Three Steps to Hi-Fi Heaven

Jagat · #1 1st August 2006, 10:02 AM

Three Steps to Hi-Fi Heaven by Russ Andrews

Source: Three Steps to Hi-Fi Heaven

According to Russ Andrews the three steps to hi-fi heaven are:

1) The mains.

The mains is fundamental to the perfomance of any system, budget or High-End and so has a marked influence on the sound of the hardware and connecting cables. Typically, connecting cables and speakers are chosen which hide the effects of the mains problems. This is why everything seems to be system dependent. Once you start down the road of hiding problems the result is confusion and dissatisfaction. On its own, of course, improving the mains doesn't bring complete satisfaction. Quite often it shows up problems in a worse light.

2) Interconnect cables

3) Speaker cables.

Once you've done these three steps, you can turn your attention to optimising the acoustic environment.

Jagat · #2 1st August 2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vick

I think you can easily add a fourth dimension - vibration isolators. They are a significant improvement for loudspeakers (FOR SURE) and then CD players, then pre-amps and finally power amps - in order of my priority.

Try one at a time to guage the full impact of these small tweaks.

Ahh. YES! A very important but often forgotten tweak. Can we buy vibrapods and their likes in India? If so can you name the dealers.

Thanks.

Aniruddha · #3 1st August 2006, 11:44 PM

To my knowledge, Prithviraj (Absolute Phase) had once mentioned he had Vibrapods....

Kamal · #4 31st March 2007, 11:56 PM

Try a partially inflated childs cycle tube under the CD Player-it works just fine

PbR · #5 1st April 2007, 01:05 PM

Guys, please read theaudiocritic.com berfore spending money on such things!!

Ravi

Jambumali · #6 16th November 2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PbR

Guys, please read theaudiocritic.com berfore spending money on such things!!

Ravi

Will second that. Don't waste (esp., if hard-earned!) money. It is proven (just google) that there is no perceptible diff even if one uses normal electrical cables !

Srinath_Murthy · #7 28th February 2008, 12:38 PM

Jagat, thanks for showing us all this link. Greatly appreciated your other link - Ron Harper's Six Rules of Speakers Placement. This is a must read for most folks.

PLease do keep up the gyan flowing our way. Thanks again.

Cheers!

ranjeetrain · #8 29th March 2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jagat

The mains is fundamental to the perfomance of any system, budget or High-End and so has a marked influence on the sound of the hardware and connecting cables. Typically, connecting cables and speakers are chosen which hide the effects of the mains problems. This is why everything seems to be system dependent. Once you start down the road of hiding problems the result is confusion and dissatisfaction. On its own, of course, improving the mains doesn't bring complete satisfaction. Quite often it shows up problems in a worse light.

I get electricity in my house through ordinary cables, which in turn is distributed to my house using ordinary aluminum cables. Throughout my house the electrical wiring is of the same bog-standard INR 600-700 a coil (90 meters length) cable.

Now what I do is - buy a mains lead that someone gives me in lieu of INR 10k saying - take this - replace your mains cable will this - and your audio system would start sounding great. What rubbish

Why don't people just understand "A chain is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain".

unleash_me · #9 30th March 2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ranjeetrain

...Why don't people just understand "A chain is only as strong as the weakest link in the chain".

Ditto!

Russ Andrews Accessories Ltd

awedeophile · #10 30th March 2008, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jambumali

It is proven (just google) that there is no perceptible diff even if one uses normal electrical cables !

Very true if your equipment is budget or mid-fi. Cables and Isolation will make little, if at all any difference. Your setup has to be capable of resolving the differences that these can bring about. Till then use Finolex and for isolation (if at all), cut squash balls into 1/2 and put them cut side down, under each foot of the component - and if the equipment is very light, put some weight on top.