Choice of Wire for Dedicated Line

Redkiwi:
Thank You!, for your response to my query. Your experience is greater than mine, but....I am just getting to the point at which I was beginning to wonder about the characteristics you describe as "brighter and with a coarser grain". I have made too many changes (in the midst of a house remodel) to be sure, but your words strike me as having the distinct ring of truth.

Your methodology of testing Romex makes perfect sense. I will definitely be using your method.

I can understand your remarks about grounds. I had not considered the issues of the voltage variation, but I can easily understand why you would find differences. For myself, I have found the greatest success with dedicated circuits coupled with true isolated grounds, seperated from the remainder of the household circuits. I understand the issues of potential ground differential, but I have placed the rods in close proximity, and have done my best to create identical parallel systems.

Ended up running shielded 10-3 with ground for 20 watt service, grounded to a discrete copper dedicated grounding rod.

Dollar for dollar, this is probably one of the most effective "tweaks" I've done for my system, and could go on at great length re: the sonic benefits.

Bottom line: If you've ever considered it and can; do it.

Yup. I recommend Belden 83802/3 for oustandingly pure and noisefree dedicated lines. May NOT be code-approved in all states. RSVP for details.

Subaruguru, I've heard good things about the Belden cable you sell. However, I'm finding it extremely difficult to believe that any wire is 'noise free'.

A wire may be very good, but without proper line conditioning, I doubt that anyone could make the claim 'noise free' with credibility.

If you mean, the wire does not introduce any more noise that's perhaps one thing. But to say the wire removes ALL noise and hence the term 'noise free', well that's another story.

Even with the very best wiring and the very best line-conditioner, I would still doubt that the line is 'noise free'.

Correct me if I am wrong.

-IMO

Hi Stehno. The point is that the cable matrix is well-shielded from outside influence, as you surmise. Re self-noise, it's thought that by using the very best (practical) dielectric (all-teflon), phase, echo, and hysteresis-like distortions are minimized too. Here in Boston we have a very stiff power grid, and perhaps my dedicated 83802 lines are unusually quiet without further enhancement. It's pretty clear that the noisefloor dropped after I introduced these lines and PCs vs the old Romex and other PCs (stock, Absolute Chinese, Belden 19364, Harm tech ProAcC11, and VD P3) I had on hand. No cable can FILTER out noise, of course.
But sly devil's advocacy can be fun, eh? Cheers.