check this out

wangotango68

some interesting reading audio mythes

scott:cool:

Aaron

Sounds like our old, but not forgotten "friend" Ken! (not Polk Ken)

Aaron

I-SIG

I scanned though the little list of things this person had listed as myths. Most were right on the money. The speaker/interconnect wire myths are a bit more questionable, if for no other reason than quality of materials.

Wes

Aaron

What I think makes a noticable difference:
--Biwiring
--Expensive speaker wire of similar gauge and length, but dissimilar retail cost
--Silver vs. copper speaker wire
--Expensive aftermarket power cords
--Expensive power receptacles
--Sand bags placed on, in, and around electronic audio components
--Speaker wire and audio interconnect "break-in"
--Speaker "break-in"

What I think doesn't make a noticable difference:
--Wire elevators
--Green paint around the edges of a CD
--Freezing CDs
--"Anti-static" CD treatments
--"Demagnetizing" CDs

Granted I can't personally vouch for all of these, but I would be willing to try all of the things I believe make a difference (and possibly the gren pen treatment). Thoughts?

Aaron

sgtgto

Hi:

Told you guys a long time ago!!

I am going to sell all my equipment and buy a Bose wave radio!!

Gary:D

I-SIG

I forgot to mention that breaking things in never hurt anything at all. I think my blanket statement about materials covers everything about the wires. Any other features are bonuses. Also, I assume the sandbags are for vibration damping. If that is the case it couldn't hurt anything either.

Wes

RuSsMaN

Aaron, I agree with most speakers sounding different after a fair amount of use, or break-in.

I don't see how a wire, of ANY type would need, or change, after a fair amount of use, or break-in. I can see it with the speaker, it has moving parts. What could possibly break-in in a wire?

Cheers,
Russ

rskarvan

Ok... here is my question.
I recently replaced the drivers in a set of Monitor 10's.
The interior of the enclosure isn't wired with anything particularly special or extravagant. Why then is a heavy gauge (sometimes expensive) speaker wire necessary?

Now, regarding interconnects... I think there is something to a good quality shielded cable with firm end-connectors. Pre-amp level signals could easily pick up some noise. Regarding directional arrows on the cables - I don't get it. But, its really no matter. I'll plug the interconnects in as designed - though, I think thats really being silly labeling them as uni-directional.

Aaron

I can't say that I've really experience cable break-in. I generally just stick in a new cable, listen to it, and be happy if I notice an improvement. I think it would be really tough to listen to the cable a week later and say you thought it sounded better than when you first got it. I guess if your job is to be an audiophile, you probably have a very intimate relationship with your stereo and how it sounds. I, on the other hand, don't have time for that.

Back to the break in thing, I was reading something from AudioQuest (or possibly MIT), that was saying that the break in had something to do with how the physical structure changed. I believe they were saying that the molecules "aligned" themselves a bit after break in. They went on to say that if cables weren't used for awhile that they would revert back to their previous state and require breaking in again. Honestly I'm not sure that I buy any of that, but it sounds interesting.

Aaron

Aaron

I believe it was AudioQuest again that claimed that all cables are directional. I don't recall why, though. You should take a gander at their web site. I know they have a pretty extensive paper posted that goes into a fair amount of detail.

Have you seen MIT cables? Those are directional, and for a more understandable reason. They use "networks" at the destination side of the cable to correct any harm the cable did to the signal. I think the neworks are just some kind of inductive circuit.

Aaron

sgtgto

COURAGE::::::

The ability to stand up for what is right in the face of adversity>



Gary