Ok here we go.
I have been racking my brain over this thread for three days now trying to figure out how a cover plate can make an audible difference. First of all I don't seem to be the typical audiophool as in the fact that I seem to be looking for scientific reasons behind the sound/tone we are trying to acheive.
So here is the hypothisis. Reduction in RFI that is leeching into the plug at the receptical. As long as the receptical is properly grounded the center screw that attaches the cover plate is connected to ground. Although brass is not a great conductor it is still a conductor connected to ground through the screw. That may be one reason Freemand had poor results with the screw loose, not having a solid ground for the RFI from the plate to flow through. I am still working on why he had poor results with the screw really tight because unlike Albert I cant figure out how EMI will have an effect.
Surface electrical charge. Say on plastic cover plates, in theory it should go to ground through the screw but we are talking thousands even tens of thousands of volts of static electricty that can build up. Can some of this voltage leech into the receptical due to its close proximity? Could be why plastic is not the best choice. As for nylon which Albert says he has had the best luck with. Nylon is a better insulator than plastic therefore it rejects static charge build up reducing the available voltage that could possible leech into the receptical. As for brass and static it being a better conductor then either plastic or nylon there should be little or no static build up as it should all flow to ground.
The RFI or stray static voltage leeching on to the line through the receptical or plug corrupts or adds noise to the electrical line that your equipments power supply may or may not be able to filter out.
Have fun and remember PFM.
I have been racking my brain over this thread for three days now trying to figure out how a cover plate can make an audible difference. First of all I don't seem to be the typical audiophool as in the fact that I seem to be looking for scientific reasons behind the sound/tone we are trying to acheive.
So here is the hypothisis. Reduction in RFI that is leeching into the plug at the receptical. As long as the receptical is properly grounded the center screw that attaches the cover plate is connected to ground. Although brass is not a great conductor it is still a conductor connected to ground through the screw. That may be one reason Freemand had poor results with the screw loose, not having a solid ground for the RFI from the plate to flow through. I am still working on why he had poor results with the screw really tight because unlike Albert I cant figure out how EMI will have an effect.
Surface electrical charge. Say on plastic cover plates, in theory it should go to ground through the screw but we are talking thousands even tens of thousands of volts of static electricty that can build up. Can some of this voltage leech into the receptical due to its close proximity? Could be why plastic is not the best choice. As for nylon which Albert says he has had the best luck with. Nylon is a better insulator than plastic therefore it rejects static charge build up reducing the available voltage that could possible leech into the receptical. As for brass and static it being a better conductor then either plastic or nylon there should be little or no static build up as it should all flow to ground.
The RFI or stray static voltage leeching on to the line through the receptical or plug corrupts or adds noise to the electrical line that your equipments power supply may or may not be able to filter out.
Have fun and remember PFM.