Off the floor tune-up tip off the wall?

[Dumar]

I read "System Tuning Tips" from Galen Carol Audio (posted by Buckeyefan 1) several days ago and pretty much had to agree with just about everyone of them. Tip 5, however, was a little hard to swallow. It goes like this:

"5) Get the cables off the floor. There are a number of theories surrounding this tweak, but the most plausible focus on the areas of vibration and static electricity. Decoupling the cables from the floor reduces structure-borne vibrations that can reduce focus and cause audible “smearing.” Static charges present in carpet (and other flooring materials) couple to the cable, resulting in increased background noise and grain. Try this experiment: Cut an empty paper towel (or toilet paper) tube into 2 – 3” lengths. Use these to raise all cables off the floor, and as spacers to separate cables from one another. Better systems will often benefit from this tweak, realizing improved detail, air and transparency. If you like what you hear, you may want to replace the cardboard tubes with something a bit more attractive! There are a number of companies manufacturing specific products for the purpose. You can also build your own, but remember to use non-conductive materials, with wood and paper being common choices."

Can anyone out there tell me they hear their systems improve by raising their cables off the floor? Any thoughts on this one?

Thanks.

 

[MacManNM]

I read "System Tuning Tips" from Galen Carol Audio (posted by Buckeyefan 1) several days ago and pretty much had to agree with just about everyone of them. Tip 5, however, was a little hard to swallow. It goes like this:

"5) Get the cables off the floor. There are a number of theories surrounding this tweak, but the most plausible focus on the areas of vibration and static electricity. Decoupling the cables from the floor reduces structure-borne vibrations that can reduce focus and cause audible “smearing.” Static charges present in carpet (and other flooring materials) couple to the cable, resulting in increased background noise and grain. Try this experiment: Cut an empty paper towel (or toilet paper) tube into 2 – 3” lengths. Use these to raise all cables off the floor, and as spacers to separate cables from one another. Better systems will often benefit from this tweak, realizing improved detail, air and transparency. If you like what you hear, you may want to replace the cardboard tubes with something a bit more attractive! There are a number of companies manufacturing specific products for the purpose. You can also build your own, but remember to use non-conductive materials, with wood and paper being common choices."

Can anyone out there tell me they hear their systems improve by raising their cables off the floor? Any thoughts on this one?

Thanks.

Sounds like hoopla to me. I doubt that this would really make any difference. The Z of a speaker system is very low, and the only clutter noise that might be generated would prob be in the microvolts, and not enough to add any color to the sound. This is probably someone planting a seed to sell new "off the floor" speaker cables.

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I'm guessing an old audiophile myth.

 

[jaxvon]

It's BS. Forum user Miklorsmith (I think that's the spelling) posted that he had experiment with "cable risers" and found them beneficial, but this is also a big one on the list of cable snake oil claims.

Honestly though. The vibration is really minimal. The only time that you're going to have problems due to vibration is when you're working with a poorly made cable that doesn't have enough filler and you're also using a lot of gain. Sometimes systems at large concerts can have issues with microphonic handling noise where, when the cable is moved, it generates a small amount of noise that is then amplified by the racks of amps. But in a hi-fi system? Nope. Static electricity? I guess you build up massive static charges from...just...sitting there.

 

[claudermilk]

I would say total snake oil with the intent of getting you to buy overpriced cable stands.

 

[markw]

Well, ya see, it's like this...

There's such a thing as the piezo effect. This is when a vibrating solid produces electrical signals. This is how crystal and ceramic microphones work. Wires are succeptable to this effect, although it's calledthe tibroelectric effect when not dealing with crystal structures.

So, when insects like roaches or, heaven forbid, a millipede, walk across the wires, the impact of their tiny feet generate teeny tiny electrical signals which are fed thru your system, into your amp and into your speakers. by raising the wires off the ground the wires are no longer suceptable to this distracting interference.

If you believe this, please PM me about a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase, at a low, low price, a bridge that joins two boroughs in NYC.

Operators are standing by. Have your cerdit card ready.

 

[Dumar]

So, when insects like roaches or, heaven forbid, a millipede, walk across the wires, the impact of their tiny feet generate teeny tiny electrical signals which are fed thru your system, into your amp and into your speakers. by raising the wires off the ground the wires are no longer suceptable to this distracting interference.

Thanks markw, that's a good one.

All those little feet marching over my wires sure is distracting.

I'm thinking we should refer to cable raising theory as millipede oil.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I read "System Tuning Tips" from Galen Carol Audio (posted by Buckeyefan 1) several days ago and pretty much had to agree with just about everyone of them. Tip 5, however, was a little hard to swallow. It goes like this:.

If this is one of the tips at that link, I would run from all of the tips as the poster obviously is lacking reality and cannot be trusted to post real audio help.

 

[saurabh]

Is someone trying to tell me that raising the wire a few mm above the floor can help in terms of static...............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. As was rightly said above, a human body has more static than one can imagine. Take up this experiment........

-take an aluminium thick(so that it does not bend or slack on its own weight) wire around 2 ft in length and then bend the last six inches so as to form a L - Shape. Make two of them.

-hold the smaller length of the L (six inch) so as to form a grip on it, just like holding it inside your fist(as if you are holding a pistol gun), but very loosely so that it can rotate freely. The longer length has to be on top (like pistol barrel) and pointing away from you (like pistol barrel)

- Ask a person to stand 3-4 ft away from you facing you and right opposite to you.

- Now holding both aluminium wires in your both fists (as if you are holding pistols pointing towards the other person) parallel to each other, walk slowly towards the person.

- You will see both wires will start moving away from each other, as you approach the person. Thats static ,only the grip has to be very soft so that they can rotate on its own. The more static the person has, the earlier they will start to move.

Interesting isnt it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JohnA]

One key thing that no one pointed out is that even if there is a static charge in the carpet (although I can't figure out how a non moving object (speaker cable) is going to build up a charge) the speaker cable itself is isolated from getting a static charge because of the PVC jacket on the cable....

 

[Resident Loser]

Use...

...styrofoam cups in place of those pricey wire elevators...also take into consideration, the person responsible for that suggestion claims to be able to hear a difference due the color of a wire's insulation...

jimHJJ(...yes, I'm serious...)

 

[Dumar]

If this is one of the tips at that link, I would run from all of the tips as the poster obviously is lacking reality and cannot be trusted to post real audio help.

Actually, except for this tip #5 we are talking about, the rest aren't too bad. If I knew how I would add a link to the original thread. It was posted in Philosophers and Wisemen on April 15 by Buckeyefan 1 (he didn't write the tips). No one responded to the post, which surprised me, considering all the action we're getting on this subject so far.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Actually, except for this tip #5 we are talking about, the rest aren't too bad. If I knew how I would add a link to the original thread. It was posted in Philosophers and Wisemen on April 15 by Buckeyefan 1 (he didn't write the tips). No one responded to the post, which surprised me, considering all the action we're getting on this subject so far.

Maybe the title wasn't interesting enough

I just found it and went through it roughly. I do have bones to pick with tips 2, 4 and 6. While perhaps not a total dismissal, one needs to be cautios about those tips as well. AC conditioning need is a rarity, the power cables need to be separate from the others, and spiking is really questionable too.

 

[Dumar]

I just found it and went through it roughly. I do have bones to pick with tips 2, 4 and 6. While perhaps not a total dismissal, one needs to be cautios about those tips as well. AC conditioning need is a rarity, the power cables need to be separate from the others, and spiking is really questionable too.

AC conditioning my be required depending on the quality of the source: It really depends on where you live.

Definitely, try and get as much separation as you can between cables.

I got spikes with my speakers and have never put them on ... I just couldn't see the point. I figured they must be for people in apartments that don't want too much noise transferring through the ceiling into the apartment below.

 

[Buckeyefan 1]

Guys, I've edited the crap out of those tips. You should see the other ones I left out. I only posted those since I thought they weren't all totally useless. This Galen Carol is a bigtime esoteric audiophile. His background includes record engineering, professional audio sales, recording studio design, acoustic consultation, service and repair plus retail sales (store owner since 1975). I take the site with a grain of salt, but once in awhile I'll find some things that "may" help us out here. Check out the full 16 point list, then make your cracks. I thought I'd just reveal my sources since there was a little buzz here.

www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/tuningtips.html

I do agree with him on his view of bi-amping. This is excellent if you aren't up to date on the topic:

www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/biamping.html

Here's some more interesting reading from his site if you get real bored:

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/index.html

 

[mtrycrafts]

...styrofoam cups in place of those pricey wire elevators...also take into consideration, the person responsible for that suggestion claims to be able to hear a difference due the color of a wire's insulation...

jimHJJ(...yes, I'm serious...)

But that is Jon Risch, isn't it? Didn't he also claims 1" wire differences as well?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am glad you selectively put up the tips, not all of them
I rad them. WOW. One really needs to be sharp to know which one of his tips are bogus and which has merit of some degree
Demag CDs, DVDs? Wall outlets? Scrupulusly clean CDs? Etc

 

[Dumar]

I take the site with a grain of salt, but once in awhile I'll find some things that "may" help us out here. Check out the full 16 point list, then make your cracks. I thought I'd just reveal my sources since there was a little buzz here.

You might need the whole salt shaker to get through the complete list. I stopped reading after the bit about wall receptacles.

Thanks for doing the editing, Buckeyefan 1.

 

[Audioholics]

8) Replace AC wall outlets. - Measurable, disprovable, silly... They will likely claim it is "too complex" to measure. Funny thing is - this is a good idea if the outlet isn't grabbing on to your plugs well. Then we recommend getting a commercial grade receptacle. Suprised they didn't say to replace your 15A breaker with 20A and replace all the wiring while you're at it.

13) Demagnetize CD’s. - Simple to prove... Give me a clean sine wave on CD - test output before and after with an o-scope. You will find nothing, hence they won't do it and will claim it "just works" or is more complex than to show up on a "mere sine wave".

14) Damp the first reflection points in your room. - Surprised the heck out of me that they included this. Amazing. At least it shows up as #14 - I would have had a heart attack if it was in the top 10.

Where's #17, 18 & 19 - Install small spaceship-shaped devices on top of your transports to increase the quality of sound, use magic chips to make your CDs sound better, and - most important - replace your volume knobs with solid redwood for purer gain staging and audiophonic nirvana.

 

[MacManNM]

8) Replace AC wall outlets. - Measurable, disprovable, silly... They will likely claim it is "too complex" to measure. Funny thing is - this is a good idea if the outlet isn't grabbing on to your plugs well. Then we recommend getting a commercial grade receptacle. Suprised they didn't say to replace your 15A breaker with 20A and replace all the wiring while you're at it.

13) Demagnetize CD’s. - Simple to prove... Give me a clean sine wave on CD - test output before and after with an o-scope. You will find nothing, hence they won't do it and will claim it "just works" or is more complex than to show up on a "mere sine wave".

14) Damp the first reflection points in your room. - Surprised the heck out of me that they included this. Amazing. At least it shows up as #14 - I would have had a heart attack if it was in the top 10.

Where's #17, 18 & 19 - Install small spaceship-shaped devices on top of your transports to increase the quality of sound, use magic chips to make your CDs sound better, and - most important - replace your volume knobs with solid redwood for purer gain staging and audiophonic nirvana.

Gene,
Lets make the measurement with a Tektronix 7404 and show them. I've got one. 25 Gs/S and 4GHz analog bandwith, What can we miss?