[DVV]

Actually in the smART DI/O level, I use DALE/Vishay resistors now because HOLCO resistors have changed the way they are made and do not sound as good as they used to.

I use RIKEN-OHM carbon film resistors on the MENSA level mods because I feel that they do sound fuller and richer than the DALE/Vishay. I do thank Doug S for pointing out how good they sound.

I am sure that for some applications, the Vishay bulk foil resistors are great. I have tried them out on the DI/O and found them a bit too dry and sterile sounding for me. YMMV.

A practical example of what I've been saying; it measures the same, but can sound different. Both types will do the job very well electrically, but will produce different results.

I guess I do it something along the lines Wayne does it - I put together a working prototype, clean it up electrically (and believe me, there's ALWAYS something to mop up), then play around with different components.

Even components which are nominally the same can perform deifferently. For example, a transistor I tend to use very much, BC 546 B, is made by everybody annd their dog, but in the end, I prefer those made by Siemens, or Philips or Motorola. I pass the rest by, too unpredictable in sound, though electrically just fine.

Or large capacitors. Black gate is fine, so is Elna, and Nichicon, but I will always use German made Fischer & Tausche in regular applications simply because they give me the most balanced sound. Not perfect, but the most balanced of the lot for the money. When I want the ultimate, I buy Siemens Sikorel series - expensive, but even measurable the best I have ever seen.

I completely understand what Wayne is saying, I have witnessed such differences myself quite a bit over the last 20 years or so. Which is why I refferred to "designers with a conscience" in my previous postings.

Cheers,
DVV

[warnerwh]

You have to remember if they don't get what they ask then they will either have to lower their prices or go out of business.  It's also good to remember that competition is a wonderful thing.  I agree that many prices are ridiculous for what you get but advertising and great reviews can do that.  Fortunately there are products that are usually capable of great performance in their price bracket to choose from, ie VMPS speakers.  When if comes to the prices of cables I become dumbfounded how anyone could ask prices that get asked. Yes I have silver cables and custom speaker cables but paid much less than most people charge. For what cables do it's not a very efficient way to spend money compared to better speakers. Power cables are laughable at 4 digit prices, period.  You can make your own great power cables for about 50 bucks about any way you want.  Capitalism is good though.

[ABEX]

"A practical example of what I've been saying; it measures the same, but can sound different."

This is a big argument throughout audio which hampers many people for whatever predjudice they have to clearly hear differences.Sometimes differences are not as apparent until you hear a particular piece of music,then it hits you.Other times it is quite apparent.

The argument for differences laeks over to cable differences where some think a wire is just a wire which I cannot fathom after testing a few.They may measure the same,but give different sonic results!

JMO

[DVV]

"A practical example of what I've been saying; it measures the same, but can sound different."

This is a big argument throughout audio which hampers many people for whatever predjudice they have to clearly hear differences.Sometimes differences are not as apparent until you hear a particular piece of music,then it hits you.Other times it is quite apparent.

Mea culpa, I should have made it clearer. When I said you could hear the differences, I should also have added that I have never heard any radical differences, nothing like a revelation, or the big light shining on me from the sky, and I never saw the finger of God.

Differences which could be heard, and were effectively small, but since they could be heard, and since they improved matters, differences which could not be simply discounted. They were there and could be heard.

When I hear large differences, I know that's not the components at work, it's the designer, first and foremost, and then perhaps also the components.

The argument for differences leaks over to cable differences where some think a wire is just a wire which I cannot fathom after testing a few.They may measure the same, but give different sonic results!

JMO

I agree with that. I have heard cables in my system which all but killed the sound dead (e.g. Audioquest), and I have heard cables which allow for a smooth, relaxed sound without giving anything away to the classic values of timing, resolution, etc (e.g. van den Hul 352 Hybrid, which I am using now). That different materials will show different conduction properties is hardly any news, and logically, if it conducts differently, it will also sound different. Then there's the cable cross section, not at all unimportant, and its length (always the shorter, the better), and ultimately, purposely putting this last on the list, there's the technology of making it. I refer not to its geometry, but to the quality of the copper; for example, monocrystal technology will generally show superior results across the board, both in measurement and on audition, but it is more expensive.

These are facts which have, unfortunately, been greatly misused by, shall we say, less than scrupulous vendours to spin tales of myth and magic, attaching ridiculous price tags to their products.

I agree with Warner's posting, for $50 you can make a great power cable. I would also point out that not all are greedy; for example, a local company making line filters offers their own cable as an alternative to the usual IEC input socket for a surcharge of 30 euros ($31). While it looks, well, VERY plain on the outside, inside it's made by the book - 2.5 mm cross section conductors rolled in oiled paper, then insulated by chemically treated rubber. I asked them for two samples and exchanged some standard cabling on my gear, and was pleasantly surprised. No magic here, just some common sense thinking - quality OFC copper, lots of it, reduced skin efects, one of two best insulations all coupled with a reasonable price. I mean, $31 for 6 feet of cable is very reasonable, in my book.

Cheers,
DVV

[nathanm]

You may not see the finger of god, but rather the finger of the vendor pointing at you and laughing!

Actually, I do have to blame Dejan for peer pressuring me into building custom power cords for no apparent reason .  They are thick as hell - cause of that whatchamacallit he said about big ass cross sections are Good Things in some older thread or some such.  Don't remember.  In any case, they are indeed wicked ass awesome looking, but unwieldy and they enjoy telling my feeble power strips who's boss.  'Twas the damned connectors that drove the price up.  The cable itself wasn't all that super expensive, in fact it was scrap I found at Home Depot.

But then I had a revelation: why not take four stock cords, cut the male 3 prong end off and terminate them to a single burly Marinco plug?  Tedious job?  Oh yes, but worth the time.  Three plugs on the 'ol power strip instantly freed up!  I call it the Bisected Octopus QuadPC.  (Comes with velvet-lined Bubinga display case and optional tung-oiled wooden ferrites for an extra $250)  I think some other brand already took "Hydra" which would be much cooler.  In an ideal world a person could have ALL their cords snaking out of one plug.  Doesn't that just make all kinds of sense?  Hell, then you could stick your whole rack into the fabulous DeZorel filter and still have a spare left over for the lava lamp. (with the DeZorel filter you can actually get magma sometimes)

[DVV]

You may not see the finger of god, but rather the finger of the vendor pointing at you and laughing!

Actually, I do have to blame Dejan for peer pressuring me into building custom power cords for no apparent reason .  They are thick as hell - cause of that whatchamacallit he said about big ass cross sections are Good Things in some older thread or some such.  Don't remember.  In any case, they are indeed wicked ass awesome looking, but unwieldy and they enjoy telling my feeble power strips who's boss.  'Twas the damned connectors that drove the price up.  The cable itself wasn't all that super expensive, in fact it was scrap I found at Home Depot.

But then I had a revelation: why not take four stock cords, cut the male 3 prong end off and terminate them to a single burly Marinco plug?  Tedious job?  Oh yes, but worth the time.  Three plugs on the 'ol power strip instantly freed up!  I call it the Bisected Octopus QuadPC.  (Comes with velvet-lined Bubinga display case and optional tung-oiled wooden ferrites for an extra $250)  I think some other brand already took "Hydra" which would be much cooler.  In an ideal world a person could have ALL their cords snaking out of one plug.  Doesn't that just make all kinds of sense?  Hell, then you could stick your whole rack into the fabulous DeZorel filter and still have a spare left over for the lava lamp. (with the DeZorel filter you can actually get magma sometimes)

So, as I understand it, you will not give me da finga, you will not sue me, and you allow for the possibility that I actually have some brains with one or two active neurons left? Until it's scientifically proven, of course ...

Way to go, Nate, I knew you had it in your rebellious butt to do something way out which will actually work like a charm.

Ciao,
DVV