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Cable elevators - conventional wisdom wrong?

Reluctant to put any considerable money in them, the reasons for using cable elevators seemed intuitively correct to me: decouple cables mechanically from vibration and insulate them from the carpet's static. I have therefore built cheap elevators myself using Lego building blocks. (Plastic with a more or less complex internal structure; moreover, there is enormous shaping flexibility, for instance you can also build gates with suspended strings on which to rest the cables)
In their advertisement/report on the Dark Field elevators, Shunyata now claim that conventional elevators are actually (very?) detrimental in that they enable a strong static field to build up between cable and floor causing signal degradation.
Can anyone with more technical knowledge than I have assess how serious the described effect is likely to be? Would there, theoretically, be less distortion with cables lying on the floor? Has anyone actually experienced this?
karelfd
ted_d
85 posts
 
Dave,
It would be interesting if you could compare and report back on the Dark Fields to simple CD cases used cable elevators as outlined here:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?fcabl&1215950921&openflup&23&4#23

Yours in music,
Ted Denney III
Lead Designer, Synergistic Research Inc.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
2,267 posts
 
I may do that. Several years ago Jonathan Valin did a review of the ceramic cable elevators and concluded that there was no free lunch. He found that the body and weight of instruments were reduced, thus affecting their apparent palpability and solidity. As a designer, I would be careful as to how much of the "Music" is often discarded in an attempt to address other supposedly more important aspects of the reproduction of sound. Lack of distortion, a lower noise floor, blacker backgrounds, smoother highs and enhanced transparency, to cite a few examples, are worthy goals indeed. The problem arises when the pursuit of ideals overshadows our emotional connection with the music. A presentation that has all of the hallmarks of "Audiophile Sound" but none of the connective tissue that conveys a sense of drama, emotion and realistic scale, is worthless. Live music is clear, dynamic as hell, full of contrast and color. Without these crucial ingredients in good measure, the listener may as well be a robot...or worse, a reviewer!
joeyboynj
621 posts
 
Ted, I want to use something that looks a little nicer than CD cases. I also see that you recommended in another forum/thread you recommend wood blocks at least 4 inches from the ground. Is there a specific kind/brand of wook block to use?? What are your comments on the Hifi Pyon Mythologies that Bacardi is using? Does this seem to fit your requirements. If you search here on "Pyon" you can see the seller here on A-gon.

Bacardi, How are you liking the Hifi Pyon Mythologies??? Have you noticed any negatives like Dave_b did with the Dark Fields?

I'm going to take the Dark Fields out tonight and report back in a few days...

Thanks everyone for all your input!
karelfd OP
476 posts
 
Hi guys, thanks for reviving this thread, most interesting findings being reported here. Over the months, I had settled for acrylic Quadraspire QX50 as support, maybe that could be the "nicer" alternative to cd jewel cases that Joeyboynj is looking for? Here is the description of their product:
http://www.quadraspire.co.uk/product_range/qx/page1/index.html
Ted, could you add any thoughts on this please? (Presuming, it is not considered to be a no-go to comment on a competitor's product; if it is then I appologize)
ted_d
85 posts
 
Joeyboynj,
I totally agree about the aesthetics. The suggestion to try CD cases is only for proof of concept for people who doubt that cable risers can make a difference- it costs nothing and also serves as a means to try a polycarbonate cable riser against other materials. Different materials have different signatures and this can serve to fine tune the balance of a well set up system.

Karelfd,
WOW- those are sexy cable risers! I'll get a set for my home system as I'm looking for cable risers that compliment the modern decor of my home- thanks!

Yours in music,
Ted Denney III
Lead Designer, Synergistic Research Inc.
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