Extreme Snake Oil

[gzost]

"Everything matters" since every change is a chance for the brain to work its bias magic and let the audiophile perceive improvements. The fact that these increases in sound quality can apparently be endlessly fine-grained reminds me of Xeno's arrow.

 

[Nutul]

"Airborne vibrations that could cause micro-interruptions in the electrical contact"?!? OMG, this might be the funniest thing I have ever read in the past year.

I wonder how much he will charge for the set (I think you should buy the set, inb order to find the right thickness for your plug, uh?) once he realizes that they could be marketed...

 

[Gregm]

"Airborne vibrations that could cause micro-interruptions in the electrical contact"?!? OMG, this might be the funniest thing I have ever read in the past year.

Come on, there's nothing wrong with good strong mechanical connections .
OTOH, however, vibrations capable of interrupting IEC contacts are hard to imagine. Were that to happen, I reckon micro-interruptions would be the least of one's worries!
One a more practical note: why not just tighten the contact metals (or buy a better socket)???

(I think you should buy the set, inb order to find the right thickness for your plug, uh?) once he realizes that they could be marketed...

I like the way you think!
It would be hand made to order and the buyer specifies thickness. This attention to (micro)detail explains why they perform so well and why they are deservedly expensive!
I'll add another variation: different sockets for different types of chords (multi-strand cable vs single core, etc).
Discussions would proliferate thereby, analysing the sonic effects of using these sockets in various implementations. One could compare notes even on using the single-core model socket on a multi-strand power chord, and vice versa. What fun!
Also, most importantly: where is this tweak most beneficial? Sources or power amps? Analogue or digital? (Digital, right? Micro-interruptions affect the flow of 0s and 1s, whereby some 0s or 1s or both are lost in transmission during the interruption... I can hear the difference already in my mind)

There is so much, and so much fun, to discuss in the imaginary world of tweaks!

 

[mhardy6647]

... "One aspect that is often overlooked, but which I consider extremely important, is how tightly the male AC plug fits into the IEC socket...

The kind of thing a male audiophile would come up with, no doubt!

 

[Aure]

I think they're putting these things everywhere...

"I just listened to a CD on my system (YBA Signature, Sine Coliseum 2 power cable—already highly optimized because it rests on a container filled with fine minerals, topped with a plywood square, which in turn supports and stabilizes the IEC connector).

The improvement with the sleeve is an undeniable giant leap forward. Better dynamics, greater presence, and a blacker background in my system.

I'm curious to hear what the other users think."

"I immediately installed one on my TEAC UD-701N streamer/DAC/preamp, powered by a TWL 10+ power cable. The effect was immediate!

My impressions are very similar to those posted by Sale Chat (#28):

• more air between the instruments and a more intelligible soundstage, with noticeably more information.
• a wider soundstage extending beyond the speakers and, in line with the previous point, greater depth.
• richer bass with better modulation.

So it's officially validated—the sleeve is staying on the IEC connector of the TEAC's power cable.

Encouraged by these results, this morning I thought it would be interesting to add sleeves to the power cables feeding my Xindak PA-1 mono amplifiers. So I immediately installed them on the DIY V60-23 ETM power cables that Paul (Chakiwi) had lent me.

Well... what happened? The result was very disappointing. Part of what had been gained initially was lost!

• the soundstage became narrower, and the other improvements were reduced as well...

I removed them from the amplifier power cables straight away."

To be honest, this whole "IEC sleeve" episode was the final nail in the coffin for my audiophile journey. That's when I left that forum for good... and eventually found my way here, to ASR.

 

[Mart68]

I wonder how much he will charge for the set (I think you should buy the set, inb order to find the right thickness for your plug, uh?) once he realizes that they could be marketed...

Entry level set at a few hundred (say five) then increasing levels to give something to work towards - people love that. Top tier, lets say ten grand.

Would still be cheap tweaks in some circles.

 

[Ruediger]

I agree IEC plugs can be a bit wonky here and there. Nothing that a quality cable (better plastic) wouldn't fix most of the times.

Also nothing wrong with these sleeves if they work towards a better fit.

But any change in the actual power connectivity, oh my.. that's like 6th grade physics.

 

[Palladium]

"Airborne vibrations that could cause micro-interruptions in the electrical contact"?!? OMG, this might be the funniest thing I have ever read in the past year.

I wonder how much he will charge for the set (I think you should buy the set, inb order to find the right thickness for your plug, uh?) once he realizes that they could be marketed...

Somehow that matters on a power cable while not mattering on the driver jumpers that actually moves?

 

[Aure]

Considering that some audiophiles use power cables thick enough to pass for pythons or anacondas, I suppose nothing surprises me anymore.

 

[Nutul]

Somehow that matters on a power cable while not mattering on the driver jumpers that actually moves?

Sorry. Wat?
I am still balancing your reply between sarcasm and audiophoolia. Sorry, not native speaker.

 

[Nutul]

Considering that some audiophiles use power cables thick enough to pass for pythons or anacondas, I suppose nothing surprises me anymore.

They must be single, though, as no woman on the planet would ever agree to such ugliness mixed with ignorance and lack of attitude a science classes in your early school ages.

 

[CDMC]

I agree IEC plugs can be a bit wonky here and there. Nothing that a quality cable (better plastic) wouldn't fix most of the times.

Also nothing wrong with these sleeves if they work towards a better fit.

But any change in the actual power connectivity, oh my.. that's like 6th grade physics.

If it was a real concern, they could just have a captive cord that is wired directly to the power supply. Then they would complain how the amps aren’t audiophile because they can’t swap power cords to tune the sound.

 

[Gregm]

If it was a real concern, they could just have a captive cord that is wired directly to the power supply.

I think that FM Acoustics, a very reputable and expensive manufacturer of ultra hi-end electronics does exactly that and says he has "researched everything and that's the best solution", urging the user to listen & not bother with the wires.
Good advice

 

[gzost]

Software snake oil:

A New Solution to Understanding What Your Digital Audio System Is Doing With the Data Stream - Positive Feedback

A New Solution to Understanding What Your Digital Audio System Is Doing With the Data Stream

positive-feedback.com

Typical for modern audiophilia in that it claims to solve a non-issue. (Somebody should tell the author to just get an RME ADI-2 and use the manufacturer's test files. Any player in exclusive mode should pass that.)

 

[Alan O]

Software snake oil:

A New Solution to Understanding What Your Digital Audio System Is Doing With the Data Stream - Positive Feedback

A New Solution to Understanding What Your Digital Audio System Is Doing With the Data Stream

positive-feedback.com

Typical for modern audiophilia in that it claims to solve a non-issue. (Somebody should tell the author to just get an RME ADI-2 and use the manufacturer's test files. Any player in exclusive mode should pass that.)

Hmm, so a bit-perfect music player that achieves exactly the same as any other bit-perfect music player, but using a different software design that doesn't solve any actual problems and isn't encumbered by the inconvenience (?) of any kind of decent user interface. Sign me, erm... out.

Oh, and "...we do not know what the recording’s creators heard when the master was finished. On what monitors, in what room, at what volume was it decided that "this is right?" A recording is a sequence of decisions made in a specific listening situation, and there is no later access to that reference"? That's of absolutely, utterly, zero relevance to music playback.

 

[Palladium]

Oh, and "...we do not know what the recording’s creators heard when the master was finished. On what monitors, in what room, at what volume was it decided that "this is right?" A recording is a sequence of decisions made in a specific listening situation, and there is no later access to that reference"?

It's extremely funny the cranks believe nobody will notice their #134234 reskinning of the Russell's Teapot.

 

[gzost]

https://www.hifistatement.net/tests/item/4364-sotm-sms-2000-ein-weiterer-nachtrag (article in German).

The author claims audible differences from a streamer not only between internal and external storage, but also when the internal SSD has been "cryo treated" with some special audiophile process, and between files that were already stored on the SSD prior to being frozen and those added afterwards.

The author of this insanity is a veteran of the German audiophile magazine scene. I found an article on him on another high-end Web site, and this is apparently how he has placed his speakers:

EDIT: Apparently that speaker placement is when he edits his audiophile tape recordings of jazz, for listening the placement is better:

EDIT 2: Room treatment is via Acoustic System "resonators", e.g. https://www.fastaudio.com/marke/acoustic-system/#acousticsystem-goldspecial

 

[Ruediger]

Cryo-treated SSD! Hilarious abracadabra in the first paragraph lol

Kind of shocking that he uses an average joe NVME drive. I would have expected prosumer hardware at least. But "cryo-treating" that might yield more costly losses.

And paragraph 3 already ventures into records only he cares about and are completely irrelevant to any tech.

Love these articles! What a gem site.

 

[Truth Ness]

View attachment 545869

Muahahaha.
Check out their other products !
They got their physics right.

 

[gzost]

And of course the effect that tiny, tiny metal cup supposedly has on room acoustics varies greatly with the metal it is made of. No need to guess how the price of those metals correlates to the quality of the effect.