John Curl's Blowtorch preamplifier part II

[marce]

Wouldn't that requires a filter, a line cord is generally just that a few bits of wire, and if you use power line communications then your mains is already polluted.
Personally, I believe that if a power cord makes a difference you have some major problems with your set up.

 

[simon7000]

You can do filtering in a line cord without adding any extra resistance. Harder to do with a mutual inductor.

 

[tvi]

filtered power cords

 

[qusp]

yes, most of these assertions seem to rely on mentioning levels, or locations of noise that have no bearing, or on the equipment you are using having such stupidly low PSRR that mV of ripple causes 'obvious' noise.

of course some of these things are just going to be ground loops caused by bad setup, combined with unnecessarily high and unused voltage gain

 

[john curl]

My best fixes for line cords are Bybee devices. (no kidding)

 

[john curl]

Yes, my STAX Lambda Pro headphone amp is one of the most sensitive components in my system with regards to changes in power cords. Must be those lousy 'subjective' engineers who made it. '-)

 

[qusp]

here we go again ... attention seeking again.

yet more sensitive and generally better STAX systems like DIY T2 paired with O2 seem unaffected ...

 

[john curl]

The 'truth' hurts sometimes. '-)

 

[Alexandre]

The Pass D1 I/V stage deserves a better picture, here it is.

-Alex

 

[Alexandre]

I haven´t built it, but the D1 looks great for a volume control as well.

Maybe throw a few silonex LDRs in parallel there between Vol- and Vol+ ?

-Alex

 

[qusp]

The 'truth' hurts sometimes. '-)

I dont know what that means, youve already admitted to needing others to test your equipment for you, while I still have reasonably good 17+kHz hearing, I guess it must be those dratted uncooperative, untrained ears.

better ears, plus much better gear, but not enough belief?

the truth does indeed hurt sometimes ...

but i'll leave you to .. whatever it is that you are doing goodnight

 

[john curl]

Qusp, I design hi fi equipment for a living. I always rely on either my test equipment or my own listening experience, primarily.
For independent conformation, I rely on professional audio reviewer and customer feedback. Some measurements, I cannot easily make. Including: harmonic distortion below -120dB, FM distortion, and some RF measurements.
My lab equipment is now 20-30 years old. When I can, I will update.
How about you?

 

[Triodethom]

filtered power cords

the second page Emc Eupen give hard info on inductance and cap of the cord.

 

[jan.didden]

I've been using Eupen mains cord for decades. EMI filter in the plug, well screened, hard wired to the power amp. Yes I know, it kills the aftermarket, but wtf.

jan

 

[Triodethom]

I've been using Eupen mains cord for decades. EMI filter in the plug, well screened, hard wired to the power amp. Yes I know, it kills the aftermarket, but wtf.

jan

Now how about the other end of the aftermarket that acts like an antenna adding rf to the main giving "air and space" to the sound stage ?

 

[qusp]

Qusp, I design hi fi equipment for a living. I always rely on either my test equipment or my own listening experience, primarily.
For independent conformation, I rely on professional audio reviewer and customer feedback. Some measurements, I cannot easily make. Including: harmonic distortion below -120dB, FM distortion, and some RF measurements.
My lab equipment is now 20-30 years old. When I can, I will update.
How about you?

meaningless when you are talking about magic beads, hearing differences with them and attempting to allude to special hearing that I lack, when the opposite is the case. I dont claim to have amazing hearing, but from what youve said its considerably better than yours. just a matter of fact and it doesnt make me special in any way; just younger.

as is the STAX rig being superior to the midrange units you mentioned a fact. again, not even mine, just a friends who uses fairly average, but good quality heavy duty cord and no bybees, I cant say I felt it lacking in any way, or noticed any abhorrent noises. the dac build capable of -120dB THD+N, not that unusual these days.

I hear a variety of STAX every year, i'm a headphone enthusiast and make a point of going to the Sydney headfi meet every year. I never really likes the Lambda, needs more bass to be natural.

you are right though, very fast top end, airy, but ultimately fatiguing for me anyway. I prefer some of the planars.

 

[john curl]

Well, they may be 'magic beads' to you, but I see them as advanced quantum devices.

 

[john curl]

For the STAX, at the moment, I use an all silver line cord, once used by my former Blowtorch business partner, before his passing.

 

[john curl]

I actually first found that a skinny Belden cord worked better than a fat custom cord, at first, with the STAX. Then I tried ferrite clamp-on devices, a common mode choke, and a fat Belden cord, but when I added the Bybee---WOW!

 

[qusp]

yeah what was it? oh yeah second law...

the all silver line cord higher conductivity helps with reducing the interference does it?

I do cover bases here, just in case; but not to silly degrees. I use the Oyaide EE/FS 2.0 (12-gauge solid core copper) in wall power cabling for my cords (not all of them, I like Belden too), bought that in bulk from Japan and wouldnt pay Au retail, no way. Furutech AC Gold male (again, not all). here its hospital connectors, or the next step up comes in $100AUD, bugger all choices for Au AC Males, nothing in between. but the other end I just use the Neutrik Powercon True1 20A connectors.

X 2Y filtering depending on what it is, I dont clamp anything on the cords though

You dont have the patent on audio-nervosa