Dennis Had Inspire Amps

[Musica Amantem]

Originally Posted by Rosco65

The audio signal is AC, not DC. Since the wire configuration is comprised of multiple individual conductors, each has the risk of corrosion, in contrast to solid core wire, which has only one surface.

The Litz configuration really only applies to individually-insulated wires, but the Litz effect (elimination of skin effect and cancellation of magnetic fields in the wire) is also mimicked to a degree in uninsulated strands (https://engineering.dartmouth.edu/in...s/stranded.pdf). I know that all the wire I like for AC (i.e., signal) is stranded (Litz or otherwise) so I will go with that experience.

Thanks for the explanation. For some reason, I always thought the power going to the speakers was DC.

[Rosco65]

If it were DC it wouldn't make a sound. The cone would move forward in the magnetic gap but would not return. The resulting frequency would be 0hz.

[Musica Amantem]

Originally Posted by Rosco65

If it were DC it wouldn't make a sound. The cone would move forward in the magnetic gap but would not return. The resulting frequency would be 0hz.

Correct. The negative portion of the sinusoidal signal breaks the positive's exited magnetic field and allows retrieving of the driver ... makes sense. Evidently, this is my hobby, not my tool! Thanks.

[FloridaBoy]

Originally Posted by Rosco65

I bought some of the same stuff - WE 14ga off Ebay. I got caught up in Jeff's enthusiasm as well. 50 ft is not that bad. Makes a couple sets of cables.

I think many of us in this hobby have gotten caught up in what is "best" based on theory or expense. It really began in earnest in the 1980's (remember CD Stoplight?) and kept going since. It may very well turn out that boutique parts and esoteric materials (and speaker cables the size of garden hose) not only don't make things sound better they may actually sound worse.

A lot of the materials and techniques of the Golden Age and thousands of engineers and billions of dollars behind them. Things were chosen because they performed better and/or lasted longer, not because they could be sold as audio jewelry. If we look at the way a vintage McIntosh or Marantz (or Citation or Brook) amp was wired it may seem prosaic compared to today's megabuck amps, but as Jeff Day discovered, straying from the old components actually made things worse. I remember reading about the parts choices in my Superphon Revelation Preamp: Stan Warren had to hit a price point but also needed to make it sound great. He bought tons of a very cheap potentiometer and selected for linearity and matched sections. It significantly outperformed the fashionable Alps Blue Velvet in this particular application. It turns out that the combination of cheap parts worked for his design.

Did you go back to the Supra wire? The WE still needs more time but it will be staying. I'm going to use pieces of a pool noodle to keep it off the floor. If I would have known about the Dueland wire I would have bought it for $1 a foot more. I will try it down the road but I can easily live with the WE appliance wire and Belden IC's.

When I had the Shindo gear I cringed at the price of the IC's. They were likely priced by the importer and were some type of silver wire with simple Switchcraft RCA's. The assembled Belden 8402 IC's use the same RCA's.

[Rosco65]

Originally Posted by FloridaBoy

Did you go back to the Supra wire? The WE still needs more time but it will be staying. I'm going to use pieces of a pool noodle to keep it off the floor. If I would have known about the Dueland wire I would have bought it for $1 a foot more. I will try it down the road but I can easily live with the WE appliance wire and Belden IC's.

When I had the Shindo gear I cringed at the price of the IC's. They were likely priced by the importer and were some type of silver wire with simple Switchcraft RCA's. The assembled Belden 8402 IC's use the same RCA's.

I still use Supra in my Home Theater setup, not that I wouldn't use it in my two-channel rigs, but I am susceptible to the need to experiment as the next guy.

Shindo pricing has a number of contributing factors: everything is hand-built so you're paying for the time as much as anything else, the components - including cables - are intended to be used as a synergistic system, and most parts and components are NOS items that are priced accordingly.

[x3workshop]

Not a single post since election day? Hmmm....

[GeAllan70]

Bisy....listening....

[Rosco65]

Originally Posted by x3workshop

Not a single post since election day? Hmmm....

I noiticed it was a little quiet as well, but we should remind ourselves that we a little spoiled by the usual level of activity. Most threads are not this active.

I've been dealing with setup issues with my modest HT rig so have a been a bit distracted from two-channel lately. The challengesof setting up seven speakers and two subwoofers in a compromised room layout are frankly a little unpleasant.

[x3workshop]

Wanted to share an observation regarding power output of my Inspire -

I swapped in a pair of Heathkit UA-2 monoblocs over the last few days. Ultralinear EL84 amps that use the highly regarded Stancor 51-29 OPT. Rated at 12Watts.

They're units that I've completely rebuilt - beefed up power supply with slightly increased capacitance, addition of a filter choke, mil spec wiring, new premium coupling caps, revamped ground scheme with elimination of variable damping and unneeded wiring. They are surprisingly wonderful little amps that will easily outperform many, many amps of higher pedigree due to that excellent iron and (now) dead black background.

Well, the Inspire (w/KT120's) surpasses these in clean, usable power output. Where the UA-2's strain and begin to distort at certain volume levels, the Inspire handles without breaking a sweat. It was surprising as I thought that would not be the case. The Heaths have a bit more low end slam and control, but the Inspire keeps singing where the Heaths would start coughing.

The perceived quality of the sound from the Inspire was certainly better due to less noticeable distortion. Due to the IIR upgrade? I'd lean toward saying yes.

[Bombadil]

I've been quiet due to having to move (my leased condo was sold out from under me) and being on vacation. None of my gear has seen a volt since Sept 19th. I am getting closer to hooking something back up. As I sit here, I can see three tube amps looking at me. I have a bag of used tubes which I picked up during my vacation from a surplus store in New Smyrna Beach, FL. And I have two sets of power tubes ordered, a pair of 6SP3-e and a pair of KT120 (new, obtained at 40% off). So I will be tube rolling before too long.