The Great Cryo'd Outlet Test

Thanks for not beating up on me too much because I don't hear an effect. This was an initial report. I ain't done yet.

1. The initial multichannel test, with the cryo powering only source electronics, was an attempt to do a test with minimal change to my regular (well known) system.

2. If it takes several days of operation on the cryo outlet for a difference to be audible I can't do the test. My auditory memory is not that good.

By the way, on one cut of the Eva Cassidy CD I did find it necessary to go back and forth a few times before I finally concluded that there was no difference. It is not easy to make this kind of subjective decision. That is why a definitive answer would require extensive double-blind testing.

3. As yet, to my surprise, no one has complained about use of a digital source. I intend to play some vinyl, and I will experiment with power to the outboard phono stage.

Any other suggestions?

stehno, did you, as mentioned above, own the very same outlet (non-treated) and have everything the same in your system, or was the improvement due to upgrading the outlet in general (treated or not)?

Dmoffitt, both are Hubbell 20amp IEC connectors. The one from Jena Labs is cryo-treated.

-IMO

Just to clarify things Ed, my suggestion regarding playing things for a few days did not have anything to do with the cryoed outlet needing to "warm up", but had more to do with the fact that your system for this test has changed, even if it is minimal, and the subsequent change in sound due to that change (even without a change in outlet) may be something you have to adjust to. Under these circumstances, it might be adviseable to listen for longer periods of time(even if it's 10-15 minutes) to adjust to those changes, then perhaps listen to the same piece of music on the different outlet right after that. How about having your wife listen?

Good luck and keep us posted. Even if you hear no difference, I'm happy you've done this and don't feel that anybody should be "beat up" here. We all have to come to our own conclusions. You're to be commended for the experiment.

I think I stated in a previous post that I noticed barely audible improvement immediately after installing the one cryo-treated ICE. It was not until perhaps 48 hours later (24 hours of system uptime/burn-in) that I noticed the surprising improvements.

There were no other changes to my system at all within days of before, during, or after this install.

-IMO