Early April Fool's joke?

[Tinman1952]

Things just got silly ...

Chord Company introduces SignatureX Power cable

Chord Company’s Signature range is expanding with the introduction of a new, high-performance power cable, the SignatureX Power. Handmade in the company’s Wiltshire factory, the new SignatureX Power features Chord’s proprietary ARAY mechanical tuning technology, plus the latest XLPE insulation...

www.hifichoice.com

 

[doifeellucky]

New RJ45 MiniZap from Russ Andrews

Russ Andrews is introducing the RJ45 MiniZap, the latest in the company’s range of filters designed to enhance the performance of computer-based audio systems through high-frequency noise reduction.

www.hifichoice.com

Also good value.

 

[Tinman1952]

New RJ45 MiniZap from Russ Andrews

Russ Andrews is introducing the RJ45 MiniZap, the latest in the company’s range of filters designed to enhance the performance of computer-based audio systems through high-frequency noise reduction.

www.hifichoice.com

Also good value.

😂

 

[Friesiansam]

Things just got silly ...

The really silly thing, is that there are well-off gullible people out there who'll pay for them and, think they make a real difference.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

Hey maybe the filter does reduce high frequency noise, but I can only hear frequencies somewhere between 8-12 kHz....so, chances are I'll not hear the improvement in the high frequency noise reduction.🤣🤣

 

[Gray]

....'additional metres add £500 to the cost'
Just ridiculous.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

New RJ45 MiniZap from Russ Andrews

Russ Andrews is introducing the RJ45 MiniZap, the latest in the company’s range of filters designed to enhance the performance of computer-based audio systems through high-frequency noise reduction.

www.hifichoice.com

Also good value.

I am amazed he's still out there, sharking people...

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I was thinking about this whilst making the bed - yep, it's a wild, rock 'n' roll lifestyle here...

I bought something from RA many, many years ago and returned it immediately, and their customer service in terms of speed of refund would best be descried as 'grudging.' I know that from a point of view of waste I should have opted out of the mailing list that I was manacled to, but a childish and ignoble part of me enjoys wasting just a little of his ill-gotten gains.

Aaanyway - I do sometimes have a flick through it, and the letters page always amazes me - full of what seem to me to be people with little else in their lives who write in to say the latest geegaw they bought from him has 'utterly transformed' their system, and they'll be buying something else pronto. It's like they are competing to try to prove just how 'Russ' they are. Basically, by posing for pictures sat in front of an oscilloscope for sufficiently long, RA has become a cult.

 

[nopiano]

Hey maybe the filter does reduce high frequency noise, but I can only hear frequencies somewhere between 8-12 kHz....so, chances are I'll not hear the improvement in the high frequency noise reduction.🤣🤣

The intention, I believe, is to reduce or eliminate unwanted frequencies beyond our hearing range, because with digital replay these can intermodulate with the wanted frequencies that we do hear. That manifests as noise or ‘hash’, which these filters are designed to eliminate. Hence you enjoy better replay of the range you can hear.

In my opinion any benefits are very likely system dependent. If you share a house with umpteen switched power supplies, wall warts, Dect phone chargers, Firesticks, Chromecasts, PCs, other wireless devices and maybe wifi boosters, there is plenty of unwanted stuff around. If your kit is sensitive to that ‘noise’ these might help. But that’s why there is a extended trial/return period, if it doesn’t work for you.

That seems to me to be an entirely reasonable business model.

 

[nopiano]

I am amazed he's still out there, sharking people...

That’s a rather immoderate response for a moderator, isn’t it?

 

[Friesiansam]

The intention, I believe, is to reduce or eliminate unwanted frequencies beyond our hearing range, because with digital replay these can intermodulate with the wanted frequencies that we do hear. That manifests as noise or ‘hash’, which these filters are designed to eliminate. Hence you enjoy better replay of the range you can hear.

In my opinion any benefits are very likely system dependent. If you share a house with umpteen switched power supplies, wall warts, Dect phone chargers, Firesticks, Chromecasts, PCs, other wireless devices and maybe wifi boosters, there is plenty of unwanted stuff around. If your kit is sensitive to that ‘noise’ these might help. But that’s why there is a extended trial/return period, if it doesn’t work for you.

That seems to me to be an entirely reasonable business model.

Regardless of "If your kit is sensitive to that ‘noise’ these might help. " Can your ears actually detect the noise?

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

That’s a rather immoderate response for a moderator, isn’t it?

I am a moderator here - my views of what goes on in the wider world don't necessarily have to be!

When this forum existed many, many years ago, a member examined the contents of one of Russ's little boxes (with a not-so-little price tag) - he had some knowledge of electrical componentry and reckoned they amounted to a price below a tenner.

 

[Al ears]

That’s a rather immoderate response for a moderator, isn’t it?

moderators can have opinions too.....
It's allowed.

 

[nopiano]

Regardless of "If your kit is sensitive to that ‘noise’ these might help. " Can your ears actually detect the noise?

With respect, I don’t think you fully read what I wrote. Nobody can hear RF, but it can affect the audible range. Just as, many years ago, taxi transmitters could interfere with Hifi and TV - but that didn’t mean you could hear taxi radio without a receiver.

Similarly, you probably can’t hear a refrigerator thermostat, but if it creates a ‘plop’ through your amplifier and speakers you definitely can!

 

[nopiano]

I am a moderator here - my views of what goes on in the wider world don't necessarily have to be!

When this forum existed many, many years ago, a member examined the contents of one of Russ's little boxes (with a not-so-little price tag) - he had some knowledge of electrical componentry and reckoned they amounted to a price below a tenner.

I know! I just thought it was ‘playing the man’ rather than addressing the subject.

The component content of many items in our hobby doesn’t merit the asking price if that’s all you see. But as you doubtless know, overheads, R&D, dealers margins, VAT etc all take their toll.

 

[nopiano]

moderators can have opinions too.....
It's allowed.

Absolutely, and I’d defend your right to them to the end.

 

[Al ears]

Absolutely, and I’d defend your right to them to the end.

you're a gentleman and a scholar Sir....

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

The component content of many items in our hobby doesn’t merit the asking price if that’s all you see. But as you doubtless know, overheads, R&D, dealers margins, VAT etc all take their toll.

Indeed they do - though the point this chap was making was that the margin was plump beyond any reasonable expectation.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

I just thought it was ‘playing the man’ rather than addressing the subject.

I was thinking about this too, and you 're right.

In fairness though, I think his brand is much more himself than is the case for most companies - it bears his first and second names, his mailers include a great deal of his thoughts, and the aforementioned trademark pic-with-sciencey-looking-gear all encourage people to think of him and the company as one and the same.

And if you sell eighteen grand speaker cable, you should expect sceptical attention.

 

[Tinman1952]

I bought one of Russ Andrews' aftermarket switch mode power supplies many years ago which was supposed to clean up the mains supply.... It emitted a constant buzzing noise (not desired for audio surely...?) but was informed this was quite normal....and it was how the 'unwanted energy' of mains noise pollution was dissipated...🤔😣
It went in the bin....

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

but was informed this was quite normal....and it was how the 'unwanted energy' of mains noise pollution was dissipated..

Reminds me of when I bought my previous car, and asked the person I was picking it up from where the Quattro badge from the front had gone - one of the salespeople quickly piped up that 'they didn't have them now.' It turned out to be a lie to save his colleague from some work - which I made them do when I saw another one with the badge a few weeks later...

 

[Gray]

And if you sell eighteen grand speaker cable, you should expect sceptical attention.

...who could be sceptical about innovation like Process Q?
Click on 'what's this' to read how it beats 'super burn-in' and 'super burn-in plus'

Russ Andrews - Hi-Fi mains and cable specialist

Leading manufacturer and retailer of Hi-Fi mains cables, mains conditioning products and Kimber Kable interconnects and speaker cable. Est 1986.

www.russandrews.com

...and only £200

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

...who could be sceptical about innovation like Process Q?

See what I mean about the disciples in terms of reviews?

I think it's generally unreasonable to request proof of an individual who believes they hear a difference because of X/Y/Z, but if you are charging for it, a description of what you are getting (rather than a James Bond style name) and some sort of evidence would be a reasonable expectation. I think he gives snake oil salespeople a bad name...

 

[Friesiansam]

With respect, I don’t think you fully read what I wrote. Nobody can hear RF, but it can affect the audible range.

Sorry but, I think you are missing the point. Can you actually hear the noise the RF interference generates? If not, then there is no point whatsoever spending a lot of money to get rid of it and, if it is at such a low level it is barely noticeable, there is probably still no point buying overpriced mains cables to supposedly get rid of it.

 

[nopiano]

Sorry but, I think you are missing the point. Can you actually hear the noise the RF interference generates? If not, then there is no point whatsoever spending a lot of money to get rid of it and, if it is at such a low level it is barely noticeable, there is probably still no point buying overpriced mains cables to supposedly get rid of it.

We are still at cross purposes. It’s the RA Mini Zap that deals with the RF noise that can modulate a digital signal, and that’s what I wrote about.

The Chord mains cable I’m less clear about, though I expect it looks impressive!