Back to our main subject of audio/video after seeing a few controversial threads and posts to see whether we are still devoted and serious to learn and share more or just use this forum for entertainment and time-passing...
A few esteemed members have asked me about Jim Smith's book "Get Better Sound" which I bought recently and had a quick read. Though it covers a wide range of subjects in our audio world, here are a few observations of Mr. Smith, supplemented with my own experiences when it comes to more controversial issues related to cables and accessories. Let us see how the readers react to this and if I find genuine interest and thoughts, may be I can keep pushing at several other points related to electronics, speakers etc also covered in the book. Here we go...
(1) Do interconnect and speaker cables make an audible difference?
JS: I am in the "they make a difference camp". Rather than quickly connecting and disconnecting a set of cables and then the other, take a bit of time to listen to each to determine whether or not you get carried along with the music.
(I fully agree. My experience is they make a big difference provided your system has enough resolution to reflect subtle differences. For those budding cable lovers, get in touch with fatwyre.com in USA who have perhaps the largest database and will be able to recommend which cables will be most suited to your components and system, not from theory but from similar users all over the world.)
(2) Do power cords make a difference?
JS: Quoting Robert Harley ("Aftermarket power cords aren't at the end of electrical service but at the very beginning of the interface between the component's power supply and the electrical service"), I came to discover after initial doubts that some power cords were indeed better in improving sound. Rather than debating on materials, geometry, shielding etc, give it a listen to decide. Note: Pricey power cords make little or no difference, so be careful and diligent.
(I completely agree as the same is my experience. A specialist maker like Chris ven Haus offers wonderful power cords at reasonable prices and they do matter where you choose based on your equipment and application. Again, my experience is a decent cord like Mainstream of VdH sounds good in a subwoofer amplifier rather than the main power amplifier which indicates it is better suited for large and constant current draw for low frequencies rather than handling subtle variations needing fast response like in a main amplifier. I would also go one step further in that not just the wire but the connectors do matter too.)
(3) Racks and shelves:
JS: Over 95% of the component racks I have seen do little to positively assist sound.
(Disagree. I had used locally made MDF racks with wooden shelves which were a disaster. When I first bought a Rack of Silence and put my components on it, behold, the sound changed dramatically as if a huge veil was lifted of from the soundstage. At the same time, the bass of the power amp became thin. Later, when I picked up a Taoc rack with shelf and put my power amp on that, the whole thing turned around. The moral of the experience is that ROS with total isolation on spring supports without shelves is best suited for source and tube preamp where vibrations matter whereas a power amp being heavy needs solid support to get everything right.)
Here is a sample on speakers:
JS: I have trouble with the statement that speakers are a "personal" choice. I believe that the best speaker will be chosen by everyone if the demo is valid. As an example, 3 listeners sitting in front of the same speaker, one focussing on bass extension and quality, another midrange presence and transparency and the last treble extension and refinement. If each is allowed to sit where the sound is relatively uncompromised, each will ultimately pick the same speaker. So it is "personal" only as long as there are obvious shortcomings in other areas.
(Perfect logic and I tend to agree.)
Happy listening.
murali
A few esteemed members have asked me about Jim Smith's book "Get Better Sound" which I bought recently and had a quick read. Though it covers a wide range of subjects in our audio world, here are a few observations of Mr. Smith, supplemented with my own experiences when it comes to more controversial issues related to cables and accessories. Let us see how the readers react to this and if I find genuine interest and thoughts, may be I can keep pushing at several other points related to electronics, speakers etc also covered in the book. Here we go...
(1) Do interconnect and speaker cables make an audible difference?
JS: I am in the "they make a difference camp". Rather than quickly connecting and disconnecting a set of cables and then the other, take a bit of time to listen to each to determine whether or not you get carried along with the music.
(I fully agree. My experience is they make a big difference provided your system has enough resolution to reflect subtle differences. For those budding cable lovers, get in touch with fatwyre.com in USA who have perhaps the largest database and will be able to recommend which cables will be most suited to your components and system, not from theory but from similar users all over the world.)
(2) Do power cords make a difference?
JS: Quoting Robert Harley ("Aftermarket power cords aren't at the end of electrical service but at the very beginning of the interface between the component's power supply and the electrical service"), I came to discover after initial doubts that some power cords were indeed better in improving sound. Rather than debating on materials, geometry, shielding etc, give it a listen to decide. Note: Pricey power cords make little or no difference, so be careful and diligent.
(I completely agree as the same is my experience. A specialist maker like Chris ven Haus offers wonderful power cords at reasonable prices and they do matter where you choose based on your equipment and application. Again, my experience is a decent cord like Mainstream of VdH sounds good in a subwoofer amplifier rather than the main power amplifier which indicates it is better suited for large and constant current draw for low frequencies rather than handling subtle variations needing fast response like in a main amplifier. I would also go one step further in that not just the wire but the connectors do matter too.)
(3) Racks and shelves:
JS: Over 95% of the component racks I have seen do little to positively assist sound.
(Disagree. I had used locally made MDF racks with wooden shelves which were a disaster. When I first bought a Rack of Silence and put my components on it, behold, the sound changed dramatically as if a huge veil was lifted of from the soundstage. At the same time, the bass of the power amp became thin. Later, when I picked up a Taoc rack with shelf and put my power amp on that, the whole thing turned around. The moral of the experience is that ROS with total isolation on spring supports without shelves is best suited for source and tube preamp where vibrations matter whereas a power amp being heavy needs solid support to get everything right.)
Here is a sample on speakers:
JS: I have trouble with the statement that speakers are a "personal" choice. I believe that the best speaker will be chosen by everyone if the demo is valid. As an example, 3 listeners sitting in front of the same speaker, one focussing on bass extension and quality, another midrange presence and transparency and the last treble extension and refinement. If each is allowed to sit where the sound is relatively uncompromised, each will ultimately pick the same speaker. So it is "personal" only as long as there are obvious shortcomings in other areas.
(Perfect logic and I tend to agree.)
Happy listening.
murali
. 
