kraftsound

Responses from kraftsound

Reasonable high end interconnects: without breaking the bank
I use a lot of Ernst&Engbring microphone cable in my audio systems. Neutral no-nonsens cables at a reasonable price. I haven't compared it to cables in the $1000/m range but so far they have outperformed all other cables that I have tried.They... 
Sound of cables breaking in?
There is a scientific reason for cables sound better after a while that has nothing to do with "burning in" electrically but is more of a mechanical nature. When you move or coil-uncoil them the strands are moving with respect to each other and th... 
Correct way to attach speaker wires... Wait, what!!!
Banana plugs (or BFA) are a good choice if you want to be able to easily change, amps, cables or speakers. They have a large contact area. 4mm in diameter makes their circumference 12.6mm and they are about 18mm long giving a total area of 227 mm2... 
whats the very best sounding cables for realistic money
Interconnects: Ernst&Engbring 3-lead shielded microphone cable with the third lead as return for the shield or ground if used for balanced connection or DIN connectors with e.g. Naim equipment. This cable is used by Neumann and Rupert Neve and... 
Who thinks $5K speaker cable really better than generic 14AWG cable?
There is definitely differences between different cables and even between different lengths of the same cable. That does not however necessarily mean that the more expensive cable always sound better in a given system when compared to a cheaper on... 
Warm-up time for amps and preamps
Everyone is basically correct here. Solid State equipment usually takes about 30-60 minutes to get warm and stable. Electrolytic caps don't like heat but like being charged all the time. Tube filaments should always be on for a at least 30s before... 
Interconnects, some have directional indicators, why?
+geoffkait Sure, extrusion does stretch the metal and as I wrote that may indeed be a factor that can explain inherent directionality. I can’t find any other… But you are wrong in the statement that all metals are crystalline. They are NOT! Metals... 
Interconnects, some have directional indicators, why?
Can anyone please show the result of a scientifically performed double blind test using, let's say, 10 different manufacturers brand new 4' cables connected in the two different directions but otherwise identical and a panel of 10 listeners?Then t... 
Interconnects, some have directional indicators, why?
+danvignau The shield should be connected only at the source end so that any interference that is picked up by it is reverted to the source and not transferred to the input device. This lowers the susceptibility to interference from electromagneti... 
Interconnects, some have directional indicators, why?
Linn K20 / Naim Naca 4 speaker cables are directional due to a burn in process at the factory. If they are connected the other way around they will adapt to that and after a couple of weeks they will sound the same as before. There is a small audi... 
Bi-amping Rules
BTW: I've gone back to passive x-overs but not with the original components in the filters but instead 14AWG Jantzen coils and their Superior Red Z-Caps.Does this sound better or worse than my active Nakamichi arrangement?Hard to tell since what i... 
Bi-amping Rules
@danvignau I suggest using an EQ instead of touching the filter levels. Behringer have one that is digitally controlled 1/3 octave where you can save settings and recall them anytime you like and they are not very expensive. For normal use you wil... 
Bi-amping Rules
Let's leave PA-systems out of the discussion. In them you want efficiency and the most bang for the buck at the least weight to haul around. You also have a brain behind the console to tweak the sound as he pleases and the music is produced rather... 
Do You Use USB for Streaming?
I've just made a little DIY inspired by this thread consisting of splitting a USB-cable and connecting a separate 9VDC wall wart transformer via a 2200uF//1uF Wima MKS and a LM317 regulator. It made a significant improvement over the standard powe...