The Great Cryo'd Outlet Test

Interesting, El. But then why don't STRINGS sound different after cryo? As well, my Steinway took TWO years for the stretchier Swedish strings to stabilize, requiring tuning every couple of months. Now, after 4 years, it's held a tune for 13 months (to MY ears...uh oh!). Other strings atabilize more quickly, but don't apparently sound as good...or aren't favored for another reason. Wonder if cryoing piano strings could change their elasticity curve somehow. Doubt it, though.

Ern:

If you ask Dean Markley, strings DO sound different after cryoing. Their Blue Steel line of bass and guitar strings are cryo treated. I do find that their bass strings do have a fairly unique sound (and I have used them on and off for about 12 years), but since even strings without cryo treatment have very different sounds, I cannot say that the cryo treatment actually contributed to their sonic character. All that I do know is that Dean Markley markets them as having unique sonic characteristics as a result of their cryo treatment.

Tom.

I wouldn't hazard a guess one way or the other about strings. Their properties would be changed by cryo, but the sound is emitted more by the sounding box of the instrument than by the strings themselves. The strings excite the box (or other resonant element of the instrument). Perhaps the string tension would be affected by cryo, but the retensioned string would perform the same.

Ed: When you are finished with the receptacles, if you want to send them to Stehno for some testing, that would be OK with me as long as Stehno then forwards them back to me after he is finished.

It would be interesting to see if Stehno can identify any differences in the outlets, as he would have no way of knowing which was which as they come from you (one box is marked cryo but there is no indication on either receptacle, could put them in the same boxes they came in-can't even remember if I shipped the 2nd one in a box, or choose not to-a true blind test). I do, however, know which one is definitely cryoed and for the sake of true science, could inform a couple of other members prior to Stehno's "test" and see if he correctly identifies the cryoed outlet.

Hdm...Sure. Will ship to Stehno if someone gives me an address.

The Cryo'd outlet was in a carboard box, the other was not. I have mounted the two outlets in two electrical boxes, marked "A" and "B". One outlet had all four terminal screws, while the other had only two. I removed the extra screws (and put them in a plastic bag) so I don't think that anyone can tell one outlet from the other just by looking at them. I will ship the whole rig on to the next guy. When all the testing is done Hdm will have a handy heavy duty extension cord!

Of course I know whether the Cryo'd outlet is "A" or "B". I guess I will put this info in a sealed envelope and send it to Hdm to do what he likes with it. Obviously, people who test the outlets should not know. (Hdm might like to test his ears before opening the envelope).

Of course, if many people ran the test, guesswork would produce 50 percent correct choice. But perhaps more, or less. It would be interesting to take a poll without anyone listening, so that what you are guessing is eldartford's frame of mind, and whether he would tend to label the cryo'd outlet "A" or "B". This might introduce a significant bias into listening test results.