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| Lonestar |
Hi Bernhard, good to see you.
Could someone explain again to me why the paint has to be green? I've read that it's a complimentary color to the laser wavelength and thus absorbs all the stray light. But black absorbs all wavelengths and should be even better shouldn't it?
Okay. I confess I did this to a couple of CDs and "thought" I heard an improvement. No it wasn't a rigid scientific testing, but heck, it's cheap and takes my mind off spending more on equipment. Besides, it amuses the wife to watch me. |
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| HarryHaller |
Green works better. Photo is of modified CD transport. The amount of current trhough the leds even changes the sound.
H.H. |
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| leroy |
You must be kidding!
Green light inside your CD-transport, I think it does more inside the brain than it infuences the sound. |
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| Lonestar |
| didn't Krell put a green led(s) inside of the CD bay on one of it's transports a few years back? |
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| Lonestar |
WHY does green work better than black (CD edges, not the LEDs--haven't seen too many of those in black yet!)?
And while I've read about the LED tweek before, I also remember that there was a big push a few years ago to be able to switch off LED displays completely as they were thought to be detrimental to the sound. Not questioning your results but it seems to be a paradox. Perhaps the positive LED/CD effect is greater than the LED display detriment? |
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| leroy |
(didn't Krell put a green led(s) inside of the CD bay on one of it's transports a few years back?)
I think Krell uses the leds more as a current source rather than shine a light inside the player. |
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| HarryHaller |
Magnavox used to put a green Led shining on the CD in thier CD players! The reason displays can effect the sound is that they are driven by a micro which generates all kinds of RF noise. Most do not use leds by the way. There was the audio equivalent of an Urban Legend floating around in a British audio magazine about the LED pilot light screwing up the sound. Me and Jocko love to use them as voltage references since they are quiet when baised correctly. Most zeners generate a LOT of voltage noise. Whoops there I go reading ap notes and data sheets again. I also use tiny light bulbs as feedback elements in low distotion oscillators.
H.H. |
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| dice45 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lonestar
WHY does green work better than black (CD edges, not the LEDs--haven't seen too many of those in black yet!)?
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Hello Lonestar,
IMO the green tinting of te CD edges was not the only key thing although the green colour may absorb some stray light.
The second key thing was the etching ink which dissolved the edge surfaces a bit, leaving the surfece rough and scattering the light. I remember having not as near the results with permanent green felt pen as with usig etching ink used for technical drawings. |
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| Nonlethal |
Here I am, reviving a long dead thread, but:
How's this for voodoo? |
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| Gabevee |
OK, here are a couple of things I think are phoney baloney, versus what I have experienced for real:
Phony baloney:
Litz wire interconnects.
Silver solder (what the ehck can 1 or 2% silver do???)
oxygen free wire (how long did that one last?)
Monster cable (10 gauge) for anything less than 1000 watts.
Star wiring (perhaps this one really needs to be explained to me, but I see nor hear any benefit).
Personal actual audible improvements:
Go to higher quality thin strand 16 gauge wire versus standard 16 gauge stranded.
20 gauge stranded versus 28 gauge solid for point to point wiring.
Definitely the best tubes or transistors you can afford.
The most precise resistors you can afford (not metal versus tantalum versus carbon comp, but precision, like 1 or 2%ers)
Just use good poly or mica film caps versus paper. Paper leaks too much. The oil ones are too expensive for the return. But if money is no object, copper foil in oil.
Degauss the phono cartridge without the stylus in it, if moving magnet is in the stylus housing. Improves high end response dramatically.
A little NFB does go a loooooong way!
These are just a handful of thing for both sides.
Gabe |
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| Nonlethal |
| It's aliiive!!! |
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| mrfeedback |
Ok Bernard, you asked for it - 200pF || to 4.7µF of superior quality is not voodoo from the engineer's point of view.
BTW - Do you watch "Get Smart" ? :D
More seriously I also find the resultant change in sound is not voodoo when demonstrated to the non technical.
Of course it is audible, and so there will be (is) a perfectly rational explanation.
Audio systems are typically reactive systems and full of resonances of all types, so it is to be expected that just about any change will cause an audible, albeit subtle change.
The trick is to end up with a nice sounding set of resonances !| quote: | http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/tw...eakercable.html ....and given four hours of our proprietary crystal-modifying treatment.
The result is a wire that's a giant-killer. It slays Monster, Audioquest, Straight Wire, Tara Labs, Kimber and XLO cables of up to $1000. slays famous cables of up to $2500, including the above plus MIT, Transparent, Nordost and Cardos. |
Another neat trick is to spin the great unwashed an incredible yarn, fleece them of their $85.00 for a couple of lengths of bell wire, and keep a straight face whilst doing it !
Some days I can only take so much ******** ! ...oops, did I say that. :)
Regards, Eric. |
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| mrfeedback |
Hello Harry,| quote: | | Green works better. Photo is of modified CD transport. The amount of current trhough the leds even changes the sound. |
Can you describe the change you hear to us ?
Regards, Eric. |
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| mrfeedback |
On the subject, try a chunk of Galena, or Iron Pyrites on your CDP and take a listen, or a fridge magnet, or a brick, or Yellow pages, or White pages, or .........
Regards, Eric. |
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| Tony |
| hmm.... wonder what they think now....:D |
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