Using AI-1A cable with COMMON ground amplifier
OldCrow
Posts: 31
Recently acquired SRS 1.2 TL with regular and AI-1A cables. I have second generation SRS and SDA 1, blade blade. Learned about AI cable while following the Dreadnaught (sp?) development.
Is it safe to use a common ground amp with the AI cable? Does this mean I can safely use any amplifier (common or not) with the AI cable? I have read threads about the sonic implications of the two cable types, but right now I just don't want to scorch anything.
I've loved the SDA effect since my first pair in 85. The amount of information and experience supplied by the members is amazing!
Is it safe to use a common ground amp with the AI cable? Does this mean I can safely use any amplifier (common or not) with the AI cable? I have read threads about the sonic implications of the two cable types, but right now I just don't want to scorch anything.
I've loved the SDA effect since my first pair in 85. The amount of information and experience supplied by the members is amazing!
Current system: SDA-SRS, Carver Crimson 275 amp, 10 Octave LP-1R preamp
Previous system: SDA-1, Carver M-1.5t amp, Adcom GFP-1A preamp
I listen better than I used to, but I don't hear as well.
Previous system: SDA-1, Carver M-1.5t amp, Adcom GFP-1A preamp
I listen better than I used to, but I don't hear as well.
Best Answers
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Completely safe.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Yes you can use it with common ground amps. Some of the AI-1 cables came with a Blade/blade adapters to use on certain speakers that had a B/b socket but wired like the P/b sockets. The AI-1 cable box gave instructions on which speakers and what serial numbers of the particular speaker models.
Yes you may use it on common ground, dual mono or monobloc amps. I used mine on both common ground and dual mono amps.
There is the baked potato aluminum wrap you can wrap the little box on the cable to also isolate and maybe enhance the signal. There was a thread here at one time about the method and why.
LET ME BE CLEAR
You cannot use it on just any SDA speaker that has a Blade/blade socket -
You must wrap the box with 10 layers to be effective, I'm not joking. More than 10 does not improve the results.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I did mine sheet by sheet. It made a clearly audible improvement.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
Answers
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Thank you F1 and Pitt. I was hoping one of you vets would know. I read lots of dire warnings about non-common, but not common. I'm going to settle them in for a few weeks. I like the idea of the tin foil mod - quick, easy, and will match my hat.Current system: SDA-SRS, Carver Crimson 275 amp, 10 Octave LP-1R preamp
Previous system: SDA-1, Carver M-1.5t amp, Adcom GFP-1A preamp
I listen better than I used to, but I don't hear as well. -
I try not to argue with anything that works. Still, it's kind of funny we're discussing foil to improve the system. I've only seen a reference to foil in DarqueKnight's Dreadnaught post. It can't hurt to try. So what do you suppose is the best way to wrap the transformer. You could go all out with custom trimmed sheets, layer after layer like a Christmas present. Or you could crumple it all together and make a potato. Maybe crumple it around a sized block of wood to create a small compartment.
Current system: SDA-SRS, Carver Crimson 275 amp, 10 Octave LP-1R preamp
Previous system: SDA-1, Carver M-1.5t amp, Adcom GFP-1A preamp
I listen better than I used to, but I don't hear as well. -
I have two Al-1's and three P/B cables for use on my SDA 2.3 (non-TL) and SDA 1C's both being used currently with common ground power sources, so I can use the regular cables. I also have a 1000AV and Larry's case to make a nice dreadnought when I eventually
set up my Adcom (non-common gound) amp with the 1.2TL's. My SDA 1.2TL's are still all original and resting in their Polk cartons.
Question, regarding the 10 layers of foil wrap over the Al-1 interface. Which foil is typically used?
Reynolds makes a regular and a Heavy Duty foil. Or does it not make a difference?
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I don't recall what type I used, but probably the regular.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Shoot heavy duty you could prolly just use 5 😬😬
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