Yet another video where I am left in awe of your exceptional educational approach and ability. I originally came to the channel for the reviews, but I am now realizing the true gold is the science and engineering we are being exposed to. Thank you so much for this.
I find this review perplexing - a mains lead without an electrical load wont have current flowing though it and therefore wont produce a magnetic field and consequently wont induce voltage or current in to a near by lead. Connect the lead to an electrical load, an amplifier for example and current will flow and a magnetic field will be produced. Place a second conductor in the magnetic field created by the first and current will be induced in to the second lead. This is he basic principle behind inductive charging and the same principle can apply to your audio signal leads.
should have shown the difference with the cables connected to something, both cables connected to the same amp and turn on the amp otherwise its useless test, this is supposed to be about audio equipment, nothing educational here, just the hate between two opposite biased sides!!!!
Wonderful video Amir. A more dramatic example of the current in an open circuit conductor is found in long distance high voltage (200kV+) power lines. When a several hundred mile long high voltage line that has been de-energized is re-energized with no load on it, the current rushing into the line solely due to the capacitance between the line and ground can be large enough to trip the circuit breakers. One way this is controlled is to temporarily connect an inductive load parallel to the line to reduce the charging current until the line has been fully charged.
Apparently this video was motivated by statements made by Danny at GR Research, who evidently criticized Amir's testing by claiming that there must be an appreciable level of current flowing in a cable in order for that cable to transmit/leak electromagnetic fields (into the space surrounding the cable) that can cause problems for other, nearby cables. Amir has thus made it clear that Danny simply didn't know what he was talking about. Which shouldn't surprise anyone, given that not very long ago Danny did a video where he connected several different speaker cables to the input of a radio receiver and used the signal strength meter on the receiver to show that speaker cables differ in terms of their ability to pick up stray electromagnetic fields. Implicitly he was claiming that the differences among speaker cables in this respect translate to differences in the sound quality you get with the different cables when they are used to connect speakers to amplifiers. Even if you designed an antenna for the express purpose of picking up the stray 60 Hz signal that is common in any household, and connected this antenna directly to any typical home speaker, it is exceedingly unlikely that the SPL output by the speaker, for that 60 Hz signal, would be loud enough for you to hear it. Speaker sensitivities are nowhere near great enough for this, which is why we need amplifiers to step up the voltage to meet the requirement of the speaker in terms of sensitivity, and to supply the current that the speaker will draw when delivered that higher voltage. If you run the 60 Hz signal picked up by an ordinary speaker cable through an amplifier, it is all but certain that you'll be able to hear the 60 Hz hum through the speaker connected to the amplifier. Perhaps Danny was confused and thought he was showing why speaker cables make lousy interconnects. The thing is, he pretended to be answering a question that is very different from the question that he answered. Two completely different questions, one that he pretended to be answering while he actually answered the other question. It was bizarre to say the least.
@@AudioScienceReview I agree 100%, but appreciate the intelligent discourse. Giving both parties a chance to response educated me and I'm sure that further discussions will only benefit the community, I do appreciate the "audio performance/listening art" and "science" of audio engineering and the years of effort involved in both. Thank you all.
Actually, the 60Hz signal can be heard through speakers. Very faint, but present. It's even in the ambient noise of most rooms. To the point that they can catch criminals thanks to it: czcams.com/video/e0elNU0iOMY/video.html Now, to the point that human ears can hear it from the speakers while music is playing, or for it to change 'musicality' (whatever that means) ? Nah, now that's audioquackery, unless your setup is pretty screwed up (ground loops, unstable amp, etc).
Danny also told me, even once clearly questioned, that he can audibly hear the difference between PVC and PTFE INSULATION on a cable... yes, you heard that right. He can hear the INSULATOR.
Yes on the first 2. Unfortunately not on 'comprehensive'. He demonstrated only capacitive / electrical field coupling. Not magnetic coupling / induction. Which does not address Danny's criticism and will lead to still endless rounds of more empty talking past each other. This said, the result is the same. The key is in the point Amir made at 8:25 "the low impednace of the output shunts the weak signal from the EM coupling". And there you have it for speaker cables (not so true for low level signals from the source, like a DVD player, where a little coupling can have big consequences on the following pre-amp stage). Oh well, it is not easy to debunk & demystify some topics without diving into the physics and losing most of the audience. At least Amir is trying. Unlike the "can't be measured" camp and their trusted golden ears peddling their dubious products...
You just reminded me of the late 90s , with my first stereo, when I figured out I needed to either disconnect loose cables or connect them to another device.
Great video and demo! Hats off. I chuckled at quip about learning things in college out of context. Reminds me of statistics. In class it's all a big woopdie doo, then you start gathering data and suddenly you see how it manifests (distributions, homoscedasticity, etc.).
This has been SO educational. Lays to waste a lot of misconception. Very directed and applicable to so many audio concerns and discussions. Thank you for taking the time to teach and demonstrate current and fields so comprehensively 🙏🏼
Perfect presentation of some fascinating subtly in fundamentals, this is like a head & neck massage for my mind. I particularly like the points at which you express amusement. Thanks Amir!
Love this one. Such an unexpected answer. But then again I was trained as a chemical engineer, not an EE. Dang it all or damn it all or perhaps Dan it all!! :-)
Another simple & great video Amir! I was lucky in that I did not have to re-learn Maxwell's equations as I never needed them going into RF/Microwave measurements- thank heavens 🤣
I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of some of your reviews and especially not your fan base. That said, I really appreciate the way you handled this video, especially knowing the context behind it. It might be helpful when reviewing future power cables to include a short interference test with a small load on the cable, but you’ve nonetheless made your point well.
As someone who designs and constructs motorsport harnesses used in automotive applications AS A HOBBY, where ignition coils discharge many 10s if not 100's of kv into a spark plug, generating an ungodly amount of noise in the ground plane, it's clear Danny doesn't understand how cables work from a fundamental stand point. The first thing you learn when dealing with these types of systems and variable reluctance sensors (AC current) or hall-effect sensors (square wave DC current) is that you shield the signal wires on ONE END (preferably a common point for all sensors so as to not offset the reference voltage). Not both ends. That would make the cable "not plugged in" on one end like Danny was making fun of. By tying the shield to ground on both ends you create a ground loop... which is why balanced audio circuits and isolation exist. It's literally part of audio design that he seems to dismiss. When dealing with 5v-12vdc sensors its extremely easy to cause false triggers with capacitor discharge ignitions or even with conventional induction ignition coils. It concerns me that a company selling products touting the solution does not understand RFI/EMI at a very, very fundamental level.
Jon = 100%. As an electro-mechanical tech I'm with you! Until someone has had to deal with ignition system noise they haven't had real fun yet. Back in the early 70's snowmobiles would be driven up our road and the TV would get snow on the screen and static in the audio. It was my introduction to RFI/EMI as a young lad. I've been in the welding business for decades and I have caused havoc on many electrical and telephone systems with the RF radiation from a TIG welder "high freq" arc stabilizer output of the 3500Vac arc at around 1kHz. If someone want's to see noise on a circuit - put a VFD (variable frequency drive) or an inverter welder to use near a non-isolated audio system. There's so many people that don't even take into account that the entire power grid is picking up "noise" that they feel is going to be magically disposed of in a power cable plugged into a wall socket. All the very best to you and yours.
Very interesting. It’s counterintuitive. No doubt this will agitate the usual suspects. Good explanations like yours will hopefully save music enthusiasts a lot of money that will be better put to better recordings and equipment that actually makes a difference.
It's not counterintuitive. It does counter a wide array of unlearned presumptions. In my view intuition is an extension of what you know, not what you don't know.
After 4-5 yrs of reading ASR forum subjects and using the info when appropriate, I've, surprisingly, just discovered you've got the great CZcams CH. 👍 It's great to put a face with a name! Will view your backlog this coming weeks/months. Kudos 💪
Whoever contests this test does not understand that a cable plugged into an electrical source becomes an antenna and if you want to show how effective the cable is at squashing noise then that's the test to do. If you want to show how good OTHER equipment is at sinking noise, plug the cable in. Good job Amir.
Precisely! Those who think current is necessary to create field effects must be forgetting (or ignoring) the fact that Electro-Magnetic fields have two separate components: 1. E-field (or simply "Electric field") 2. M-field (or simply "Magnetic field") Together, they form the components of a combined EM-field, commonly simply referred to as the "ElectroMagnetic" field. Difficult to describe the interactions concisely in a comment, but effectively they are inter-related with each other, charges, and whether the charges are moving or not. For example: a moving magnetic field produces an electric field (and conversely a moving electric field produces a magnetic field). Meanwhile, a buildup of static charge produces an E-field. What most people associate with AC power lines is the combined electromagnetic field (and EMF or Electro-Motive Force) caused by ΔI/Δt (change in current over time), which requires a circuit. However, even if unplugged, the "Hot" AC wire is still connected to the home's wiring at the breaker panel, which is a huge source of charge, and also changes as the AC sine wave cycles back and forth.
Amir. I consider this another thought-provoking and informative video. It elevated the audio science discourse for me, I personally resonate with Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic AND magnetic field measurements. Regarding the recent drama: Thank you for your elaborated experimental results. I professionally prefer direct communication with clearly communicated justifications of opinions WITHOUT name-calling or saying that others don't understand how to measure or perform their jobs -so what is the truth and why in your opinion, as you did here! Not all issues are worth fighting for, BUT I appreciate your results and explanation. I hope that more friendly technical discussions will occur. Even though different opinions are presented, I believe that the critical customer will benefit. We all think for ourselves. By the way, I also appreciate and respect your presentation on the psychoacoustic results of Dr. Toole, in that regard I respect your single speaker testing methodology. As you noted, our forefathers provided years of scientific results Maybe another related talk will help- very easy for me to request, Thank you, sir. I respectfully appreciate the respectful and thoughtful discourse between you and others! Passionate leaders may never agree but may agree to disagree.
When I studied engineering it was normal practice to model a mechanical system as an electronic circuit and solve the parallel problem to get the final results.
How can you like a video without watching it? You sound like the sort of hifi enthusiast that is taken in by the type of products that this channel sets out to debunk.
Matter of fact. Not condescending or patronizing. No personal insults. And no conflict of interest (ie not selling anything). I know who i prefer listening to. Also, comments against have not been edited/removed.
of course it is it's basic electronics, there's leakage in the cable as you say, the only benefit is of connecting it up to a load is to get load resistance per metre measurement
Because I need to be able to manipulate the AC cable to get the best coupling to the interconnect I am testing. This is a lot easier when the one end is loose. Mind you, I have also done it with it under load with the same effect. Also, if I plug it into something, someone else can't easily replicate my tests whereas an unterminated cable is easy.
I’m so happy this channel popped up in the feed. Exactly the stuff I’m interested in. Gonna look through the vids on the channel to see if there are any Skin Effect testing. I’d love to see a vid on the benefit (if any) on using CAT 5/6 cables for speaker cables (ofc paired off equally for positive/negative).
Great to have you here. I thought the fad of using cat cables for speaker has fallen out of favor. If not, sure, I can test them. In general, the gauge winds up being very high causing frequency response errors in longer lengths.
Hmm, very interesting.... I learned something new today. I always wondered if there is something there, and intuitively never leave a cable plugged in the wall, without it being connected to gear. And I get the confusion now. Very well explained dude!.
I watch both of you guy's channels and i think you should get together and have a beer ( or 3) :) . Stop this fighting, and learn from each-other. That would be a win-win situation, for both of you! :).
I agree 100%. Amir and Danny are neither idiots or gods. If they were to pause for a moment and communicate before they post a video or an article, they would make huge headway for themselves and all of us. However, that would sadly not make for as many viewers who are just looking to pick sides and point fingers like 7-year-olds in a playground.
Thank you for the class Amir! I wonder if one could get some meaningful results just with a voltmeter. Testing a signal cable’s rejection to AC interference by simply measuring millivolts.
The voltage is changing all the time and meters are too slow to track it. A cheap scope would do a better a job here. Or use an audio interface which would have better dynamic range.
Very interesting video. I used to work in IT, and now I understand better why you always tried to avoid running data cables next to power cables. Also, all that HF noise in the microvolt range is most likely at least partially made up of radio transmissions, so if you hooked up an RF amplifier and tuner to that signal, you could probably receive whatever is the strongest AM radio station nearby. If you do have to have data (or audio) and power lines near each other, we were told if they cross each other at right angles the transfer (coupling) of noise is less.
Well done, once again. I have made your channel a featured channel on mine. BTW, I noticed a certain individual was rather unhappy with your views on their $2000 pair of $100 speakers. 🙂
Well done. You totally invalidated your nemesis with no hint of malice, humility, elitism, self-importance or smug sarcasm. Which is more than can be said for him. Keep up the good work and professional approach. Respect!!! Enjoy the music.
Thanks Amir. It was good that you demonstrated this and good that you did it in "a few minutes". I understand what you described but somehow I would feel better if you would also do the test with a mains cable i.e. to a class A amplifier (or any device which draws a lot of current). Would it make a difference? I am sure I am not the only person who would like to see that.
I did that as a follow up to that review. I don't have a link handy. It didn't change anything as far as outcome. Instead, a better method is to use a transformer to create a very large magnetic field and see how that impacts the cable. I do this routinely and it does work to show what happens in extreme cases.
Capacitors are weird, you find them everywhere. AM antennas are just a bit of wire, so a power cord probably will do something. Anything with a bit of AC power is going to emit a little EM radiation. I guess the power cable only truly sourcing 0A current when it's unplugged.
This is well-presented knowledge of electrostatic and electromagnetic fields that I'm sure all really well-versed physicists and engineers should already be aware of. And for those who aren't, re-hit the good ol' foundational physics lessons guys! AP Physics C books offer a good, quick fundamental review if you threw your university physics textbooks out the door. 😳 Good job, Amir! 👍🍷
I have a problem Whenever I open my physics or chemistry textbooks from high school, I'll literally fall asleep in 20 mins. When I wake up I won't remember anything. This cycle repeats. Any videos you can recommend other than this one? Videos I can watch, not Khan Academy style either, too boring 🥲
It is interesting that there is a Consumer Report where customers can check about various products 10 or 100 or even 1000 times cheaper than high end audio, to help them with buying choices, but when it comes to the similar thing in high end audio (there are more vendors in the domain of high end audio than the total number of all vendors ever covered in Consumer Reports magazines - think lucrative here, think why so many folks jump on this bandwagon in bad times, in good times, in average times, in all times; the best kept secret in industry, just think a piece of wire and dielectric around selling for 10s of 1000s of dollars), we are left empty-handed ... except one and the only Audio Science Review (which have some million times lower outreach than Consumer Reports). Now, can we imagine how much more impact in protecting buyers all around the world would ASR have if it could have the marketing support and resources of Consumer Reports. Why nobody before Amir came up with this idea, a sort of a Consumer Report within high end audio segment, is because ignorance is huge, even within engineers (not only engineers; recently. I was watching a YT interview with an economist, conducted by a truck driver converted vlogger, who somehow learned about the concept of stagflation. So the truck driver asks this economist what he thinks about stagflation as a possible outcome and the guy replies that he never heard about the concept). I hope Amir will find a way to grow his outreach. Maybe focusing on cables initially as that is where the most lucrative profits are being reaped out from unsuspecting buyers. I think that JA gets all red in face when reading these ASR's reviews. Amir and ASR are God-sent.
Well said. In audio it seems consumers are much more inclined to believe sales hype and improper evidence than in many other fields. Plowing through that brings a ton of negativity. But with it, a lot of people understanding the reality. So the change is coming. As you say, we need to find a way to scale faster and better.
An open electrical cord can test if an interconnect is susceptible to capacitive coupling into the audio circuit. A power cord that is connected to a load and delivering current will have a much stronger magnetic field around it than an open power cord- and this could be used to test if an interconnect is susceptible to noise inductively coupling into the audio circuit. Using an AC transformer connected to the line will generate an even stronger field for testing for inductive noise coming in through the interconnect.
I do exactly that (using a transformer) and have done so in a number of reviews. The point of this video was the claim that no radiation of any kind exists which clearly is wrong.
@@AudioScienceReview then why don't you say that in the video. Learn how to communicate. You sound like a jackass. Begin the video with a clear statement about what it's about. You wagging the end of a power cord is just stupid. This video quite literally did not need to get made. Be direct. If you have the idea that power chords don't transmit noise to single ended cables, then say that and demonstrate it. This is all so indirect. Why would any sane person be interested in your dialogue with your detractors. Try doing something useful. Learn how to communicate. Or get off the internet. Your claims are wasted without clarity.
Love the .. Clearly something's happening. Clearly This Interference you think your seeing ..is this interference passed to the audio cable your testing? Or is the cables design rejecting this interference ? You might want to have an expert on for a discussion.
I just stumbled onto your channel. I am an avid audiophile and have built speakers in the '80s and early '90s. Because of professional obligations, I had to discontinue my audio passion and learning about building audio speakers. Now that I am retired, I am again taking up designing and building audio speakers. I have enjoyed the few videos I have viewed on your channel. I have one question for you; what are your qualifications to do reviews and critique methods from the audiophile world? This is important to me if I am going to follow someone's advice. Please do not take this as a challenge because it is not. I just want to know who I am placing my trust in audio on. All the best to you.
No problem. You can see my background (as it relates to this field) here: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/a-bit-about-your-host.1906/ Adding on, I have now reviewed/measured about 250 speakers. Total number of audio products I have reviewed is over 1,000 and this is in span of 3 years! Major engineering companies trust my work and provide products for me to test and are members of my forum. I am talking about Genelec, KEF, Revel, Benchmark, Neumann, RME, etc. To make sure my measurements are of the highest quality/accuracy, I have invested about $200,000 in test gear. My work has no commercial intent. There is no advertising, sponsorship or any contract with any company. Most of the products I test come from membership so I am not beholding to any company. I also buy some products myself to test when there is demand.
Plans yes. Time? Have not had any for few years I have been intending to do this. I may take bites out of the topic across a few videos. I am glad to read that you already know the key aspect of modal region/transition.
@@AudioScienceReview the benefits of multi sub and EQ in the modal region have been spread and accepted pretty much everywhere that is even semi science based, especially HT related. above that region its a crap shot, its pretty common to to find people recommending putting absorber at the first reflection points even when they recommend getting a speaker with good off axis response.
There's a relatively cheap power cable called LoRad from Supra. I measured the EMI/RFI and it is very good at preventing interference. Much better than more expensive fancy cables.
If I understand correctly, one cable side is connected to mains power and the other side is not. Does it like AudioQuest's patented Dielectric Bias System that uses battery on a cable with one end not connected and one yes - exactly as here ? Thank you
Some of us still have CD players well quite a few actually, Well explained lots of badly designed cables out there like you have demonstrated. Shame there is not some sort of certification for cables I have to use my ears and listen for the hum.
Here’s the problem. You are using a low end non audiophile power cord with a high end cable. They lack synergy. You need a high end audiophile power cord, one that costs 10K or more to get the synergy and then you will get blacker blacks in your back ground as well as more Blume and jazzier attacks on your transients as well as 23% greater musicality.
One thing you will notice in the comments sections between the several videos that try to dispute each other is that one side deletes comments that oppose/criticize the video creator's viewpoint. For me that is a huge red flag in regards to integrity and credibility. That is before even digging into the arguments and science!
It was incredible watching it happen in real-time. I watched comments go, and get deleted within minutes. Not for a short while after the video was posted but continuously. Once done, he has cleansed the entire comment section of anything negative. I always wondered why there is no one saying, "wait a minute ; that is just not right." Sadly people were saying it as you mentioned, but Danny was removing them all. So it is clear, I only report spam here. All other comments remain no matter what they say.
i did find it funny on Danny's video where he made fun of the test with the un-plugged power cord testing when he should have lined up to say see power cords make a difference.
@@AudioScienceReview Addressing this to both yourself and Danny: When a difference of understanding occurs, why not start with a bit of communication and then post a video. A simple “Hello Danny, this is Amir. May I get your thoughts on my testing methods for this that or another thing?” Then, listen to each other. You’re both reasonable people. I’m sure the results would be better videos and articles for all of us.
To be clear, I always test interconnect/speaker cables terminated. The point in this video is about an AC cable as a source of interference not being terminated. I also use transformers for magnetic interference. Didn't mention here because that was not the issue that was raised.
@@HansDelbruck53 That's right so you get an electric field. With current, you get a magnetic field. The mistake folks made was thinking neither was present. As an aside, the pins at the end of the cable also act as a capacitor as does the AC cable itself. So tiny amount of current is going through as well.
Very interesting video, thanks a lot! My problem derives from RF signal caught by my RCA cables from an FM radio station near my home. I hope to reduce the transmission by buying more quality cables...
Nice that Amir admits that his previous measurement with unplugged power cable was useless. Now please do the measurement with air-condition, dishwasher, microwave oven or waschmaschine on.
When it comes to cable review testing wouldn't it make sense to also post a stock/regular cable measurement in FR and distortion vs the compared cable?
Yes, I do that all the time. I test "no cable" with internal short in the analyzer. Then a generic but good cable (WBC, Amazon, etc.) and then the premium one. See my latest review of Iconoclast cable for example: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/belden-iconoclast-xlr-cable-review.33929/
I want to do this exact thing. Just have to figure out how to handle the logistics as I don't edit my videos. So I have to get it all done on camera. But yes, it is a good idea.
another great and indispensable informative video i could use part of that cable attached to some of my other spare bundles of power lead cables attached to my CB radio . oh, touching the cable i could use the oscilloscope attached to the cable and start touching it to see if i can see wave form on the oscilloscope ? 3:40 had something to eat short while before video i can tell it's measurable and your excited at getting the exciting learning video information out here . huh , now i seen it . my late Dad had one of those devices to checking where mains wires are behind plasterboard walls . i played with it . such a playful device . i may get one . sort like a star trek tricorder . 4:14 a technical science retired now teacher of builder designer of electronics showed me the same with oscilloscope years ago , maybe why i brought a oscilloscope . 4:42 one can harvest this i believe with tv ant and capacitor as it's everywhere in the air it's everywhere just know how to grab it see , grab it by the antenna just got know how to grab it . 5:19 useless and you still have that useless gr speaker behind out , guess it makes a great paper weight lol take it easy on eating breakfast 6:36 . stand up walk around during some of the videoing move arms around , yoga the review calmly . why sit down ? why does everyone sit down when doing videos ? does it makes us more relaxed ? well try laying down on the sofa and see if it makes feel more relaxed ? the electrical magnetic field has been here for billions of years , relax . 7:00 i may get the oscilloscope probes around the mains 50Hz uk 240v and see what oscilloscope displays and may do some changing around of the mains cables as i know , ( shouldn't have them near to inter connecting audio cables ) . i may see what my Cats think about the test ? 9:49 well have multi mode CB radio so i can check if my RF from CB with standard power and boosted 200w to see if the signal finds way into the audio system ? which i think will be very little with some amplifiers made today and AVR and oled tv's that operate on higher frequencies compared to crt that was so prone to picking up CB radio RF AM or single side bands and less on FM but if power was boosted FM can still do it . my Cat , Bear "rambo" "jitter" now he goes bonkers when in the THX cinema doing live stream , or phone . i think he can sense the RF EMI and need get "sniffer" see if there is some EMI RF wi-fi that is bothering him ? i mean he goes bonkers .
There's always interference from the wall, but the main thing is that there's more interference if you connect the AC outlet to a load. The bigger the current, the higher the interference.
Current generates a magnetic field, not an electric field. The latter doesn't care how much current you take or don't care. Besides, how much current do your audio components use anyway? Other than the power amp it is tiny. So if current is a problem, then it is not an issue for most of your electronics.
@@AudioScienceReview That is not true. A constant current will generate just a magnetic field, but an alternating current will create both alternating magnetic and electric field. Any alternating magnetic field always create a perpendicular alternating electrical field. AC cables are like bad near-field antennas that don't propagate. But AC always produce both magnetic and electrical fields. I know EM are not intuitive, but you probably need to re-think about your EMI testing methodology in the future.
My first intro to electromagnetic compatibility was when I had my first stereo and heard that buzz when I didn't fully seat an RCA plug. After having RCA plugs come loose a few more times, I thought "there has to be a better way!" And sure enough there was. When I was introduced to XLR connectors and STP cable, I why anyone was still using RCA ... of course it's for profit. At least now I can get prosumer gear for the home with XLR as standard equipment. Speaking of placing profit over function, I can't help but notice how the makers of cost-no-object power cables can't be bothered to upgrade to C19/C20 connectors that are rated for 16A, instead using the common C13/C14 connectors rated at only 10A. If "more current" was that important, wouldn't they want to use parts rated for more current? And what about "balanced power"? I see a lot of woo on that subject.
Also need to emphasize the fact that a high impedance input is much more susceptible to external interference than a low impedance input especially when it is not being driven from a low impedance source.
Why? Danny is not a real engineer and there isn't anything to debate. Just watch Amir's videos covering the basics. You'll end up knowing more than Danny.
I could do one like that but it will seem argumentative. Instead, I am focusing on teaching moments in stuff he said and create stand-alone videos. This one addresses of him saying a live AC wire doesn't radiate anything. I will pick other topics and explain them.
You clearly demonstrate that an unplugged AC cable can cause interference. And then you show that plugging the other end eliminates this interference. All good! Curious though - given that such AC cables are plugged in at both ends in practice, why would you present this data in a review?
I need to be able to freely manipulate an AC cable around an interconnect to check for its effect. This is a lot easier with an unterminated AC wire. I can loop it around the other cable, run it parallel, etc. It is also a known condition. If I plugged in the other side into a box, then the issue becomes how that is replicable. At the end, the simple answer is that it is an ad-hoc test that gets the job done easily and quickly. :)
@@AudioScienceReview Hmmm, I can see how that would make it easier to test! Will those unplugged interactions between the unplugged AC cable and another cable happen when both sides are plugged in?
Whether a signal wire picks up hum or not is more about the output impedance of the sending device than anything else. Proof here: czcams.com/video/0QTjc6SBrmg/video.html
I agree with measurements and everything, but even the different wall outlet can sound different not only power cords and how is that posible I scratch my head
@@johnsmith1474 i know but I hear the difference what so ever, and I am anoyed by that, because what would be the reference outlet or power cord or speaker cable
Hello Amir, wanted to mention that it would be very informative if you measure the in-room response of open baffle speakers (not predicted in room response). In room response is what the manufacturers claim is better for open baffle speakers. But before you say I should ask the manufacturers to send you samples I have already done that but I am not hopeful.
@@AudioScienceReview Thanks for your reply. I guess the most acclaimed one out there is the Spatial Audio X series, I guess X3 and X5 are having production issues and X4 is the most easily available one. If you want to measure a speaker from GR research, given size and price, it would make sense to measure the NX Oticas. The manufacturers do mention that their speakers with open baffle woofers create a figure 8 pattern for the bass, but the bass is supposed to be much less prone to room interaction. I am not a sound engineer but have always been curious about this. Thanks a ton ! Edit : To be fair, the NX-Oticas are known to drop of flat at 70Hz and it is recommended that they are paired with the subwoofers from GR Research.
This is all very true, but we must notice that one must be very close to the AC power cable to pick up the field generated.. Even the tester designed for the task that has an internal amplifier has to be within an inch. It's because the field drops off at r^2... r being the radius of the distance from the source (wire). It's also true that an open ended cable will still generate a field because the entire length of the cable including the circuit that supplies the cable is a capacitor and current however small is flowing. A cable connected to a load creates a larger field proportional to the current flowing. Bottom line? If the source, the power cable isn't laying on your audio input cables you're not going to pick up the 60hz signal.. If you think that your AC cable supplying your equipment is a problem, look into the filtering that's done before the power supply voltage reaches the amplifier circuits.. It's long gone.
Amir, 50% off topic: I don't know if you're knowledgeable about human physiology, but it would be interesting to hear from you about electromagnetic fields, grounding, and health. What's your view on their influence on human health? I see articles pointing out that they could affect health, but just as in the audio it could be at a paltry level? Even weak fields that we create indoors with our appliances? Thank you.
I'm curious brother, will you ever make a video where your subjective experience contradicts your measurements? Or rather, have you ever had this experience where a product doesn't measure so well but sounds amazing? Would be a fun video me thinks.
The Earth is flat, the military does not compensate for the curvature of the earth when firing missiles or rockets... Nor do railroads when laying tracks... And I'm with Amir on the cables. Science and all.
Yet another video where I am left in awe of your exceptional educational approach and ability. I originally came to the channel for the reviews, but I am now realizing the true gold is the science and engineering we are being exposed to. Thank you so much for this.
Ah, that is very nice to read. Thanks for watching and commenting.
“Science”
Same!
I find this review perplexing - a mains lead without an electrical load wont have current flowing though it and therefore wont produce a magnetic field and consequently wont induce voltage or current in to a near by lead. Connect the lead to an electrical load, an amplifier for example and current will flow and a magnetic field will be produced. Place a second conductor in the magnetic field created by the first and current will be induced in to the second lead. This is he basic principle behind inductive charging and the same principle can apply to your audio signal leads.
should have shown the difference with the cables connected to something, both cables connected to the same amp and turn on the amp otherwise its useless test, this is supposed to be about audio equipment, nothing educational here, just the hate between two opposite biased sides!!!!
I like the way you explained this without any defensiveness or derision towards others. Good video.
That's his forte, he would make a fantastic lawyer presuming he had some facts to work with, I don't think he's capable of bullshitting.
Wonderful video Amir. A more dramatic example of the current in an open circuit conductor is found in long distance high voltage (200kV+) power lines. When a several hundred mile long high voltage line that has been de-energized is re-energized with no load on it, the current rushing into the line solely due to the capacitance between the line and ground can be large enough to trip the circuit breakers. One way this is controlled is to temporarily connect an inductive load parallel to the line to reduce the charging current until the line has been fully charged.
Fascinating. Didn't know that.
Apparently this video was motivated by statements made by Danny at GR Research, who evidently criticized Amir's testing by claiming that there must be an appreciable level of current flowing in a cable in order for that cable to transmit/leak electromagnetic fields (into the space surrounding the cable) that can cause problems for other, nearby cables. Amir has thus made it clear that Danny simply didn't know what he was talking about. Which shouldn't surprise anyone, given that not very long ago Danny did a video where he connected several different speaker cables to the input of a radio receiver and used the signal strength meter on the receiver to show that speaker cables differ in terms of their ability to pick up stray electromagnetic fields. Implicitly he was claiming that the differences among speaker cables in this respect translate to differences in the sound quality you get with the different cables when they are used to connect speakers to amplifiers. Even if you designed an antenna for the express purpose of picking up the stray 60 Hz signal that is common in any household, and connected this antenna directly to any typical home speaker, it is exceedingly unlikely that the SPL output by the speaker, for that 60 Hz signal, would be loud enough for you to hear it. Speaker sensitivities are nowhere near great enough for this, which is why we need amplifiers to step up the voltage to meet the requirement of the speaker in terms of sensitivity, and to supply the current that the speaker will draw when delivered that higher voltage. If you run the 60 Hz signal picked up by an ordinary speaker cable through an amplifier, it is all but certain that you'll be able to hear the 60 Hz hum through the speaker connected to the amplifier. Perhaps Danny was confused and thought he was showing why speaker cables make lousy interconnects. The thing is, he pretended to be answering a question that is very different from the question that he answered. Two completely different questions, one that he pretended to be answering while he actually answered the other question. It was bizarre to say the least.
Well explained. :)
@@AudioScienceReview I agree 100%, but appreciate the intelligent discourse. Giving both parties a chance to response educated me and I'm sure that further discussions will only benefit the community, I do appreciate the "audio performance/listening art" and "science" of audio engineering and the years of effort involved in both.
Thank you all.
Actually, the 60Hz signal can be heard through speakers. Very faint, but present. It's even in the ambient noise of most rooms. To the point that they can catch criminals thanks to it: czcams.com/video/e0elNU0iOMY/video.html
Now, to the point that human ears can hear it from the speakers while music is playing, or for it to change 'musicality' (whatever that means) ?
Nah, now that's audioquackery, unless your setup is pretty screwed up (ground loops, unstable amp, etc).
Danny also told me, even once clearly questioned, that he can audibly hear the difference between PVC and PTFE INSULATION on a cable... yes, you heard that right. He can hear the INSULATOR.
I though Danny was demonstrating how good a speaker cable is as an Aerial seems to me that is what he was doing.
As always scientific, educational and comprehensive.
Yes on the first 2. Unfortunately not on 'comprehensive'. He demonstrated only capacitive / electrical field coupling.
Not magnetic coupling / induction. Which does not address Danny's criticism and will lead to still endless rounds of more empty talking past each other.
This said, the result is the same. The key is in the point Amir made at 8:25 "the low impednace of the output shunts the weak signal from the EM coupling". And there you have it for speaker cables (not so true for low level signals from the source, like a DVD player, where a little coupling can have big consequences on the following pre-amp stage).
Oh well, it is not easy to debunk & demystify some topics without diving into the physics and losing most of the audience. At least Amir is trying. Unlike the "can't be measured" camp and their trusted golden ears peddling their dubious products...
You just reminded me of the late 90s , with my first stereo, when I figured out I needed to either disconnect loose cables or connect them to another device.
Great video and demo! Hats off. I chuckled at quip about learning things in college out of context. Reminds me of statistics. In class it's all a big woopdie doo, then you start gathering data and suddenly you see how it manifests (distributions, homoscedasticity, etc.).
This has been SO educational. Lays to waste a lot of misconception. Very directed and applicable to so many audio concerns and discussions. Thank you for taking the time to teach and demonstrate current and fields so comprehensively 🙏🏼
Thanks Amir for another informative & quick lesson on power cords.
Keep these videos coming, long or short they're always interesting. I am an electrical engineer audiophile so maybe that's why..
Thanks and will do.
Perfect presentation of some fascinating subtly in fundamentals, this is like a head & neck massage for my mind. I particularly like the points at which you express amusement. Thanks Amir!
Love this one. Such an unexpected answer. But then again I was trained as a chemical engineer, not an EE. Dang it all or damn it all or perhaps Dan it all!! :-)
Another simple & great video Amir! I was lucky in that I did not have to re-learn Maxwell's equations as I never needed them going into RF/Microwave measurements- thank heavens 🤣
I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge fan of some of your reviews and especially not your fan base.
That said, I really appreciate the way you handled this video, especially knowing the context behind it. It might be helpful when reviewing future power cables to include a short interference test with a small load on the cable, but you’ve nonetheless made your point well.
As someone who designs and constructs motorsport harnesses used in automotive applications AS A HOBBY, where ignition coils discharge many 10s if not 100's of kv into a spark plug, generating an ungodly amount of noise in the ground plane, it's clear Danny doesn't understand how cables work from a fundamental stand point. The first thing you learn when dealing with these types of systems and variable reluctance sensors (AC current) or hall-effect sensors (square wave DC current) is that you shield the signal wires on ONE END (preferably a common point for all sensors so as to not offset the reference voltage). Not both ends. That would make the cable "not plugged in" on one end like Danny was making fun of. By tying the shield to ground on both ends you create a ground loop... which is why balanced audio circuits and isolation exist. It's literally part of audio design that he seems to dismiss. When dealing with 5v-12vdc sensors its extremely easy to cause false triggers with capacitor discharge ignitions or even with conventional induction ignition coils. It concerns me that a company selling products touting the solution does not understand RFI/EMI at a very, very fundamental level.
Jon = 100%. As an electro-mechanical tech I'm with you! Until someone has had to deal with ignition system noise they haven't had real fun yet. Back in the early 70's snowmobiles would be driven up our road and the TV would get snow on the screen and static in the audio. It was my introduction to RFI/EMI as a young lad. I've been in the welding business for decades and I have caused havoc on many electrical and telephone systems with the RF radiation from a TIG welder "high freq" arc stabilizer output of the 3500Vac arc at around 1kHz.
If someone want's to see noise on a circuit - put a VFD (variable frequency drive) or an inverter welder to use near a non-isolated audio system. There's so many people that don't even take into account that the entire power grid is picking up "noise" that they feel is going to be magically disposed of in a power cable plugged into a wall socket. All the very best to you and yours.
Very interesting. It’s counterintuitive. No doubt this will agitate the usual suspects. Good explanations like yours will hopefully save music enthusiasts a lot of money that will be better put to better recordings and equipment that actually makes a difference.
It's not counterintuitive. It does counter a wide array of unlearned presumptions. In my view intuition is an extension of what you know, not what you don't know.
After 4-5 yrs of reading ASR forum subjects and using the info when appropriate, I've, surprisingly, just discovered you've got the great CZcams CH. 👍 It's great to put a face with a name! Will view your backlog this coming weeks/months.
Kudos 💪
Whoever contests this test does not understand that a cable plugged into an electrical source becomes an antenna and if you want to show how effective the cable is at squashing noise then that's the test to do. If you want to show how good OTHER equipment is at sinking noise, plug the cable in. Good job Amir.
Precisely! Those who think current is necessary to create field effects must be forgetting (or ignoring) the fact that Electro-Magnetic fields have two separate components:
1. E-field (or simply "Electric field")
2. M-field (or simply "Magnetic field")
Together, they form the components of a combined EM-field, commonly simply referred to as the "ElectroMagnetic" field. Difficult to describe the interactions concisely in a comment, but effectively they are inter-related with each other, charges, and whether the charges are moving or not. For example: a moving magnetic field produces an electric field (and conversely a moving electric field produces a magnetic field). Meanwhile, a buildup of static charge produces an E-field.
What most people associate with AC power lines is the combined electromagnetic field (and EMF or Electro-Motive Force) caused by ΔI/Δt (change in current over time), which requires a circuit. However, even if unplugged, the "Hot" AC wire is still connected to the home's wiring at the breaker panel, which is a huge source of charge, and also changes as the AC sine wave cycles back and forth.
Amir. I consider this another thought-provoking and informative video. It elevated the audio science discourse for me, I personally resonate with Maxwell's equations and electromagnetic AND magnetic field measurements.
Regarding the recent drama:
Thank you for your elaborated experimental results. I professionally prefer direct communication with clearly communicated justifications of opinions WITHOUT name-calling or saying that others don't understand how to measure or perform their jobs -so what is the truth and why in your opinion, as you did here! Not all issues are worth fighting for, BUT I appreciate your results and explanation. I hope that more friendly technical discussions will occur.
Even though different opinions are presented, I believe that the critical customer will benefit. We all think for ourselves.
By the way, I also appreciate and respect your presentation on the psychoacoustic results of Dr. Toole, in that regard I respect your single speaker testing methodology. As you noted, our forefathers provided years of scientific results Maybe another related talk will help- very easy for me to request,
Thank you, sir. I respectfully appreciate the respectful and thoughtful discourse between you and others! Passionate leaders may never agree but may agree to disagree.
Thank you kindly and yes, I need to do another video on single speaker testing.
For an ME everything is a spring, for an EE everything is a capacitor.
Great analogy. I should use that line in the future! :)
Spring is capacitor, mass is inductor and damping is resistor
When I studied engineering it was normal practice to model a mechanical system as an electronic circuit and solve the parallel problem to get the final results.
Slayed!!! I will echo others, clear and concise explanation. Also video quality is very good, high level production indeed.
I just like the video wether I watch it or not - Amir is a living legend, I hope he is recognised a such in good time.
Oh you are very kind. :)
How can you like a video without watching it? You sound like the sort of hifi enthusiast that is taken in by the type of products that this channel sets out to debunk.
@@mgsee I could answer this question, but I can't be arsed because I don't like you.
Matter of fact. Not condescending or patronizing. No personal insults. And no conflict of interest (ie not selling anything). I know who i prefer listening to. Also, comments against have not been edited/removed.
So you have proof. Power cables DO make a difference.
Thanks for the great videos
:)
of course it is it's basic electronics, there's leakage in the cable as you say, the only benefit is of connecting it up to a load is to get load resistance per metre measurement
Yet a company owner ridiculed the test as example of me not knowing what I am doing.
@@AudioScienceReview
yeah... what qualifications did he have in electrical engineering? probably none is my guess
Why do you need to test with power cables not hooked up? Why not just test it the way it is used, plugged into the unit and powering the unit?
Because I need to be able to manipulate the AC cable to get the best coupling to the interconnect I am testing. This is a lot easier when the one end is loose. Mind you, I have also done it with it under load with the same effect. Also, if I plug it into something, someone else can't easily replicate my tests whereas an unterminated cable is easy.
@@AudioScienceReview Wasn’t the criticism for when testing the power cord itself?
…not interconnects
Good video. You got to your point with evidence and demonstrations. I like this.
Wonderful demo and great explanation!! Learning lot of things.
I’m so happy this channel popped up in the feed. Exactly the stuff I’m interested in. Gonna look through the vids on the channel to see if there are any Skin Effect testing.
I’d love to see a vid on the benefit (if any) on using CAT 5/6 cables for speaker cables (ofc paired off equally for positive/negative).
Great to have you here. I thought the fad of using cat cables for speaker has fallen out of favor. If not, sure, I can test them. In general, the gauge winds up being very high causing frequency response errors in longer lengths.
Hmm, very interesting.... I learned something new today.
I always wondered if there is something there, and intuitively never leave a cable plugged in the wall, without it being connected to gear. And I get the confusion now. Very well explained dude!.
UK uses only switched sockets.
Good one Amir, thanks for the lesson 🙂
I watch both of you guy's channels and i think you should get together and have a beer ( or 3) :) . Stop this fighting, and learn from each-other. That would be a win-win situation, for both of you! :).
I agree 100%. Amir and Danny are neither idiots or gods. If they were to pause for a moment and communicate before they post a video or an article, they would make huge headway for themselves and all of us. However, that would sadly not make for as many viewers who are just looking to pick sides and point fingers like 7-year-olds in a playground.
@@greenbeginner3353 Hahahaha! :) . Yep, agreed.
Thank you for the class Amir! I wonder if one could get some meaningful results just with a voltmeter. Testing a signal cable’s rejection to AC interference by simply measuring millivolts.
The voltage is changing all the time and meters are too slow to track it. A cheap scope would do a better a job here. Or use an audio interface which would have better dynamic range.
Excellent video as always Amir. I’d like to see a video where you test for electrical noise on a laptop on mains power V’s It’s internal battery.
Sure, good idea.
LGK 2.0 in the background for those in the loop. Well played.
I am not good at hiding clues. :)
savage
Very interesting video. I used to work in IT, and now I understand better why you always tried to avoid running data cables next to power cables. Also, all that HF noise in the microvolt range is most likely at least partially made up of radio transmissions, so if you hooked up an RF amplifier and tuner to that signal, you could probably receive whatever is the strongest AM radio station nearby. If you do have to have data (or audio) and power lines near each other, we were told if they cross each other at right angles the transfer (coupling) of noise is less.
It's HS physics.
Awesome. I had happily also forgotten most of my electromagnetics courses during university...until today.
Another excellent video by a real engineer, thank you Amir
Currently studying electromagnetism in a engineering.
Felt identified when you mentioned the engineer part hahaha
Well done, once again. I have made your channel a featured channel on mine. BTW, I noticed a certain individual was rather unhappy with your views on their $2000 pair of $100 speakers. 🙂
That's very kind of you. And yes, folks get unhappy instead of building better products and following the science.
Well done. You totally invalidated your nemesis with no hint of malice, humility, elitism, self-importance or smug sarcasm. Which is more than can be said for him. Keep up the good work and professional approach.
Respect!!!
Enjoy the music.
Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy music as well.
Loving the content. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Excellent explanation! Thank you for this.
Thanks Amir. It was good that you demonstrated this and good that you did it in "a few minutes". I understand what you described but somehow I would feel better if you would also do the test with a mains cable i.e. to a class A amplifier (or any device which draws a lot of current). Would it make a difference? I am sure I am not the only person who would like to see that.
Tbh this would close the argument of gr research, so yes, I would also like to see this
I did that as a follow up to that review. I don't have a link handy. It didn't change anything as far as outcome. Instead, a better method is to use a transformer to create a very large magnetic field and see how that impacts the cable. I do this routinely and it does work to show what happens in extreme cases.
Capacitors are weird, you find them everywhere. AM antennas are just a bit of wire, so a power cord probably will do something. Anything with a bit of AC power is going to emit a little EM radiation. I guess the power cable only truly sourcing 0A current when it's unplugged.
Exactly right. This is why it is often said that RF work is half engineering half art!
This is well-presented knowledge of electrostatic and electromagnetic fields that I'm sure all really well-versed physicists and engineers should already be aware of. And for those who aren't, re-hit the good ol' foundational physics lessons guys! AP Physics C books offer a good, quick fundamental review if you threw your university physics textbooks out the door. 😳 Good job, Amir! 👍🍷
I have a problem
Whenever I open my physics or chemistry textbooks from high school, I'll literally fall asleep in 20 mins. When I wake up I won't remember anything. This cycle repeats.
Any videos you can recommend other than this one? Videos I can watch, not Khan Academy style either, too boring 🥲
It is interesting that there is a Consumer Report where customers can check about various products 10 or 100 or even 1000 times cheaper than high end audio, to help them with buying choices, but when it comes to the similar thing in high end audio (there are more vendors in the domain of high end audio than the total number of all vendors ever covered in Consumer Reports magazines - think lucrative here, think why so many folks jump on this bandwagon in bad times, in good times, in average times, in all times; the best kept secret in industry, just think a piece of wire and dielectric around selling for 10s of 1000s of dollars), we are left empty-handed ... except one and the only Audio Science Review (which have some million times lower outreach than Consumer Reports). Now, can we imagine how much more impact in protecting buyers all around the world would ASR have if it could have the marketing support and resources of Consumer Reports. Why nobody before Amir came up with this idea, a sort of a Consumer Report within high end audio segment, is because ignorance is huge, even within engineers (not only engineers; recently. I was watching a YT interview with an economist, conducted by a truck driver converted vlogger, who somehow learned about the concept of stagflation. So the truck driver asks this economist what he thinks about stagflation as a possible outcome and the guy replies that he never heard about the concept). I hope Amir will find a way to grow his outreach. Maybe focusing on cables initially as that is where the most lucrative profits are being reaped out from unsuspecting buyers. I think that JA gets all red in face when reading these ASR's reviews. Amir and ASR are God-sent.
Well said. In audio it seems consumers are much more inclined to believe sales hype and improper evidence than in many other fields. Plowing through that brings a ton of negativity. But with it, a lot of people understanding the reality. So the change is coming. As you say, we need to find a way to scale faster and better.
You also have inductive coupling between the conductors which enable current flow.
Once again, another great video, thank you.
Hi, love your videos and you're honesty, may I please ask am I wasting my money buying any after market power and or interconnect cable?
Most excellent. Thanks ------- very helpful
Love what you've done here. Get's rid of the ne'ersayers
An open electrical cord can test if an interconnect is susceptible to capacitive coupling into the audio circuit. A power cord that is connected to a load and delivering current will have a much stronger magnetic field around it than an open power cord- and this could be used to test if an interconnect is susceptible to noise inductively coupling into the audio circuit. Using an AC transformer connected to the line will generate an even stronger field for testing for inductive noise coming in through the interconnect.
I do exactly that (using a transformer) and have done so in a number of reviews. The point of this video was the claim that no radiation of any kind exists which clearly is wrong.
@@AudioScienceReview I understood the point of the video, and wanted to reinforce it.
No kidding.
@@AudioScienceReview then why don't you say that in the video. Learn how to communicate. You sound like a jackass. Begin the video with a clear statement about what it's about. You wagging the end of a power cord is just stupid. This video quite literally did not need to get made. Be direct. If you have the idea that power chords don't transmit noise to single ended cables, then say that and demonstrate it. This is all so indirect. Why would any sane person be interested in your dialogue with your detractors. Try doing something useful. Learn how to communicate. Or get off the internet. Your claims are wasted without clarity.
Love the ..
Clearly something's happening.
Clearly
This Interference you think your seeing ..is this interference passed to the audio cable your testing? Or is the cables design rejecting this interference ?
You might want to have an expert on for a discussion.
The undeclared "war of the words" between Danny and Amir has become quite entertaining.
The problem I have is that he makes money by monetizing his videos and I don't!!! You all get entertained but I get nothing from it! :D
@@AudioScienceReview Entertained and educated. I wish you were making money from your valuable info as well.
@@AudioScienceReview And I also quickly realize that there are no advertisements in your website
I find the little feud an embarrassment, unnecessary , and why hi-fi guys often suck.
I just stumbled onto your channel. I am an avid audiophile and have built speakers in the '80s and early '90s. Because of professional obligations, I had to discontinue my audio passion and learning about building audio speakers. Now that I am retired, I am again taking up designing and building audio speakers. I have enjoyed the few videos I have viewed on your channel. I have one question for you; what are your qualifications to do reviews and critique methods from the audiophile world? This is important to me if I am going to follow someone's advice. Please do not take this as a challenge because it is not. I just want to know who I am placing my trust in audio on. All the best to you.
No problem. You can see my background (as it relates to this field) here: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/a-bit-about-your-host.1906/
Adding on, I have now reviewed/measured about 250 speakers. Total number of audio products I have reviewed is over 1,000 and this is in span of 3 years! Major engineering companies trust my work and provide products for me to test and are members of my forum. I am talking about Genelec, KEF, Revel, Benchmark, Neumann, RME, etc.
To make sure my measurements are of the highest quality/accuracy, I have invested about $200,000 in test gear. My work has no commercial intent. There is no advertising, sponsorship or any contract with any company. Most of the products I test come from membership so I am not beholding to any company. I also buy some products myself to test when there is demand.
nice short video (by ASR standers)
any plans on doing a video about room acoustics and room treatment (above the modal region)?
Plans yes. Time? Have not had any for few years I have been intending to do this. I may take bites out of the topic across a few videos. I am glad to read that you already know the key aspect of modal region/transition.
@@AudioScienceReview the benefits of multi sub and EQ in the modal region have been spread and accepted pretty much everywhere that is even semi science based, especially HT related. above that region its a crap shot, its pretty common to to find people recommending putting absorber at the first reflection points even when they recommend getting a speaker with good off axis response.
There's a relatively cheap power cable called LoRad from Supra. I measured the EMI/RFI and it is very good at preventing interference. Much better than more expensive fancy cables.
Very cool stuff, thank you 👍
If I understand correctly, one cable side is connected to mains power and the other side is not.
Does it like AudioQuest's patented Dielectric Bias System that uses battery on a cable with one end not connected and one yes - exactly as here ? Thank you
So, it seems, the snake oil is in the marketing. Thanks Ameer.
Some of us still have CD players well quite a few actually, Well explained lots of badly designed cables out there like you have demonstrated. Shame there is not some sort of certification for cables I have to use my ears and listen for the hum.
Nice work Amir.
Here’s the problem. You are using a low end non audiophile power cord with a high end cable. They lack synergy. You need a high end audiophile power cord, one that costs 10K or more to get the synergy and then you will get blacker blacks in your back ground as well as more Blume and jazzier attacks on your transients as well as 23% greater musicality.
I see the the little giant killer sitting in the background, with such immense pride, waiting to slay the giants
One thing you will notice in the comments sections between the several videos that try to dispute each other is that one side deletes comments that oppose/criticize the video creator's viewpoint.
For me that is a huge red flag in regards to integrity and credibility. That is before even digging into the arguments and science!
It was incredible watching it happen in real-time. I watched comments go, and get deleted within minutes. Not for a short while after the video was posted but continuously. Once done, he has cleansed the entire comment section of anything negative. I always wondered why there is no one saying, "wait a minute ; that is just not right." Sadly people were saying it as you mentioned, but Danny was removing them all.
So it is clear, I only report spam here. All other comments remain no matter what they say.
The thumbnail alone for this video is priceless. LOL
i did find it funny on Danny's video where he made fun of the test with the un-plugged power cord testing when he should have lined up to say see power cords make a difference.
That's the most remarkable part of. Folks are so hung up on complaining that they don't realize they are screwing up their own argument.
@@AudioScienceReview Addressing this to both yourself and Danny: When a difference of understanding occurs, why not start with a bit of communication and then post a video. A simple “Hello Danny, this is Amir. May I get your thoughts on my testing methods for this that or another thing?” Then, listen to each other. You’re both reasonable people. I’m sure the results would be better videos and articles for all of us.
@@greenbeginner3353 Danny doesn't like opposing views so that approach is a no go. Didn't he say opposing views were "yapping dogs" in his video?
@@rayl3028 Check out Danny’s latest video. Looks like he’s taking a new approach.
Nicely explained thank you!
To be clear, I always test interconnect/speaker cables terminated. The point in this video is about an AC cable as a source of interference not being terminated.
I also use transformers for magnetic interference. Didn't mention here because that was not the issue that was raised.
Without a load, there is no current, but there is voltage.
@@HansDelbruck53 That's right so you get an electric field. With current, you get a magnetic field. The mistake folks made was thinking neither was present.
As an aside, the pins at the end of the cable also act as a capacitor as does the AC cable itself. So tiny amount of current is going through as well.
Is there any merit to using balanced cables over unbalanced cables if ground loops and such aren’t audible?
Not unless you are going very long distances.
Very interesting video, thanks a lot! My problem derives from RF signal caught by my RCA cables from an FM radio station near my home. I hope to reduce the transmission by buying more quality cables...
Nice that Amir admits that his previous measurement with unplugged power cable was useless.
Now please do the measurement with air-condition, dishwasher, microwave oven or waschmaschine on.
you sir take all the BS out of audio thank you just found you and will fallow now
When it comes to cable review testing wouldn't it make sense to also post a stock/regular cable measurement in FR and distortion vs the compared cable?
Yes, I do that all the time. I test "no cable" with internal short in the analyzer. Then a generic but good cable (WBC, Amazon, etc.) and then the premium one. See my latest review of Iconoclast cable for example: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/belden-iconoclast-xlr-cable-review.33929/
Perhaps in the next video you can compare the small speakers that you said are good to Danny's on the same audio track at the same level
I want to do this exact thing. Just have to figure out how to handle the logistics as I don't edit my videos. So I have to get it all done on camera. But yes, it is a good idea.
Cool, I figured you might, logical 😉
another great and indispensable informative video
i could use part of that cable attached to some of my other spare bundles of power lead cables attached to my CB radio .
oh, touching the cable i could use the oscilloscope attached to the cable and start touching it to see if i can see wave form on the oscilloscope ?
3:40 had something to eat short while before video i can tell it's measurable and your excited at getting the exciting learning video information out here . huh , now i seen it . my late Dad had one of those devices to checking where mains wires are behind plasterboard walls . i played with it . such a playful device . i may get one . sort like a star trek tricorder .
4:14 a technical science retired now teacher of builder designer of electronics showed me the same with oscilloscope years ago , maybe why i brought a oscilloscope .
4:42 one can harvest this i believe with tv ant and capacitor as it's everywhere in the air it's everywhere just know how to grab it see , grab it by the antenna just got know how to grab it .
5:19 useless and you still have that useless gr speaker behind out , guess it makes a great paper weight lol
take it easy on eating breakfast 6:36 . stand up walk around during some of the videoing move arms around , yoga the review calmly . why sit down ? why does everyone sit down when doing videos ? does it makes us more relaxed ? well try laying down on the sofa and see if it makes feel more relaxed ? the electrical magnetic field has been here for billions of years , relax .
7:00 i may get the oscilloscope probes around the mains 50Hz uk 240v and see what oscilloscope displays and may do some changing around of the mains cables as i know , ( shouldn't have them near to inter connecting audio cables ) .
i may see what my Cats think about the test ?
9:49 well have multi mode CB radio so i can check if my RF from CB with standard power and boosted 200w to see if the signal finds way into the audio system ? which i think will be very little with some amplifiers made today and AVR and oled tv's that operate on higher frequencies compared to crt that was so prone to picking up CB radio RF AM or single side bands and less on FM but if power was boosted FM can still do it .
my Cat , Bear "rambo" "jitter" now he goes bonkers when in the THX cinema doing live stream , or phone . i think he can sense the RF EMI and need get "sniffer" see if there is some EMI RF wi-fi that is bothering him ? i mean he goes bonkers .
There's always interference from the wall, but the main thing is that there's more interference if you connect the AC outlet to a load. The bigger the current, the higher the interference.
Current generates a magnetic field, not an electric field. The latter doesn't care how much current you take or don't care. Besides, how much current do your audio components use anyway? Other than the power amp it is tiny. So if current is a problem, then it is not an issue for most of your electronics.
@@AudioScienceReview That is not true. A constant current will generate just a magnetic field, but an alternating current will create both alternating magnetic and electric field. Any alternating magnetic field always create a perpendicular alternating electrical field. AC cables are like bad near-field antennas that don't propagate. But AC always produce both magnetic and electrical fields.
I know EM are not intuitive, but you probably need to re-think about your EMI testing methodology in the future.
Very informative… thx!!!
My first intro to electromagnetic compatibility was when I had my first stereo and heard that buzz when I didn't fully seat an RCA plug. After having RCA plugs come loose a few more times, I thought "there has to be a better way!" And sure enough there was. When I was introduced to XLR connectors and STP cable, I why anyone was still using RCA ... of course it's for profit. At least now I can get prosumer gear for the home with XLR as standard equipment.
Speaking of placing profit over function, I can't help but notice how the makers of cost-no-object power cables can't be bothered to upgrade to C19/C20 connectors that are rated for 16A, instead using the common C13/C14 connectors rated at only 10A. If "more current" was that important, wouldn't they want to use parts rated for more current? And what about "balanced power"? I see a lot of woo on that subject.
Amir, won't a ferrite choke on the end of power cables and inter-connects help?
Also need to emphasize the fact that a high impedance input is much more susceptible to external interference than a low impedance input especially when it is not being driven from a low impedance source.
Danny at GR Research released a rebuttal video to your review of the LGK 2.0. I would be nice to see your response to his rebuttal.
Why? Danny is not a real engineer and there isn't anything to debate. Just watch Amir's videos covering the basics. You'll end up knowing more than Danny.
I could do one like that but it will seem argumentative. Instead, I am focusing on teaching moments in stuff he said and create stand-alone videos. This one addresses of him saying a live AC wire doesn't radiate anything. I will pick other topics and explain them.
thats what this is. It rebutts one of his mud throws.
@@Yankee_Doodle_Stacker I said LGK 2.0 specifically.
@@AudioScienceReview 👍
Excellent ! I use Ferrite Bead Chokes on my AC cables, as well as on DC cables. Cheap and effective for my needs.
11:09 Do it!!! ❤🔥And I'll crown you the Dalai Amir. Defeater of the church of Audio Scientology with his dangling cord of wisdom.
You clearly demonstrate that an unplugged AC cable can cause interference. And then you show that plugging the other end eliminates this interference. All good! Curious though - given that such AC cables are plugged in at both ends in practice, why would you present this data in a review?
I need to be able to freely manipulate an AC cable around an interconnect to check for its effect. This is a lot easier with an unterminated AC wire. I can loop it around the other cable, run it parallel, etc. It is also a known condition. If I plugged in the other side into a box, then the issue becomes how that is replicable.
At the end, the simple answer is that it is an ad-hoc test that gets the job done easily and quickly. :)
@@AudioScienceReview Hmmm, I can see how that would make it easier to test!
Will those unplugged interactions between the unplugged AC cable and another cable happen when both sides are plugged in?
Whether a signal wire picks up hum or not is more about the output impedance of the sending device than anything else. Proof here:
czcams.com/video/0QTjc6SBrmg/video.html
I agree with measurements and everything, but even the different wall outlet can sound different not only power cords and how is that posible I scratch my head
He says nothing that indicates you would hear anything here.
@@johnsmith1474 i know but I hear the difference what so ever, and I am anoyed by that, because what would be the reference outlet or power cord or speaker cable
Hello Amir, wanted to mention that it would be very informative if you measure the in-room response of open baffle speakers (not predicted in room response). In room response is what the manufacturers claim is better for open baffle speakers. But before you say I should ask the manufacturers to send you samples I have already done that but I am not hopeful.
Hello Anil. Sure, would be happy to do so. Which speaker you have in mind for testing?
@@AudioScienceReview Thanks for your reply. I guess the most acclaimed one out there is the Spatial Audio X series, I guess X3 and X5 are having production issues and X4 is the most easily available one. If you want to measure a speaker from GR research, given size and price, it would make sense to measure the NX Oticas. The manufacturers do mention that their speakers with open baffle woofers create a figure 8 pattern for the bass, but the bass is supposed to be much less prone to room interaction. I am not a sound engineer but have always been curious about this. Thanks a ton !
Edit : To be fair, the NX-Oticas are known to drop of flat at 70Hz and it is recommended that they are paired with the subwoofers from GR Research.
This is all very true, but we must notice that one must be very close to the AC power cable to pick up the field generated.. Even the tester designed for the task that has an internal amplifier has to be within an inch. It's because the field drops off at r^2... r being the radius of the distance from the source (wire). It's also true that an open ended cable will still generate a field because the entire length of the cable including the circuit that supplies the cable is a capacitor and current however small is flowing. A cable connected to a load creates a larger field proportional to the current flowing.
Bottom line? If the source, the power cable isn't laying on your audio input cables you're not going to pick up the 60hz signal..
If you think that your AC cable supplying your equipment is a problem, look into the filtering that's done before the power supply voltage reaches the amplifier circuits.. It's long gone.
Amir, 50% off topic: I don't know if you're knowledgeable about human physiology, but it would be interesting to hear from you about electromagnetic fields, grounding, and health. What's your view on their influence on human health? I see articles pointing out that they could affect health, but just as in the audio it could be at a paltry level? Even weak fields that we create indoors with our appliances? Thank you.
silly question maybe should i just wrap cables in foil?
I'm curious brother, will you ever make a video where your subjective experience contradicts your measurements? Or rather, have you ever had this experience where a product doesn't measure so well but sounds amazing? Would be a fun video me thinks.
Please make an ASR T shirt depicting a sine wave with the caption:
"It's FLAT"
😆
I'm cracking up, hilarious 😂
Thx Amir !
Audiofools will say "you have measure this with the ears"
Circuit completion through your shoes to a floor as a ground? Not likely.
To me the question of high end audio cables is do the cables make the sound better or do the cables change the sound?
I have tested a number of them and so far none make a difference.
Only the flat earthers at GR research believe in cable voodoo.
The Earth is flat, the military does not compensate for the curvature of the earth when firing missiles or rockets... Nor do railroads when laying tracks... And I'm with Amir on the cables. Science and all.