Hard floor + speaker spikes. What's the deal?

[charlesr]

surely it has to *eventually* be transformed into an analogue waveform, even by the clicks.

Ah yes. True. Each click is identical each time though in that it likes to be either at 1 or 0, and can't distort. No idea how they did different volumes though.

[kernow]

Makes sense sending the source signal through as few components as possible as they all colour the audio signal with their unique characteristics as it journeys to the speakers. What kind of setup do you have?

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=13990&d=1181326029

Old pic, but Quad CDP-2 CD Player / 99 Power Amp / MS55Ti Speakers (24yrs old or somewhat), Kimber timbre 0.5mtr internconnect, Kimber 8TC speaker cable. (2.5mtrs)

I don't think I'll be changing anything for a long time, although I'd like the 909 power amp in future maybe. I have its little brother

[EvilBoris]

That looks suspiciously like a part of your setup is toilet tissue, surely it doesn't sound *that* good :P

[kernow]

thats a cleaning cloth

[Charlie]

Nice setup, kernow. I've always liked the styling of the 99 Series and most reviewers are unanimous in the claim they sound every bit as good as they look. The plinths under your speakers, do they tighten up the sound by a sizeable magin? I've been considering investing in a pair but am unsure how large an improvement they'll provide compared to floor spikes on a carpeted floor.

[kernow]

I believe they make a difference, on a carpeted floor for certain. it just sounds less flabby as such.

I'm debating over kimber mains cables for some reason, I have the speaker cable and interconnect, but I can't push myself to go for two mains cables really. I guess it stops there with me, I can't see buying two different 'kettle leads' as such would do a great deal, but I did think the cabling made a difference, a different sound at least, so its possible the mains would affect it too . .you'd think so

[Soi]

I know someone's dad who has a dedicated mains power supply to their house from the local substation so as to keep the power supply to his speakers as "clean" as possible.

To say that he is into speakers is a massive understatement.

[in5ane]

Commendations for effort, but surely it's susceptible to all the interference/fields knocking around his house anyway?

I have an 8-way one of these http://www.soundfantastic.co.uk/ and really really short wires. I'm positive it makes a difference, but again it's back to levels of return on investment. At what point are you just chucking cash down the drain?

[kernow]

At what point are you just chucking cash down the drain?

The minute you say to yourself you want a good hi-fi separates system.

[Crisp_Rapper]

this conversation didn't just decend into talk about mains cables did it?



dirty electricity? please. just stop.

[kernow]

lol ..

[in5ane]

Ok, here's my completely unscientific observations about how my mains thing helped. You know when you have your amp on max, but no source, you can hear tiny amounts of static, noise, whatever? With the new shorter cabling and 'dirty electric cleaner', this was audibly reduced. Same goes for the TV as well.

[Charlie]

this conversation didn't just decend into talk about mains cables did it?



dirty electricity? please. just stop.

You'd be surprised just how much of an improvement good mains cables and a clean electricity feed can make, but don't take my word for it, see what these producers and engineers, some of whom are very distinguished, have to say about a particular brand of high-end, mains-related filters and cables - http://www.shunyata.com/Content/endo...fessional.html .

The thing is we're all aware that everyone sees things differently; some people are short sighted, some far sighted, some can't distinguigh between colours very well, and other's have a hard time judging if something is straight or even. Likewise, it should be remembered everyones perception of sound is different and subtle changes in frequency that some hear quite easily won't be picked up at all by others. There are several sites on the internet that test a person's hearing, the results are, of course, in part influenced by the quality of the sound card and PC speakers used, but they're still rather interesting.

[saif]

Audio is harder to quantify for most people than visuals cos with visuals you can pause it and step closer or zoom in etc.
The point is to decide when your diminishing returns kick in. Personally, at some point - say £3-400 per unit (at my income anyway) is when I think that I'd rather spend extras on something else. It doesn't mean I'd not like it but I could not really justify it to myself. Some people are quite anti hi-fi partly cos they are happy with what they have and also they just genuinely don't get the fuss for what they listen to. Also, more and more people are used to "great digital sound" not being that good so the frame of reference is skewed. In the past, I think people knew that if they didn't spend that much on hi-fi, it prolly would not sound great but with PCs, a lot of people think their PC sounds really good. Bit of dirty bass here, good numbers for compression etc. It is partly a mind trick imo on both sides.

[charlesr]

Went with these guys in the end.

http://www.audioserenity.co.uk/

Spending an untold fortune on a new floor, so may as well spend a few bob on something decent. Turned up very swiftly and look very tasty. Haven't tried them out yet. I can't imagine I'm going to be able to tell what difference they make to the sound because changing from carpet to hard floor is going to make a large difference in itself, but the main thing is my floor is protected and they look the part. Got some black ones to match my kit.