Been thinking about component isolation/dampening solutions recently. Along with a host of other variables that are often overlooked/tarred with that old 'snake oil' brush (its bone dry don't ya know!).
When I'm tube rolling, whether it be in preamp/DAC or phono stage, I often leave the covers of components off so I can swap tubes in/out with ease for comparison. When I'm settled on my preferred combination I put the covers back on.
Then I sit back and listen to the fruits of another hour wasted down the rabbit hole.
Every time and I mean EVERY single time I do this I always detect a slight decrease in SQ from my system compared to when I was actually trying out the tubes (with the covers off . . . ). Each time I have put it down to the fact I have been trying to critically listen for differences/changes for that period and now I have switched back into 'just' listening mode.
That and the fact the tubes have been put in/out and have gotten cold/haven't warmed up etc compared to when I decided that, 'yes, this is the tube I'm settling on.'
Well the gloves (covers) are off . . . definite increase in SQ and after a bit of research it does make scientific sense.
Resonance added by covers as well as leakage from transformers and a whole host of other electrical interference (especially detrimental to tubes) seems to have been somewhat removed. In no way eliminated and I'm sure its worse on certain equipment and undetectable in others, but this is audible as well as making scientific sense.
Internal damping and improved isolation would also seem to be weapons in this attack on parasitic electrical, and as a result sonic, degradation.
I'm only scraping the surface here I know and my understanding is from an exceptionally basic standpoint.
I'm very interested to know what others think of these kind of tweaks and indeed how far you have taken things.
Here is a website I've often stumbled upon and although at first I was highly skeptical of it yielding results, not to mention the effort it would take to carry out even 10% of these tweaks, it's really fascinating for me.
I already do a lot of the suggestions as a matter of logical practice but some of the stuff you just wouldn't have the scope to contemplate (at least I wouldn't!).
http://www.co-bw.com/Audio_Increase_...ience_Gear.htm
Some guys at Audiogon have gotten this for years. They're not bothered about proving anything to anyone and don't care if people believe this stuff works or not, they are however also interested in explaining things with science. From some of the debates I read on more UK based forums its either one camp or another. That's fine but I want to make my system sound as good as possible (I realise that's most of our goal!) but using either pure science or indeed pure subjective approaches exclusively seems far too narrow minded approach for me.
Just an example of what is often disregarded as 'foo' explained by those in the know with no agenda other than to educate:
https://forum.audiogon.com/discussio...nent-isolation
The same/similar threads may well exist here (I will be doing a more in depth search now) but I haven't happened across them as easily.
It's a good read all the same and uses knowledge and science to explain audible results and improvements people have found that many would write off as nonsense. I've never been a fan of the 'if you can't measure it nothing has changed' attitude. I don't disagree with the statement at all its just very often only a small part of the audio picture is being measured.
Vibration across all components (passive/active/organic) seems to make some difference. To what extent is more complicated to explain but I'm beginning to assume that everything in the physical space your system exists in matters.
I doubt I'll ever understand this 'organic' chain that is linked physically/electrically/acoustically in any comparative way to some, but I do listen to and absorb what is advised and I'm getting better at sorting the truth from the assumption.
Oh and lastly, I was advised by someone to put a couple of these in my listening room.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultra-low-F.../dp/B078H92R9C
Certainly an interesting device and theory. I can't prove it but they do seem to 'steady' and somewhat reinforce the low end. That's purely subjective, I doubt I could actually detect if they are on or off . . . but I 'think' I like what they do. Anyway, the mind is a powerful thing and if I 'think' it sounds better then it does!
Haven't covered my room in Helmholtz bottles yet but I'm game for giving anything a try!
Right, I'm off to lift my speaker cables . . . .