There have actually been many studies of audibility of things like amps and speaker wire and none has shown audibility in a test where all of the variables are controlled. Specific interconnects, etc. have not always been done and thats what people usually resort to pointing out. Who is the burdon of proof on? In my mind its the manufacturer whos wants a premium for his product - show me that its an improvement with value. None have done that.
All good advice. What does he mean here by a "ground isolator". I have a ground problem in my measurement setup and only remving the ground lug on the power cord to the mic preamp worked. What is this isolator refeered to here? Or is this not an AC mains issolator, but a signal path issolator?
Earl,
The guy sells audio transformers, as expected he recommends an isolation transformer in the audio path, properly terminated. They are good transformers, but...
Instead of lifting the ground pin it is much safer to use an AC power isolation transformer for the entire system. Surplus I have bought them for $10 new they run a few hundred of course if you want one PM me a trade offer.
ES
Could you explain this a little more. When Im doing measurements with my notebook I have to unplug it from the wall because of serious interferance. Its been recommended I buy a Jensen isolation transformer (or something like that). Im not happy about spending > $100 to fix noise.
Whose audio transformers does he sell? His own or does he rep some other brand(s)?
Edit: Ooops. Nevermind. Just realized "the guy" you were referring to was Bill Whitlock, not cbdb. 🙂
se
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I replaced my standard ethernet cable with a twisted, cryogenically frozen, gold-plated, twisted set of silver wires.
So my posts should provide more detail to my thoughts. more clarity to my ideas and hopefully, better imaging of my points.
Maybe if I put all the cat5 on my speakers and only use zip-cord for ethernet...
So my posts should provide more detail to my thoughts. more clarity to my ideas and hopefully, better imaging of my points.
Maybe if I put all the cat5 on my speakers and only use zip-cord for ethernet...
While it was an interesting article, it raises quite a number of questions regarding measurements of the gear used (according to the associated publication at the boston audio society site they discovered a problem in one channel of the player used for the first 3 months), experimenter bias expressed strongly in publications before about the correct result of tests like these (namely "no difference" ), questionable methodology (for example no positive or negative controls were used) and statistically noticeable results of subgroups that were not addressed.
Wishes
Science is, and no number of sarcastic rolleyes shrouds how little you really know about it.
Sorry, off topic.
Yes a signal path ground isolator. Is the interface unballanced? Are you using your computer for measurements? If so I would start by disconnecting all the other I/O (internet,printer,ethernet,audio,cable tv and maybe even the monitor etc, this may reduce the complexity of your ground system and your noise problem. I would recomend reading the rest of the article (most of it is the general theory behind the problem, and of course he touts transformers, but not only because he sells them, but because they are the best solution to ground problems (yeah we all know they can effect the signal, but it would take some testing to see how much) . As a safe alternative to grnd pin removal he mentions using a ground fault interupter.
A ground fault interuptor does not issolate the ground. I don't see how that would do anything. Yes, issolation of the audio lines is one solution, but, as mentioned not the ideal. I don't see how you can issolate the power ground and still have it as "ground". I understand issolating the signal grounds.
Not to worry. Not many are on topic anymore and the ones that are, are basically just repeats.
I think what he means is removing the ground pin from the pre power cord then pluging into a GFI. Personally I would try to find the real problem. Is your ground system that complicated? Its rare that a home system (compared to a studio) has these problems (I have no idea of your setup). Can you plug all the gear into one outlet? (maybe we should continue this on a new thread or email me, or I can phone you.) Got to go out for a while.
Indeed, and the total lack of science by the cable peddlers (the folks making the extraordinary claims) does make one suspicious that it's a scam... OK, maybe more than suspicious. Their dupes haven't stepped up to the science plate either (Tom excepted, and we shall see how that turns out), just grousing.
I believe that if you remove the ground pin and then use a GFI that it will trip. Thats what it is supposed to do. That's why they call it a "Ground Fault".
Yes, my home does have a complex ground issue and even my UPS on my PC says that there is a ground issue. I don't know why that is, but it is.
Right. They trip when they sense that the currents aren't equal in the hot and neutral leads.
se
Hi Earl, i wouldn't be too sure about that. I'm guessing here but i should imagine what you refer to as a ground fault isolator (GFI) is what is known in the UK as an "earth leakage circuit breaker". In other words if the device detects more than "X" mA flowing down the earth it interupts the mains to the unit 😉
As you can imagine, if you disconnect the ground the unit could in no way detect a fault as nothing could ever flow to ground. As i say though, i'm guessing at the use of this GFI.
Bests, Mark.
Yes, I think that you are correct, except that it would be useless if it couldn't detect a "ground fault" - open ground - as well. And they are called "Ground Fault Interruptor" not "Ground Fault Issolator". Bottom line is that I believe that they do both. Anybody else know?
No, they sense the amount of current flowing in hot and neutral and if they're not equal, they'll trip.
Residual current device
se
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