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Tiny bridges everywhere, but why?

As I am getting closer to my first "complete" system, I am starting to research and get opinions on smaller tweaks. The cherries on top, so to speak. The term "smaller" covers the size, cost and possible impact to SQ. 

I do not know what they are called but I am seeing all sorts of devices holding up cables. Don't know why but they remind me of Navy Seals running out of the ocean with a telephone pole over their shoulder...

Thanks to this forum I have learned that everything in some way impacts SQ, so whatever these thingamabobs are called, do they impact SQ or are they a form of cable management? Both? Do materials matter? Am I going to have to splurge on rosewood versions treated with stain containing ash from one of Jerry Garcia's guitars, or could I use old shoes for now to accomplish whatever mission these fulfill?

I could have Googled this topic, but I want to hear from you - Your experience, choices, etc. 
izjjzi
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
The only Jacob's Ladder I know is the Tim Robbins movie. Had to go look it up and, holy cow! That is the LAST thing I would put in my listening room! I mean it looks cool and all, and there are people I would for damn sure love to scare the Dicken's out of with it, but Lord man can you imagine the EMI!?!?!! Crikey!!!
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Since you say you're tapped out for costly additions at the moment and before you install your room treatments you should learn and run a program called REW. It's free but a calibrated microphone will run about $100. Once you get an idea of how your room interacts with your system you will have a better understanding of where the room treatments will be most effective. If you want real improvements that's where I would put my energy for now,   after that if you enjoy playing with these tweaks most of them don't cause any real harm but some can get expensive with no benefit. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
$100 will buy 3 sets of Nobsound springs. Each set will support a component of up to around 100lbs. Since most are way less than that you actually get springs enough to do 5 or 6 components. It takes a little experimentation to get the spring loading just right, and making extra pods is a bit of entry level DIY, but totally worth it as you then have the tweak of the century.  


joeyga
36 posts
 
For Halloween I'll set up the Jacob's ladder which is 120v -15 kV at 250VA.  An old lighting transformer.  Fun stuff.

As far as LV insulators go I dig the old glass style  Those ceramics cut like a razor blade if broken or cracked, far worse than glass.

Not sure I get why there's a need to isolate/elevate 2 conductor LV cables with a shield wrap.  What exactly would one be coupling to if left on the floor that negatively affects sound quality?
bob540
446 posts
 
@onhwy61 I am also guilty of the jumbled mess of cables in my system.  Every cord or cable has a purpose, so how do you arrange things nice and neat when you have something like 30 cables running every which direction?  Especially when the space you can allot to your audio system is limited?  High end audio tends to have MORE separate pieces of equipment compared to lower level systems, and each thing requires cabling to connect it.
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