Reducing a computers EMI improves picture quality of attached monitors.

[JasonM]

Reducing EMI doesn't make the blacks more black or add more contrast

It's possible I'm seeing a sharper picture, and I've interpreted this as better contrast and colours. My theory was some EMI was getting into the monitors from the display cables.

 

[JasonM]

So I switched out the RA power cable + Tacima to the computer, and used a standard IEC PC cable to the wall.

This is what I noticed. The picture quality degraded, and the source quality from my Asus Essence STX II changed back. I ran like this for 2 days.

After those 2 days I refitted the RA power cable, picture quality on monitors improved, and source sound quality improved. The treble is less harsh with deeper bass and more detailed mids.

I've also done the same with my HTPC in the lounge this being change the standard PC power cable to a RA classic power cord + Tacima, exactly same result Asus Essence ST sounds better and better picture from the 50" TV connected to the HTPC.

I know the overwhelming majority think the above is nonsense, however I'll never in my life run a standard IEC cable on a computer I'm using ever again, certainly not one i'm working at for long periods or using as an audio source.

And to remove any confusion, this picture shows what I've been doing. The PSU in photo is a Seasonic Titanium thats ready to go into a new PC build.

 

[JasonM]

Do you think just buying the RA power cable would be enough to see or hear a difference?

Possibly, but would get the Tacima also.

Look for a RA Classic PowerKord, those are the ones I'm using on my computers, about £40 on the bay.

You can produce images that show the difference between high and low quality analogue video cables, so let's see it.

The picture differences can't be captured, even I'm struggling to understand what has happened. I'm wondering now if it's a sharper picture, and I mistook this for better contrast or colours.

It's the same with the audio, deeper bass, softer high's, better mids. This is subtle but I can assure you it's there.

Repeated the above both on my office PC, and HTPC in front room.

 

[JasonM]

Seems appropriate since they're doing proper testing of HDMI cable with zero eye or ear based "trust me bro" measurements which is what you are offering even when linking sources.

If I could somehow show some actual data I would but I can't. I'm sitting in a 4 bedroom house in Wistaston Crewe, I don't have a spare bedroom kitted out with audio & visual test equipment.. A camera or microphone is not enough to pick the differences up.

I did however do one test last month, I posted about how Van Damme silver interconnects reduce noise over a stock interconnect. Just like this thread few believed me, so did the following showing how the Van Damme cable does reduce noise.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaQRFtBXu1w

 

[JasonM]

And I am not surprised if the dead and resurrected maplin is selling an analogue audio cable which isn't great.

I was testing against a Maplin's Premium cable, that is probably better than some of the cheap 'free' RCA cables.

The reason the Van Damme Silver performs better is it's just a very good cable, it's designed for session recording, the low noise is due to the braided shielding. Apparently Eric Clapton uses these cables from his electric guitar.

Your fine to run basic 'free' cables and pay no attention to power conditioning, you're missing out getting the best from your audio and visual equipment.

 

[JasonM]

I'm still of exactly same view that the Russ Andrews power cables and / or Tacima filters improve both audio and picture quality where used, you'll never change my view as i'm seeing the benefits myself when testing. Before you continue to disagree consider you have never tried these things yourself.

This differences are more on audio than visual. If people were standing in a room, I could change cables and in less then 10 minuets show you the effects where you would never question these things again. I've come to understand that mains quality is far more important to audio and visual then I ever realised.

Doesn't work that way.
Twisting only minimizes how much that part of the wiring sends and receives EMI.
It doesn't filter EMI which has been already induced into wires.

I contacted RA about this, and according to them above is wrong.

"Yes, the benefit of the woven design and why it’s utilized across pretty much everything we do, is its ability to reject RFI already around us. This is because the weave doesn’t represent a known antenna pattern. Secondly, the crisscross nature of the live/neutral wires in a mains cable for example, has a natural cancellation process of high frequency signals already picked up on the mains supply"

 

[JasonM]

Are you a very bad cable salesman? In both senses.

I'm still of exactly the same view that you've not demonstrated anything.

Come to that, your favoured audio suppliers have not demonstrated anything either. EVER.

Why is the burden of proof on other people to demonstrate what you or the cable makers are implying.

You've been dodging a blind test made from the material you presented like I'm offering you a dead rat. The companies you fawn over would eat that rat rather than answer specific questions with specific answers as to the benefit of what they have done.

Vaguely mumbling about electronic science as if the audience is mentally deficient and the matter is religiously inexplicable is a disgrace.

You've never tried these things, and you don't know what your talking about.

Listen to this pod cast from Direct of Power / Engineering at AudioQuest on how electrical noise effects a DAC, the same issues in mains also effect visual quality.

https://soundcloud.com/johnhdarko/w...cal-noise-and-why-is-it-bad-for-audio-systems

If we were both standing in same room, I could convince you in 10 minutes by swapping cables. But you don't want to believe so you learn nothing and stay ignorant.

 

[JasonM]

demand that other people buy cables to try out what you won't prove.

You can't demo correctly over the internet, you need to be in the room. Exactly same applies to any other piece of audio gear.

I'm not demanding people purchase cables, I have suggested people willing to try buy Russ Andrews cables pre-owned from eBay, then re-sell them if they don't like them. All my RA power cables are pre-owned.

The problem is people who have never tried arguing with someone who has tried.

 

[JasonM]

Hotwire did you listen to the Audio Quest pod cast I posted?

Do you think Audio Quest is wrong in what's said?

 

[JasonM]

VersionMonkey,

I can demonstrate these things to anyone standing in same room.

If you listen to the Audio Quest pod cast he explains that even a PSU can't remove all interference entering from the mains. He then goes to say how interference eventually reaches something that's analogue that I suspect what's happening.

The only nonsense thing is people who have never tried, arguing with someone who has tried.

And the reason the thread got bumped, is Est claimed a twisted pair cable could not remove interference that was already in the mains supply. I contacted Russ Andrews about this, and they confirm that it can. It's my reply to Est that bumped the thread again.

 

[JasonM]

Hotwired, chill.

 

[JasonM]

Is it an unreasonable request to double check your claims which can be double checked?

I did listen to them but I can't remember the order any more.

 

[JasonM]

To help everyone understand more I've produced a diagram now of my office setup...

Now be honest when have you ever seen an office setup wired like this , Elon Musk's he's a genius but I bet he's not got his office wired like this..

At least see the funny side, if everyone was the same where would we be

 

[JasonM]

To be honest if your mains quality is that bad that you need to filter it

I have British Gas home care, and never any issues on electric test when engineer comes. House is modern with modem wiring. Do have many of LED lights including LED transformers and dimmable LED lights all can cause interference.

Both my office PC and HTPC probably have some of the cleanest sound output of anyone using a sound card on this forum. Picture quality from monitors has improved but less pronounced than audio improvements.

I don't do these things to fix issues, but to improve things further.

 

[JasonM]

According to who.

What would you recommend to improve it then?

 

[JasonM]

Easy to prove that one, Xonars have a recording loopback from the rear line out called ALT, makes it a piece of cake to test the card with RMAA as you dont even need a cable.

I've installed RMAA, but unsure what Playback and recording devices to set.

How do I setup ALT mode on an Asus Essence, I googled but don't see any reference to it.

EDIT.

I've done a quick test and getting different THD data,

-122.71 for Russ Andrews + Tacima
-121.69 for cheap standard IEC cable

Again I've never used this software and I need help from someone who can use it, it's possible i'm testing wrong.

This is what i'm getting from the Asus Essence, however I'm unsure how far AUX goes into the analogue sections of the card. I'm planning a much more comprehensive test there I have two Asus Essence cards installed in the same machine using one as output, and another as input.

 

[JasonM]

Rroff, I appreciate you tired this, at least you tried.

What mains cable did you use between your inverter to monitors and/or computer? If your using a standard IEC cable it's not emulating the setup I have here.

It's actually the Russ Andrews cables that improved my monitors. I found this totally by accident as I was using a Russ Andrews cable to try and improve source (sound card) output from my computer and the RA cable did this also.

I'm planning a test where I use 2 Asus Essence sound cards in same computer, one sound card outputting into the other card. Then I'll test the Tacima, Russ Andrews cable and better interconnects. I'll then repeat the testing using cheap mains cable and budget interconnects, then I'll post all the results.