Controversial HiFi Things I Should Not Talk About....but I will. Tweaks, Cables and MORE!
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- čas přidán 2. 03. 2023
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Today I talk about tweaks, cables, power and one thing that many assume is snake oil, scams or just ridiculous. I talk about the Nordost QV2, Qk1, Mad Scientist Cables and much more. I discuss the products within hifi that may be known as "snake oil" by some.
Enjoy and as always, more to come. Have an amazing day!
Steve
Media Contact/Review Contact: stevehuff1@icloud.com - Jak na to + styl
How many QV2's would it take to make my clock radio sound better?
None as you know as they aren’t made for that. They do work, and adding more to my system did make an improvement. It’s hard for some to believe something like this does anything, but it does. At the same time, these are things that finish off a system. They do not make a system. In other words one can not have a poor or badly set up system and use these to transform it. It’s for systems that are already set up and sounding amazing. It’s the extra sugar on top. Never buy these to fix a system. Get that set up first, to your liking. Then try these and if they don’t work, send them back for a refund. That’s what I would do. : ) no risk with these whatsoever.
This video is insane. It just goes on and on. "The tubes with the gold pins was more sparkly..." Holy crap...
My Man stuck an led in a power socket and claims it makes his hifi sound better 😂
The more the better and they only work in pairs? Yeah I bet, great marketing.
yeah but it was cryogenically treated! After burning in a cryo treated LED for 754 hours the gestalt booms with the essence of the music's solidity and air.
I use old worn actual lamp cords from old lamps. My reasoning is 120 volts has been breaking them in for years.
And makes the sound "warmer"
@@planningahea8505 And brighter too 🙂
isn't CZcams Premium supposed to eliminate ads?
These tweaks combined cost more than peoples systems
Seriously do you really believe what the advertising blurb tells you ?? :D LOL
speaker cables that focus on realism. That's got to be some really amazing technology. How does it work? How does a cable focus on realism?
In the same way that some cables give more tonal colour. In the same way that some cables give more space around voices and instruments - more air. In the same way that some cables give instruments more shape. None of which can be measured - but can most certainly be heard. Unless you're deaf, obstinate or only listen to appallingly awful music. Possibly all three of course!
Realism - yes indeed, try a Furutech Triple C - really.
It goes to nightschool so it can defend its position !!!😂
My cables are more like post modernism. I have A-B them against renaissance cables. Amazing difference.
I prefer the stoneage cables. @@mpelevic
Surrealism has a much larger soundstage, in fact it's pretty much infinite.
I'm absolutely with you on the efficacy of quality cables, interconnects, and (some) tweaks. My 40 years of high performance audio experience bear this out. Our ears are the ultimate arbiters in this *audio* hobby.
100%.
wow...shameless
I live in New Zealand, I never heard of these cables before, but I know there's been a load of copper wires and pipes stolen off Auckland building sites recently.
You know someone's trustworthy when they literally do the "my wide noticed the difference from the kitchen" meme. My goodness....
I would like to see a demo on an oscilloscope so we can see any ringing, losses, phase shift, or anything that's not the same as what goes in.
You and I know audiophiles don't like actual test results even if those results prove no improvement.
I think before you do any of these tweaks, your room should properly be treated. That will make the biggest difference that no upgrade or tweak will even begin to approach.
I had room treatments in here and removed them. Was too damped. I prefer natural room treatments, and my room is perfect in sound. No issues with anything. Not one bass issues, no reflection issues, nada. Best sounding room I have had in 35 years. Ive talked about this at length before. I do not fix what is not broken. We also do not need big money products to "treat" the room when we can do so naturally and very easily. The key is to avoid reflection from an empty room and to avoid over damping which deadens the sound. You want a room to have a little life to it otherwise the sound is dead. I love this room, and it sounds glorious. Much better than my last room in AZ that was really over damped. Also, as I say in this video...tweaks are for when your system is sounding amazing and you are 100% set up with everything. Then add a tweak and see what it does for you, if anything.
Why not record with a reference mic and post the real results ?
There will be no difference of course ;)
Did you just do the "even my wife noticed the difference" without irony??
Hilarious
Of course he did. What he didn't say is that the difference she noticed was so great that she started dancing like there was no tomorrow...
If she wasn't in the kitchen, it's an invalid claim
My opinion on speaker cable is, the type in your actual speaker boxes is just OFC or maybe silver plated OFC at best. So really what you run from amp to speaker just goes through that cheap but perfectly adequate cable anyway.
man, these are really expensive, 1800$ for speakers cables... maybe if you have 100k system, it do make sense to buy these products, but for mere mortals like us... maybe in another life 😂
can any of these be measured scientifically?
Unfortunately something that is purely imaginary can't be measured scientifically ;)
Do you think everything that a human perceives can be measured? If you believe that, you are very narrow minded. Fact. You are making a groundless assumption.
@@Coneman3 blah blah blah.
@@Coneman3 yes, you can. In fact, your own perception is a type of measurement as well, unfortunately, it cannot be recorded, yet, for others to verify.
@@planningahea8505 Just recently break through in using AI to reconstruct images that are stored in neurons. Google it. Whether all human perceptions can be recalled by exterior devices is unknown, but at least some human perceptions will be able to be reconstructed.
Recommend tungsol 12ax 7 for warm sweet sound.
So all these fantastic amps ,dacs speakers that cost thousands , need tweaks to get them sounding better , are your reviews always consisting of all these tweaks, or do you just plug into the mains to give your reviews
They do not "need" these tweaks to sound better.... All amps, especially the higher end ones are more than capable of sounding great without these accessories. Very rarely do these tweaks actually improve anything. It is always recommended to get the most out of your positioning, eq settings etc before considering these "audiophile products" (most of which are scams)
Acoustic Research, 45 years ago about speaker cables: "....12# night lamp cord is fine..."
Link to the headphones?
I recommend getting a tice clock it will do wonders for your system. Also Tara Labs makes their own cables that will really up your game.
Very interesting the cable! Never heard
Why are companies using the same naming scheme for their products such as " Mark ll"?. Why not just say 2 or, model 2, or version 2?. Mark ll doesn't sound special or cool. The name " Mark" is already really weird and odd in itself.
$810 for a pair of Nordost AC "Harmonizers?" I think I will do without and stay acapella. Next, I expect to see which Zodiac sign is best for listening to my audio rig!
The one which is cryogenically
treated 😂
I’m a tweaked. Got loads in my system. You should try anti vibration and ferrite cores.
The Emperor’s new suit of cloths springs to mind!
Does anyone else have experience using the Puritan Mains Conditioner/Surge Suppressor both with & without the upgraded "Ultimate Power Cord "
I will be auditioning this unit shortly & I am curious to know your thoughts/opinions about it..why you did or didn't care for it.
Thanks!
1 is enough imo. I got a great improvement with 1 and after that I bought another Qv2.
Yes, power-cables makes a big difference.
what is the oscillating noise in the background? gets annoying pretty fast.
PSvane tubes have changed my life 😊
Not sure why people get upset by power conditioners and wires. High-end stereo gear is like a race car and no one blinks when someone spends $500 on spark plug wires for a race car. But in a high-end system $500 for a power cord is insane. My system is not at the level that I can justify that yet, but I don't see the issue with people trying to get every ounce of sound quality they can by adding these tweaks.
It's interesting indeed. Most who soak negative of these things normally hasn't tried them. They spew negativity because they cant imagine spending money on something they believe is garbage. Lots of people spew hate these days, it's a part of life. I ignore the noise as its easy to do and never let anyone dictate what I say, do or talk about. It's not me with the issue, it's the negative people who like to spend their time being negative. Sadly, this in turn brings more negative to their life. We do get back what we put out in this world, 100%. Tweaks such as these, or cables, or power products do work if you get the right ones for your system and setup. Wether one wants that last 2-3% is up to them but yes, it is like tuning a race car!
We need an audiophile psychotherapist to analyze why people feel threatened by expensive wire but not by extremely expensive components.
This is not apples to apples comparison. Performance of a race car is measurable in a myriad of ways. Analyzing performance of cables is hubris.
Because it is insane lol. Completely different applications with electricity. Spark plug wires can be that expensive because they have to deal with so much more than an audio cable does
@@twraven1 Cause it is just wire ! Why should it cost the same as a car or a £5000 preamp ?
I'm a bit of a line array fan. Wide spread and reduced up to the ceiling.
I just ordered the Verum Audio headphones. I don’t even listen to headphones! But I am “headphone curious” so I thought, what better time to try a pair when it will also help support a fellow audiophile in Ukraine.
And the Infos about this cable are amaizing . No winding Geometrie no specs about the materiel . Looks like a BBC out of nowhere😂
I use Furutech Liquid Nano on my contacts. It sets a proprietary blend of silver and gold onto all connectors. Possibly balances the sound at each point of probable signal interruptions.
One more tweak that I’ve used is putting a small obsidian tower near the plug and hear my system clean up even more.
I place Tesla coils on my speakers and rub peanut butter on all my interconnects. It makes a huge difference in presentation. Sound is a bit sticky but at the same time electrifying.
Your both mad. You simply have to sacrifice old cpu power boards to the gods of silicone. Made my system have ultimate transparency and realism
I'm A Simple Man, I see Focal, I hit Like button :)
Really wish on videos like this you talk prices on everything you reference!! I can testify to one tweak that significantly boosted the bass response in my system… Silver Banana plugs for my speaker cables by Audioquest!! Less than fifty bucks, audible difference!!
I am not here to sell anyone anything. I make no money doing this, so why would I? What I do is tell of my experience and that is all. I always suggest if someone is interested in these things to TRY THEM in your own system. You can buy, try and return if something does not work for you. Heck, I do. I once returned a $10k piece because it was not working for me. Just have to find the right dealer or shop. Most online shops have full return policies so people can try for themselves. Some of this stuff is too pricey, but the more I look around it seems EVERYTHING these days is insanely priced. Must be the old man in me ; ) For me, I stick with what works for me just as I assume anyone would do. I do these reviews for fun, for discovery, for the passion I have for it. The few hundred a month I make on google ad revenue makes it worth it for me but if I did this as a business I would be doing daily videos and going all out. There's no real money in audio reviews unless you sell ads and I do not do that as that can influence reviews. Anyway, thanks for watching!
Oh yeah...the QK2's work better than anyone who hasn't tried them can imagine. Everything that you have experienced is what I have experienced and in addition I feel what I call 'flow' from my entire system when they are plugged in and when I unplug them all of the sonic benefits disappear. Everything you said about these dongle's is absolutely true .
This actually explains a lot. " I have experienced and in addition I feel what I call 'flow' " Hay if it makes you happy I'm all for it
Do a binaural A B recording and let us decide.
I have a power conditioner to protect my gear and remove hum and noise from the mains
I do not have room on my outlets however can the QV2 be plugged into open spaces on my Panamax electrical conditioner?
Is it worth the cost for QV2 over the Ifi Audio AC iPurifier? They seem to do the same job but QV2 is much more expensive.
Sorry. No to these
Don't be sorry! 😀
L🤭L Benefits of Phono 🧢$ incoming, verified by 🦇 and Audiophile communities in The Twilight Zone 👽
you missed vintage or nos tubes ,way more important than cables and tweaks
I have a cute single end with 6m5 out put not exactly powerful but nice.
Did you try the Pass HPA-1 headphone amp/preamp?
I have not. I’m typically not a big headphone guy, mostly because the costly headphones I’ve tried were nothing close to my speaker system. The Verum 1”s are such a good buy I had to mention them. Lovely for the money but I know they could be even better. I’m sure the pass head amp is lovely.
I think 90⁰ of audiophiles need nothing more than 8 or 12TC Kimber Kables
I hope you're not listening the changes of your system with that hat on 😄
Why? do you often listen with a hat on? I don’t wear my hat indoors as hats are for colder weather :)
When I wear my hat whilst listening the bass gets really woolly.
@@gumbygreeneye3655 That goes great with the chocolaty mid-range. 💩 And his wife could hear the difference from the kitchen. 😑
A few years ago I was curious so I conducted a survey on the largest audiophile group on Facebook to ask one simple question. Do cables make a difference in the sound of a system and the overwhelming majority (roughly 82%) believe cables make a difference.
Just because people believe doesn't make it true, but you know that.
So they answer was they BELIEVE that they make a difference? Do they same survey among professionals who actually have a clue about electrotechnique and physics 😂
@@jonnyBgood3 I'm just posting the survey result of the vast majorities experience. This poll has since been conducted again with the same results.
Those cables cost as much as the amp 😮
Check with an electrician for advice that won't cost so much
I’ve had my wiring all redone and had an electrician here. I have a dedicated line to my audio room. All done before finally finding a solution. (The dedicated line didn’t help with any of the issues). The money I spent on the electrician was really a waste in this case as it didn’t solve the problem. Thanks and have a great day.
@SteveHuffHiFi Where I am I have 3 phase 440v coming to the house. So it is possible to connect to an unused phase unless someone down the street is using. My tv and microwave do use the same and that is annoying.
Alpha Audio tested half a dozen of those power noise filters. They gave a big 👍🏼 to one that’s easily available and costs a little over $100. Iso Tek Evo3.
I havn't found a power cable yet that I can hear a difference with. Speaker cables on the other hand, I can definitely hear a difference.
Shhhhhhhhhh...! Yet Shema!!!
Steve, I just got a pair of Nordost Qv 2's and to say that I am gobsmacked would be a major understatement. I won't go into detail because there is so much revelation in every possible audio vocabulary that it's not worth giving you a full five page writeup. Thank you thank you thank you!
"You dont bend snakes"!! LOL!!!!
Use submarine cable better, the sound will flood your room like the rush of the seas.
Better than Chord, Kimber?
I hope you don’t wear a head bonnet while seriously listening because your ears will be covered. But I saw you trying the Verum headphones wearing a bonnet or were you just trying it for size, fit and comfort?
Haha it's a beanie bc it's cold outside sometimes I wear open backs with a blanket over my head I always worry about the Soundstage 😂
these qv2 are just like the noise havester from PS audio or any other noise reducer device. from my experience a dedicated power line is better for the sound then these noise reducers.
They do not reduce any noise in my system as its already noise free. They do however change the sound. I dislike the QK1's as they negatively effected my sound. The QV2's are wonderful and have had a pair for many years installed. With four of them. it's even better. In my system it's easy to hear what they do. PS Audio noise harvesters did nothing for me and are a completely different product.
Cables do make a difference pending where you are in your journey... At the beginning of my journey did not believe in cables but now at the end of my journey... Wow! They bring more naturalness and help to make my set-up sound more like live music... There so how much information that was missing in the music... Cheers!
I am convinced that the same may be obtained with tuning of speakers and amplifier. Anyway it brakes producer garantie and requires higher knowledge then exchange outside parts. .
Are you following your own advise though...? ...Shema!!!.
Speaker cables will not change the sound unless they are terribly designed and acting as a low or high pass filter. What changes is how you listen when you change cables. This is why every ABX DBT of cables gives us the same result, no differences detected.
It also helps being deaf.
@@Moonplant432 said no one...ever
I'd wager that most teenagers would say that. @@scottwheeler2679
gota eat i guess
👍🏻👏🏻
Why not battery Backup prue sine wave???
Battery will give you DC. But yeah, if power cords really did make a difference a DC battery would be the perfect solution. The perfect solution for a make believe problem.
@@scottwheeler2679 For this reason I replaced my Hi FI cassette deck with tiny and not expensive walkman powered by two AA batteries . HI FI deck can't compete with such clean supply . Wonder how to apply any perfect supply cable to walkam to make more change.
SMH
🤔
Thanks
They have this guy brainwashed 😂
Equally theres a lot of brainwashing that goes on with the wires are wires dismissal brigade trick is to have an open mind. This guy has at least experienced these cables.
Best you open one up and have a look inside...
And ??? don't leave us hanging
You said these tweaks are for those people looking for that last percent or two. Not true. These are for people who believe that magic can be pulled out of the air with a cheap little circuit with an LED. People who believe that the physics of the flow of electricity can be altered by a little passive device that sits under a speaker wire. People who believe that 3' of cable can substantially undo the damage that 30 miles of outdoor cabling wreaks on audio systems. Basically people with no common sense at all.
Why are you being so rude?
@@michaellichnovsky8397 That's not rude !
If someone thinks certain tweeks make a difference i dont see the problem. Choices, each to there own.
@@oohtob6685 except he's advising people to spend thousands of dollars on this stuff
@@starofcctv94 yes but nothing to get upset about. People have choices.
If someone spends a fortune on a cable that he has promoted its not his fault that it hasn't worked in there system.
And i dont actually think that he's said buy this.
Irrational exuberance
Diminishing returns
I would take the $$$ and put it towards a PSAudio PowerPlant.
I have a magic wand, an old Bic pencil. I put it on the floor in the middle of the room, oriented toward North, and out of my audio system the sound sounds richer, detailed and sustained trebles with a softening envelope, precise and pronounced basses, it automatically adjusts to the style of music as if swapping tubes in a snap, and my dog smells better too.
That is what water AeLways does to every dog...Shema!!!.
when you spend $1600 on something useless and pointless, you have to justify it, at least to your wife
48 years ago when I bought my first audio equipment, no one talked about cables, let alone other useless wallet emptying nonsense
what about steinmusic😂
what about interconnects instead of speaker cables
I’m a huge believer in cables as I hear differences with any cable swap. Interconnects are probably more important than speaker cables. I still use red dawn for my IC”s across the board.
The tubes and the headphones: yes.
The rest: 😂😂😂💦
cables...snakeoil
Cables absolutely do make a noticeable difference. Have been swapping between a few, and even my non-audiophile friend noticed, that when I was using the Puritan classic cable that came stock with the psm156 on my amplifier, it sucked all the life out of the system! Like all of it, she was like dude, what have you done!? When I told her it was just a cable she was in disbelief. And now a full loom of Zavfino cables are the reason my system breathes :)
So you were ask to pay 2 300$ for a device that sucked ALL the life out of your system, but when you swapped the power cable that came with that for another one, everything just became magical? A lot to unpack here, my friend...
@@yantrussart6584 My personal suspect is that listeners else listen to changes in cables or in extremly rare situations they may enjoy perfect sound which can only be spoiled. First can be excercised by all, second is gift of fate even with cables for electrical lighting. But it is only my conclusion.
"breathes" ? 😂
Great stuff!!
i also recommend for the verum 1 ,the headamp gilmore lite mk 2 class a heaphone amp,it's 500$ made in usa ,heard it with audeze lcd 2 planars and that was the best headphone setup ive heard.
Thanks for sharing, you're the man. Wearing the
the flak jacket was a great idea lol
It's nice to geht some new Brands and other Points of View as a German
Have you ever tried kimber cables? I love mine and I have classics and they work wonderful for the 💰. They are the best cables I have ever had.
Prior Monocles, now Select KS6063 👌
@@CarlVanDoren61 how big is the difference? I'm on 8TC and was thinking about Monocle and than get the bug to look higher...
I tried two of the Richard Gray power company RGPC 400’s. They’re USA models and I’m back in Australia these days so not in use now, yet…
So you didn't "try" them??
Kudos. Cables, power conditioning and resonance control are VERY important, at least as important as any system component.
Actually, the're much more important than any device you could ever buy. Case in point, my system is solely composed of cables, power conditioners and isolation feet and it never sounded better...
"I've heard a lot of cables" 🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
All revievers mention usualy about so called "sweet spot" which obviously exists because it comes out from phase and amplitude triangles. . Which ear, left or right is supposed to be placed in sweet spot or maybe both should be slightly out of spot and we should place nose there? But then perfection is lost.
The sweet spot is where the sound from each speaker reaches each respective ear at exactly the same time, so it’s not about pointing both to one precise spot necessarily
ah yes, the products of a Capitalist hellscape. What wonderful times we're living in.
Capitalism allows you to not only ignore such products, but to speak against them if you so desire.
I think the hidden take-away message is that if you just buy all this stuff - and let's assume it all works - you will never appreciate any of it, because you never experienced anything less.
If someone wants this stuff - I don't, FWIW - then it's best if they slowly work their way up.
I am still looking for a vintage 1980s CD player that doesn't cost too much. The ones with metal trays and big, square buttons.I love audio systems from that era.
Retro audio FTW!
The Philips cd104 is still one of the best.
I have B&O Ouverture - only then you need to make DIN connectors to system . It works astonish and you may find there top cassette with reverse, AM/FM radio and sophisticated remote.
@@Mikexception Nice. 👌
Please 🙏 help i know it’s attachment
Placebo
Yeah placebo. If you think it won't, it won't.
@@samuilc8000 that is called nocebo
@@yoddeb tsk tsk
that's what's amazing about placebo. My system can sound different any day of the week, depending on power, or my mood, or if I have a headache, or something to drink. Sometimes things sound harsh as hell for whatever reason, others I sit down and it's smooth. Now imagine adding a variable to the mix and attributing all the difference you'd normally hear to the thing. Voila.
tubes are not another tweak, they are your preamp, jj's are some of the worst tubes ive heard. you will love vintage mullards in your system. it's not a rabbit hole if you know what youre doing.
That's fact. Even tube aficionados do not always realize the tubes ARE the amplifier (or preamp in this case). The rest is chassis, power supply and output transformers, to simplify the point.
Jj ecc tubes are horrible
@@LeonFleisherFan You simplified too much. Tubes only amplify that what is delivered and formed by connections with resistances and capacitances and excited by circuitry fields.
Amplification is done by tubes but it is provided by anode voltages and they have also impact on plates in tubes - plates and grids are hot. With higher voltages and reaching the limits become plastic and deform which impacts set points for operation and increase THD. . That is main reason why old tubes are better - they are build stronger because were bulld to last. And for that reason their sound is not changing while audiophiles state that "all" tubes last short. . In my amplifier made in 1963 are used 6V6. Measured their plate voltage is 375 V, I use it 4 years and they were second hand - no problem . Voltage catalogue max limit for 6V6 is (was also in past) 315V. How come ? They simply handle it.
Beacause they were build to last - not only to stand data. In this amplifier better not try to replace with new 6V6 - they'll get red. But the problem is in amplifier construction, not tubes. Constructors of amplifiers fight for power because it is main concern of dilettante customers and it means VOLTAGES. Tube max is 9W and they claim in PP they've got power 30W? Noticeably that no word about THD in such max power.
Materials of transformer and it's construction decides about it's loosing energy and internal impedance Elaborated transformer no need to weight 5 kgs to transform 20 Hz but again - dilettante customers valuate it only by weight. Actualy I build 2W amplifier with transformers like miniature size and it delivers below 30 Hz. Beacause they are original old Philips made in Holland and even look trusty. . .
@@Mikexception I have a wonderful 2W SET with small wide-band output transformers as well, but then I also have 211 and a GM70 SETs, and there, the output transformer are by necessity big and heavy. Of course, cheap output transformers tend to be unnecessarily big and heavy, I get the point, but I wouldn't refer to a 2W amplifier as if those were the norm. Needless to say, I agree wholeheartedly about the superiority of NOS tubes, I guess everyone does, hardly a secret.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂