I think that once a slice of deep dish gets squarer, the L, C, and R become more difficult to measure because the area (distance) covered by the flow is augmented by the width and depth being the same amount and then you have to factor in the crust effect.
Directionality of wire
I am a fan of Chris Sommovigo's Black Cat and Airwave interconnects. I hope he does not mind me quoting him or naming him on this subject, but Chris does not mark directionality of his IC's. I recently wrote him on the subject and he responded that absent shunting off to ground/dialectric designs, the idea of wire directionality is a complete myth. Same with resistors and fuses. My hunch is that 95% of IC "manufacturers", particularly the one man operations of under $500 IC's mark directionality because they think it lends the appearance of technical sophistication and legitimacy. But even among the "big boys", the myth gets thrown around like so much accepted common knowledge. Thoughts? Someone care to educate me on how a simple IC or PC or speaker cable or fuse without a special shunting scheme can possibly have directionality? It was this comment by Stephen Mejias (then of Audioquest and in the context of Herb Reichert's review of the AQ Niagra 1000) that prompts my question;
Thank you for the excellent question. AudioQuest provided an NRG-10 AC cable for the evaluation. Like all AudioQuest cables, our AC cables use solid conductors that are carefully controlled for low-noise directionality. We see this as a benefit for all applications -- one that becomes especially important when discussing our Niagara units. Because our AC cables use conductors that have been properly controlled for low-noise directionality, they complement the Niagara System’s patented Ground-Noise Dissipation Technology. Other AC cables would work, but may or may not allow the Niagara to reach its full potential. If you'd like more information on our use of directionality to minimize the harmful effects of high-frequency noise, please visit http://www.audioquest.com/directionality-its-all-about-noise/ or the Niagara 1000's owner's manual (available on our website).
Thanks again.
Stephen Mejias
AudioQuest
Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-15-audioquest-niagara-1000-hifiman-he1000-v2-p...
Showing 31 responses by nonoise
Idiotones cannot be measured yet we hear them in the form of tinnitus. Heck, they can't even figure out how it works. Any argument that points to the limits of hearing ability glosses over the fact that our ears are cluing into sounds at lower, normal yet infinitely more complex forms than a test tone (overtones, harmonics, phase distortion [what we know to be accurate vs what we hear], etc,) that can be heard, analyzed and processed immediately (thank you evolution) and that is what can't be measured, but appreciated. You have to broaden your focus. All the best, Nonoise |
Maybe all the believers should move closer to the equator and all the naysayers should move closet to the poles and just be done with it. We can then have an audio UN where disputes can be settled, to no ones satisfaction. 👍 But, at least, we would be content in knowing that in our particular neck of the woods, we'd be right. All the best, Nonoise |
This discussion has gotten to the point where: https://www.tenor.co/xI6M.gif And what we need is a kumbaya moment like this: https://www.tenor.co/oEtS.gif I hope this helps. All the best, Nonoise |
@hifiman5 , I didn't take your remark as "me" being a dictator at all. No worries here, but I don't see myself as an authority on anything, truth be told. Just another one of many with an opinion, and hopefully a funny one at that. 😇 As for Cincinnatus being a role model for Washington, I can only wish that were a requirement for all succeeding presidents, written on some dusty old parchment, attached to the Constitution. All the best, Nonoise |
@hifiman5 I just meant to imply that the first triumvirate was the one favoring directionality and the second one didn't without regards to actual history. Just having fun. As for who'd be a dictator on these thread, I'd have to opt for the role of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnnatus (had to look him up) and remain ever the statesman who, after being called to duty, did his stint and returned to his farm, or in my case, my stereo. All the best, Nonoise |
Don't forget to google the proper way to make a torch and pitchforks can be readily procured. When approaching the windmill, make sure to surround it so as to cut off any escape route. Place enough tinder and brush around the bass of the windmill to ensure a good and even burn. Try not to get too excited and torch the upper parts of the windmill as it will hasten the burn and ruin the evening. What you want is to drive the monster ever upwards on a gradual basis so you can relish it's plight and screams of agony. Oh, and bring enough food and booze and don't forget some blankets and lawn chairs for the kids. 😃 All the best, Nonoise |
@genez, Careful my friend, or you’ll be relegated to the loony bin. It appears that your own experiences are not good enough, no matter how many times you’ve heard it. You have to submit to rigorous double blind testing, before a panel of others peers, who are predetermined to just write it off as of no significance. 😉 All the best, Nonoise |
@terry9 I understand the need for more data to accurately arrive at a stat but my point was a knock against mass hysteria/delusion being the culprit. Your second point was addressed by @geoffkait and I agree with his point that the nazi's Big Lie was a tactic of propaganda whereas what we're experiencing with wires and fuses are first hand observations. I'm just going to rely on my own ears. They've served me well so far.... All the best, Nonoise |
Can anyone tell me if this is accurate and has it been debunked as of late? I came across it yesterday and it's a few years old so it must have been brought up at some point but I've yet to hear anything about it. And thanks, Geof, for the heads up on the 3 for 2 offer. I've been holding off on getting the Black fuses and this may motivate me. All the best, Nonoise |
It's funny how some here adhere to use of science, measurements and math as a basis for their argument and when it comes to climate change, they discard it at the drop of a MAGA hat. 🤔 If anyone here is versed in the field of statistics, can they explain the chances of thousands of listeners who hear a difference and the odds that they're all delusional? Mass hysteria just doesn't cut it. It can't be the water or cool-aid since they're so spread out so something else is afoot. 👞 All the best, Nonoise |
sthoth, In answer to your question as to why cables and fuses are always harped about but not speakers and amps and what have you is that they seem to get a pass nowadays but that wasn’t always the case. Those in the know used to harp about how all a speaker needs to be is this and all an amp needs to be is that and so on, because, measurements. There have always been various opposing camps on them but the dust seems to have settled on those debates and it’s all chalked up nowadays to preference. It won’t be long before wire and fuse debates die off due to (long overdue) natural causes, and deservedly so. All the best, Nonoise |
For something to come back, it has to first, go forward. It's that first, forward moving signal that we hear. Speed is the friend of the audiophile. It's why we want faster amps, faster speakers, etc., because it gets us closer to the actual sound we're trying to reproduce. The faster the conductor, the better the sound. Sure, it's "only" a matter of a few percentage points between metals but in the end, one is faster. Refining that metal in certain ways makes it better. We can hear it. Why anyone wants to refute that is beyond me. All the best, Nonoise |
What I gathered from Chris’s article is that: *He hears a difference but doesn’t feel it’s a "life or death" difference. *He fairly certain it’s not due to diodic effect. *He cannot explain it except that it’s not due to diodic effect so simply move along folks, nothing to see here. How nice that he can relieve us of this "life or death" burden. Here is a related article on the matter dealing with objectivity vs subjectivity. What I like most about it is the shot of a t-shirt that states: I am an engineer. To save time, just assume that I’m always right! All the best, Nonoise |