The prepress system - Page 9

Cables are often said to need to "break in," and these preliminary observations may change. But for now, this is what I see.

The Pangea 26L was installed yesterday afternoon as noted, between the Duo VP and the 111FD plasma. At first turn on, the picture on ESPN seemed a bit cleaner, though the sense of that diminished as time went on; whether there was a change in the signal (always possible) or the first impression was an illusion I don't know. There are changes in studios and cameras and camera angles during a broadcast, so even that could contribute. Still, roaming around channels, it's hard to say there's real improvement. I should also say I'm more sensitive with the ears than the eyes. I watched a bit of The Blind Side, and it looked about the same.

However, there was a difference in sound, especially evident with good material. There's improvement in the upper registers with more detail; cleaner sound with more awareness of transients. The 26L is heavier gauge (26AWG) than the Blue Jeans cable (28AWG) and has a small amount of silver (1.5%). And keep in mind this is using the 111's sound system (18wpc). There you have it for now.

The Pangea HD-26L is, I'm told, the replacement for the HD-24PC. Though a smaller gauge, the 26L is high-speed and supports 3D, ethernet, and the latest formats.

As is my custom with potential purchases, I am researching and analyzing whether or not a Salamander is viable here. The space available is 59"; I need at least 66" for this to work. That's a problem on the left side, where there's only 15" from the left speaker to the side rack with my computer stuff. Plus the LPs and LDs are behind the speaker. Space really is the final frontier. I don't want to do a major overhaul on the entire room for this, but if I work out a viable configuration, I will then probably order the Salamander and be done. Needless to say, I'll ask the store to deliver it assembled; there'd be NO room here to do that.

As you surmised, I meant "assembled," not "installed" (I just corrected the original post). There's still the option of having something built that fits the existing space, and I might use the ideas I sent Billy Bags as a basis.

Another factor, though, is that I got some bad news from home regarding my sister-in-law today, and the likelihood of a sudden (and extra) trip south early next year could impact what I would spend on this whole thing. I'll need to keep that in mind. At the least, I better not spend too much if I go ahead with the project.

I picked up one of these to use on my Duo VP, in order to get rid of the cheater plug I'm using now. I need to defeat the ground in order to combat the 60Hz hum, and this PS Audio Jewel AC will be a better fit with the detachable ground pin. I don't expect much improvement since the Duo's transformer cable will be the same, but I can at least retire the cheater plug.

There is another thought I had yesterday on the rack situation. The stand that held my previous TV is a Sanus Euro rack, the EFAV40, with an extra shelf. It currently holds my computer equipment. I've attached a photo (though not the best) in case you don't remember it.

Given all that's going on right now, here and at home, I could RE-re-purpose this rack to replace the Hooker console and avoid the expense entirely, then get another Euro audio rack like the ones I have now for the computer stuff. I'd save money, would have matching racks all around, have access to the rear of all the gear, and gain better access to the wall outlets my electronics are all plugged into, as the EFAV stand all but blocks it right now. The only drawback I see is that it doesn't fill the space between the side racks, being only 40" wide; there'd be about 10" between the EFAV and either side rack, and the TV would be obviously wider than the stand.

I'm thinking the Salamander option is too awkward logistically (though I still work with it some) and would require serious compromises to the room, so this Sanus could be the ticket. I'm working configurations to see how best to go in terms of any cables I'd need to replace, because I'd want the shortest possible runs. I still haven't gone to the woodworking folks about a custom rack yet, but am intrigued by the Sanus option right now.

Thanks, hazerj.

There aren't any dimmers or gas-filled lights, fortunately. It's strictly a grounding issue and the culprit is the cable feed introducing the hum. I got rid of it by using cheater plugs on my video processor and power amps. Either alone didn't do it completely. I'd like a more elegant solution, though, and I know of some higher-end cheater plugs; maybe I'll check those.

By the way, I took a look at your setup; it's very nice. I considered Emotiva amps, and even thought of getting an audition (I'm from Nashville, and usually go down for Christmas). Do you listen to your system with the speaker grills off, or was that just for the photo?

They're tamed, though not in the most elegant way. I tried several things before doing an extended troubleshoot with the Time Warner Cable guy and I found that lifting the ground on the VP and the amps in combination got rid of it.

I've also ordered a few more PS Audio Jewel ACs to use on various component sources, and some Conntek grounding plugs to replace the $0.59 cheater plugs I'm using now.

More of these arrived today, not 30 minutes ago. They will be going on source components. I plan to replace most cords with them eventually. The preamp has a captive cord, so no go there.

According to the Audio Advisor salesman, PS Audio has said nothing (at least to them) about discontinuing the Jewel ACs, though they have discontinued everything else in their PC line. Interesting.

Update: As the 26L has had some time in the setup, I AM beginning to notice some improvement in picture clarity. It's been most evident in recent football watching. And I also found out that the AA salesman's earlier statement about 26L replacing the 24PC isn't the case. So I may go for the heavier gauge. Problem is, they have none in 2m, they have no 26Ls in 1.5m; those are my preferred sizes, and it'll take about 2 months to get those in. Oh, well.

ddgtr, hello there. There's a definite improvement in sound on the TV, and is most noticeable with good-quality sources. The video is more subtle.

The Jewel AC is, of course, PS Audio's entry-level cable, and I think it would go fine on my sources. I could wish it were more flexible; the reason I didn't keep the AC-5 cords I had briefly is their stiffness; working with short lengths makes flexibility important. An idea I have, though I'm not doing it anytime soon, is to put Jewel ACs on my 501s and move the Wireworld Auroras to sources. I shouldn't get into spending a lot of money here because I do have family considerations to look at right now.

I also have three of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-30081-...459744&sr=1-16

They should make for a more firm connection than the $.59 cheater plugs I have now.

Thanks. I'm looking to get the setup squared away and then leave it for awhile. I'm not enough of a fanatic to run after every new thing (even when I CAN afford it), but I would like things to be a certain way. I'm hoping to get there soon.

The ground loop hum I thought was gone either wasn't, or came back. I noticed it last night. Now, it comes from the TV whenever the cable box input on my Duo VP is active. If I switch to another input, it goes away. I'm going to use one of those Jewel AC cables I have to lift the TV ground, and after that I'm not sure what to do.

Not having installed the Jewel, about 30 minutes ago I turned on the TV, cable box and Duo to check things out and . . . no hum. I don't know what gives, but no hum. The one difference is that the BD player was on last night and wasn't this morning. I guess I'll have to check it again later with the BD on.

UPDATE (11/9): The hum is present when the cable input on the Duo is active and any of the other video sources is on. The hum vanishes when I switch to the other source's input. Oh well.I may try lifting the TV's ground, but that'll be the last thing I try on this issue.

UPDATE (11/11): Last night the hum was present even without other video sources being on. Keep in mind, it's just audible at the listening/viewing position, about 10' away. I guess I'll lift the TV ground and if that doesn't get rid of the hum I'll just live with it, since it doesn't really interfere with enjoyment.

A significant event occurred earlier this week, as I bid farewell to my B&K M-200 monos. They are on their way to the brother of a former co-worker. Fortunately, they're going to someone who knows what to do with them. I now have some valuable floor space back.

I also moved some things around, and perhaps it shows in the photo. My place is still a mess, as it's clear I have too much in here. But the removal of the B&Ks is a good first step.



Next is probably the black TV stand under the air conditioner, which has the Furman boxes on top.

Another thought I've had. Instead of moving the existing Sanus Euro EFAV rack I have now, it's possible to leave it there and relocate my turntable setup (table, phono pramp and SDS) to it, and run a long interconnect to the preamp (about 5m to be safe; 4m would be tight). I'd need a new TV stand then, and could get another EFAV or whatever would work.

I have a new Euro audio rack to replace the EFAV with, but I could return that within the 30-day window; I wouldn't need it in the above scenario. I'm thinking.

The Euro audio rack went back yesterday. I won't be needing it anytime soon as I have yet to get rid of the Hooker console.

A day-late Merry Christmas to you too HTG and ddgtr. Also to everyone else.

I've spent Christmas down here in Missouri City, Texas, just outside Houston. My sister's here, and just before I arrived I found out my nephew was getting married the 24th. Needless to say the last few days were very busy, with not much sleep. I also got to meet my niece's husband for the first time, as well as their daughter (1.5 years) and she's...interesting.

No A/V news, except the BD player here wasn't set up properly and I did some adjustment on it. The PQ looks better now. When I get back to NY I will once again consider what to do about the TV console. I may go back to the Salamander Synergy despite its width, because I'm becoming uncomfortable with the spacing using the Euro A/V rack mentioned earlier. At only 40" wide, I'm concerned about the gap between it and the Euro audio racks looking awkward.

I haven't made a move on a new stand yet, as I am very deliberate about these things and am also limited for now by the excess stuff in my apartment, the living room in particular. But I am reasonably sure it will be one of these options:

1. Repurpose the 40" Sanus Euro EFAV holding my computer equipment, and live with the possible visual awkwardness of having a stand much narrower than the TV, with a 9.5" gap between the other Euros on either side.
2. Get a Salamander Synergy 30 and reconfig the system so the Mirage speakers flank the Synergy, with the Euros on the outside. This will move the Mirages closer to the setup suggested in the manual (6-8 ft. apart).
3. Get a Billy Bags 3003 rack (67" wide) and do the same as with the Salamander above.
4. Customize a Billy Bags Pro-54 to get proper shelf space.
5. Get any other BB rack that fits the available space and treat it as the Sanus EVAV above; the options are wider, though. http://www.billybags.com/selectionfr.html
6. Get a custom-built stand from the people who made my bookcases.
7. Get a Quadraspire QAVX and do the same as the Salamander. The Quad holds 280kg per shelf.http://www.quadraspire.com/

Billy Bags rack would be the most expensive option regardless of which one I chose, but at least the BBs more closely resemble the Euros. I am considering not just looks, but cost and "trouble factor" as well, meaning how much extra will I have to do to make things work. With the wider options the Sanus EFAV would have to be replaced by another single-width rack for access to the rear of the system.

We'll see what happens. I may even choose to live with things as is, though I'm not quite ready to do that.

The Synergy, whether fully loaded or in a la carte mode, is the least expensive new rack option for sure. Of course, even the a la carte one weighs 170!

Space really is the final frontier, it seems. Except for repurposing the EFAV (as above), all options require more space and that's problematic. At least I wouldn't have to stack anything with the wider racks, as each piece of gear could have its own shelf. A problem with my Oppo 83 (for which it was sent for repair a while back) may or may not have had to do with my Duo VP being stacked on top of it.

Maybe I could draw up a schematic of the room and play with layout possibilities. I've done that before. For now, I meaured it out and the wider racks mean the system gets uncomfortably close to the computer rack on the left side, making for more difficult access to the rear of the system and the LP cabinets behind it.