[JoshK]

I bought two sets of these brass cone feet from Brian Vojtech @ Revelation Audio (also bought an upgraded power cord for between my monolithic phono and power supply).  These are really cool as you can use them to level the component which you can't for most standard brass cones.  They aren't as heavy or big as the mapleshade cones that I use under my CD player but they are still plenty heavy and they help me level the turntable platform since my floors are anything but level.  

Brian gave me two sets at $40 each because I was a returning customer (bought the power cord previously) as opposed to the $48 list price he advertises.  If you email him stating that you were referred to him by me maybe he will give you a break like he did with me if you were interested in trying them out.

[JoshK]

ps....  I forgot the link.  

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?accstwek&1054560745&2&3&4&

[duff138]

I bought two sets of these brass cone feet from Brian Vojtech @ Revelation Audio (also bought an upgraded power cord for between my monolithic phono and power supply).  These are really cool as you can use them to level the component which you can't for most standard brass cones.  They aren't as heavy or big as the mapleshade cones that I use under my CD player but they are still plenty heavy and they help me level the turntable platform since my floors are anything but level.  

Brian gave me two sets at $40 each because I was a returning customer (bought the power cord previously) as opposed to the $48 list price he advertises.  If you email him stating that you were referred to him by me maybe he will give you a break like he did with me if you were interested in trying them out.

does the power cord make an audible improve in sound quality?  what length did you order?  6 feet for $200 seems unnecessary.

[JoshK]

My power cord is 6 feet and cost $65.  I couldn't tell you whether it made an audible difference as I haven't tested it yet.  My table is still in construction phase.

[duff138]

My power cord is 6 feet and cost $65.  I couldn't tell you whether it made an audible difference as I haven't tested it yet.  My table is still in construction phase.

  I'd like to hear your opinion on it when your table is done.  I just got a quote for a foot length at $129.  I think I'll wait before I upgrade my cord.

[CE]

Has a sound quality?  How is this possible?  Does the wall wiring that you don't change have any effect?  Why would the piece between the wall outlet and the nit, somehow transform the sound of a piece of electronics?  Is this bizzaro world?  I heard the service panel breakers have an effect.  Get the audio grade ckt breakers.  Oh, just realized, NEMA don't recognize that as a description.  Guess, neither is AC line cord rated as audio performance.  Woudl that be an interwoven, tripel helix configuration, or maybe the bi lateral, triaxial center wrapped, bi furcated Teflon impregnated, snake grease skin, with single crystal atomic cryo treated Hubbly, bubbly bozo wire and coated with elixar of snake venom

[nathanm]

You haven't realized by now, CE?  This IS Bizarro World!

[Jay S]

3 points to consider about power cords and connectors.

1. RFI
2. Instantaneous current delivery
3. Impedance

Also, if you don't think AC has an impact on sound quality, you may want to consider that balanced AC power is now written into the U.S. electrical code and is recommended for use with electronic equipment.

[CE]

There is for one thing, nothing known as the U.S. electrical code.  There is a thing called NEC 2002, which is the current code cycle, for the National Electrical Code.  Get it read it, understand it.  you will soon realize there is no such thing as "audio" grade AC wiring devices, , as being marketed by hucksters, and marketing BS machines. NEMA has no such category.  Learn it read it, get educated.  Power cord materials, have all been classified, for ampacity, enviormental uses, ie. water, oil, hard use, etc...nothing of it's AUDIO properties, since there are none.  ampacity, voltage ratings of the insulation of the wire, etc. are all electrical properties that have a clear defined standard, and is part of teh mfg'd product specs.  Audio qualtiys does not come into play.  Ther eis more BS in audio than anything I've ever seen, the gulliable fill their heads, with such hyoped BS, they eventually loose all capacity for thought, reaasoning, and the use of logic.  The 6ft power cord improves the sound, the previous 100 feet of NM cable in the wall back to the service panel, then out to the street transformer is imaterial?  How is this possible, in anywhere other than BIZZARO world?  AUDIO spelled backwards, is OIDUA, and you know what it means?  Nothing,  you thought it did?  Why don't the power cord effect the toaster or steam iron, only audio products, how do them electrons know to do something differenly going to an audio product, don't they get confused?  Is this a coffee maker, an iron, a vacuum cleaner, nooooo, it's an audio product, let's change physics. What a bunch of fools, in Audio Bizzaro world.

[CE]

Products for North America are mfg'd, with one line HOT the other side nuetral(grounded conductor)...not for balanced power.  Grounded conductor is not the same as protective earth connection.

[nathanm]

Although I agree with where you're coming from CE, you are being rather heavy handed about it.  I'd like to suggest some reading material for you; how about the word TACT in the dictionary as one example?  Yikes...easy does it big fella!  Well, there's plenty of other words in there worth looking up too, but that's besides the point.

Much of the audiophile world is based on faith, subjective opinions and myriad other psychological factors.  When objectivity, reasoning, logic and science seem to be given the 'ol 'heave ho' it's because those other factors are playing a bigger role in the person's mind.  At least that's how I see it.

[JohnR]

I don't quite see it that way. I see people who are so keen to prove a point (so to speak...) about how something "can't possibly make a difference" that they give objectivity, reasoning etc the heave-ho. Many of those fall into the class of enough technical knowledge to be dangerous, but don't have enough to recognize the limits of their knowledge. To cover that up, they'll often lace their posts with ridicule, words like "snake oil" and so on, as if that somehow gave them any credibility.

Cheers

JohnR

[DVV]

I don't quite see it that way. I see people who are so keen to prove a point (so to speak...) about how something "can't possibly make a difference" that they give objectivity, reasoning etc the heave-ho. Many of those fall into the class of enough technical knowledge to be dangerous, but don't have enough to recognize the limits of their knowledge. To cover that up, they'll often lace their posts with ridicule, words like "snake oil" and so on, as if that somehow gave them any credibility.

Cheers

JohnR

On the other hand, John, I think you'll agree that there is indeed much snake oil peddling simply because it's good business for some.

Look at it this way - how many times have you been let down by pompous claims, never mind whether they come from a manufacturer/dealer, desperate to seel more, or would-be tweakers?

Of course, this is in no way intended to belittle many a worthwhile effort, made by an impressive number of people from within and without the trade. Ultimately, as far as I am aware, the vast majority of us here are not in the trade, just plain, old enthusiasts sharing some experiences.

Where I agree with CE is in the fact that more and more, we see sales blurb denying the fundamental laws of physics, and if his gripe is with this phenomenon, I back him completely. But I must add I have seen tweaks which at first sight look downright stupid, yet when you try it, find out it works, and then sit down to reason it through, you do come up with a reasonable explanation.

It's a grey pond, and just as there are goldfish in it, so there are sharks in it as well.

Cheers,
DVV

[Jay S]

Hi CE,

You are correct, it is the National Electrical Code, not the U.S. Electrical Code.

Balanced power is recommended in the Code for sensitive electronic equipment since common mode rejection reduces noise in the power line.  Do you feel that audio equipment is unaffected by noise in the power line?  If a balanced power supply filters out a good amount of the noise in the previous 100 feet of cable isn't this a good thing?  How about if you connect your audio gear to the balanced power supply with a good quality shielded aftermarket cable which doesn't let RFI enter the cable and add noise to the power?  If this is not so, then please explain how it is so so that we can learn.  

I am not surprised that audio properties of wire are not described.  How would you measure audio properties anyway?  Do things that measure well necessarily sound good?  

I do agree with you that there is a lot of BS floating around.  As others have pointed out, BS isn't the only thing that we come across now a days.  

Cheers,

- Jay

P.S. Jay spelled backwards is Yaj.

[JoshK]

CE,

Have you ever sat down and compared the difference in sound one cable can make against that of another?  If you haven't, then your words are mere grafitti.

[CE]

Yes, and it is all nonsense.  get some SoundKing speaker wire from  www.partsexpress.com  Get some nice flexible RCA interconnects from them also. gold plated, resists corrosion..works great, cost just a few dollars..anything more is utter nonsense for hoem audio systems..no matter if it is a $40,000 system or $1,000 system..there is no audio magic in a piece of wire.  No wire maker ever tells you just how their magic twist and wraps, does it...The FTC shoudl really go after these wire  sellers, to PROVE their claims of audible superiority.  amp mfgs, had to comply with the FTC ruling back in the 70's over outreagus wattage claims of peak power, not at a standard freq,, each maker had their own way of making wattage claims..they need to come up with a standard  for teh absurd claims of wire hucksters..then it will at least be on an even ground.  Right now the ads for wires is utter nonsense, they make up some imagianry science and terminolgy, it's all out of the ad agencys, not science. This is audio bizzaro world.

[Jay S]

Wires are controvertial.  But, at what point is "good enough" good enough?  Is gold really a good conductor?  Is copper better?  If so, then aren't Eichman bullet plugs better than gold plated RCAs?  

Also, what do you think of balanced power?  Does common mode rejection of power line noise have any audio benefits?  Is audio equipment completely unaffected by power line noise?  

Thanks.

[CE]

If you get an engineering book, you will find out whtich one conducts better, there actually is science involved.  The gold is just anti oxidation.  Science, not the claims of ad makers for the wacky world of audio wire.  a corroded conector will have an effect on the sound, just like a noisy switch, with oxidated contacts.  no magic, just hardware facts.

[Jay S]

Yes, and under the gold the connector is usually brass, which is not as good a conductor as copper.  You may want to try Eichman bullet plugs instead of the gold plated RCAs you suggested.  

Do you have a view about whether common mode rejection of power line noise is beneficial to audio equipment?

[CE]

For consumer products, is probably NOT a good idea.  Do you see the UL listed sticker on products?  the power supplys, protective ckts, UL requirements for the listing, would indicate it was tested with the U.S. standard of 120VAC and Nuetral.  Not a balanced supply. The metal cases are grounded, for a reason.