Printable View
Haha! Perhaps RD should be told that I do have practical experience with 085 semi-rigid cable: I specified their use for radar system components I designed, when I worked at the Marconi Research Laboratories. The description for stripping the cable I reported is such so that the inner conductor will not become damaged.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Nice to know I have joined the ranks of the illustrious few! :lol:
Okies, here it is:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
Marco.Quote:
"Wont solve it, I have tried it. I have been using variants of this cable since late 1980's. The only way to get idiot proof use of this cable is to use SMA plugs. The original Statement amps had SMA sockets for mating to these cable, but no one believed me and most asked for the amps to have RCA phono, so I gave up trying to educate and change the industry to a new standard. BUT if anyone is doing a home build I thoroughly recommend you use SMA throughout if you can't hardwire.
Also Ali this mastic changes the electrical characteristics of the cable as it is an additional dielectric, when I tried it it changed the sound."
By his own admission, these cables were not designed to be used with the terminators he has chosen. So, right there he has opened up a whole can of worms. Thus, some how it's the end user's fault when problems arise with the durability of said product????? And, thinking out of the box are we? How 'bout not going halfway with it. How about figuring out how he can use the connectors he wants to use while ALSO providing the usual/normal amount of shielding right up to the tab. Seriously, how much does a tube of liquid insulation cost? (rhetorical question) If he wasn't so self-absorbed I'd send him some for free. Sheeesh...Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
EDIT: If the liquid insulation changes the sound that much... then maybe he should just accept that he's offering a compromised product and put a warning sticker on the dang things that say "Handle With Considerably More Care Than You Would Any Other Cable You Own Or Are Likely To Ever Own".
From what I read, he said the insulation didn't work and had a negative effect on the sound. As for using the cable with RCAs, it is OK as long as no twisting motion is applied.
Edit: this is beginning to feel like "does he take sugar". I suggest anyone genuinely interested in the finer points of cable construction visits HFS and fully reads the posts or perhaps even contributes there.
Anyone genuinely interested in trying the cable can do what the OP has done with a money back guarantee. Anyone who thinks they can do better is also free to try making their own and report back on their experiences once they have some experience.
Marco. I would probably be right in assuming that the majority of RD's customers have no connection with forums and are unaware of his internet personality. As far as I can see if you have a fault within guarantee he will repair without any problem. Now I will admit there are certain people that he says he won't service and I'm not sure if any have equipment which he is under any obligation to repair. For instance I don't think given circumstances RD would welcome anything returned from Jason. He did repair the amp in the end from that purchaser who used the wrong cable and had the pushy girlfriend that got an ear full. His main problem is that when dealing with difficult people he forgets the adage 'the customer is always right' even if you think they are idiots.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Anyway when we are talking about fallings out it is in fact a relatively small number of people who usually want to air their grievances on forums rather than sort them out in the normal manor. For example by direct negotiation or failing that trading standards /small claims court as appropriate. I also accept the other people that he has the most difficulty with are forum owners who have banned him for whatever reason be it with good reason or not. I also imagine that he has enough work through internet sales to make him financially viable without having to be nice to anyone that he dislikes. So no incentive to change. Having said that the number of detractors of NVA are suspiciously a regular group you can count on the fingers of both hands. Like to see any evidence of bad product or service in general terms. I know there are loads of traders out there that would make RD look like a saint.
Paul.
:lol: :lol: :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by WOStantonCS100
:clap:
Marco.
I guess it would be bad for him to simply admit he doesn't possess the skill to dress the cable in the best way possible. Hmmmm...Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry
Okay, that may well be, I too have found the dielectric used can change the sound, as well as the connector.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Possible solution - be fiddly, but if some of the stripped dielectric could be slit lengthways, it could be slid over the bare conductor after soldering, so the liquid insulation would not come in contact with the conductor. Probably not practical from a production point of view, but doable for a DIY fix perhaps.
Not saying it would solve the problem, but I reckon it would help provide some support.
I suspect that apathy, together with an arguable misplaced sense that the work he produces is superlative, and most importantly, an egotistic satisfaction derived from the fact that it's been 'signed off as adequate by the guru/artisan' (haha), play the biggest part in the reality of the matter! ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by WOStantonCS100
Marco.
Just needs to be something non conductive Jason. Never done anything like this myself, but perhaps something like this would do the job?Quote:
Originally Posted by Figlet108
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polycraft-...item35c45df90f
Maybe some people on here could make the cable to show him how to do it.
This thread seems to have not much to do with nva cables but just sticking the boot in on RD.
I have had numerous interconnects fail over the years but don't find the need to whinge on a forum about it.
Why not just resolder it or send it back.
I've owned probably two dozen Chord Company cables. Every one broke; some more than once. Sonic link, DNM, Atlas and a number of others all broke too. Never had an NVA cable break, nor a van Den Hul or Rega. They are the only three in over 30 years though.Quote:
Originally Posted by chelsea
Edit: I agree about the purpose of the thread now being something other than it started out. It's just a pity that people not only feel the need to try and put others off great value (and bloody good) products, but they also deprive themselves of them too, all because they don't like the maker. I dislike Apple: the marketing, the nerdiness and the horrid little shops. I love their products though, because I find them better and nicer to use. So I buy and use them. To me it's logical.
Whoever made the observation that all cable threads eventually end up in tears was spot on. This thread is no exception. :rolleyes:
And the real irony is that those who contribute most prolifically are either die hard followers on the one side and either haters or skeptics on the other. The protracted debate has little or no effect on ordinary buyers who just don't have the level of interest or entrenched position.Quote:
Originally Posted by REXTON
This has just turned into 'get your own back' fest and has proved that the lowest common denominator tends to prevail.
Roll on midnight and I hope I never see this here again.
NVA interconnects aside, what on earth are all you ham-fisted daftees doing with your cables to break them continually - swinging with them from the rafters?? :D :scratch:Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
I can say, in all honesty, that in 25+ years of using 100s of different types and makes of audio cables, less than a handful have broken. Something ain't right, folks. It's the same with the daftees who continually snap the cantilevers off of their cartridges. Sorry, guys, but mostly this is just sheer carelessness.
Marco.
Honestly, I just don't understand what went on with Chord Co and me. Sometimes I'd get them out after being stored and they'd just be broken from the off. Once I wired up a pre power set up with two CD players. After tearing my hair out to find out why one channel was off, I found the left channel on ALL THREE sets had broken. Suffice to say it was a WTF moment.
As an aside, I really don't like those new Profis. They look and feel about one third as nice as the old ones. Not worth the money now IMO.
Thanks Ali.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ali Tait
Cheap enough to just do an experiment for myself with and without on two sets of SSP and see for myself if it really does make much of a difference.
Out of interest, and since we're back to talking about cable again, I did an experiment of building a triple-shielded SSP:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Z...362_resize.JPG
Obviously the shielded one is on the left...
All the shielding and shrink-wrap makes for a very robust cable and eliminates EMI and RFI to boot. Just a bit of a PITA to build... (well for me anyway - I'm sure a pro would have no problems)
I find it sad that addressing generally accepted practices for doing "simple" electrical work would meet with such resistance. :( I mean, yeah, we love the sound of things; but, at least, I would think, for a builder, how something sounds would always be tempered with practicality of implementation. I guess it doesn't matter to the manufacturer who'll be glad to just keep charging you to fix it and the end user who doesn't mind paying. I myself have made and use a few solid core conductor ICs; but, I don't kid myself about their lower bend-cycles. They are also painstakingly terminated. But, whatever...
I have never broken an IC, that includes SSP.
Those who have........
Ok I will say it like it is:::: :):):)
I love the sound quality of both the SSP's and the lesser SP's...... BUT I have had breakages on BOTH cables
Don't get me wrong they sound superb but I have got rid of both because of breakages....they are VERY delicate in my opinion and I look after my gear VERY carefully...
I believe that the NVA Sound Cord's are much more flexible and don't break in the same way as SP's or SSP's
I have a friend, who I gave a set of SSP's as a Chirstmas present, and he is also having problems with them, and is going to replace them with something a bit more solid in construction
If you want a good cable that won't break then I'd recommend Mark Grants IC's
I think it also depends on how often you chop and change. My setup has changed regularly for years, so I'm always plugging, n plugging and moving stuff. I also undo everything to dust, so that's a lot of usage. I try to use locking phonos now because that minimises the problem. There is a lot of variability in tightness of plugs and indeed the relative size of sockets. Then you have to deal with poorly constructed separates where the phono sockets flex on a poorly secured PCB if you apply any pressure. RCAs in general seem a poor choice to me.
Thing is Andrew, that's just not true and not at all what's going on here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
There's at least 3 people contributing to this thread that have fallen out with RD and are on the Black List and have had VERY NASTY THINGS SAID ABOUT THEM PUBLICLY, and yet they have ALL repeatedly said that the products sound good and are good value. They also all still own NVA gear and in some cases own a lot of NVA gear. No one is trying to put anyone off. I am genuinely blown away by the negative forces that have turned a perfectly reasonable set pros and cons for a product from real users' experiences into the abomination that this has turned into.
Instead, let me give you a real example of people cutting off their nose to spite their face: after falling out with RD and despite everything, I said publicly that I would still support his TFS. However, even though we all know how much he liked it, with plenty of public statements in plenty of threads, he still sold it. And he made a big public spectacle of it too along with plenty of insults and abuse.
And what really takes the biscuit Andrew is that not a few short months before he (and the rest of his Hate Mafia) RIPPED BEV APART FOR DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING.
Breathtaking hypocrisy...
The Neutriks are ok, but given what I've heard, after experimenting extensively with different RCA plugs (which I agree with Barry are a heavily compromised design), for me the best of a bad bunch are (for digital applications), WBT NextGen-0110Ag, and (for analogue applications) Eichmann Silver Bullet plugs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
They're not cheap, but having tested them against other plugs (on the same cables), they do offer significant sonic improvements, and not simply because the conductors are pure silver. One of the most important aspects I've discovered of good plug design (for audio purposes) is not to use ferrous [magnetic] metals (and/or the least amount of metal anywhere) in their construction, other than in the conductor itself.
It's no coincidence that the continually worst 'sounding' plugs I discovered were the heaviest ones, simply because they contained the most metal!
Marco.
Be VERY careful with what some NVA supporters are/have said... one of these people has apparently been giving me a hard time on HFS, along the line of attaching me to a "Witches broom stick" , a very sad person indeed... I will let you decide who that may be... how sad can you get a ??:mental:
I've said all I will say on the subject of NVA interconnects...it is true and a honest opinion of how I have found them :)
My point EXACTLY....Quote:
Originally Posted by Figlet108
Shall I add my full experience of the Sound Pipes I bought, and the surrounding circumstances ....? Oh go on then.
I was caught up in the then hype about how great these cables were,,and having recently bought some Sound Cords. I thought I'd have a punt.
In all honesty I struggled to hear an improvement, and mentioned this on an another hi fi forum, which is when I had the Pm from RD, throwing four letter words at me like they were going out of fashion.
I had by then sold them on to another forum member, who was also disappointed at how they sounded, this I passed on to RD, who said they must be broken, and he actually asked me to get the new owner to send them back for repair, which he did.
He claimed that he had repaired them, and sent them back to their new owner, who in fact said he could hear no improvement at all, and in the meantime RD laid into me via PM about how I obviously had defective hearing, and how dare I post my ( honest) findings on a forum when I obviously didn't have a clue about Hifi.
I'm not just jumping on the " kick RD " bandwagon, just telling my story about my experience with NVA.
PS, just had a peep at their forum, boy oh boy, they don't like us there do they!
PPS, note I'm still using my Sound Cords! (Again)
Craig that sounds just about right for RD.... I didn't want to comment on this issue but now I have I may as well continue...:):)Quote:
Originally Posted by icehockeyboy
RD just makes enemies all over the place if you DARE to comment on his gear, be it his amplifiers or his cables... He is just a sad little old man and cannot stand ANYONE stating that they do not like, or can fault his gear...... Just have NOTHING to do with him, like I do now, it's the best way... believe me!!!
Quite a sad little man who is best left well alone ...... !! :mental::mental:
Hi Jason. Despite saying my comments aren't true, I think you actually seem to agree with me in your references to the thread becoming an abomination.Quote:
Originally Posted by Figlet108
As far as I know, you still use NVA gear extensively but some here wouldn't use his products however good they sounded and have said so. I just can't see the logic in that. I recognise the fact that you have praised the sound and in that you've been consistent.
One thing that did still puzzle me though (and this might be my memory, so please correct me if I'm wrong) but didn't you say that using Profi plugs as standard would have solved any breakage issues on SSP? It was around the time of the issues on HFS and I honestly can't remember if it was before or after (and I've not looked for it).
I thought you'd pushed for it to be done this way just before leaving. Like I said, my memory isn't 100 percent.
I don't bother visiting 'the other place', sounds like it might be a good idea if others considered doing the same.Quote:
Originally Posted by icehockeyboy
Presumably their members are watching this site closely and reporting back, all a bit daft really.
<Slam dunk>Quote:
Originally Posted by Figlet108
Do you think that they (RD and his cronies) won't accept this because they're blinkered, deluded or just plain dumb (or a mixture of all three)??
No need to answer. It's a rhetorical question ;)
Marco.
I'm not a cronie of RD, I do use HFS, AOS, PFM and Wigwam from time to time.
At times I've found each to have it's strengths and weaknesses, I'm never going to be a 1k+ forum poster or a moderator. I just find it so sad that adults including myself are reading this dross and that some people make it personal...bringing family into things isn't on.
Ladies and gents this is a forum so how about some etiquette and we bring it back to a place for friendly and useful discussion.
I found these points on a forum recently, might be worth reading...
- No 'flaming' - in other words, avoid personal attacks, pettiness, abuse. Respect other users, and if you disagree with them, explain why.
- No 'trolling' - trolls are posts deliberately designed to provoke an angry response. That doesn't mean you can't be controversial, if you really mean it.
- No personal disputes - if it gets personal, take it offline.
- Don't be patronising or sarcastic. It comes across about ten times worse online.
- Avoid typing in ALL CAPS, which is considered shouting or yelling.
- Learn to let go - don't keep harping on about the same thing, or harking back to previous arguments. It is rarely productive, and you always end up going round in circles.
- If someone else's post offends you, don't fight back online. It can be easy to sound rude without meaning to, especially if English is not your native language. However, if you really are troubled by the post, don't respond - take it to your lecturer instead.
- Post in the most appropriate forum (and only in one forum).
- Stay on topic - try to focus on the original topic. In particular, don't change subject in the middle of an existing thread - just start a new topic.
I think this thread is way past it's best use. We're a long way from Martin's first post since it was re-opened today.
I agree. However, I'd like to say how Jason has handled himself (and the difficult situation he's in) admirably, and I'd like to thank him for that :)
Ok, I fancy an early night, so has anyone else got something worthwhile to say on this subject before I get the keys out and do the necessary?
Marco.
More than watching, quite a few are participating.Quote:
Originally Posted by walpurgis
There seem to be double standards here when people cry foul at a picture posted of a broken cable by a certain maker and yet make the same claim about their experience with another manufacturers cables, without providing any evidence. :confused:
Andrew, your comments that I disagree with are the ones I quoted. That this thread is an abomination is beyond any decent person's doubt, and my point in that post has since been nicely amplified by Craig's story. The negative forces that I refer to as having turned this thread abominable are the same forces that can't abide the slightest criticism of NVA products that Craig refers to. And the stories starting to come out of the woodwork now also reflect abominable behaviour - regardless of how typical or common it is. That it happens just once is inexcusable and indefensible.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
Well, ask your pal RD, since he's done similar he may be able to shed some light - although I suspect the word hate features in the explanation.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
No, I'm pretty sure I did say something like that. My view from first owning SSP and before ever meeting RD was that the connector used and the method of construction was not fit for purpose for such a stiff cable. I think the post you are thinking of was when I posted a picture of the connectors used by Blue Jean Cable and saying that it wasn't rocket science and why not use a connector like theirs because it twists freely separate from the cable and thus would prevent a user from twisting and breaking the cable. Anyway, it'll be there on the forum if you look for it (unless all my posts have been deleted which is also possible)Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
Come on Andrew OWN UP TO WHAT YOU REALLY ARE...... an NVA Supporter a little RD licker.... lick lick....:) you have TRIED to apologise to me on your PM's BUT it just hasn't worked i'm afraid ..... :D:D
I know all about your antics on the OTHER FORUM.... so own up NOW.... you are just one of RD's "little men" .... so sad really Andrew.... You know EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAVE SAID ABOUT ME OVER ON HFS..... but YOU DARE NOT OWN UP TO IT on the AoS forum..... you sad little man !!!
:D:D:D:D
Marco, I strongly suggest that this thread is now closed, otherwise I might start talking about Applemarc's TDS.
It's time to move on.
I agree Figlet
Otherwise it will show AoS peeps for what they are ...sad little monkeys... AB and others
Best
Bev xx
Bev, I think I posted one comment followed by that smiley. It was followed by a line saying "no offence intended". You took offence and I apologised. You asked me not to say anything about your PM and I didn't.
I've never met RD. The last time I spoke to him was by phone in 1992 I think. Between 1992 and 2012 I've owned used amps 3 times and only once emailed him about recapping which he helped with info for. Recently I got back into NVA kit and am pleased with the results.
What about your motives here
Remember the thread where you were quoted as saying that you wanted to hit RD where it hurts? I think that was your sale of SP
And your "witches broomstick"??????? what was that all about???Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew B
You are just an RD licker.... Like I already said..... Let no one believe a thing you say.... Your PM to me was just 'back-peddling' to try to get yourself out of a little hole.... You are just as sad as RD himself...... Go on pass that onto the RD cretin .... you sad little man...!!!
Latest from the 'master artisan':
:eek: :eek: :uhho: :mental: :mental:Quote:
"I never want to have any further contact with Jason in any shape or form. A lot of the circumstances have not been made public, but I for one would not allow him to stay in my presence and my wife would go in the kitchen get a knife and happily cut his throat and accept the consequences she hates him so much for what he has done to our life."
Is it just me or does Richard seem a little agitated? I guess that handing back Jason's £10k had a profound effect on any scheduled house upgrading, chez-Dunn! ;)
Marco.
P.S the above doesn't sound like the Jason I know.
That was the smiley I referred to. It's one of the ones on there. Check the post if you like. I did say no offence intended straight after it. It obviously really upset you so I apologised.
So what difference did all the shielding make?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Figlet108
Your apology is NOT accepted AB... You are just nasty Andrew... You should NOT HAVE made the comments you made about me on HFS....BUT YOU DID... that just proves the sort of person you are .... OK... And any form of back-peddling by you is NOT accepted OK...:D:D
Bullies don't like to be confronted...Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
Exactly Fidget
All RD's 'little men' are all the same
I've known these 'little men' in my work life, and I have no requirement to associate with them in my private life... they are all 'sad little monkeys' :D:D
I also explained at some length why I was critical of you. If you don't want to accept an apology for upsetting you, that is your choice. As I said, it wouldn't stop me being critical of you or anyone else in future. I don't hide my identity on both forums so people are free to read, comment and think what they like.
James, in my particular case it made a big difference because unfortunately I have a noisy environment regarding EMI/RFI.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sovereign
For example, after I made just one cable I plugged the shielded one on one side and a stock SSP on the other channel.
I then created the noisiest environment I could by turning on the plasma and the dimmer lights etc and turning up the volume to full (without music).
The difference between the hissing on the stock SSP side compared to the shielded side was *massive*. And at normal, even loud listening levels there was no audible hiss on the shielded side at all compared to noticable hiss on the stock side.
The shielded set had the effect *in my system* to reduce the noise floor and make a nice improvement to the overall sound.
As I said they were a pain to build, to the point that I plan to do all my SSPs the same and haven't bothered yet!