Can a change in negative feedback sound better?


Every once in a while I think up something to help improve my listening experience. Sometimes it doesn't involve an outlay of cash but just a swapping out of something minor, or adding something I took out.

The last thing that greatly improved my system was going back to some old Mapleshade Helix speaker wire. The improvements were so good that I went and got the Double Helix version and was quite satisfied with the results.

Just for the heck of it, I dug through my discards and got a Dakiom feedback stabilizer that I quit using. I got it some time ago when I had a different amp and cables and it tamed a bright high end. After buying my Burson, I didn't need it any more since using it was a draw, at best, when trying to determine whether or not it had any positive effects.

Well (here it comes), with the Mapleshades in place of the Zu cabling, inserting it made quite the difference, especially in the lower mids to the the bass. It was like everything was cleaned up and clearer. I thought it was great the way it was and was only experimenting with the Dakiom device.
Bass was tighter, more detailed and nuanced, making the bass seem to go lower but I think that that part is an illusion thanks to the added detail and refinement.

The effects were beneficial all around as well but most evident in the lower regions. Can anyone explain why changing the negative feedback at the amps speaker connections would do that? The only variable were the cables.

All the best,
Nonoise
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Showing 1 response by nonoise

Al,

As usual, you cut right through the hype and get to the heart of the matter. I must admit that what they claimed about curing negative feedback effects had me wondering since all of that kind of circuitry occurs inside the amp so how could it work after the fact at the amps speaker terminals was beyond my understanding.

As to the possible dangers of using it, I'm now on guard but still feel safe about it since I've used it off and on for a couple of years now with no deleterious effects. In fact, they were always positive until I got the Zu cables, so I stopped using them until now. My newer Mapleshades are past broken in so I don't count them as a variable.

Your first point about the effects of overshoot, ringing, phase shifts, etc. I believe to be, as you mention, in the ultra sonic range or RF as I can detect no negative effects whatsoever but as mentioned, a very positive one on all accounts. Let's hope that is the case here.

I think your second point about how it just may be having an unintended but positive affect in shielding RFI that may be entering through the amps speaker connectors may be it. It uses three connectors (all banana) which connect to both positive and one negative speaker terminal on the amp. I wonder if just putting anything with a banana input would have the same effect as long as it terminated in something innocuous, like the "pigtails" that others have used at their speakers terminals. Those who used them have reported positive sonic results.

As for A/B results, it can drive one nuts but I still hear an improvement, clarity wise. What I get is a cleaner, more focused image which adds to the realism. That's the best way I can put it. I can even hear longer trailing off of sound as a song ends. It's not a hugely significant improvement, but one none the less and it adds to my enjoyment. It just sounds more realistic even as I type this with my head turned away from the music. In fact, when something nice comes on, I've left this seat to go listen to it in the sweet spot.

I think what I'll do next after exhausting myself taking them in and out is to leave them in for some time and then take them out to see if it changes anything for the negative.

As always, thanks for your insight. You're like an anchor of sanity that keeps us from floating away in a sea of sonic uncertainty.

All the best,
Nonoise