Audio Snake Oil - Let's Go!

I have a digital capacitor tester/meter plugin for sale

I really want a cable full of positrons.  The radiation sickness and cancer would show everyone that I don't compromise and use only the best cables.

Regarding the "directional" audio cables: I wonder if they are putting a capacitor in there that acts as a HPF -- making the audio sound more hi-fi/bright, and also causing the cable to have a directional flow??

Sarcasm? Me?

Just to prove the point I actually tried out a directional cable yesterday but deliberately connected it back the front.

Well you could have knocked me over with a feather.
The damn music played in reverse!!

You people are using the B WORD AGAIN!!!! Stop it, or I'll report you to a moderator for swearing.

Hi,

I have worked in electrics and I know a but about power supply, voltages, alternating current, etc.

First we have to understand that an alternating current supplies a sine wave of voltage to the power supply. Oscillating at 50(Europe) or 60(US) Hz. The power supply of any device takes that and converts is to direct current at constant voltage. How constant will depend on the power supply quality and the cleanness of the incoming current waves. Just like audio, any fluctuations create noise. That will have it's effect downstream, in the behavior of the electronics of the device.

My supposition is that if a particular cable "works" i.e. improves or changes a sound, it's because of one of two things:
1.it is better shielding the different cores of the cable from magnetic interference of the other cores or general magnetic interference in the location. That magnetic interference would be generating out of sync currents and voltages that would create "noise" or slight instability in the alternating current to the power supply.
2. By having a different composition it is changing the capacitance of the cable and thereby giving a cleaner, more stable alternating current to the power supply.


So, yes I can conceive that this type of product affects the sound. But no I'm not interested in paying for it because unless everybody who is listening has it .. people will still hear differently to me in my studio/listening room.

What I am ABSOLUTELY sure about is that no cable will ever improve (or worsen) a song :-)

Oh yes, we have been into power cables before. And from my point of (yes, a bit scientific and less religious or esoteric) view, there are 3 points to consider.
1. If you improve the last 2 meters to your gear with expensive high end power cable ... what do you intend to do with the rest of the cabling in the house down to the circle breaker panel (and beyond)?
It is like the chain which is just as weak as it's weakest part.
Brings me to
2. The weakest point of cabling is always the connection. So there we are at power outlets. Use the ones, your local hospital uses for the intensive care rooms and you are set. Most reliable connection and i doubt any other product can do it better in a way you could measure or hear. And - they are very reasonably priced.
3. Transformers....
Hmmmm. Expensive. I would absolutely choose to use industry power filters. Very affordable, and they do what you want - filter nasty stuff out. IMO the same what the transformers do effectively - for a fraction of the price.
That's about it.
And yes, the PSUs of your devices are supposed to filter out all nasty stuff. In an ideal world. To a certain degree. Try your device in the same room/circuit as an old washing machine. Additionally use a chinese hairdryer. Also run an old computer and an old LCD in the circuit. You get the picture...
See if the PSU of every piece of your equipment does this job to your full satisfaction under these conditions. Yes? OK, go on, no additional filter needed at any point. Cool equipment.
:-D

Martin, i know we were into the discussion before, but now you really brought a perfect analogy with the water filter.
Yes, you are so right. Of course there is such a filter. It is in the PSU. The PSU is your filter, that comes after the outlet. The power cable absolutely is not acting as a filter at all. In best case it does not introduce new issues to the power line, but it filters nothing out what's already there. This is totally up to the PSU or additional filter devices. You can put ferrite filters *around* the cable. But the cable itself is not even shielded (at least i am not aware somebody did that...). It has to transport the power and that's it. The outlet can only be improved, because the connection *can* cause trouble. It just gives a tighter grip and that's already it...
As always, you know i just try to explain my point again, maybe a little different ... and because it is *the* topic of the thread. Where is the line between snake oil or not.

Well, I believe there are some manufactured to much higher quality levels than "hospital grade". The metals are purer, contacts stronger, and some other aspects that are over my head. But I tell you, you should just try one and listen for yourself. it'll cost $50. If you don't hear a definite improvement either you have bad hearing or your outlets are already very very good.

www.psaudio.com/products/power-port-premier/

The thing is, I've tried these and A-B'd them, and I wouldn't even think of having a critical listening system that's just plugged into the old outlet that came with my apartment. These things work.

Correct. Rectification and filtering occurs within the power supply itself.

All the unshielded, unfiltered power cable does is provide a few feet of AC connectivity between the wall socket and the unit being powered.

Whether or not the power cable is made from Kryptonite or some other kind of unobtanium is immaterial.

It is simply supplying AC mains at 50 or 60hz to the power supply which is completely altered by the rectifier and filter capacitors in the supply.

If you pay more than $10 for a power cord the only people who are benefiting are those taking your money.

A proviso is the cable must be able to supply adequate current so high power amplifiers such as used in PA systems need properly rated power cables to ensure there is minimum voltage drop especially with very long power cables.

Does anyone think a ferrite bead on a power cable would help with the noise floor in audio equipment?

I notice Seventh Circle Audio shipped me an IEC power cable with a ferrite bead. I think it's the only one I have like that.

When Tape Op reviewed the SCA A12 preamp, and compared it to the API 512/312, they said something like, "the main thing we liked about it was...less noise."

If you take a look at the SCA schematics the designer has a lot of complex circuitry designed to lower the noise floor. So clearly that is a design goal. I just wonder how much the ferrite bead might help in that area.