Superb post, Philphans!!
I don't pretend to get the science behind it, but I do know from experience IC's do make a difference. I don't know that I'd notice the change if someone snuck the original ICs back on my gear, but I know for a fact that I hear a difference between them and the ones I use and the other sets I bought and don't use. The differences are small, subtle, but decidedly audible. I tend to discount the hyperbolic claims that an IC suddenly brought out a gigantic soundstage or made the system mesmerisingly involving or any of that, but if someone tells me that there is less grain in the treble, or better definition in the bass, or some similarly reasonable change in their swap, I can believe it. For the more grandiose claims, I mostly figure it was probably time to clean and tighten the contacts (it can be quite astounding the difference that can make!) and a new set of IC's were just part of the deal.
As to power, well, I haven't gotten to that point in the progression of my audiophilia yet, but I don't preclude the possibility. Electricity is a wacky thing, capable of popping up in the most amusing and haphazard places and ways. The best I can manage right now is a dedicated circuit and a Monster strip (only my oldest amp has non-stock PC, and that actually looks more like somebody built it on the weekend using spare parts from a job site than a proper PC). As to what the heck is going on when that public utility power slams its way into my transformers, I suspect I'd actually rather not know, but since I want my tranformers to do the best they can, it makes sense to me to make it as easy as possible for them by providing plenty o clean juice. My opinion is that this is one area where you get what you pay for - good gear has better transformers, etc. Could be completely wrong, but then, I have an amp that makes much better music with its upgrades than it did stock. Wonder why?
The only objection I have is in pricing this stuff; I just don't believe it's based on sonics at all. Obviously, it can't be in R & D; that would mean a science based reason would exist for whatever properties manufacturers claim for their cables, and few if any of them try suggesting that seriously. So it must be in materials and processes - except that pure gold cables wouldn't cost what some of these outfits are charging for copper/silver/alloy wire. So I'm guessing that marketing probably accounts for quite a chunk - and that's something I do my damndest to avoid paying for.
In any event, if it sounds good to you, buy it and use it. If it doesn't, please don't sell it to me!
chas
I don't pretend to get the science behind it, but I do know from experience IC's do make a difference. I don't know that I'd notice the change if someone snuck the original ICs back on my gear, but I know for a fact that I hear a difference between them and the ones I use and the other sets I bought and don't use. The differences are small, subtle, but decidedly audible. I tend to discount the hyperbolic claims that an IC suddenly brought out a gigantic soundstage or made the system mesmerisingly involving or any of that, but if someone tells me that there is less grain in the treble, or better definition in the bass, or some similarly reasonable change in their swap, I can believe it. For the more grandiose claims, I mostly figure it was probably time to clean and tighten the contacts (it can be quite astounding the difference that can make!) and a new set of IC's were just part of the deal.
As to power, well, I haven't gotten to that point in the progression of my audiophilia yet, but I don't preclude the possibility. Electricity is a wacky thing, capable of popping up in the most amusing and haphazard places and ways. The best I can manage right now is a dedicated circuit and a Monster strip (only my oldest amp has non-stock PC, and that actually looks more like somebody built it on the weekend using spare parts from a job site than a proper PC). As to what the heck is going on when that public utility power slams its way into my transformers, I suspect I'd actually rather not know, but since I want my tranformers to do the best they can, it makes sense to me to make it as easy as possible for them by providing plenty o clean juice. My opinion is that this is one area where you get what you pay for - good gear has better transformers, etc. Could be completely wrong, but then, I have an amp that makes much better music with its upgrades than it did stock. Wonder why?
The only objection I have is in pricing this stuff; I just don't believe it's based on sonics at all. Obviously, it can't be in R & D; that would mean a science based reason would exist for whatever properties manufacturers claim for their cables, and few if any of them try suggesting that seriously. So it must be in materials and processes - except that pure gold cables wouldn't cost what some of these outfits are charging for copper/silver/alloy wire. So I'm guessing that marketing probably accounts for quite a chunk - and that's something I do my damndest to avoid paying for.
In any event, if it sounds good to you, buy it and use it. If it doesn't, please don't sell it to me!
chas