I suppose it would be totally out of bounds at this point to say that I have gone beyond AC power cords, and found that even in straight flat DC power, I can hear differences in the types of chemical compositions of the batteries being used. Not only does the wire matter, but whether there is a Ni-Cad, Lead Acid, Alkaline, or whatever kind of battery being used. I use DC power for most of my system, and have experimented with different battery types, and believe me, they are audibly different. So, is 12v simply 12v, or is there a difference?
Science is to be used to explain why things happen, not to be used to say that they can't happen because the scientist can't measure them. A real scientist would expand his study and abilities to find out why there is a sonic difference, and not stand on previous ideas that cannot explain the phenomenon. Science is learning, not the refusal to learn. |
Bomarc, I have no problem with science explaining things. I like that. What I repeatedly hear, though, is that either there is no scientific reason for cables sounding different, or that we are all imagining it, or both. If there is some other scientific reason that you are alluding to, I am all ears. I have no quarrel with anyone who can show that there is some difference in inductance or capacitance or whatever, and if that is verifiable and useful, then I am all for it. I only say that I hear differences and am willing to use the product that sounds best to me. If I can gain information that will help me to make decisions in bettering my system, I will welcome that. However, I do feel frustrated, as you seem to be. I am frequently under attack for believing something that I can hear making an improvement in my system. Personally, I really don't care if there is some kind of magic dust in there or something. All I care about is that it makes my system sound better. To me, technology is a means to an end, and not an end unto itself. I don't make cables, I listen to them in my system. The details can be up to the manufacturers. What I want is a good sounding system. And whatever it takes to do that, is what I want.
While we frequently disagree on this subject on this forum, I have no quarrel with you personally. I would like to reach some kind of common ground that we could agree on, and maybe that would yield some good. I have a very simple goal, and that is a good sounding system. I assembled a variety of things that sounded good to me, and that is what counted for me. If technical-type people want to boil all the nuts and bolts down to some kind of essence that will help us all understand and decide, that's great. The only part that irritates me is the part where people tell me I can't hear something that I clearly hear, and claim that some "fact" means that I can't be hearing it. If I am misunderstanding your position, then I apologize. It is also frustrating to be on this side, and commonly be told that I am in some sort of "delusion world". |
Okay Bomarc. I'm on the same page now. Thanks for your point of view. |
Sean, I'm currently using a large capacity lead acid automotive battery with 650 cold cranking amps, located about 24 inches from my amplifier. I have the terminals directly connected to the power input barrier strip on the amp, with 12ga OFC copper stranded wire.
I have not tried any capacitors on the power connections as of yet, but the idea has crossed my mind. I was thinking that since my amp only draws 3.1 amps @ 12vdc at rated power, I figured that the 650 cold cranking amp capacity of the battery could handle that. From my listening observations, this amp really has some balls in the bottom end and dynamics, even though that may sound comical with only a 2 watt SET 45 amp. But it really is true. This amp has alot of punch, and it makes those Lowthers stand right up and get with it.
Another thing that I have done, is to use a separate battery for each of my components, so that there is no modulation of the power supply of one component by the draws of the other. This seems to make a difference. Individual power supplies take the idea of "dedicated AC lines" further into the isolation of each components power supply totally from the others. I like the effect of it. It's clean.
I'm still working on doing whatever I can think of to ensure the cleanest, unencumbered power to my components as I can possibly do. I think that the flat DC, with no intermodulation between components, full isolation, and high current availability has improved my sound. |
My question would be that after performing a test like described above, and having the possible result of no measurable difference, but they still sound different, what do you do then? Do you conclude that the testing methods are flawed, or that your hearing perception is flawed? This is what this subject really comes down to, isn't it?
My position is that if you want to spend the evening running test signals through your power cords into an analyzer, pick the one that measures best. If you want to spend the evening listening to music, pick the one that sounds the best. I really think that this simple approach is the best one. |
I went to your first link, and found no superconductors that operate over 140-160 degrees Kelvin, even under high pressure. Room temp is 295 Kelvin. Another of your links, Futurescience.com has superconductor kits that state this:
"All superconductor kits require liquid nitrogen. Do not order these superconductor kits unless you know how to obtain and handle liquid nitrogen." Several other of your links don't work.
I cut-and-pasted an article here from
www.sciencenet.org.uk/database/Physics/0003/p01422d.html
Here's the article from ScienceNet.(copyright 2003)
Question:
Is it true that superconductors have been developed that work at room temperature, but they are not being used so as not to upset the global economy?
We contacted a number of experts regarding your question on superconductivity. Here’s what they have to say:
“Well, no! The maximum critical temperature is still around 120K, with no real sign of increasing. Any scientist would be guaranteed instant fame and fortune, including a Nobel Prize, for discovering such a superconductor. No one would keep it quiet out of a (misplaced?) concern for the global economy. There is no example in history and many counter examples. Besides, it is not obvious that it would have such an effect!”
“The highest temperature superconductor is a mercury based cuprate with a Tc of about 140K rising to 160K under high pressure.
Practical superconductors using the new high temperature superconductors are all based around YBa2Cu3O7- and Ytrium based cuprate with a Tc of 90K. This is because enough material science work has been done to be able to manufacture wires and thin films which carry large currents.
These are being used already in microwave applications for high Q resonators- particular for the communication industry. They are also being used in wires for some power applications.
Along side the development of high temperature superconductors has been the development of low cost refrigeration units using the Joule-Kelvin effect which can cool large volumes to below 100K....this is to make the superconductors economically viable.
If there is a high temperature superconductor with Tc at room temperature there would be no reason to keep it a secret unless you were developing it for applications and wanted to keep it under wraps until you had solved the immense problems of turning a new material into a useful material.”
“Before 1986, the 'record high' for a superconducting phase transition temperature was 23.2 K (-249.8°C) for a material based on Nb3Ge (in 1973).
Since 1986, the record highest reached superconducting transition temperature has been ~135 K (-138°C) for a Mercury based material. To date this temperature has only increased to a maximum of ~158 K (-115°C). However, this temperature was achieved by placing the material under a large pressure.
So called commercial high-temperature superconductors (based on YBa2Cu3O7) generally operate at a transition temperature around ~100 K (-173°C). If you consider room temperature to be 295 K (22°C), you can see that at present superconductors are far from the room temperature operating regime.”
And finally, at least one of our experts has a sense of humour:
“I have nothing to add except the temptation to say that these superconductors were used by Elvis Presley to kill President Kennedy!”
END
Perhaps I'll need a few more of those links you have. Or how about just a cut-and-pasted article for all of us to read about this significant breakthrough in technology.
PS - I am aware of the new diamond/oxygen process which is currently not fully proven, but being looked at.
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for improvements and new technology. But claiming room temp superconductors for cables needs to be verified, for me to accept these claims. I'm even willing to accept near-room temp superconductors, or room-temp near-superconductors. Show us something.
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A web search shows no current technology that supports room temperature superconductors, even in lab conditions. Maybe you should take a few thousand feet of it to New Jersey and save them the cooling bill. |
Ok, have fun. If people are that gullible, you have every right to hook them. If the cable sounds better than others, then it will stand on its own merits regardless of the technology. |
