Cable elevators...

steveinaz

It took nearly all day, but persistence paid off.

For those of you wanting try porcelain pin-type cable insulators, to elevate your speaker wires off the carpet/floor----I KNEW I could find them for far less than the common $20+/ea price seen at audio stores. How about $5.85/ea?

http://www.electriciansupplies.com/product.cfm/p/123381/Porcelain-Products-253-S.htm

For that price, I'll give them a shot! Talk about well-guarded secrets, it took alot of surfing to find a supply house that didn't want you to order at least 1000 of the bastads.

See the pic below...

RuSsMaN

That's what I use (not that exact model), but I scored a bucket of vintage ones from Ma Bell.

F1nut

Great find Steve.

Jer.War

Did you notice a difference?? How long of a run are you using? I have always been curious about how far is too far....

reeltrouble1

thanks steve I have been wanting some for a longtime.

RT1

TouchOfEvil

Good deal, will have to order some of these. Thanks!!

comfortablycurt

I really find it hard to believe that elevating cables off of the floor can make any kind of an audible difference. I've read the theory...and still find it impossible to believe. I'll have to cut up a piece of 2x4 sometime and make my own elevators.



Hypothetically, supposing that it actually does make a difference...Would there actually be any difference between using porcelain isolators or wood isolators? Wood is an electrically non-conductive material, and would serve the exact same purpose. Using wood, you could make an entire set of elevators for the grand sum of finding a scrap piece of 2x4 in your basement, cutting it up, making some little notches for the cables to rest in...and maybe staining it to make it look nice.



Those of you that are using them...do they actually make any difference? What kind of differences did they make?

RuSsMaN

You guys in the low humidity, cold, dry areas should know best. How many shocks do you get walking across the carpet then grabbing a doorknob, or brushing up against another human in the abode?

Doesn't happen very often here, but as cheap as they are, who cares. In my mind, there are two grids, my electric company, and mother earth. If I could have my entire rig run on DC and float in the air, I would do it. Right now, I can't get completely off either grid (but my boy Dodd is working on that for us), so I'll get as close as I can.

Cheers,
Russ

comfortablycurt

Actually, I can't even remember the last time that's happened here. Very rarely, if ever, do I even get a static shock in my house. I think it happened maybe 2-3 times over the entire winter.


I don't know how cheap I'd consider them either...even at 6 bucks a piece, it'd probably cost me around $100 to elevate my cables. Is it worth it? Maybe...I guess...But I really find it hard to believe. I'm a cable believer(to a certain extent), but I won't be buying into this one anytime soon.

$100 may not be a lot of money to a lot of people...but it is to me.

steveinaz

Exactly Russ, we have big static around here with our super low humidity.

Jer.War--I haven't bought them yet...I've got 2 8ft runs.

steveinaz

Curt, 4 will easily support 8' of cable, so a set of 8 came out to about $76 shipped to S. Az. Shipping was a little high, but still less than 1/2 the cost of anything else out there. It's the type of tweak that certainly won't do any harm...

Toolfan66

For that price I will try them. Thanks for the link.

seeclear

Data? Isn't this all opinion, and what sounds good to one's own ears? If you want to try them, do, if you don't, don't. It is that simple.

reeltrouble1

thanks again steve.

RT1

phuz

BlueFox wrote: »

Opinion, based only on speculation with no experience in the subject, is irrelevant and a lie.

Relax. You can discuss a topic and state your opinion without being so abrasive, can't you?

nooshinjohn

xcapri79 wrote: »

Cable elevators are not needed since the insulation value of the cable wires and cable jacket is sufficient.
If you want better value or performance buy your wife or gf a nice dinner or a dozen roses with the money you've saved instead.

If you believe they make a difference, they do. If you think they don't, they don't...

If you have never tried them yourself, then you have no reason to make any statement at all. I come from the camp that has never tried them, but is willing to give the idea a fair shake as the concept has merit, but I will TRY THEM before I form an opinion.

steveinaz

The link was provided for those who wish to give it shot--without having to pay "boutique" audio store prices, simple as that. If you find it silly or baseless, move along. What a boring hobby this would be if some people didn't do a little experimentation, right? Climb out of the box...

I see you're running a Monster HTS powerbar, why not a $3.99 outlet strip? Science tells me 120volts is a 120volts...see where I'm goin with this?

steveinaz

I'm not all that confident they will make a difference either, but there's only one way to find out, right?

seeclear

phuz wrote: »

Relax. You can discuss a topic and state your opinion without being so abrasive, can't you?

Exactly. Granted, X stated they "are not needed", like it is a fact, when in fact, that is his opinion. But, do we really need to call people liars instead of saying "I disagree, and this is why__". The former is just likely to escalate into name calling and nobody wants that, you SOBs.

steveinaz

Exactly, no need to go into "attack" mode. Everybody has a right to an opinion.

steveinaz

I didn't want to be hypocritical, so I just ordered 8ea, if they don't do anything--I'll karma those pups.

$74.17 shipped.

phuz

Does anyone have a good source for the full theory or concept? Does the theory pretty much only apply to carpet? What about concrete?

nooshinjohn

xcapri79 wrote: »

If you understand science, then you don't have to try everything. You don't need to use drugs to know they are bad for you. You trust science to tell you that the earth is round and not flat. You don't have to prove it and you definitely don't have to prove the absurd.
Some just have to touch the stove after being told it is hot, but others don't and they don't get burned.

If you understand that the physiology of the human ear and the brain it's connected to are unique to each individual, you would understand that we all hear things slightly different than the next person does. These differences are fact, and as such, some folks are blessed (or cursed depending on your viewpoint) with the ability to hear the differences being discussed.

I had a woman at work that could smell on my clothes the fact that I cooked ribs on the grill three weeks ago even though the shirt in question had been washed twice since that time, so I do not doubt the abilities of those that claim to hear things others can't. Some things science can do, but to explain the abilities of the human body to do the remarkable things it does? They can keep trying and will always be left scratching their heads and asking more questions.

seeclear

xcapri79 wrote: »

I guess I have to be thankful for the wax in my ears. It saves me money.:p

Me, too. And the tinnitus. :eek:

Toolfan66

Science, Reality, My rig, My money, My time.:rolleyes:

The price is right to try them out, and I will do so. At least I will be able to say I did so, and have an opinon about them. I have my opinon about Emo Gear, and the reason I do is because I have tried it, and I have put them up against other gear, and I now know I will never buy any other Emo gear.

I wasted more money and time on Emotiva then the $80 it will cost me to try these..

MY MONEY, MY TIME, MY OPINON!!!.

Nuff said!!!!!

mhmacw

i dont know about these cable lifters but in electronics class many moons ago our professor had an o scope set up and showed the frequency strength/response/ accuracy when comparing bare wire to insulated wire. the difference was very noticable. the test was as it relates to radio waves but the transfer of signal is the same theory. i believe isolating from any dialectric will make a difference. measurable? most likely, and dependent on the amount of charge. audible? youd have to try it and find out.

comfortablycurt

All higher end speaker cables are shielded against EMI though...I don't see how them being near the carpet would affect anything.

That's what the shielding is for, as far as I understand things.

I've never tried them though, so I can't really say one way or the other.

vc69

I will say this much:
George Cardas uses elevators. Most high-end systems I have seen have them. I tend to think that even if they don't produce a noticeable difference, the idea that "everything matters" comes into play. I can't always hear a noticeable improvement with every tweak, but the cumulative effect is what is important and at the price these can be had... it's a no-brainer for the true audiophiles among us.

/.02

Oh yeah, thanks Steve. This is a price point that I can stomach and a great find. Thanks for sharing.

janmike

At that price Steve it's a no-brainer. Interested in hearing the results. Thanks.

hearingimpared

vc69 wrote: »

I will say this much:
George Cardas uses elevators. Most high-end systems I have seen have them. I tend to think that even if they don't produce a noticeable difference, the idea that "everything matters" comes into play. I can't always hear a noticeable improvement with every tweak, but the cumulative effect is what is important and at the price these can be had... it's a no-brainer for the true audiophiles among us.

/.02

You hit the nail right on the head!!!:) Ya beat me to that comment.

For those looking for some "solid science" behind them, one phrase, 'static elimination.'

concealer404

I wish i could use these, i'd love to give them a try, but i've simply got too much cable down there.