Well, I've tried it and it took the body out of the music.
The airy openess is do to the fact that it thined out the notes from top to bottom.
I used it on just the CD players IEC and it was like going from a lush tube to a bright tube. Not quite as dramatic, but I had tuned my system to just left of neutral with just the right amount of body and this took it to pure neutral with a thinning of the body.
My room is nicely treated and I can hear very subtle differences. If my system was just a bit warmer and I was trying to get it closer to neutral, then it would really be a cheap way of doing it.
I didn't get any more dynamics, the bass got tighter because it got leaner. I guess my system was right were I wanted it to be.
It does make a difference, but critical listening confirms it does thin out the music just a tad. |
Great results using 3M Anti-Static Electronic Eqipment Cleaner spray
(Office Depot). Treat both the inside and outside of the coupler,
applying spray and wiping off well, making sure to keep contact with the body of the the unit. I also use the spray occasionally on the rack, equipment and cables. I also like 3M's Scotch Cd Laser Lens Cleaner... |
while the spray is still in your hand, apply some to a clean
cloth and wipe the wall behind your speakers...
imstant energy to the sound, detail, too. |
I just tried this on both ends my Shunyata Python CX from the Acoustic Revive RTP-2 to the Krell SACD Standard Mk. III. Astonishing! Much quieter and cleaner sound, nothing exaggerated, just smooth, deep, and flowing. Got the copper sleeves from Handy Tru-Value. The 1 1/2 " diameter sleeve perfectly fits the Shunyata ($5.99 each). I couldn't resist, and fitted out the Audience PowerChords on my Home Theater as well - another perfect fit (Oppo, Samsung Plasma, Emotiva Pre-Pro). Fabulous results, and no downsides. Thanks the the original poster and the early enthusiasts. Really worthwhile improvement. |
I feel that this thread really needs to be revived. All I can say is wow! I came across this thread through a link in Jim Smith's quarter notes (which come with Jim Smith's Get Better Sound DVD's... which I also highly recommend). I bought a couple of the sleeves (1 1/2 " plumber unions at Menard's for about 4 and a half bucks each). I had them sitting in a bag for a couple of weeks before I thought I might just as well try one on the ICE to my Sony XA-5400es player. Well everything got better...small details that weren't there before, layer and depth to soundstage, smoother and everything has more weight and air. I now have them on both ends of cd player and one each on IEC end of PS Audio PPP and integrated amp. I am stunned at what I now hear. The whole room seems to be alive now with music. I am a big believer in tweaks as I have incorporated many in my system with very good results but this is off the scale especially considering the low low cost. I can assure you that I wasn't expecting much if anything! I almost forgot my cables are 3 Juice II power cords by Wywires. Please give it a try there's a good chance this may be the most cost effective tweak you have ever tried. I feel as if I have upgraded my speakers and cd player for less than $20.00. I also noticed that the the system plays louder than it would at the same setting on the volume conrtol on the amp than it did before. |
Thanks for reviving this thread, Tuffy, because I was unaware of this tweak. As a compulsive tweaker, I had to try it. I'm glad I did. It works. At least in my system it does. I didn't actually use plumbing couplers. I molded my own sleeves out of copper and steel sheets. Here's what I did... 1. Molded a sleeve out of 24 gauge copper. 2. Molded a sleeve out of 22 gauge ferrous steel. 3. Sandwiched the two sleeves together. 4. Attached a braided ground strap to the copper/steel sleeve. 5. Attached the braided ground strap to the equipment chassis. I did this for... 1. The IEC inlet of my Shunyata power conditioner. 2. The IEC inlet of my Meridian dac/preamp. 3. The male plug of the Meridian's power cord, which plugs into the power conditioner. I haven't tried putting sleeves in any other locations, though I plan to when I get a chance. Here's what I heard: Lower noise floor, more resolution, tighter bass, less glare in the treble. All of these effects were slight, but perceptible. I'm currently using all shielded power cables, so I'm not sure if the results would be similar with unshielded power cables. For $25 in materials, it's a very nice little improvement. Bryon |
I have had great response using Wright's Anti-Tarnish Silver Polish.
First, I cleaned all metal surfaces on interconnects and power cords.
I used a q-tip and couldn't believe the dirt that came off.
A smooth cloth was used to buff each end.
The sound is great. Clean, clear, no negatives.
I prefer this to previous treatments with Kontak and
Sibilant contact enhancer.
Coincidentally, I thought about adding some copper sleeves to
my system. While I was staring at the Wright's container... how about
polishing my existing copper sleeves? Yes, you will see and hear the
difference. (I use two sleeves at each end of every connection.)
You must use this product!
I picked mine up at a supermarket, and their website has a list
of where you can buy it! $5. A great discovery. |
Could someone direct me to the Marantz video of connecting the ground wire to the wall receptacle?
I have an Esoteric X-03 with a ground pin.I have no hum issues, just looking for improved performance.
I once had a hum in a turntable set up and running a wire from it's ground to the screw on the faceplate of the wall receptacle did the trick.
Suggested it to a friend with a humming Sunfire sub and it also worked.
My concern is that the cd player is on a separate dedicated line than the wall recptacle.
Will any harm/benefit be done with such a grounding scheme? |
Ozzy,
Have you tried a copper sleeve on the IEC into your power conditioner? |
Sabai, No I haven't. But, I will... |
Ozzy, I think corroded copper looks awful. |
Tbg,
Before it corrodes copper oxidizes. This can be cleaned very easily. |
Sabai, yes you can use tomato soup. My point was to tease Ozzy. |
Tbg,
Teasing Ozzy is fair game. After all, we need something to break the seriousness here. |
Tbg, the nice thing about this tweak is you can update it to a newer model for just a few bucks.
Unlike some cable upgrades that require $$$. |
I just put the copper sleeve over the Mad Scientist Neo Power cord that plugs into my PS Audio P10.
I'll be...better video and audio. |
Utterly failed my Law of Efficacy; a real waste of time tweak. About once a year or so I try such a tweak to revisit my standards of improvement of a system. And as would be suspected, this seeming wondrous trick failed miserably.
I tried not just the expensive copper unions, but also galvanized couplings;, and frankly, if anything I felt the galvanized coupling at 1/4 the price was better.
But, both seemed to have not an efficacious, bur rather a deleterious effect, though very slight. To me the effect was more like a power filtration device, which would hurt the micro dynamics, not improve the sound overall, imo. It reminded me of why I eschew power and cable filters, because to my ear they kill the extreme nuances of the performance.
My judgment: A waste of time as it brings no fantastic change to the rig - far beneath my criteria for an efficacious change - and if anything, kills a degree or two of micro dynamics. I would not recommend this tweak to anyone, as one's money is far better spent being put toward a component or cable.
To contrast this experience, after I did the coupling/union test I swapped one power cord, on my Wells Audio Innamorata Amp (reviewed for Dagogo.com). The effect was profound in comparison, immediately noticeable across the board from tone to dynamics to detail. No "critical" listening, i.e. straining to tell the difference, was necessary, but it was obvious, the exact opposite of the copper sleeve test. The cable change was efficacious, the sleeve not.
Imo tweaks like this will soon bring the audiophile to frustration, as they will be limiting their rig with insipid changes, thinking they really have it right when they are far from a superior sound, which could be had by making serious changes. :( |
Douglas_schroeder, I sort of agree. I find that if you hear anything, you have inferior power cables. |
You guys are never short of "your opinions".
Still, while you guys rave about $15,000+ power cords, this tweak can be tried for $2 bucks. |
Douglas_schroeder,
How much "waste of time" could this little experiment consume? And why would this "be suspected"? Since you "eschew" power and cable filters does this include all Bybee products and similar products from other companies that many people report improve the SQ of their system? You state "one's money is far better spent being put toward a component or cable". How much can a 50-cent tweak contribute to the purchase of a component or cable? How can it possibly hurt for folks to try this out to see if this "insipid change" works for them? |
I agree Sabai-it's an experiment that costs almost nothing to try.
Whether it works or not for everyone is not the point.
It's whether you like the effect or you don't in your set up.
Never trying it and saying it won't work proves nothing to yourself or any one.
There are some people who refuse to try anything outside of their comfort zone.
I know people in this hobby who refuse to upgrade their wires,yet continue to swap gear,then get disillusioned because everything sounds the same!
They refuse to believe that their inferior wires have anything to do with it.
The mindset that wire is just wire,that fuses and power conditioning,power cords,etc, don't matter is entrenched in a lot of people.
The people who profess to know all the laws of physics and electronics and are only too willing to let us know that they do.
Yet, in the end, they refuse to do what any scientist worth his salt would do.
Try the experiment.
I've tried the copper thing, and now I'm experimenting with magnets and a combination of magnets and copper on my power cords which are all Shunyata Annacondas.
Does this make a difference?
Nothing that is easily heard as a profound improvement.
But no nasty effect either.
It does no harm as far as I can hear,maybe decreasing some residual noise.
If my experiments cost me several thousand dollars I would be upset.
But spending thousands of dollars on new speakers or electronics and hearing no difference either,would be just as upsetting.
And that goes on a lot.
But there can be reasons for this,like retaining the same cheap inferior speaker wires and not trying anything better.
The truth is that it was fun to try, cost next to nothing and does no harm.
Now had I lesser power cords, perhaps there would be a more noticeable conclusion one way or the other.
But as it is,this is something anyone can try, and you don't need a masters in electrical engineering or soldering skills to try.
It's harmless and you can always go back to normal with not loss of anything but your time and a few bucks.
For those who have heard positive results, then bravo.
Don't stop here, keep moving and trying things that"shouldn't make a difference".
Getting the most pleasure from the gear that you have now should be the ultimate musical experience.
Not running after the next A rated product you've heard about.
Remember, those A rated products get those ratings in systems that have been mostly maxed out with proper wires, and power and stands and room treatment.
In this hobby you have two choices.
Enjoy the music from a system as it came out of the box and into the wall.
Or enjoy more of the same music from the same system that has been optimised.
If music really matters to you,I think you will choose the second choice. |
Lacee,
I agree with you totally about cables and wires and power conditioning. I have gone through quite a collection of wires and cables and power conditioners made by a dozen or so well-reputed companies. IMO, cables and wires and power conditioning are the life blood of a good system.
I have experimented with magnets for years. You need to find the kinds of magnets that work for you and the locations in the system that improve SQ. I have had some good results with this. But you can definitely overdo magnets. So you need to take one step at a time. It is all about experimenting and testing.
Regarding experimenting you stated, "It's harmless and you can always go back to normal with not loss of anything but your time and a few bucks." This is also my approach. I have done lots of experiments over the years. Most of what I have done cost me next to nothing. Occasionally, I have come up with a winner. So, the risk/reward ratio has definitely been in my favor through the years.
Regarding those "A rated products", they are usually replaced by A+ rated products within 12-24 months. And they are often driven by reviewers whose bias is not always in the best interests of the prospective buyer, if you get my drift.
You hit the nail on the head with the word "optimized". Most people end up with a plug-and-play mindset. But if one steps out of the box and gets a bit creative and adventurous the SQ that emerges may turn out to be head and shoulders above what it would otherwise have been. |
I think Digital Equipment is the best place to try the Copper Sleeve.
And... it probably matters the type of IEC plug on the cable. Most are only made out of some form of plastic.
But, the higher end companies like Furutech or Oyaide use plugs/IEC made out of solid aluminum. Gee, I wonder why?
Next, I may experiment with using Carbon Fiber either inside or outside the copper sleeve. |
Sabai, I imagine Doug found (note past tense) it a waste of time, as did I. |
Tbg,
No problem. The problem is when you generalize this to include everyone's systems. |
Sabai, I have no problem either unless you generalize to suggest that everyone will be advantaged. |
Tbg,
It is obvious from the comments that everyone will not have the same results. |
Sabai, so what is the probability of success? And who is most likely to have it? |
So, I just inserted a thin piece of carbon fiber inside the copper sleeve... |
I suppose I'm the only one using 3M AB5100S. |
Though I had high hopes for the carbon fiber insert, to me, it was not an improvement. |
What do we think is being done with the copper around the IEC? I bought a leakage meter, and found that I had none before and after I installed copper around this connection. I heard nothing either. |
TBG,
There is defiantly a difference with using the copper sleeve.
I cant believe you can't detect it with all of your expensive equipment. I would say it is providing a shield around the IEC similar to what Furutech or Oyaide does with there Hi End power/IEC's that utilize aluminum and carbon fiber.
Perhaps with the magnetism from your HI Fidelity cables it is minimizing the effect.
But, I sometimes think with the copper sleeve over the IEC it accents the treble a little too much. |
Ozzy, I tried this about four years ago. I gave up but have since used my meter to assess leakage. I have none. |
Ozzy,
I'm getting a nice improvement on my DAC and transport. |
Ozzy, Thank you very much for this tweak. Bought several from Lowes Hardware and Wow. Smoother more relaxed sound, without sacrificing detail and even improved overall soundstage a little. Used on iec at power cond. ,both ends of CD power cord , power supply of pre-amp, and iec of phono pre-amp. Also opening and closing your CD tray twice before playing made a significant difference (apparently improves reading of disc). |
Swinfrey, Sometimes too many of them will dull the sound. But, do try them everywhere.
ozzy |
Great results with a single Super Sleeve!
I "stretched " a 3.25" copper sleeve so that it became
oval. It could now encircle both plugs on a single
wall outlet.
One plug on a dedicated line (SR black outlet) contains the cord
to a SR Powercell 12 and a High Fidelity 0.5 magnetic wave guide.
I used 3 small cork rectangles: one in between the plugs
and the others between the plugs and the body of
the sleeve (top and bottom). There is an additional sleeve over the SR cord, that is easily fitting inside the Super Sleeve.
I recently treated the wires of the outlet with Total Contact,
and applied it to the face of the outlet, and the outlet cover.
I am hearing a more relaxed, natural presentation
of music, with no fatigue. Highly recommended. |
sgordon1,
Thanks for resurrecting this old thread.
As I ended up purchasing better power cords and/or added Furutech NCF fittings I found that the copper sleeve is no longer necessary. But for those power cords still using plastic type fittings the copper sleeve just might make that great improvement.
Anyway you can post a picture of the final result?
ozzy
|
Ozzy, just try it!
(The $3495 SR cord is no slouch, material-wise...)
How many times have you been pleasantly
surprised by experimenting?
Conversely, has a "sure thing" ever disappointed? |
sgordon1,
So are you saying to try the copper sleeve over the Furutech NCF?
I am a little confused about the super sleeve and the cork.
Can you post a picture on your system page?
ozzy
|
Great results placing small pieces of foam on top of sleeves
and/or inside of sleeves. I use something like headphone pads (covers).
A fit that is too snug (pinching wires inside a sleeve) can dull the sound.
As Ron Hedrick of Marigo Audio has said, "It's all about the details."
Also try pieces of foam on top of components and electronics like FEQ and
Schumann Resonators. I also use Agora Magic Hexa (tweekgeek) in some
applications... yes, there is magic here. |
