For the damping material, is it recommended to use something like the Sonic Barrier at PE (Sonic Barrier 1/2" Acoustic Sound Damping Foam with PSA 18" x 24") or is it OK to use inexpensive foam carpet padding from the home improvement store?
For this ap the foam is not very effective. Use this Creative Sound - Product Details
dave
An externally hosted image should be here but it was not working when we last tested it.
dave
Thanks for the suggestion, Dave. Just curious: why would the natural fiber insulation be more effective in this application than the open-cell acoustic foam I posted?
I've looked into that material a bit, and seems to be a recycled cotton denim. You can get rolls of it at home improvement stores, but not in the 1/2" thickness needed for this application.
I've looked into that material a bit, and seems to be a recycled cotton denim. You can get rolls of it at home improvement stores, but not in the 1/2" thickness needed for this application.
Jeff,
I got a few roles of the 2" material from Home Depot - looks/feels fluffier/less dense vs what Dave has shared above.
Wool/natural felt carpet underlay should also work - google search should bring up some sources.
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As Zia alludes, the 2" stuff is of wall insulation density, what we want is the "felt" density.
Natural materials work better than the foam (which isn't all that good). Wool or cotton felt work equally well.
What Bob sells is what we use, it is cheap, and he ships from the US (for those in the US)
dave
Natural materials work better than the foam (which isn't all that good). Wool or cotton felt work equally well.
What Bob sells is what we use, it is cheap, and he ships from the US (for those in the US)
dave
OK, fine, I'll order the expensive Canadian stuff. ;-)
What do you fellers like to use for internal hookup wire between the binding posts and drivers? I'm thinking solid copper or even silver at 14 or 15 AWG.
What do you fellers like to use for internal hookup wire between the binding posts and drivers? I'm thinking solid copper or even silver at 14 or 15 AWG.
For small/medium sized full-range drivers, usually single strand of CAT5 cable for hook up wire.
Expensive? $2.83 USD/ft^2 vrs ultratouch at $2.50 USD/ft^2.
UltraTouch is made in the US.
Typically a pair of solid guage 24g strands from internal CAT5/6 cable.
What you are considering is far too thick.
dave
Joking!
I've got some 18 AWG solid copper hookup wire from RadioShack, as well as 20 AWG solid copper from Antique Electronic Supply. Maybe I'll go with one of those instead.
Just wondering, what's the benefit of going with something as thin as 24 gauge?
I've got some 18 AWG solid copper hookup wire from RadioShack, as well as 20 AWG solid copper from Antique Electronic Supply. Maybe I'll go with one of those instead.
Just wondering, what's the benefit of going with something as thin as 24 gauge?
IMO, because it sounds better.
Also, can often be had for free… you only need scraps which often are being tossed by installers.
dave
Serious question: Is that because it tends to raise the Q of the driver thereby giving a small driver a little more warmth and substance?
Not likely… the amount of current involved is low. It is, i would suspect, more about those things that make cables different (i have to watch out that cable deniers don't pile on me).
Hawksford did a paper on it (which is disputed, but he stands behind it). I only understood the surface of the argument but i did start experimenting. All my 10 & 12 gauge OFC is slowly in storage and some of it turning green.
dave
Hawksford did a paper on it (which is disputed, but he stands behind it). I only understood the surface of the argument but i did start experimenting. All my 10 & 12 gauge OFC is slowly in storage and some of it turning green.
dave
Those are ugly and probably cost more than my whole hifi. How much of that is foamed dielectric to try to bring the insulator quality closer to air?
dave
Cal, that's either some exquisite photo-shopping / CGI effects, or the most ridiculous thing I've seen in quite a while
If real one can't help but wonder about the durability of the mechanical integrity of the RCA jacks on the line level connections
If real one can't help but wonder about the durability of the mechanical integrity of the RCA jacks on the line level connections
They look like Anacondas so naturally I'm intrigued. I bet it's just a bunch of fluff. (Like so many things in audio)
I guess it would be tough to get enough current in the 24 ga. to create the resistance needed to raise the Q when dealing with smaller drivers.
I guess it would be tough to get enough current in the 24 ga. to create the resistance needed to raise the Q when dealing with smaller drivers.
If you're going to go mad, you might as well go really mad. 😀
Where on Earth did you dig that shot up from Cal?
I want some.
I mean, who wouldn't? Really? Just for the sheer insanity of it. Essentially useless, but essential nonetheless. Anybody know where I can get huge quantities of black nylon braid? I'm now going to have to build some. A nice piece of 16ga zip cord or cheap copper ribbon surrounded by about six inches of cotton should be about right. 😉
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