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
After installing a copper coupler over the IEC connector feeding my CDP I tested it with a simpler version of the tester used in the Marantz video. The meter registered as if the coupler weren't there. A bead of Blu-Tac substitute was holding the sleeve in place, so it was removed and the meter no longer registered. Adding several wraps of Teflon plumbers tape around the connector held it in place and allowed the sleeve to work its magic.

I don't claim to understand why, but can't ignore the empirical evidence and thought the results might be of interest. Thanks for the great tip.
Since I have found, along with others, that aluminum is a better shielding material that copper or steel, I would whether simple and cheap aluminum duct tape would be better and would, of course, be easily contoured to any plug. I doubt that it would do anything for Synergistic Research power cords that I use, so I won't be trying this.
Hey, this is a great idea! I'll have to give it a try.

Note if you ground the copper, it becomes a capacitor relative to the AC Mains. If you don't ground it, then it is a shorted turn. These are quite different entities: one is a capacitor and the other is a very lossy transformer. Neither will help pass AC power to the unit but both will have a significant impact on any RF riding along the power cord.

My vote goes for the shorted turn effect, as that is what I would expect to see the biggest improvement. But I can try both easily enough.
A gent over at AA suggested using 3/4" copper union (sleeves, couplers) over a CD players Digital inputs and outputs.
He also suggested to use what he called digital "terminators" , which I call shorting plugs.

I was not sure about adding a shorting plug to an output and it made me nervous even trying it.
But, after some assurance from people who sell the digital shorting plugs that they were ok to use on Input and outputs on digital , I gave it a try.

I tried metal Digital shorting plugs on both the coaxial input and output on my Cary 306 SACD Player and it did indeed make a difference. The soundstage and center image improved.
I was very suprised that the shorting plugs will work both on Input and output on digital.

But, when I added the 3/4" copper sleeves over the metal shorting plugs, it dulled the sound, so no go for me on the use of copper sleeves over the digital shorting plugs.

Perhaps if the shorting plugs were plastic then the copper sleeves might have made an improvement...
Ozzy, I am not at all surprised with what you found, but shorting an output, if it is on, is a no-no.