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brulee fails PC challenge

Big mouth brulee failed the PC challenge. Never had any doubts that the better PCs could make a difference. I know they can and do. Thought I would give it a try just to make sure big mouth knew what he was talking about. There was no pressure. I was all alone. Switched out the FIM PCs and put in a couple Beldon PCs. Just as I thought. The magic was gone. This is going to be easy I said to myself. Put the FIM back in and it sounded as bad as the Beldon. Images were stuck to the face of the speaker and was very dry sounding. Next day I listened again and all the magic was back. Big, liquid, flowing music was back. Swapped them out again and same thing happened. How can I take on this PC challenge when it takes the next day or at least several hours before the FIM PC comes around. I failed this test. I am convinced PCs make a subtle to dramatic difference but I still failed the challenge. I am very happy no one was there to say "I told you so". I am a believer in PC but what can be said of someone who constantly touts the benefits of PCs and then fails the PC challenge. I'm glad my friend Jhunter was not around. Any ideas to keep things stable? PCs do make an improvement, just ask the guy who failed the PC challenge. Any help would be appreciated.
brulee
rgd
656 posts
 
As I am not an electrical engineer therfore I can not explain as to why the "reintroduction" of the FIM pc did not make a discernable difference immediately after replacing the stock Belden cord...

Out of curiosity what component(s) were used in the test? I have had limited success with better than stock pcs in my cdp and preamp but none with my amp but then I haven't tried any of the big boys (FIM, Whale, etc.) out either.

I applaud your honesty and hope that someone here can offer an explanation although I think this has the opportunity to become a "barrel" of worms as opposed to opening a "can"...
metaphysics
192 posts
 
We need a PC ABX comparator.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,556 posts
 
No explanation, but I find this to be true of anything that I "switch" in my setup (both cables and electronics that have already been broken in). Like you, Bruce, it takes a day and a half or two for everything to sound the same (familiar) again, though things do usually get appreciably better in a few hours, but still no cigar in this short time period. On PC's however the difference in bass response (between an Absolute PC and a BMI Whale PC, for example) is readily apparent when I switch them, but again neither sounds as good as it can when allowed to settle in again. Just rerouting speaker cable (without even disconnecting it) will mess with the sound. I am also curious as to whether there is a rational explanation for this. This is what I hate about auditioning items as everything seems to take forever (just to do a "quick" A/B takes a minimum of 4 days).
jhunter
45 posts
 
Bruce -

Interesting that I just posted the results of my own challenge! I don't see why it should take time for a PC to settle in, however, you might be able to keep one cord powering another (unused in the test) component and then switch it in; this should alleviate any question of break-in.

Next trip to LA is no later than latter half of July; probably the third week. Let's see if we can set something up then!

Cheers,
Jhunter
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,556 posts
 
JHunter: It would seem from what I experienced when rerouting the speaker cable, that bending the wire is a part of what effects the sound, as it was just moved and not disconnected. I would guess that this would vary depending on the design of the cable. I was using Kimber Kable by the way.
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