My cat tore up my Virtual Dynamics Power 3...

[c0mfortably_numb]

Originally Posted by Akathisia

Someone should volunteer to take this cable in, replace the wire and connectors with top quality units, refill the tube with a non-conductive material (I would feel much safer), and send it to someone who has a 6th Anniversary Power 3 for review (I would actually like to send it to Markl, I believe he would be the best candidate for neutrality).

I think there are a few proponents of VD cables here who could give an unbiased review. If I happen into any extra money anytime soon, I will order some parts and whip up this tasty acoustic delight myself.

This post is entirely serious. Please don't rip this post apart.

Beach sand should be neutral, and may even increase the "airyness" in the sound stage

[IPodPJ]

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik

Try grounding the tinfoil and see what happens. Not joking; if the foil is picking up EMI, grounding it might lead to further changes. Shouldn't hurt anything, either.

Ok. I will.

Actually, I think thats what the foil might be doing. Just like the magnets on the cable are supposed to create a field that accelerates the electron flow, I believe the following could be happening:

1) By wrapping the foil from magnet to magnet, it is widening the field somehow and accelerating the electron flow even further.

More likely:
2) By wrapping the foil from magnet to magnet, the stray EMI all around the cables are gathering in a field around the cable, accelerating the electron flow via magnetic induction. (There was a recent article in Popular Science about Wireless electricity using magnetic induction at a given frequency.) If this is the case, depending on the levels of EMI floating around you might experience variable results during your listening session.

The workaround for future generations of cable:
If in fact #2 of the above is what's happening, it would make sense why a certain cable company has power supplies attached to their cables. This would provide the benefit of the foil without the EMI uncertainty factor.

[infinitesymphony]

Wouldn't a properly shielded cable have the same (or better) effect compared to wrapping tin-foil around relatively unshielded wires?

[IPodPJ]

Originally Posted by infinitesymphony

Wouldn't a properly shielded cable have the same (or better) effect compared to wrapping tin-foil around relatively unshielded wires?

Well I would assume the Master LE 2.0 is properly shielded.
And the foil dramatically enhances it, possibly by counteracting the effects of the shielding if it is in fact pulling EMI into it or using magnetic inductance to achieve the results.

Just guesses, I have no idea what is happening, only the end result.

One other addition to the sonic benefits that I've noticed: instrument decay is incredible. You feel like your listening to analog, not digital.

[akwok]

Subscribing to a legendary thread.

[Edwood]

LOL, how did I miss this thread?

Anyways a few serious comments before I start posting pics of pretzels...

#1. Re: The Garden Hose.
If I'm seeing it correctly, it's not actually garden hose. Looks like Reinforced Polyurethane Tubing to me. Which is used in everything from the food industry to certain chemicals. You can buy it pretty much at any hardware store. But it does cost more than simple irrigation hose.

Urebrade® Reinforced Polyurethane Tubing - US Plastic Corporation



#2. Re: Strain Relief.
This pic alarms me the most.


If the OP hasn't closed it up yet can you remove the wires from the strain relief and see if the insulation has been broken through to the bare conductors? Whether or not this cable would even pass UL certification, I do not know, but I wouldn't personally like my power wires to have the hot and neutral lines crushed next to each other, that's a short circuit and fire waiting to happen. Although it's difficult to see in the pic. I would prefer that the hot and neutral lines be farther away from each other in the strain relief clamp, with at least the ground line in between them.

#3. Re: UL Listing.

UL listing, much like USDA meat ratings is a voluntary certification. It is not required by law. (although the USDA meat rating may not be a good comparison because it refers to food quality, not just safety.) Just because a product is not UL listed does not mean it is inherently unsafe. However some insurance policies may not cover damages caused by fires from non UL listed components.

What is UL listing?
Underwriters Laboratories - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

#3. Re: Acoustic Chef's responses in this thread.

I think you could have handled your responses better in this thread. Sure there are some pretty heated, directed, and even downright insulting remarks in this thread, but in the end you have done your company and your products a disservice by slinging the mud around as well here. I choose not to get involved in a lot of cable discussions like this one, but this thread has stood out quite a bit.

-Ed

[jgonino]

Edwood has spoken!

Thanks for summing everything up for us Ed, it was really getting crazy in here.

[Acoustic Chef]

Originally Posted by jgonino

Edwood has spoken!

Thanks for summing everything up for us Ed, it was really getting crazy in here.

Yep, fun fun fun..

Now that the water's calm, you have any questions about our cables and their designs, feel free.

[IPodPJ]

I'm still mezmerized by this "tinfoil turkey neck mod". (The bend in the cable looks like a turkey neck. ) I can't take my headphones off.

Did you try this yet, Chef?

I'll take pics tomorrow. I was too busy experimenting and listening to take them off my equipment to photograph them. But they look like what you'd expect cables to look like wrapped in tinfoil.

[Acoustic Chef]

Yup
Check it out.



Copper tin braid grounded over mag with dialectic and SUPER ferrite shields.