Copper Sleeve over IEC


There has been several threads on AA about putting a 1 1/2" copper union (coupler) over the IEC on the CD Player, Preamp, Amp.

Well I tried it...

Anyone else give it a try?
128x128ozzy
First off let me say I have no electrical background and I am not DIY (soldering and the like) kind of guy either so my thoughts are worth what you are paying for them...

I can see how the copper sleeve could stop airborne nasties from entering in at the IEC opening but a noisy cord like the one I have when the copper sleeve is in place isn't necessarily stopping anything from entering. It may only be acting as a shield on outbound noise from being detected. The noise traveling along the cable may be going right into the unit and the noise is less audible at the copper sleeve because its blocking it from coming out. It may still be blocking anything more from going in (which is a good thing) but it isn't necessarily blocking this noise from going into the unit. Something that may block something from entering may be just as effective blocking something from coming out as well. I still think insulated cords may be the best cord to use this tweak on.

Well thats the extent of my technical BS and I defer this to people more knowledgeable in these matters...
Yes briefly (but without listening for any audible changes) and as I said earlier I "measured" the outcome using my home made device (AM radio) that in fact when the copper sleeve is in place it reduces the noise at the terminations.

But my point is that while the copper sleeve reduces this "noise" it may not be negating it - it may only stop it from escaping and that's why I don't hear it...

Maybe my home made tool is inadequate for this exercise?

I'm all for tweaks, especially cheap ones, but if the design or desired outcome of this tweak is to stop "crap" from entering whatever component its being used on I still say the best cord is an insulated cord because if an uninsulated cord picks up anything through the cord itself it could be transmitted along the cord and into the gear and the copper sleeve would not stop this from occurring as far as I can see. If the design is to ensure that no power escapes at the terminations (although I don't know if that's possible or even a negative consequence) then I guess it works as it is quiet for my test as well.

If anyone out there has the proper tool to measure this they should try and do so with an uninsulated cord as well. If you hear noise all along the cord and then its silent at the IEC and with the copper in place it may very well be because the copper blocks you from hearing it but it doesn't prove its "killing" it off.

Maybe I am just missing the point or not expressing myself clearly enough...
Chrissan,
You may mistaken EMI and RFI. While RFI MUST need a ground wire to disepate its energy... like the lightning rod, the MAGNETIC energy /force can be controled by creating barriers, distant, or demagnectized equipments. Hooking up a ground wire to demagnitize the magnet energy is not an effective tool.

RGD,
I totally agree with you. How the copper coupler can take in effect right at the female plug while my whole entire power cord if it isn't shielded and fully exposed?
But I think this tweak makes sense and has a potential to improve sound. Everytime we can control either very much, alot , or just a little of EMI and/or RFI, it is a benefit to perfection the audio sound.
Disregard the fact that many of our power cables are not fully shielded, if this copper coupler tweak actually works in theory, then if I may, I can exagerate it as the power conditioner working concept. Which means it can analize then stablize the un-filtered and un-stabled electricity (current, voltage, and hz) from the main source ( elect. Company). See? All the power lines are not shielded but we, as audiophiles, still working hard to find ways to go around it.
In this hobby, I PERSONALLY admire to ones that continuosly
finding/hunting for ways to maximize their mid-end systems than others who spend $20K to $50K for a pair of speakers and knowing nothing about technicality.
So,like Ozzy's been screaming all week, give it a try!!!