So, the latest comparison was Friwo (C) vs Netgear (D) with all units powered by the same strip?
And the previous was Netgear (A) vs Friwo (B) with the units powered by two strips?
Playground for practical listening exercises
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Re: Playground for practical listening exercises
Correct, the examples were recorded with that setup.
If Alien and the Switch are powered from a separate power strip, this occasionally creates a very strange effect. The overall sound image shifts slightly to the left, for which I have no explanation. In fact, the impression isn't consistent, but it's very clearly audible. It has now disappeared, and I hope it stays that way, because solving this has been a constant issue since the small system (the entire time with separate power strips) was set up.
If Alien and the Switch are powered from a separate power strip, this occasionally creates a very strange effect. The overall sound image shifts slightly to the left, for which I have no explanation. In fact, the impression isn't consistent, but it's very clearly audible. It has now disappeared, and I hope it stays that way, because solving this has been a constant issue since the small system (the entire time with separate power strips) was set up.
Trust your ears
Re: Playground for practical listening exercises
Same electrical orientation (live & neutral) of both power supplies across the two comparisons? Interesting that the power supply preference appeared to shift when fed by a single power strip…
Re: Playground for practical listening exercises
For devices with double-insulated plugs (Euro plugs), selecting the correct phase is only possible by ear. Alien and Switch use these types. Since there are only four options, it's quite easy to find the right orientation.
Trust your ears
Re: Playground for practical listening exercises
With 2-pin US as well... was just asking for confirmation of consistency of orientation to clarify that the power supply in use is the only change... wouldn't expect otherwise given your meticulous attention to detail :)
I will admit though that I thought we were listening to separate vs single power strips with the Netgear, after the first round results seemed to favour the Netgear over the Friwo - now we seem to have the opposite hence looking for confirmation on the orientation.
Will be curious to read what order you settle on, and where the power supply & Alien settle in order against the Boazu* and DS...
* Our of interest, what speakers are we listening to?
Re: Playground for practical listening exercises
They are the Linn Keilidh.
The last examples with only one power strip brought a certain improvement, but two power strips are much better in the right constellation! I'm not sure why I didn't use Boazu 2 and Linn DS in different power strips before. It changes everything, including the previously described effect of the slightly shifted sound image. Shame on me for ignoring this for so long.
Actually I'm using two power strips again, one for the Boazu 2 and the other for the digital section. You can see four power strips in the picture of the power panel. One of them is original (lower one), the others are modified. One with a Naim power cable (the next), the other two got a C14 built-in plug to choose different power cable. The power strip of the Boazu 2 uses the Linn cable from the KRadikal (3rd), the other strip operated with a no-name cable. Furthermore, the two socket strips with IEC sockets are modified internally. For the digital range, only the ICE socket is installed and a connection to the brass rails is made with copper wire. The internal connections of the sockets for the Boazu 2 power strip are completely connected via copper wires.
. .
There are more combinations possible and I don't want to switch the devices off and on often. The Linn DS is very sensitive if it doesn't see the i-net and needs a popo every time, which is certainly not very good for the devices.
I'll keep experimenting and maybe I'll give the small system a separate power cable directly to the house distribution, like the big system. As soon as a perfect arrangement of the power cable is found, I post further examples.
The last examples with only one power strip brought a certain improvement, but two power strips are much better in the right constellation! I'm not sure why I didn't use Boazu 2 and Linn DS in different power strips before. It changes everything, including the previously described effect of the slightly shifted sound image. Shame on me for ignoring this for so long.
Actually I'm using two power strips again, one for the Boazu 2 and the other for the digital section. You can see four power strips in the picture of the power panel. One of them is original (lower one), the others are modified. One with a Naim power cable (the next), the other two got a C14 built-in plug to choose different power cable. The power strip of the Boazu 2 uses the Linn cable from the KRadikal (3rd), the other strip operated with a no-name cable. Furthermore, the two socket strips with IEC sockets are modified internally. For the digital range, only the ICE socket is installed and a connection to the brass rails is made with copper wire. The internal connections of the sockets for the Boazu 2 power strip are completely connected via copper wires.
. .
There are more combinations possible and I don't want to switch the devices off and on often. The Linn DS is very sensitive if it doesn't see the i-net and needs a popo every time, which is certainly not very good for the devices.
I'll keep experimenting and maybe I'll give the small system a separate power cable directly to the house distribution, like the big system. As soon as a perfect arrangement of the power cable is found, I post further examples.
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Trust your ears