A Big DIY Bang for Your Buck?
rhyno, I use mostly 1/2" by 1/8" neodymium disc magnets -- sometimes in multiples. I also have used neodymium cylindrical magnets. I source them from Amazon and Ebay. There is a lot you can do with these little fellows. The results are often quite amazing. Before thinking of sending a large wad of cash to cable companies that sell magnetic cables I would strongly suggest experimenting with your own magnets first to see how far you can go. Once I started on this journey -- and this was before cable companies started offering magnetic cables -- the cumulative results were so spectacular that I had no desire to even consider expensive magnetic cables when they came on the market. If money is no object, well that's another matter. But money is very much an object in my case. |
knghifi and stringreen, I use neodymium magnets in various ways. They do great things on the QOL. I have a packet of 12 on each side of the QOL face plate. I have my DAC and transport stacked with a packet of 12 right between them. I recently put a packet of 12 on top of my breaker and another packet of 12 on top of of the AC outlet that is right on top of the breaker -- like a sandwich. The effect is amazing. There are so many ways to experiment with neodymium magnets. Most placements have not given good results. So, you may need to do a lot of experimenting to see what works for you. All I can say is that this is one of the least expensive and most effective ways that I have found to improve SQ. I have been working at this actively for over 10 years. This takes patience but the potential rewards are well worth the effort. The improvements have not been subtle. |
Disclosure: I am not associated with any audio company and I am not using this forum to promote any products from any audio company or any audio-related company. My experience has shown that neodymium magnets sometimes work much better in packets than singly, and that their color has no bearing on their sonic effects. Thankfully, I have not fallen off any trucks in the past 20 years. |
I will use two specific examples from my system to illustrate my point. I have used single neodymium magnets (N50) at the breaker (as per the above posting) and on the QOL (as per the above posting). In neither case was the effect with a single neodymium magnet even close to the effect with 12 neodymium magnets. |
geoffkait, You stated, "In fact magnetism, generally speaking, is very bad for the sound." Not in my system. There are many people who use magnetic cables and find them superior to non-magnetic cables. Please note that my earlier posting did not refer to using magnets with cables, although I do use that application, as well. |
jeffrey75, You stated, "In short they are still doing what they are designed to and believe sabai is creating a field to keep EMI and RF out with magnets as well." This is correct. toddverrone, You need to read geoffkait carefully since he often waffles, as you correctly observed. He owns an audio company so his postings should be read advisedly. His agenda is obviously to promote sales. Otherwise, why would he mention his own products and history so frequently? Not for educational purposes. All in my opinion. |
uberdine, Basalt? I will see if I can get hold of some. How heavy is the chunk? You stated, " If a tweak isn't jaw-dropping, it's not a tweak, it's nonsense." I tend to agree. I agree with you about expectation bias. You stated, "Turns out you absolutely have to spend $500-$700 bucks on speaker cable, but no more." It was less than $300 for my pure silver speaker wires. jeffrey75, Thanks for the suggestion. I will do some A/B-ing with this. |
geoffkait, With all due respect, I think you may have some of us confused. You stated, "Sabai, actually I haven’t explained anything yet ..." after you already stated, "Sabai, I already explained what I meant by that statement ..." and "i already explained that too." Hmmm. And you stated, "What you interpret as waffling is actually your misunderstanding of what I said or your jumping to conclusions ..." You already stated, "In fact magnetism, generally speaking, is very bad for the sound." But, according to your latest statement, I either misunderstood this statement -- which sounds very clear to me -- or I jumped a conclusion: that you meant that magnetism is bad for the sound after you stated that magnetism is bad for the sound. Hmmm. |
mains, I agree that the inconsistency between recordings means we sometimes have to move things around to optimize the sound. But I prefer moving my chair to moving my speakers. parabolic, I make some of my own power cords and insert cylindrical neodymium magnets inside the connectors. I also use magnets on various components and devices, and on the breaker box. Since each system is different no one can tell you exactly where to place magnets (and how many) to optimize the sound in your system. You will inevitably need to do a lot of experimenting to find this out. This is really a process of trial and error. herman, Very well said. Regarding the placement of magnets, I have given some suggestions in my comments to parabolic, above. How do magnets affect the sound? They make the sound clearer and improve sound stage continuity. The sound is not distorted by installing magnets. On the contrary. They help clear up the lack of clarity in the sound that one may not be aware of until the magnets are installed. Of course, this is in my system. So YMMV. |
Look, it cost me $70 to make $70 HFTs (I call my version HFRs -- High Frequency resonators). It would have cost me $4,200 to buy them from SR. So what if they're not the same as Ted's? They are doing a great job in my system. I looked up his patent. He uses crystals under the small screen at the bottom of his HFTs. OK, I have some chunks of quartz crystal at home. I'll see that I can do to add crystals to my HFRs and then give a listen to hear if they improve the sound even more. |
Another important point for me is that you do not have to buy expensive magnetic cables to get a really big improvement in sound. You can spend a few dollars on magnets and experiment. It takes a lot of time and patience. But since this is a labor of love for me that's not a problem. If my audio budget were unlimited I might go ahead and spend thousands of dollars on a single cable. But, at this point in time, my audio budget is not unlimited. So, I am relying on intuition, imagination and creativity to get me where I want to go. So far, so good. |
geoffkait, If you read my posting and my earlier reference very closely you will note that I am not talking about bowls of water. This kind of digression is not helpful. It merely trivializes matters and diverts attention from the subject at hand. The bottom line is that magnets, if used correctly, do in fact have a positive effect on audio system sound. |
There are more implications in the scientific domain, as I have been alluding to: http://www.iflscience.com/physics/magnetic-fields-can-control-heat-and-sound/ Acoustic phonons have magnetic properties: https://phys.org/news/2015-03-landmark-magnets.html |
geoffkait, You make an good point: "Electromagnetic waves are comprised of photons." Herman, You make a good point: " ... it is interesting to see how some twist the science to suit their needs." There are a number of things going on here. Yes, photons are the carrier for the electromagnetic wave. But the wave is indeed affected by strong magnetic fields. Note the Faraday effect and the MOKE effect (Magneto Optical Kerr Effect ). The effect of a strong magnetic field on electromagnetic waves is enough to create discernibly positive sonic effects on the sound produced by audio systems. The signal is indeed affected by magnets, and in a very good way, as one can hear when experimenting with this directly. I believe these effects are the result of polarization. In my opinion, there is a lot more going on in the photon/particle stream than has already been explained here -- or, possibly, than has even been explained by modern theory. But, in the end, this is not an intellectual or a scientific pursuit for me. My bottom line is improvement in the sound. |
geoffkait, Perhaps you did not read my links and my comments carefully enough. There is much that is still unknown about electromagnetic fields and photons. Empirically, the bottom line is the fact that magnets can greatly improve the sound. Frankly, if I were an audio manufacturer posting to Audiogon I would be more careful about being glib and disrespectful so as not to turn off prospective customers -- trying to attract whom is presumably one of the reasons audio manufacturers post to the forum and why, presumably, some audio manufacturers try to demonstrate their knowledge -- while not forgetting to mention their products frequently. 2channel8, Connectors can be as important as the wire. I use top Furutech wire and connectors for my DIY power cords and other wires. I have tried connectors from many companies and I find Furutech is far above all others in my system. |
herman, Are you implying that geoffkait alternates his position -- and that we have been lured into a convoluted thread? This is just geoffkait being himself. No harm in that, is there? And no harm in giving him a platform on which to pontificate -- and a place where he can hopefully attract prospective customers. Shame on you for being ashamed. We should take his advice and lighten up and take advantage of this opportunity. This is more fun than watching MSM television. |
You know, try not to let things get to you here. No need to take things seriously all the time.
If you lighten up a bit all will be well. Try your best to keep the fun coming -- anything good for a laugh will do. After all, you're good at that. Remember, this is just a hobby. The comic relief will be wonderful -- and greatly appreciated. To make it easier, everything is fair game. Don't feel restricted. You can even improvise if this is what it takes. The possibilities are limitless. |
