Cheap power strips for best sound.

We use the Tune Method to evaluate performance

Moderator: Staff

Post Reply
tpetsch
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 342
Joined: 2020-08-17 18:46
Location: United States

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tpetsch »

"Them", also for me in this match-up. "Us" sounded like I was listening to the radio, a very good one although, like a Kremlin or a NAT-01.
Rega P10, Aphelion II, Aura. Naim CB 32.5/HC, Naxo 3-6/HC, 3x250 into K20/DMS.
User avatar
lejonklou
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6523
Joined: 2007-01-30 10:38
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by lejonklou »

ThomasOK wrote: 2021-01-29 00:56 Still a tough one. Overall I like Them better as Us sounds a bit too smoothed over. Them can sound a bit aggressive at times but I find I can hear what the players are doing better and follow the flow more. Could I possibly have a half scoop of each, blended?
I feel the same. Them may be a tad rushed, but Us is lacking something.

Musically I find it hard to pick one of them. Them sure sounds more open, but I try to ignore that.
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tokenbrit »

markiteight wrote: 2021-01-29 00:39 To me 'without' is okay with the music being slow and lets it be slow. 'With' seems to want to push the pace...
Same comparison, but this time correcting a grievous error as pointed out by Tom:

Us: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1tx0pcoo6egyg ... A.MOV?dl=0

Them: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jurdoa70wa1fc ... 2.MOV?dl=0
I could relate to your description of with & without. Going with Us this time - just felt easier to appreciate - hoping that's consistent with 'without'... but not too worried as I enjoyed listening to the clips, good either way.
Eli7
Active member
Active member
Posts: 145
Joined: 2020-05-24 18:22

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by Eli7 »

"Them" for me.
MDSM3 / Netgear GS 108T-200 / BJC Cat 6a / K200 (Lejonklou Cut K400) /
M140
User avatar
Tendaberry
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 982
Joined: 2010-08-30 16:08
Location: Hamburg

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by Tendaberry »

Another vote for "Them"
User avatar
V.A.MKD
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 862
Joined: 2019-10-09 15:33
Location: Skopje / Europe
Contact:

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by V.A.MKD »

For me Them.
Slightly ... very slightly ... easier to follow ...
Music First ...
Vlado
User avatar
ThomasOK
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4358
Joined: 2007-02-02 18:41
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by ThomasOK »

tokenbrit wrote: 2021-01-29 05:13
markiteight wrote: 2021-01-29 00:39 To me 'without' is okay with the music being slow and lets it be slow. 'With' seems to want to push the pace...
Same comparison, but this time correcting a grievous error as pointed out by Tom:

Us: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1tx0pcoo6egyg ... A.MOV?dl=0

Them: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jurdoa70wa1fc ... 2.MOV?dl=0
I could relate to your description of with & without. Going with Us this time - just felt easier to appreciate - hoping that's consistent with 'without'... but not too worried as I enjoyed listening to the clips, good either way.
It looks like you need to be more inclusive as the rest of Us preferred Them. But being one of Them I think it is safe to say that we will still allow you to be With Us, Without undue concern.

Out of my way, it's a busy day
I've got things on my mind.
The LP12 Whisperer
Manufacturer, Distributor, Retailer and above all lover of music.
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tokenbrit »

ThomasOK wrote: 2021-01-29 17:21 It looks like you need to be more inclusive as the rest of Us preferred Them. But being one of Them I think it is safe to say that we will still allow you to be With Us, Without undue concern.

Out of my way, it's a busy day
I've got things on my mind.
Thank you for showing that it's not a case of with Us or against Us; I'm just not quite ready to be one of Them yet. I'm still trying to work out what it means to be one of Us, or rather an Us of one... Off to listen to Peter Gabriel to see if that helps ;p
User avatar
lejonklou
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 6523
Joined: 2007-01-30 10:38
Location: Sweden
Contact:

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by lejonklou »

You guys are so funny.
User avatar
markiteight
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 834
Joined: 2012-01-13 01:50
Location: Seattle, Wa. USA

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by markiteight »

tokenbrit wrote: 2021-01-29 18:13
ThomasOK wrote: 2021-01-29 17:21 It looks like you need to be more inclusive as the rest of Us preferred Them. But being one of Them I think it is safe to say that we will still allow you to be With Us, Without undue concern.

Out of my way, it's a busy day
I've got things on my mind.
Thank you for showing that it's not a case of with Us or against Us; I'm just not quite ready to be one of Them yet. I'm still trying to work out what it means to be one of Us, or rather an Us of one... Off to listen to Peter Gabriel to see if that helps ;p
If them were to offer you some tea and a slice would that be enough to entice you?
User avatar
markiteight
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 834
Joined: 2012-01-13 01:50
Location: Seattle, Wa. USA

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by markiteight »

This has been a fun and fascinating comparison. So what were we listening to?

With/Us: Bog standard Wiremold UL100BC (as used in the previous comparison)

Without/Them: Another UL100BC with circuit breaker bypassed.
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tokenbrit »

I feel like there's something missing from Them - not sure it is "some tea and a slice". Them has more gusto, but less feeling - it just comes across as a little musically cold; needs a bit more warmth... so maybe it does need a good brew, and some hot cross buns :)
Us, on the other hand, has a kind of blanketing warmth to the music, which works at the beginning, but could do with a coffee to get it going, especially when the dynamics are (meant to) kick in from the middle of the clip(s)
I think most of us (not Us ;) are somewhere around the middle, it's just that I'm a bit more Us than Them. Like when Tom said "half scoop of each"; that's probably not too far off for me either - I'd maybe go 60/40

PS: just saw the Us/with so I am consistently inconsistent :/
User avatar
ThomasOK
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 4358
Joined: 2007-02-02 18:41
Location: United States
Contact:

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by ThomasOK »

Well tokenbrit, it appears I am too (at least if I can follow all this, which I'm not sure of). But you nailed one thing: Them is missing something - a circuit breaker!

However, if bypassing the breaker involved soldering it will be 4 months before you know what it really sounds like. ;-) Aren't I helpful?
The LP12 Whisperer
Manufacturer, Distributor, Retailer and above all lover of music.
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tokenbrit »

ThomasOK wrote: 2021-01-30 16:56 .. if bypassing the breaker involved soldering...
I was wondering how the breaker was bypassed, and whether that needed any break-in... :? (maybe I need a break :p )
OscarH
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 304
Joined: 2019-03-14 10:57
Location: Exile on Dane St.

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by OscarH »

Better to need a break than a bypass...
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tokenbrit »

OscarH wrote: 2021-01-30 17:28 Better to need a break than a bypass...
Quite... :)
tpetsch
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 342
Joined: 2020-08-17 18:46
Location: United States

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tpetsch »

markiteight wrote: 2021-01-29 21:56 This has been a fun and fascinating comparison. So what were we listening to?

With/Us: Bog standard Wiremold UL100BC (as used in the previous comparison)

Without/Them: Another UL100BC with circuit breaker bypassed.
Hi,
I did a quick search but did not see anywhere what exactly your set-up is, can you please list all the components -including mods if any- used in all these A/B comparisons, Thank you.
Rega P10, Aphelion II, Aura. Naim CB 32.5/HC, Naxo 3-6/HC, 3x250 into K20/DMS.
User avatar
markiteight
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 834
Joined: 2012-01-13 01:50
Location: Seattle, Wa. USA

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by markiteight »

tokenbrit wrote: 2021-01-29 22:19 I feel like there's something missing from Them - not sure it is "some tea and a slice". Them has more gusto, but less feeling - it just comes across as a little musically cold; needs a bit more warmth... so maybe it does need a good brew, and some hot cross buns :)
Us, on the other hand, has a kind of blanketing warmth to the music, which works at the beginning, but could do with a coffee to get it going, especially when the dynamics are (meant to) kick in from the middle of the clip(s)
I think most of us (not Us ;) are somewhere around the middle, it's just that I'm a bit more Us than Them. Like when Tom said "half scoop of each"; that's probably not too far off for me either - I'd maybe go 60/40

PS: just saw the Us/with so I am consistently inconsistent :/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIYoyvW3J9Q

I think I get where you're coming from with your desire for a bit more warmth. I try to avoid the discussion of tonal balance as it ultimately shouldn't matter, but I've noticed that every time I make a major musical breakthrough it is associated with a sense of warmth that wasn't there before. This could be pure coincidence, but I do think you're on to something. Let's see if we can find a way to crank up the heat a bit:

Column A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qtr7e2msv6rdp ... 3.MOV?dl=0

Column B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cpd6dl92a5ji3 ... D.MOV?dl=0
ThomasOK wrote: 2021-01-30 16:56 However, if bypassing the breaker involved soldering it will be 4 months before you know what it really sounds like. ;-)
No soldering involved! They use crimped Panduit quick connects so it was almost plug 'n play. I just had to swap out one of the connectors for one with the correct orientation and fortunately I had the exact type they used on hand so it was a very straight forward modification.
ThomasOK wrote: 2021-01-30 16:56 Aren't I helpful?
You have your moments. ;-)
tpetsch wrote: 2021-01-30 23:37 Hi,
I did a quick search but did not see anywhere what exactly your set-up is, can you please list all the components -including mods if any- used in all these A/B comparisons, Thank you.
Here you go:
https://www.lejonklou.com/forum/viewtop ... f=4&t=4608
tokenbrit
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2038
Joined: 2012-03-22 19:47
Location: New England

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tokenbrit »

markiteight wrote: 2021-01-31 02:19 Let's see if we can find a way to crank up the heat a bit:

Column A: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qtr7e2msv6rdp ... 3.MOV?dl=0

Column B: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cpd6dl92a5ji3 ... D.MOV?dl=0
'Column B' clip wouldn't play in my browser, via the link, so had to listen to them each after downloading first... Taking a break from listening via my phone, so... my laptop says A :)

Update: curiously both links work now; no need to listen to the downloads... More curiously, it seems to change how the clips sound, relative to each other - they seem closer now, but it doesn't change the result for me.
B didn't sound warmer downloaded; if anything it sounded a fraction lighter in the vocals... Clicking on the links they're closer in sound, but A still seems a bit better musically.
Now the question is, do I stick with the laptop, or revert to the phone for listening to these clips?
Last edited by tokenbrit on 2021-01-31 04:03, edited 1 time in total.
beck
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2752
Joined: 2012-10-22 22:25

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by beck »

markiteight wrote: 2021-01-31 02:19 I think I get where you're coming from with your desire for a bit more warmth. I try to avoid the discussion of tonal balance as it ultimately shouldn't matter, but I've noticed that every time I make a major musical breakthrough it is associated with a sense of warmth that wasn't there before. This could be pure coincidence, but I do think you're on to something. Let's see if we can find a way to crank up the heat a bit.
I can relate to this. In my search for better cd replay I made it my task to try to get more “sound” out of the signal meaning that I wanted to get away from what some call skeletal sound.

Column B makes me relax into the music but with a slight feeling of too much warmth. I suspect that column A is the one I wrote you had to keep in sight because it sounded good and it still does. I listen using my ipad.
Playing cd’s…………
tpetsch
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 342
Joined: 2020-08-17 18:46
Location: United States

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tpetsch »

tpetsch wrote: 2021-01-31 03:38 Hi,
I did a quick search but did not see anywhere what exactly your set-up is, can you please list all the components -including mods if any- used in all these A/B comparisons, Thank you.
Here you go:
https://www.lejonklou.com/forum/viewtop ... f=4&t=4608
Thank you for the link. ..."B" for me this time, a little more effortless in presentation than "A".
Rega P10, Aphelion II, Aura. Naim CB 32.5/HC, Naxo 3-6/HC, 3x250 into K20/DMS.
User avatar
markiteight
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 834
Joined: 2012-01-13 01:50
Location: Seattle, Wa. USA

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by markiteight »

beck wrote: 2021-01-31 03:18 I suspect that column A is the one I wrote you had to keep in sight because it sounded good and it still does. I listen using my ipad.
Well done, Beck. You're right! Column A is still the 6 socket Koppla, column B the modified Wiremold. I'm on the fence with this one. I could happily live with either. With A I get more of a sense that I'm standing among the musicians, while with B they sound a bit more cohesive. I'd be interested to hear what others think as well.

Here's another comparison that's an evolution of the above. Still trying to dethrone that pesky Koppla!

Beavers: https://www.dropbox.com/s/xk30uuh0pgcjj ... 6.MOV?dl=0

Ducks: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mik4hjbskraqo ... E.MOV?dl=0
(mixing up the movie references because I'm running out of ideas)
beck
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 2752
Joined: 2012-10-22 22:25

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by beck »

Ducks.............
Playing cd’s…………
tpetsch
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 342
Joined: 2020-08-17 18:46
Location: United States

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by tpetsch »

Beavers for me mainly because I can make out the subtle natural acoustic guitar note resonances more clearly.
Rega P10, Aphelion II, Aura. Naim CB 32.5/HC, Naxo 3-6/HC, 3x250 into K20/DMS.
anthony
Very active member
Very active member
Posts: 786
Joined: 2007-02-04 22:39
Location: UK

Re: Cheap power strips for best sound.

Post by anthony »

Ducks.
Post Reply