[Patrick82]

I have tried Nordost Valhalla 44cm, I cut it to 15cm and got more bass and detail. I tried Nordost Valkyrja 27cm and got more low-level detail than 15cm Valhalla, but it sounded too warm. I tried 15cm Valhalla + 27cm Valkyrja combination and got the best flavor but with less low-level detail. I needed more low-level detail so I cut it again and ended up with 7cm Valkyrja, but it was still too warm and veiled in the complex passages. Then I removed the Valkyrja completely and soldered the connectors to each other, the veil of the complex passages was gone! The layering is crazy and it sounds very thick, strong and transparent!

 

[robm321]

HEEE'SS BAAACKKKK

 

[Taikero]

...So you're saying your original cut of 15 cm is what you ended up with in the end since you cut out the Valkyrja?

 

[Patrick82]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taikero /img/forum/go_quote.gif ...So you're saying your original cut of 15 cm is what you ended up with in the end since you cut out the Valkyrja?

After experimenting with cables I ended up with 7cm Valkyrja, it gave the most bass and low-level detail, the shorter the better! Then I removed the Valkyrja and got more of everything. A soft wire in the signal path softens and veils the sound, with round conductors it is easy to hear how different thicknesses sound different, I think it has to do with vibration. Connectors are also round but they are stiff so the vibration doesn't affect it as much.

I'm using four Magix levitation feet under EMU0404 USB and four Magix under T-Amp, they are separately isolated from vibrations...it sounded muddy when they were on top of the same isolation board.

 

[CrazyRay]

 

[Patrick82]

I'm getting the most detailed and transparent sound than ever before, and from $200 source and $39 amp! The low-level complex passages are crazy clear! The bass is bigger and stronger than ever before!

I have owned dCS Elgar Plus DAC, dCS Verdi Encore, PS Audio GCC-100, Krell KAV-500i. They are nothing compared to laptop + EMU0404 USB + T-Amp! The shortest signal path with the lowest wattage was always the best, anything else colored the sound.

I have found that the amp with the longest signal path sounded the muddiest. I removed the ICEpower modules from the GCC-100 amp and the shortest interconnect I was able to use was 15cm. T-Amp is better, 0 cm!

 

[PhilS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick82 /img/forum/go_quote.gif The layering is crazy and it sounds very thick, strong and transparent!

Something (or someone) is crazy alright.

 

[Maxvla]

Patrick, I'm disappointed. I clicked on this thread expecting that you had developed completely wireless power and signal cables.

You need to step it up!

 

[Uncle Erik]

Patrick, I think its time you built your own point-to-point tube amp. That will get your leads as short as possible.

 

[n3rdling]

I was gonna say the same UE Might as well go all the way and solder your headphone cable directly to the amp output.

 

[Maxvla]

Images of Patrick hanging off power poles with his hard soldered gear connecting his ears to raw power lines.. drifting into my head.. the power pole of course would be supported by Magix feet in case of earthquake vibrations.

 

[poo]

Awesome Patrick! Not the neatest soldering job I've seen... but at least you're having fun!

Are you a member of the trade yet?

 

[Patrick82]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maxvla /img/forum/go_quote.gif Images of Patrick hanging off power poles with his hard soldered gear connecting his ears to raw power lines.. drifting into my head.. the power pole of course would be supported by Magix feet in case of earthquake vibrations.

You mean this thread? Shocking!! - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Shorter signal path for power cables gives better sound as well, I have made many experiments. The tweak below was not me, I don't live in USA.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopPop /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was sitting in the living room with some of my roommates last night and we heard a huge *BANG* come from outside, and a bright flash through the windows. We thought that lighting had struck nearby, but then we noticed that there was still light flashing from somewhere outside. So we stepped out and saw this right across the street: 72,000 volts... burned a hole right through the concrete... still don't know how it happened!

 

[Patrick82]

Quote:

Originally Posted by n3rdling /img/forum/go_quote.gif I was gonna say the same UE Might as well go all the way and solder your headphone cable directly to the amp output.

I have had the headphone cable soldered directly to the PCB of PS Audio GCC-100 amp. Bypassing the amp binding posts gave a huge improvement in detail and bass. I had also bypassed all fuses and connectors. I could not tweak it any better, the signal path was still too long! T-Amp is my new reference amp only because the signal path is so short. Even with connectors, it's better than anything else I have tried.

 

[krmathis]

Well, but those are interconnects as well. Even if they are insane short...