The Great Cryo'd Outlet Test

Quite apart from my cryo evaluation project, let me point out that the notion that cryo treatment might affect sound generation began with treatment of brass instruments, like trumpets. Now cryo treatment is just another form of heat treatment, extending to lower temperature ranges, and heat treatment has been used for thousands of years to modify the properties of metals. It makes perfectly logical scientific sense that cryo treatment would change the timbre of a brass instrument. Where we went off the scientific tracks (IMHO) is to think that elements of an audio system that are not making sound by vibrating, but merely performing an electronic function can introduce sonic changes when cryo treated.

How 'bout sending me that worthless bit of snake oil? I'll take it for a test drive. I'm currently using FIM audio-grade non-cryo-treated outlets.

-IMO

Interesting, El. But then why don't STRINGS sound different after cryo? As well, my Steinway took TWO years for the stretchier Swedish strings to stabilize, requiring tuning every couple of months. Now, after 4 years, it's held a tune for 13 months (to MY ears...uh oh!). Other strings atabilize more quickly, but don't apparently sound as good...or aren't favored for another reason. Wonder if cryoing piano strings could change their elasticity curve somehow. Doubt it, though.

Ern:

If you ask Dean Markley, strings DO sound different after cryoing. Their Blue Steel line of bass and guitar strings are cryo treated. I do find that their bass strings do have a fairly unique sound (and I have used them on and off for about 12 years), but since even strings without cryo treatment have very different sounds, I cannot say that the cryo treatment actually contributed to their sonic character. All that I do know is that Dean Markley markets them as having unique sonic characteristics as a result of their cryo treatment.

Tom.

I wouldn't hazard a guess one way or the other about strings. Their properties would be changed by cryo, but the sound is emitted more by the sounding box of the instrument than by the strings themselves. The strings excite the box (or other resonant element of the instrument). Perhaps the string tension would be affected by cryo, but the retensioned string would perform the same.