Chord Company launches GroundARAY noise-reduction devices for your hi-fi separates.

[Razorhelm]

https://www.whathifi.com/news/chord...ise-reduction-family-for-your-hi-fi-separates

Is there any actual science behind this?

 

[raistlin65]

Didn't read the article.

But the fact that the source is What Hifi? certainly does greatly increase the likelihood of something being snake oil. Sort of like wondering if you can believe what a used car salesman tells you. lol

 

[mansr]

Is there any actual science behind this?

Of course not.

 

[gsp1971]

Yours for only 550 GBP ($760).

But pay attention.

"Chord states that GroundARAYs are most effective when used across several devices in an A/V system."
So better buy two packs for your several devices, as they are not as effective when used only on one device.

"They simply plug into existing empty sockets and can be used individually, or in multiples, such as across left and right outputs. With DACs and streamers, GroundARAYs can be used with unused digital inputs."
Oh, OK, better buy three packs, cause you need to reduce noise in your unused (!!!!) digital inputs as well.

"Chord adds that projectors and screens can also benefit from GroundARAY's noise-reduction effects, too."
Better buy four packs, then, cause you need a couple more for your projector and TV(s) around your home.

 

[mhardy6647]

Oh, OK, better buy three packs, cause you need to reduced noise in your unused (!!!!) digital inputs as well.

So, whoa! They work on both analog and digital noise!?!

I mean -- how do they know?
Must be some amazingly cutting edge tech in there.

 

[gsp1971]

So, whoa! They work on both analog and digital noise!?!
I mean -- how do they know?
Must be some amazingly cutting edge tech in there.

I have a rather noisy refrigerator ........

 

[egellings]

Get a coupla packs for the kids, too!

 

[gsp1971]

Get a coupla packs for the kids, too!

Yep, they can get noisy alright! Thank God they are not ... digital

 

[facefirst]

OK so I guess if - being extremely generous here - if there was an earth differential with AV stuff plugged into different power outlets then connecting the earth pin of the RCA's together would possibly reduce any earthing buzz or hum.

 

[egellings]

Kids get their fingers (digits) into everything. They are digital, in a sense.

 

[Doodski]

https://www.whathifi.com/news/chord...ise-reduction-family-for-your-hi-fi-separates

 

[threni]

Do they throw in a pair of RCA cables?
https://www.richersounds.com/chord-company-signature-tuned-aray-1-5m.html

It's a lot of money, but I guess if you can "hear distortion down to -300 dB" then why not?

 

[amirm]

Good grief.... one wrong move and you can rip off your rca connectors.

 

[Martin]

That video provides ZERO useful information. I don't understand why any company would spend the money on such useless marketing fluff. What the hell is it?

Edit: Holy crap - What Hi-Fi? states they start at 550GBP each. Can you say money grab?

 

[VintageFlanker]

It's a lot of money, but I guess if you can "hear distortion down to -300 dB" then why not?

Assuming this is an allusion to Rob Watts:

Chord Company and Chord Electronics are not related by any means.

 

[levimax]

It looks like they are just "shorting plugs" for the unused sockets on your components. Hard to believe they would do anything better than $1.00 shorting plugs.... they do look expensive/ impressive to some I guess.

 

[Chester]

It looks like they are just "shorting plugs" for the unused sockets on your components. Hard to believe they would do anything better than $1.00 shorting plugs.... they do look expensive/ impressive to some I guess.

What do shorting plugs do?

 

[Doodski]

It looks like they are just "shorting plugs" for the unused sockets on your components. Hard to believe they would do anything better than $1.00 shorting plugs.... they do look expensive/ impressive to some I guess.

I had many customers over a 24 year period selling and servicing consumer electronics and there where many people that asked about those open RCA connectors at the rear panels as if that is a possible issue. This new Chord Company product is solving that non-issue.

 

[Doodski]

What do shorting plugs do?

I've seen a few shorting plugs used on RCA terminals. Pretty rare though and I think they where used on the phono input. The shorting plugs short the ground and the signal carrying conductor together.

 

[DSJR]

Dealers have very good margins and many will sell this stuff as they did before with very VERY posh USB cables and so on to those spending tens of thousands for a simple amp system in an expensive posh box. They do or did a USB cable which got great reviews subjectively I remember (the reviewer was pilloried for it in some quarters). Just right for your Naim streamer as shown in the vid.


I'd suggest nothing to see here and to move on...


The only time I messed around with shorting plugs was back in 1988 or so when I bought a Meridian 207 CD player, the second slim box being a preamp with loads of unused input sockets. I made up some shorting plugs with the cheap plastic cased nickel RCA plugs you can get and 'imagined' a slight improvement. I still have one or two of said plugs around and about and they turn up in all sorts of boxes and 'stuff' I have around and about...