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Thread: Shorties - another cheap upgrade ?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 4,162
    I'm Mike.

    Default Shorties - another cheap upgrade ?

    The VIDA Phone Pre Amp comes with a couple of RCA plugs for the input not being used

    Which makes me think about Russ Andrews and his 'shorties' - the plugs he suggests we put into Pre Amp inputs not being used.

    Anyone played with these and have some findings ?
    TAD CD / DAC / Pre, Technics 1210, MCRU PSU, Mike New Bearing & Platter, Stillpoints LP1 weight, Speedy Steve Ebony armboard, Fidelity Research FR64FX arm, Ortofon SPU. Aurorasound VIDA Phono Pre Amp, TAD Power Amp, TAD E1 speakers. Coherent RTZ 3 Grounding box, Coherent grounding cables, Creaktiv racks. Coherent Mains Cables. SR Blue Fuse. Interconnects : Coherent and Yannis 223.5 Connect Litz. Coherent speaker cable. Audio Magic Transcendence Conditioner. Coherent mains socket. Mains Filters : , PS Audio Harvesters, Russ Andrews Purifiers, Tacima, Vertex. Black Ravioli and RDC supports. Electric Beach S1NX platforms for TAD CD and Technics. Ferrite chokes everywhere except the above. Ears, brain

    Mike

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2013

    Location: London

    Posts: 645
    I'm Peter.

    Default

    Mike

    I've used them and I can't claim that they have made much, if any difference, but they can't do any harm. I suppose they keep the dust out, if nothing else.

    Peter
    Separates Systems:

    (1) Antipodes CX and EX, Matrix Audio X-Saber DSD, Meridian DSP7000 active speakers;
    (2) Lumin D2, Cary CD-308 cdp, Quad 99 power amp, Horns 5degreeN*27 speakers;
    (3) Homebrew PC with Onkyo Wavio SE200 soundcard running Daphile, Quad 44 and 405.2 into Dali Zensor 1s;
    (4) Sooloos C15 plus storage, Braun A2, P1, CD3, C1 and T1 into Sonus Faber Concertos.

    Integrated Home System:

    Sony PS-X600, Naimnet NNT01 DAB Tuner; NS02 Server; NNP01/NNP02 room amplifiers; Netstreams switches, keypads, KEF Ci130QS/Soundlight speakers.

  3. #3
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: Surrey

    Posts: 4,162
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    Not ever seen them mentioned around here so did wonder

    from RA site

    Did you know that the unused interconnect input sockets on your amplifier act can as aerials for interference, polluting the circuit? In our view, the cure is simple!

    Plug our Noise Reducing Shorties into your unused inputs (do not connect them to the outputs). Our tests have shown that you can get a clearer, smoother and more natural sound.

    And here’s a free tip: Unless you are recording, you get a better sound if you have NOTHING connected to the ‘record out’ sockets.
    TAD CD / DAC / Pre, Technics 1210, MCRU PSU, Mike New Bearing & Platter, Stillpoints LP1 weight, Speedy Steve Ebony armboard, Fidelity Research FR64FX arm, Ortofon SPU. Aurorasound VIDA Phono Pre Amp, TAD Power Amp, TAD E1 speakers. Coherent RTZ 3 Grounding box, Coherent grounding cables, Creaktiv racks. Coherent Mains Cables. SR Blue Fuse. Interconnects : Coherent and Yannis 223.5 Connect Litz. Coherent speaker cable. Audio Magic Transcendence Conditioner. Coherent mains socket. Mains Filters : , PS Audio Harvesters, Russ Andrews Purifiers, Tacima, Vertex. Black Ravioli and RDC supports. Electric Beach S1NX platforms for TAD CD and Technics. Ferrite chokes everywhere except the above. Ears, brain

    Mike

  4. #4
    Join Date: Dec 2011

    Location: South downs

    Posts: 3,477
    I'm James.

    Default

    I've got extremely subtle improvements in the past using "shorties" on old amplifiers that have mechanical rotary switches for input selection but on most modern amps with relay switching its pointless as unused inputs are isolated anyway.

  5. #5
    Join Date: May 2013

    Location: London

    Posts: 645
    I'm Peter.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeMusic View Post
    Not ever seen them mentioned around here so did wonder

    from RA site

    Did you know that the unused interconnect input sockets on your amplifier act can as aerials for interference, polluting the circuit? In our view, the cure is simple!

    Plug our Noise Reducing Shorties into your unused inputs (do not connect them to the outputs). Our tests have shown that you can get a clearer, smoother and more natural sound.

    And here’s a free tip: Unless you are recording, you get a better sound if you have NOTHING connected to the ‘record out’ sockets.
    Mike,

    We are in danger of provoking a woo/not woo debate regarding RA if we are not careful!

    They come up for pence on eBay from time to time - can't hurt to try!

    P
    Separates Systems:

    (1) Antipodes CX and EX, Matrix Audio X-Saber DSD, Meridian DSP7000 active speakers;
    (2) Lumin D2, Cary CD-308 cdp, Quad 99 power amp, Horns 5degreeN*27 speakers;
    (3) Homebrew PC with Onkyo Wavio SE200 soundcard running Daphile, Quad 44 and 405.2 into Dali Zensor 1s;
    (4) Sooloos C15 plus storage, Braun A2, P1, CD3, C1 and T1 into Sonus Faber Concertos.

    Integrated Home System:

    Sony PS-X600, Naimnet NNT01 DAB Tuner; NS02 Server; NNP01/NNP02 room amplifiers; Netstreams switches, keypads, KEF Ci130QS/Soundlight speakers.

  6. #6
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

    Posts: 38,071
    I'm Martin.

    Default

    They have been mentioned here a few times - you can buy a whole bag full of them from Taiwan for a couple of quid. I have not found any difference to the sound but they are handy for blocking up unused inputs so you don't plug into them by mistake when swapping cables about around at the back of a rack in poor lighting conditions.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  7. #7
    Join Date: Feb 2008

    Location: Down South

    Posts: 2,413
    I'm Neal.

    Default

    I've used 'em and like others not found any improvement...they do keep the muck out of unused inputs though!
    Listening in a Foo free Zone...

    Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

  8. #8
    Join Date: Sep 2010

    Location: High Peak, Derbyshire

    Posts: 2,241
    I'm Keith.

    Default

    I made a load of these a few years ago.



    The difference they make to the sound quality is like night and day*.

    *As observed from the bottom of a very deep cave.
    Keith
    Analogue: Lenco L75 with 'PTP5' top plate in heavy birch ply plinth/re-wired Rega RB300/SAE 1000e HOMC Cartridge/Trans-Fi Reso-Mat/Moth RCM
    Files: Voyage MPD/Custom PC/Supra USB/Beresford ASYNCH-1/Beresford TOSlink cable
    CDP: Inca Katana SE
    DAC: Beresford Caiman MkII (LiPo Battery powered)
    Pre-Amp: Croft Micro 25 Power-Amp: Croft Series 7
    Speakers: DIY Frugel-Horn Mk3 ('FH3') + REL Strata subwoofer
    Headphones: Beyer Dynamics DT990 Pro (250 ohm)/Schiit Asgard Headphone Amp
    Cables - Interconnects: Mark Grant G1000HD Speaker Cables: Van Damme Blue
    Mains: Belkin PF30/Mark Grant DSP2.5 & DSP1.0 Rack: Target

    Office System: HP Win8 Laptop/JRiver/MF V-Link2/Beresford Bushmaster MkII/Topping TP20 Mk2/Mission 771e
    Bedroom System: Raspberry Pi/Raspbrian + MPD/HiFiBerry DAC/Topping TP20 Mk2/Mission 760i or DIY Hybrid Valve-MOSFET Headphone amp + Sennheiser HD595


    Gallery

  9. #9
    Join Date: Apr 2011

    Location: London

    Posts: 4,419
    I'm Robert.

    Default

    'They' know us so called audiophiles will do and try almost anything in pursuit of audio nivana

  10. #10
    Join Date: Nov 2010

    Location: Yorkshire

    Posts: 9,345
    I'm Andrew.

    Default

    FFS.....I'm getting my coat......
    SS
    CD Teac VRDS25X(Audiotuned) DECK 1210 Mat Crystal Audio Mods MN Base/Bearing/Platter+Ebony armboard Feet Isonoe PSU Paul Hynes SR7EHD-27XL/DCSXL Ag DC lead/3 Stage Regs/Recap PCB+No Pitch/Strobe/Light ARM SME V(Kondo Ag Rewire&Tags) MC Cadenza Black FGS CABLES Arm Yannis SPD-4 IC Yannis 222 Litz+Ag bullets Power WAR PRE ATC SCA2 SPEAKERS ATC 50ASL STANDS Atacama PHONO Sugden Masterclass PA4 SUT Ortofon ST80SE POWER PSAudio P10

    VALVE
    PRE
    Croft Epoch(Modded) AMP Sondex S100 (Modded) SPEAKERS Tannoy 15"MG+RFC Warwick cabs+ Ref XO + Batpure supertweeters DECK Garrard 301 Mat Teunto Bearings 401(Bastin) Plinth Bamboo Arms 3009/3012 PSU Eagle+Tachometer MC Ag Meister II/FGS + Ortofon SPU MONO CABLES Arm Yannis 420.5 Litz+ SpeakerPC Tripple C+WBT-0681 Ag IC Oyaide FTVS-510 AgWBT 0110Ag Phonostages Paradise(4 Box Mega-Modded) / Croft Musicmaker



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