Mains versus Battery

[ElectroMan]

I've just had a thought (really).

If an unfiltered/unbalanced (i.e. 'normal' ) mains supply can degrade the sound of a system due to RFI, spikes, 'noise' etc, then:

Should the sound from, say,
an iPod be better if it is running off the battery, rather than off the normal mains?

 

[Anonymous]

Spikes on an iPod are magnified to an unquantifiable magnitude compared with normal hifi equipment. Best avoided.

 

[Big Aura]

presume a pod never works directly from mains, rather it's charging while connected?

 

[ElectroMan]

I think so, but it will work when you plug it in even if the battery's totally exhausted.

Hmmm, so does it sound different if it's charging from a PC? Does this potentially open up a whole new can of worms, involving USB or Firewire cables, as well as mains cables?

 

[Anonymous]

I think the next big can of worms will be how we 'improve' the quality of air in order to reduce spikes.

 

[Big Aura]

Dell are closing their manufacturing facility in Limerick - perhaps we could all sub-let space in their cleanroom and wear CSI white suits?

 

[Andrew Everard]

There is that old story of the Japanese audiophile running his system off 96 1.5V D-cell batteries. Not rechargables, but good old throwaway alkalines.

Which he spent every Friday night soldering in place ready for that weekend's listening session.

 

[idc]

What would produce the cleanest/purest/best supply; the mains treated through filters/silencers/conditioners etc, or a mains fed battery supply?

My gut feeling is that a mains fed battery will provide the cleanest supply as I presume it outputs the same current/voltage all the time. But I do not know of a battery pack which you plug into the mains and it has sockets on it to plug your kit into. Anyone more knowledgeable than I (most of you) as to why.