Some agreements and some disagreements with Jim Smith

murali

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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
 
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

Hi Murali - This book is on sale at A'gon and I'm tempted to buy. In your opinion has Jim made any hugely revealing secrets to good sound - even to experienced listeners - as he claims in the ad? Or are they fairly pedestrian - at-least IMO the ones above are pretty standard.
Cheers
Sid
 
(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.)


murali

I agree on almost all the things you mentioned... barring the ones above.

I have found that the Power Cords make very very little difference. I upgraded the stock cord on the Krell FPB 200 with the Shunyata. I even tried a VDH. There was a sonic difference between the stock and the Shunyata. But virtually none between the Shunyata and the VDH. I personally feel that any good cord will be better than the stock cords. But expensive ain't necessarily better...

have no experience with the expensive racks yet...
 
Hi Murali - This book is on sale at A'gon and I'm tempted to buy. In your opinion has Jim made any hugely revealing secrets to good sound - even to experienced listeners - as he claims in the ad? Or are they fairly pedestrian - at-least IMO the ones above are pretty standard.
Cheers
Sid

Sorry, I don't believe in magic wands. As much as I love sound, I love books and unless something is really rotten, I will never say 'don't buy it'.

I still refer to Robert Harley's book as well as several others whenever I feel I don't understand something. From that perspective, Jim Smith will be another reference point. Whether he has made 'hugely revealing secrets' or what an experienced listener like you knows or doesn't, I cannot judge.

In my dictionary, books (like people) are either good or bad and I don't use other adjectives. I will put this book in the former category.

Good luck and cheers.
murali
 
I agree on almost all the things you mentioned... barring the ones above.

I have found that the Power Cords make very very little difference. I upgraded the stock cord on the Krell FPB 200 with the Shunyata. I even tried a VDH. There was a sonic difference between the stock and the Shunyata. But virtually none between the Shunyata and the VDH. I personally feel that any good cord will be better than the stock cords. But expensive ain't necessarily better...

have no experience with the expensive racks yet...

I respect your opinion. But please note certain points I mentioned: your system components should be good and able to resolve even subtle differences in sound; choice of power cord depends a lot on the component - whether digital equipment or solid state or tube preamp, amp etc etc. Brand names don't count in power cords, more important are the material and insulation, geometry and design, construction and very important, the IEC and male plugs. Let me tell you honestly that a Furutech or Oyaide connector makes a huge difference compared to a Wattgate or unknown connectors. Believe me, there is a sizeable population in audiophile community who keep on improving performance of their systems by paying very close attention to such small small things without having to empty a lot of cash from their pockets and swapping components every year.

You don't have to join my believers' club, just sharing some experiences and views.

cheers.
murali
 
Looks like Jim Smith was on crack when he made those comments or his reference system is a Bose.

Forget racks, even a super basic tweak like Symposium Roller blocks make a massive improvement to the sound. I'm sure that a rack of silence compared to a cheap local rack will be even more pronounced.

About power cords and interconnects - if he can't hear a difference, he's probably deaf.

My personal opinion though is that more than power cords, I see a bigger difference when using an online UPS between the components and the wall socket.

I've not experimented with Furutech connectors yet but have heard very positive reports of the same from a lot of folks.
 
My personal opinion though is that more than power cords, I see a bigger difference when using an online UPS between the components and the wall socket.
ROC, could you please describe the difference? Was it good or bad?

Few weeks ago, I added a 2 KVA Servo Stabilizer and just could not recogonise the sound of my rig - the sound that I loved so much was gone:(.
Prior to adding the Stablizer, I used to have a line conditioner only for the source and the pre. When I added the line conditioner back between the stabliser and the components, my sound somewhat returned, all except for the the mids - there is lesser body to the vocals now. While casually discussing with Malvai, he advised me I should not run my power amp through the servo as amps like raw power - made sense. I do not have another power point there, so am yet to try feeding raw power to the amp.
 
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