NVA interconnects

[Barry]

Barry, just in case you haven't read RD's response to you on his forum. Here it is:



A challenge, perhaps? It would be an interesting exercise for the potential benefit of AoS members (and you)

Marco.

P.S Ali, I presume you've read his response to you, regarding your suggestion...?

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.

Nice to know I have joined the ranks of the illustrious few!

[Marco]

No, I don't go there anymore mate.

Okies, here it is:

"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."

Marco.

[WOStantonCS100]

As there are some contributors to this thread who are sticking to the topic of the cable, I thought it worthwhile mentioning that some of the points made about construction and dealing with this unusual cable have been challenged by the manufacturer.

I'm posting a link here for this purpose only, as my trying to reiterate technical points about construction would probably be as accurate and meaningful as anything my avatar would say

http://hifisubjectivist.org/viewtopi...759&start=2910

I'd find it hard to believe anyone here has anything like the same amount of experience with this stuff, so at the very least I feel it's worth contributors taking a look.

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...

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".

[Andrew B]

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.

[Audioman]

Sure, but show me ONE person in the latter category, who has arrived at that 'happy state of affairs', and who hasn't simply just given RD money in return for product(s) or licked his arse/stroked his ego, but has instead challenged him legitimately in some way....?

The fact is, there are only three types of people I know of who remain on good terms with RD for any length of time:

1) 'Satisfied customers' (i.e. mostly those who have simply bought something from NVA, and been satisfied with it, without ever having any need to contact RD again). It's naturally very easy to remain on good terms with him that way.

2) The resident arse-lickers on his forum who kowtow to RD's every whim, for fear of falling out with him and being 'blacklisted', thus suffering the consequences in terms of having existing product repaired or being supplied with new product (remember that RD is on record saying that he'll only deal with those he likes!!) or being banned from HFS, and having nothing else worthwhile to do with their lives, as clearly that is the extent of their available 'entertainment'.

3) His wife.

Marco.

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.

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.

[Marco]

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...

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".

Marco.

[WOStantonCS100]

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.

Nice to know I have joined the ranks of the illustrious few!

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...

[Ali Tait]

Okies, here it is:



Marco.

Okay, that may well be, I too have found the dielectric used can change the sound, as well as the connector.

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.

[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...

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!

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Thanks Barry, Biff, Ali.

2 quick follow-on questions.
The phono connectors in Alan's post are the ones that came with my original cables that I bought direct from NVA. In my experience they break *much* more easily than the profis. Did you guys mean to fit them just as in Alan's photo, or have I misunderstood?

Also, if I wanted to try the liquid insulation, you know, just to experiment with new techniques, can someone please find a link to a product I can buy? Sorry to be a bit of a numpty, but I just can't find anything on Google and I wonder if I'm searching for the wrong thing...

Thanks folks.

Just needs to be something non conductive Jason. Never done anything like this myself, but perhaps something like this would do the job?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Polycraft-...item35c45df90f