Fancy Mains Cables
 

I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!

--

R. Mark Clayton


remove nospa for email



* in most amps the mains power is delivered to a PSU in a metal enclosure
inside another metal enclosure, and other external analogue leads for low
[line] voltage will be screened. It hardly matters for digital connections.
By all means plug in via a surge arrestor (£5) and have a ferrite bead (£1)
if you live next door to a taxi base or a welding shop, but otherwise
unnecessary!

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!

I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17 yeas)
when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget on leads.

--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

Fancy Mains Cables
 

charles wrote:

In article ,
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!

I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17 yeas)
when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget on leads.


Was Russ Andrews a sponsor of the article ?

Fancy Mains Cables
 

R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy
of What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about
mains leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are
improved upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they
cost a few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely
gullible* to fall for this kind of guff!

Russ Andrews makes a very good living out of extremely gullible people.
--
There is no God, so stop worrying and enjoy your life.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.
--
Ian

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On Sat, 9 May 2009 15:20:54 +0100, "R. Mark Clayton"
wrote:

I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!

I suspect that many people who fall for this kind of guff actually do
experience better sound. This is simply because they expect it to be
better.

If you watched "Professor Regan's Medicine Cabinet" on BBC a couple of
weeks ago you would have seen an experiment in whcih rugby players were
asked to keep their hands in iced water for as long as they could. This
was after they had taken painkilling tablets. They did it twice, once
with branded tablets from labelled packets, and once with unbranded
tablets with no labelled packing. They lasted much longer after the
branded tablets than with the unbranded ones. All the tablets were, of
course, identical.

The human mind is a wonderful thing.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
charles wrote:
I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17 yeas)
when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget on leads.

Only time I've heard a problem with 'leads' was when I decided to move my
turntable rather further from the amp than the supplied leads would reach,
so made up some extensions, using ordinary audio co-ax. And ended up with
a rising top end. Of course a pickup is rather special. Most domestic
equipment is low impedance out high in so you'd need pretty exotic cable
to have an effect on that. Speakers require a decent low resistance cable,
though - but any mains one is usually suitable.

--
*Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
Ian Jackson wrote:
What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Because those so fooking stupid to spend vast amounts on fancy cables are
unlikely to complain to them. Of course if they want to pay for a nice
*looking* cable, why not?

--
*If you remember the '60s, you weren't really there

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

charles wrote:
In article ,
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy
of What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about
mains leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are
improved upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they
cost a few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely
gullible* to fall for this kind of guff!

I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17
yeas) when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget
on leads.

The James Randi Educational Foundation two or three years ago offered a
million dollar prize to anyone who could prove that expensive speaker leads
improved the sound quality. As far as I'm aware, it was never won.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

If you read the drivel that RusS Andrews writes in support of his
mains cable etc they are all couched in terms "In our opinion this
solid gold oxygen free optical cable works wonders and ****s miracles"
- It's an opinion, he tends not to guarantee such things - I strongly
doubt there is much chance of a refund from him.

I do remember that he was summonsed by, I think, trading standards
recently for making a claim that could not be substantiated - and
lost!

Fancy Mains Cables
 

"Ian Jackson" wrote in message
...
In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost
a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same standard.
Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil claims made by
manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists with no technical
knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with impaired hearing of
some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm sure
that some action could also be taken against those who give 'glowing'
reviews to these devices.
--
Ian

The problem here is that all this stuff was written by the reviewer!

Fancy Mains Cables
 

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about
mains leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

Ah, I well remember the famous TED (Tired Electron Distortion) article in a
well known, yellow-covered, HiFi magazine decades ago ;) Sales of D-cells
went through the roof. Sadly, when the buff where told it was just a hoax
there was a backlash of people that really could hear the improvement.
TWBEM.

some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely
gullible* to fall for this kind of guff!

Not just HiFi buffs. Try this for size:

http://www.theabcd.com/

Mostly for musicians/producers/engineers but a few hifi related bits in it.
I have it, tested myself and it confirmed my thoughts. But then I'm biased.
My father was heavily involved in the hifi/audio/recording industry :)

Al.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article , charles
scribeth thus
In article ,
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...ains-products-
Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!

I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17 yeas)
when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget on leads.


Ever seen exotic cables on Krone frames in broadcast racks room's?.


No?, neither have I !...
--
Tony Sayer

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..
--
Tony Sayer

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article , R. Mark Clayton
scribeth thus
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...ains-products-
Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


Skinflint!..

What you need is a balanced mains tranny, around 2 and a half grand to
you guv;!..


Might have to copy 'n paste these..


http://www.russandrews.com/product.a...currency=GBP&p
f_id=1190&customer_id=PAA0959052309572THFCSOVZTKUS COFZ


Then a couple of power leads the two meter long ones a snip at £6000 yes
over Six grand each;!!!!


http://www.russandrews.com/product.a...currency=GBP&p
f_id=1549&customer_id=PAA0959052309572THFCSOVZTKUS COFZ

--
Tony Sayer

Fancy Mains Cables
 

Where have you been!
Russ Andrews is a standing joke in uk.tech.*

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On Sat, 9 May 2009 19:38:11 +0100, tony sayer wrote:

In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..

No. And if they are what they sound like I don't want anything to do
with them. Can they be used for curing warts, bad eyesite and loss of
libido?

Fancy Mains Cables
 

"Graham." wrote in message
...

Where have you been!
Russ Andrews is a standing joke in uk.tech.*

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%




He ain't knwon as 'rip-off Russ' for nuffink.


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 19:38:11 +0100, tony sayer wrote:

In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..

No. And if they are what they sound like I don't want anything to do
with them. Can they be used for curing warts, bad eyesite and loss of
libido?


Can't find the advert now but it was to keep your speaker cables of the
floor . When you used them you had to flush the old electrons out with a
battery;!..
--
Tony Sayer

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On Sat, 9 May 2009 21:44:39 +0100, tony sayer wrote:

In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 19:38:11 +0100, tony sayer wrote:

In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..

No. And if they are what they sound like I don't want anything to do
with them. Can they be used for curing warts, bad eyesite and loss of
libido?


Can't find the advert now but it was to keep your speaker cables of the
floor .

I suppose if you've spent thousands of your hard-earned pounds on a few
lengths of wire it makes sense not to let them dangle in the dust. Much
better to have them tastefully displayed.

When you used them you had to flush the old electrons out with a
battery;!..

Omigod!

What do you then do with the old electrons - sell them on eBay?

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , tony sayer
writes
In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..

I have a friend who is an "audiophile".

He has high end stuff, and always insists that analogue and vinyl can't
be beaten.

Listening to his system tends to make me agree.

For years, he refused to buy a CD player, but eventually he gave in.

Of course he had to buy one that cost £700.

I had to laugh.

He also says that his sound system sounds better at certain times of the
day, because the electricity is purer. LOL

Now please, don't tell me it's possible.
--
Ian

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , Adrian
writes
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy
of What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about
mains leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -


http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...-products-Revi
ews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are
improved upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they
cost a few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely
gullible* to fall for this kind of guff!

Russ Andrews makes a very good living out of extremely gullible people.

I suspect that most of it goes into multi-million pound flats in the
city.
--
Ian

Fancy Mains Cables
 

Ian wrote:


He also says that his sound system sounds better at certain times of the
day, because the electricity is purer. LOL

Well there is an element of truth there - the amount of noise (i.e.
distortion of the supply waveform) will vary through the day based on
what other people are doing with it. Whether that should be making its
way through your system to something you can hear is a different matter.

Now please, don't tell me it's possible.

Oops ;-)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they
cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to
fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..

I have a friend who is an "audiophile".

He has high end stuff, and always insists that analogue and vinyl can't be
beaten.

Listening to his system tends to make me agree.

For years, he refused to buy a CD player, but eventually he gave in.

Of course he had to buy one that cost £700.

I had to laugh.

So would I, especally if he was using a separate DAC

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , John Rumm
wrote
Ian wrote:


He also says that his sound system sounds better at certain times of
the day, because the electricity is purer. LOL

Well there is an element of truth there - the amount of noise (i.e.
distortion of the supply waveform) will vary through the day based on
what other people are doing with it. Whether that should be making its
way through your system to something you can hear is a different matter.


But equally likely, less ambient noise from passing traffic etc. and
state of mind (more relaxed or stressed out)


--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

Fancy Mains Cables
 

Yes, very silly isn't it? I'd love to see all appliances have such a huge
capacitor across the pins that no internet through mains wiring could ever
work again.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"R. Mark Clayton" wrote in message
...
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost
a few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to
fall for this kind of guff!

--

R. Mark Clayton


remove nospa for email



* in most amps the mains power is delivered to a PSU in a metal enclosure
inside another metal enclosure, and other external analogue leads for low
[line] voltage will be screened. It hardly matters for digital
connections. By all means plug in via a surge arrestor (£5) and have a
ferrite bead (£1) if you live next door to a taxi base or a welding shop,
but otherwise unnecessary!

Fancy Mains Cables
 

I mean it does not take a rocket scientist to work out that after the huge
runs of normal cable from wherever the mains comes from at your area, one
little tiny bit of lead is hardly going to make much difference. Its not as
if they are claiming better immunity to electronic noise or anything.
As for other interconnects, well, good quality has to start in the
equipment, and as long as crap phono plugs are built in, any good long
lasting connections are out. Indeed the best investment iis in time to pull
them apart every so often and clean the oxide and general crap off which can
do wonders.
With speaker leads, the problem here is one of current and thus thick ones
with a good connection area at each end seems to be the most obvious thing
to have.
Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"charles" wrote in message
...
In article ,
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy of
What
Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about mains
leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are improved
upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost
a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!

I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17 yeas)
when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget on leads.

--
From KT24 - in "Leafy Surrey"

Using a RISC OS computer running v5.11

Fancy Mains Cables
 

Yes, consider my Denon receiver, not that new, but had a good review when it
was. Its main problem is that it uses relays to connect the speakers so you
do not get a plop when it comes on. Delayed connection.
I have had to have the contacts cleaned so many times on these relayas. You
can hear the thing begin to sound just a little fuzzy, like a radio with a
worn out battery. Cleaing the contacts puts things right. This indicates to
me that its the small high resistance points in a speaker lead that affect
the sound, as indeed you might find in any high current line dealing with
transients is not that easy.
I remember building some of Sinclair's amplifiers back in the day, and the
worst part was trying not to get the power supply modulated with audio and
feeding back into the chain. People used to slag off the quality, but that
was because the psus were such crap.

Brian

--
Brian Gaff -
Note:- In order to reduce spam, any email without 'Brian Gaff'
in the display name may be lost.
Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Norman Wells" wrote in message
...
charles wrote:
In article ,
R. Mark Clayton wrote:
I was thinking of getting some new gear, as the current cycle of TV
improvements has just about stabilised, so in April I bought a copy
of What Hi-Fi Sound & Vision magazine.

It might have been April the first as it contained an article about
mains leads costing scores if not hundreds of pounds: -

http://www.whathifi.com/Reviews/Acce...Reviews/Price/

for example "Levels of detail, dynamics and clarity of sound are
improved upon tenfold." [by one particular lead at £232].

On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they
cost a few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely
gullible* to fall for this kind of guff!

I've just cancelled my subscription to BBC Music Magazine (after 17
yeas) when it ssid you should spend at least 25% of your hi-fi budget
on leads.

The James Randi Educational Foundation two or three years ago offered a
million dollar prize to anyone who could prove that expensive speaker
leads improved the sound quality. As far as I'm aware, it was never won.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
om...
I mean it does not take a rocket scientist to work out that
after the huge runs of normal cable from wherever the mains
comes from at your area, one little tiny bit of lead is hardly
going to make much difference. Its not as if they are claiming
better immunity to electronic noise or anything.
As for other interconnects, well, good quality has to start in
the equipment, and as long as crap phono plugs are built in,
any good long lasting connections are out. Indeed the best
investment iis in time to pull them apart every so often and
clean the oxide and general crap off which can do wonders.
With speaker leads, the problem here is one of current and thus
thick ones with a good connection area at each end seems to be
the most obvious thing to have.
Brian


Ah, but you forget Brian, Rip-off Russ advocates the fitment of a
single spur from the incoming supply to feed the hi-fi,
preferably without fuses, and using 6mm (or more) cable
terminated in outlets with gold-plated connectors. The amazing
thing is people fall for this, do it, and believe it improves the
sound!

A properly designed amp with a PROPER regulated power supply and
decent but ordinary speaker cables will have much more effect.

Are these what you want Tony?

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73452
http://www.russandrews.com/product-C...ators-4227.htm
http://www.soundstage.com/equipment/...dark_field.htm
http://www.audioxsell.com/classified...le-Lifters.htm

These two are a good read as well......................!
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue36/elevators.htm
http://www.theanalogdept.com/diy_cable_elevators.htm

They ain't all locked up yet........................


--
Woody

harrogate three at ntlworld dot com

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
Woody wrote:
Ah, but you forget Brian, Rip-off Russ advocates the fitment of a
single spur from the incoming supply to feed the hi-fi,
preferably without fuses, and using 6mm (or more) cable
terminated in outlets with gold-plated connectors. The amazing
thing is people fall for this, do it, and believe it improves the
sound!

There is some sense in using a dedicated radial circuit to the Hi-Fi -
there will be less rubbish on it from the myriads of SMPS we all have
these days than on a final ring circuit. Of course it's a moot point as to
whether you'd hear a difference in practice.

--
*If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , Al
writes
Ah, I well remember the famous TED (Tired Electron Distortion) article in a
well known, yellow-covered, HiFi magazine decades ago ;) Sales of D-cells
went through the roof. Sadly, when the buff where told it was just a hoax
there was a backlash of people that really could hear the improvement.
TWBEM.
Wasn't there someone selling squares of bin bag for 7 quid a shot to put
under a corner of your turntable? Admitted to be a hoax but only after
hundreds of golden ears had given it rave reviews.

Not just HiFi buffs. Try this for size:

http://www.theabcd.com/

Mostly for musicians/producers/engineers but a few hifi related bits in it.
I have it, tested myself and it confirmed my thoughts. But then I'm biased.
My father was heavily involved in the hifi/audio/recording industry :)
It's the shiny new kit syndrome, it costs more and looks good so it must
be better.

Unless it's old enough to be falling apart, then it's 'retro' which
sounds even better still apparently and 'imparts its own unique flavour'
(flakey, distorted, crappy) to the sound which is *always* good as long
as you can either claim to be eclectic or part of a group of similarly
feeble minded nutters.

Doesn't just happen in HiFi or the recording industry though, it happens
everywhere, PC home builders, DIY tool nuts, the blue LED car brigade,
everywhere there's someone willing to make 'marketing' claims (outright
lie or mislead) you'll find a bunch of gullible idiots queuing to be
separated from their cash.

HiFi probably has the greatest number of monied fools so you tend to get
the most ridiculous claims in that market, plus it's easy to find idiots
willing to back up your ridiculous claims.


Al.

--
Clint Sharp

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote
In article ,
Woody wrote:
Ah, but you forget Brian, Rip-off Russ advocates the fitment of a
single spur from the incoming supply to feed the hi-fi,
preferably without fuses, and using 6mm (or more) cable
terminated in outlets with gold-plated connectors. The amazing
thing is people fall for this, do it, and believe it improves the
sound!

There is some sense in using a dedicated radial circuit to the Hi-Fi -
there will be less rubbish on it from the myriads of SMPS we all have
these days than on a final ring circuit. Of course it's a moot point as to
whether you'd hear a difference in practice.


The problem with Hi-Fi is that the all the source material is 'mixed' by
a partially deaf sound engineer in the first place.
--
Alan
news2006 {at} amac {dot} f2s {dot} com

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
Woody wrote:
Ah, but you forget Brian, Rip-off Russ advocates the fitment of a
single spur from the incoming supply to feed the hi-fi,
preferably without fuses, and using 6mm (or more) cable
terminated in outlets with gold-plated connectors. The amazing
thing is people fall for this, do it, and believe it improves the
sound!

I still find it incredible that these people stand for mains power at
all. All that 50Hz that has to be filtered out... Surely everything
should be powered by (enormous) batteries - separate ones for each
channel and amplification stage of course - and the ideal turntable
would be a flywheel that was disconnected from the power before use.

-- Richard
--
Please remember to mention me / in tapes you leave behind.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article , Woody
scribeth thus
"Brian Gaff" wrote in message
. com...
I mean it does not take a rocket scientist to work out that
after the huge runs of normal cable from wherever the mains
comes from at your area, one little tiny bit of lead is hardly
going to make much difference. Its not as if they are claiming
better immunity to electronic noise or anything.
As for other interconnects, well, good quality has to start in
the equipment, and as long as crap phono plugs are built in,
any good long lasting connections are out. Indeed the best
investment iis in time to pull them apart every so often and
clean the oxide and general crap off which can do wonders.
With speaker leads, the problem here is one of current and thus
thick ones with a good connection area at each end seems to be
the most obvious thing to have.
Brian


Ah, but you forget Brian, Rip-off Russ advocates the fitment of a
single spur from the incoming supply to feed the hi-fi,
preferably without fuses, and using 6mm (or more) cable
terminated in outlets with gold-plated connectors. The amazing
thing is people fall for this, do it, and believe it improves the
sound!

A properly designed amp with a PROPER regulated power supply and
decent but ordinary speaker cables will have much more effect.

Are these what you want Tony?



Oh!, Yes:) As well as one of these, wonder what Bill Wright would have
to say?. And they are rumoured to make DAB sound better;)..


http://www.russandrews.com/product.a...currency=GBP&p
f_id=1814&customer_id=PAA1040055409737MGLONEQDLEZQ SBDB

http://www.musicdirect.com/product/73452
http://www.russandrews.com/product-C...ators-4227.htm
http://www.soundstage.com/equipment/...dark_field.htm
http://www.audioxsell.com/classified...le-Lifters.htm

These two are a good read as well......................!
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue36/elevators.htm
http://www.theanalogdept.com/diy_cable_elevators.htm

They ain't all locked up yet........................



Class those!..

Is it really true that he uses the same Virgins to weave these earth
cables that were used in Götterdämmerung to weave to rope of destiny?..

Or daren't anyone tell;?..

http://www.russandrews.com/product.a...currency=GBP&p
f_id=1020&customer_id=PAA1040055409737MGLONEQDLEZQ SBDB

--
Tony Sayer

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article , Ian
scribeth thus
In message , tony sayer
writes
In article , Peter Duncanson
scribeth thus
On Sat, 9 May 2009 16:21:12 +0100, Ian Jackson
wrote:

In message , Alan
writes
In message , R. Mark Clayton
wrote


On three of them you could actually identify the MK plugtop (OK they cost a
few pence more), but some Hi_fi buffs must be extremely gullible* to fall
for this kind of guff!


It takes some bollox written about power cables to make most people
realise that ALL the reviews in these magazines are of the same
standard. Reviews with the words "Hi-Fi" are based on the snake oil
claims made by manufactures or sellers or are written by journalists
with no technical knowledge and who far from the flush of youth with
impaired hearing of some sort. (compared to the hearing of a teenager).

What I cannot understand is how those who make absolutely outrageous
claims for their products are not done by Trading Standards. And I'm
sure that some action could also be taken against those who give
'glowing' reviews to these devices.

Will Trading Standards act in the absence of complaints from
dissatisfied customers?

Russ Andrews is yer man for this kind of crap, the advertising standards
authority had a go at him somewhile ago..

Ever heard of speaker cable pylons?..

I have a friend who is an "audiophile".

He has high end stuff, and always insists that analogue and vinyl can't
be beaten.


Wouldn't be a bloke called Keith who lives near the A1 in St Neots and
rides old bikes?...

And uses single ended triode amplifiers;?..
--
Tony Sayer

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
Alan wrote:
The problem with Hi-Fi is that the all the source material is 'mixed' by
a partially deaf sound engineer in the first place.

Make that mastering engineer with pop records and similar processing at
radio transmitters and you'd be close to the truth.

--
*I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast *

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

In article ,
tony sayer wrote:
I have a friend who is an "audiophile".

He has high end stuff, and always insists that analogue and vinyl can't
be beaten.


Wouldn't be a bloke called Keith who lives near the A1 in St Neots and
rides old bikes?...

And uses single ended triode amplifiers;?..

And listens to everything in a different room? ;-)

--
*Laugh alone and the world thinks you're an idiot.

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Fancy Mains Cables
 

On 10 May 2009 10:13:27 GMT, (Richard Tobin)
wrote:

I still find it incredible that these people stand for mains power at
all. All that 50Hz that has to be filtered out... Surely everything
should be powered by (enormous) batteries - separate ones for each
channel and amplification stage of course - and the ideal turntable
would be a flywheel that was disconnected from the power before use.

They've only just discovered balanced signal connections. And their
preoccupation with gold-plated plugs and sockets, no-one suggests
directly soldering the cables to the amp. etc. I'm sure a suitably
expensive super-solder could be developed and marketed.

What I do find sad is the assumption in Currys etc. that having bought
a cheap, competent e.g. DVD player you'll spend as much again on
"interconnects".

http://www.laurencepayne.co.uk/cables.html