3 Likes
Physics and measurements v snake oil, value!
Silliest price Iâve seen here was for a pair of one metre cables from Angel Acoustics: A$4300!
I just ordered some cryogenically treated fuses - did I make a mistake?
1 Like
Pink fuse from Ted at Synergy research is the best upgrade I ever did to my Lloyds receiver/8-track.
1 Like
Some of those fancy power cords have an integrated filter that the end user does not know is included inside the plug. A know someone here that has measured a power cord and found a filter was used in its assembly.
ASR would have you believe that no additional power filtering is required or needed and that devices already come with the required filtering.
They also say that it will not be an audible result for the better or different no matter the number of additional filters applied because of how the power supplies work. They say it wonât sound better and better and better.
Just like anything else, there is a plottable point on a scale where it should no longer be effective because the noise suppression is doing its job. I get that. Shouldnât measuring or trying something out be required to know whether this point has yet been breached?
I was on the edge of being banned for supposedly believing in snake oil a couple months ago over at ASR, because Danny at GR is now selling Dave Elledgeâs Pi-Audio branded Uber/Ultra/Magic-Buss type products, and that I own and use one, and vouched for the product line. Most of you have seen that I typically do not side with Danny in most cases. However, several of us here at MAC have either used or owned one of these black box AC filter core boxes and appreciated the results. Jeff used one, whether benefitted or not as his opinion was indifferent when asked, based on my rec and that he and Dave were friends. Chuck now owns that one and uses it. Robert Clark sold one to Rory last InDIYana because of his and my past experience at a former dwelling in Lafayette. They donât come up for sale very often. The newer units from Danny/Dave partnership are apparently further developed products that improve upon even what the 3 of us listed above have been using.
Anyway, I was just saying I thought it worked to a minor degree and wasnât keen on opening it up and revealing the inventorâs IP. I was laughed at, told it couldnât work, etc, and had to let them cool down over there after a bit. I find it improves or lowers the noise floor in the room a tad, and just a tad. Robert, Rory, and Chuck agreed with me having used it too.
Do your homework and come to your own conclusions, but too good to be true more oft than not just is.
I will never spend serious money on interconnects.
I agree with Sol Likwitz âwire is wireâ
But I hear a difference between Clarity Caps and Dayton Polys so some have branded me âvoodooâ believer
Somewhat similar, I prefer Transmission Lines over Bass Reflex
I try not to get upset one way or another, but I prefer science
4 Likes
IndeedâŚ
The problem with thisare companies that donât show you ANY data. You canât do the homework without spending $1595.00
You also run into non-technical data that is problematic when analized.
â**The UberBUSS is a no-nonsense, high-performance power filtration unit designed to deliver a clean, neutral AC foundation for serious audio systems. Unlike many power products on the market, the UberBUSS uses filtration only â with no MOVs, surge suppressors, or devices that add noise, color the sound, or restrict current.â
Here is what sticks out to me in no particular order:
ârestrict currentâ-Bare wire restricts current. If there were no components restricting current, then there would be no need for current ratings.**
âPower Factor Correction Network
A dedicated PFC section increases usable power under the curve, improving micro-dynamics, macro-dynamics, transient attack, and overall system responsiveness without limiting current.â
PFC network? So is this passive or active? It would almost have to be active, as they claim .003mH inductance. An active PFC is a switching device. even the effects of an active PFC will have measurable harmonic distortion. The data sheet of the active device will call this out. There is no PERFECT PFC. All PFC has some compromises.
A PFC can only modulate the ac aveform under its original waveform so how can this improve transient response without the ability to add?
âThe UberBUSS is current-limited only by the IEC inlet.
The main filtration core itself can support 40A continuouslyâ
The rating remains 10 Amps at 110V.
I could go on but why? This marketing forces you to guess what you are buying and there is ZERO data to argue with, as everything that looks like a specification doesnât have enough data to verify the claim.
Everything above is what I know from basic EE studies and high school science class.
For giggles I gave the full description to chat gpt and asked âcan you confirm will this make muy sound system sound better?â
âShort answer: it might â but not for the reasons the marketing implies, and not in every system.
Letâs separate whatâs technically plausible from whatâs⌠generously phrased.â
feel free to check my work, everything I said is verifiable.
2 Likes
Iâve always viewed a manufacturerâs lack of data as a lack of integrity when it comes to audio gear.
4 Likes
IME, the LESS sh*t between the driverâs input signal and your ears, the better.
Just taking that perspective has been like leaving a crowded cafe at lunchtime while trying to have a very detailed conversation concerning something of immense importance and, stepping outside in the country and having that conversation FTF within 3 ft.
Clear your minds and listen to your ears/speakers in your own room . . .
Power Factor and all that jazz⌠lol! That fella spewed all sorts of nonsense.
1 Like
I didnât watch the video, is there a rundown someone is willing to give me?
Itâs just a concise, well presented and argued - based on facts and physics - discussion of why claims made about certain products convince people to spend their $$ on stuff for no real benefit. The last item is an interesting discussion about how to set up your turntable, but without spending mega money.
Really, this issue is not lifted to hi fi, but to many consumer products like cars, clothing and accessories, cosmetics, food and wine. Itâs just that the price differences between âgood/sensibleâ and âsnake oilâ in music reproduction products can be so dramatic.
1 Like
It could be the next best putter or driver, in tennis the next best combo of gut and poly strings, cars, audio, it is IMO, all about oneâs passion (real and possibly imagined), but if itâs âworth itâ to you, enjoy regardlessâŚ
The sad thing is there is probably some valid performance in the box if it is a well implemented filter. Just call it what it is sell it on its merrits not BS marketing fluf.
You Clarity Caps folks are getting me real curious. Iâm eyeing up that punchbowl. You said it was grape, right?
Iâll ask generallyâwhat type of speaker would make the differences most apparent? And would you skip them for shunt caps?
1 Like
I donât know what is really in the box. Itâs potted behind an internal wall. I agree the ad (hoc) marketing is over the top and doesnât make any sense. However, it does appear to do something to the sound of the system. I just wish it wasnât so evasive as to what it really does.
Dirk, you need to use a good AMT. They seem to be the most persnickity when it comes to revealing differences.
Now for my recommendations as to what sounds more different from the next w/o spending too much;
Jantzen Standard Zcaps
Jantzen Superior Zcaps
Clarity CSA
Clarity CMR
ASC X387, X386, or X389
MultiCap PPMFX
Solen Fast Caps
IMB/Hovland
Have fun!
Please donât say Mundorf. If you say Mundorf, it ainât happening. LOL
Got some BG Neo3PDRs on the shelf thoâŚ