Today I would like to talk about the backbone of my system – the rack, this sacred place where all the electronic components are placed. Some of you might ask what the difference is between a regular lowboard, which one can find in any furniture shop, and a HiFi rack designed specifically for audio applications. In order to understand the difference, one should first realise what a tremendous impact vibrations can have on audio reproduction.
Category: First Steps
System Update — April 2017
I don’t mean to brag, guys — don’t get me wrong — but the system really rocks these days, and this is something I would like to report. I suspect that the main reason for this outstanding performance lies nowhere else but in the improved room acoustics. As you can see from the images, there are several diffusers scattered around, and one sail is also attached to the ceiling. Let me briefly introduce what I have done recently in terms of room acoustic treatment.
Belden 8402 Microphone Cable Interconnects à la Dominique
Following the buzz around the Belden 8402 microphone cable used as an interconnect, which was circulating around Jeff’s place, I decided to build one myself. I also decided not to follow the classic convention of connecting the conductors and shielding to the RCA plugs suggested by Mr. Shirokazu Yazaki, nor the contemporary practice of connecting the shield only at one end to ground. Instead, I followed the methodology suggested by the French forum member and frequent visitor to Jeff’s place, Dominique.
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Audio Reproduction in Non-Symmetrical Situations
The importance of symmetry, in terms of equal distance of the loudspeakers from the side walls, derives from the fact that what we hear is not just the direct sound from the speakers but also the reflections from the room’s walls. The first wave reflections are especially important because they contribute to the spatial quality of the stereo image and its tonal richness.
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Switching Places
Over the weekend, I decided to swap the positions of my audio system and listening sofa just to see how it would affect the sound. I had been concerned about the limited space between the speakers, but it was simply impossible to increase the distance between them any further without interfering with the door area. The challenge was to keep the room’s functionality intact so that the door remained fully accessible.