Doug Schroeder Method, Double ic

Ozzy, excellent! I'm glad you like the effect.  You are using what seem to be very inexpensive XLR Y cables. The change with superior Y cables is noticeable, and I am told that the difference between an assembled set with splitters/Y cables and a manufactured set is profound. Taras from TEO Audio has said the manufactured double set has another quite discernible level of improvement. 

Awaiting (not so patiently) for my cables to arrive from Audio Sensibility. I only ordered 1 pair, but if the DS system works, I’ll get all the cables. The longest one is about 4 meters.....preamp to amp. The others are 1 meter. ..just thinking....My speakers are Vandersteen 5A’s which have high pass (maybe low pass) filters. The preamp is connected to the filters which then go into the seperate amps in each speaker. The filters roll off the lows at a specific rate which goes to the mids/highs section of the speaker, whereas the woofer amps increase the lows at the appropriate level to balance the rest of the speaker....actually it sounds complicated, but it works well. My amp is freed of the task of powering the low end and kind of loafs amplifying the mids/highs. I don’t want anything untoward to happen to my over 100 lb amp, so I’ll first put the new D/S cables into my dedicated headphone amp. If that one blows up, it might be easier to repair. We’ll see how it all goes.

stringreen, just be sure your equipment is rated to handle an 8 meter run (doubled 4m). 

If you are explaining this to a manufacturer, expect there may be mockery. I have found a split approx. 50/50 with manufacturers and designers. Some are very curious and open to helpful discussion, and the other group are derisive and dismissive. It pretty much mirrors the split in the community of hobbyists in regard to such things. 

But, derision and dismissive attitude don't determine results.  :) 

You are making a decision to limit potential damage/fallout, which is how I would proceed as well. If I am going to do experimentation, at least initially I will put up for sacrifice something that is not too expensive. Trust me, it's not easy to place a several thousand dollar amp in a chain with an experimental connection knowing that I may be ponying up serious money for a trial. One way to potentially lessen the fallout should the test go bad was to only hook up one channel. That way if it blew only one channel would be effected and repair costs mitigated, or the unit salvageable versus a write off. 

One of the reasons I keep a expensive preamp and amp on hand is to have a "test subject" for whatever is experimental. If an older design which is robust gets taken out, then there is no way I'm going to put a newer design with a potentially less bomb-proof layout to test. 

It was a scary moment the first time I did a test of it, not knowing whether I would see a component fail. I still have to calm my nerves when putting up a new rig with it. It's not kid's play when a piece of kit at thousands of dollars is hooked up with an experimental configuration. But, the results were SO profoundly positive that it cannot be ignored, imo. It makes single IC hook up sound paltry, pathetic. 

So far, however, with 1m length the Schroeder Method has been very agreeable with all sorts of system connections. Based on the results so far at some point I may be able to call it universally "safe" when enough body of evidence amasses to say that it nearly universally - with appropriate gear - will be safe. 

All this caution makes Schroeder Method seem initially like free solo climbing. But, I think more realistically it is akin to climbing with gear, which greatly mitigates risk. 

Thanks Doug....I'll call Ayre tomorrow (Monday) 

Hi Doug....just thought all who are reading this blog would be interested in Ayre’s response as to cable length... They told me that they use 10 meters balanced interconnects in their sound room with absolutely no issues at all. (30 feet!)