[Vintage-Audio] Re Gold Plated Audio Cables

[Peter Markavage]

Anything that is mechanical, (motors, belts, drive trains, etc.) have the
potential for generating static, and propagating it either through the
air or through the circuitry. Likewise, even components have the
potential for generating noise, which is perceived as static and/or
creating distortion. A capacitor that is starting to break down can
periodically generate "noise" into the system. Current through a
resistor, depending upon the resistor's makeup and age, can sometimes
generate noise over time. Likewise IC's and all semiconductors also have
to the potential, due to current leakage, to develop static and/or
distortion. Trying to find the culprit can be a real test of sanity.
Probably why I like burned out components or defective parts that blow
up. They're much easier to find and to diagnose the problem.

Pete

On Wed, 7 Nov 2007 17:23:25 -0500 "Duane Fischer, W8DBF"
<dfischer at usol.com> writes:
> Hello Peter,
> 
> I had already tried what you mentioned and it did not cause the 
> static to 
> occur.
> 
> The Master recording on DAT does not have any static or any kind of 
> audio 
> distortion on it. Hence, if the source is the DAT deck, it is not 
> coming 
> from a defective recording.
> 
> I have used a high end, supposedly 'top quality' optical cleaner on 
> the CDRW 
> deck to be sure that the Laser track is free from whatever. I also 
> used a 
> special DAT cleaning cassette to clean the high speed DAT heads.
> 
> If I monitor the source, the DAT, as the CDRW deck records the 
> signal from 
> it, I never hear the static. Normally this static will be right at 
> the start 
> of a recording and last X seconds. However, it has happened three 
> quarters 
> of the way through a forty minute recording too.
> 
> I am wondering if it may be generated by friction between the DAT 
> heads and 
> the DAT tape as it is being played?
> 
> I have also heard reports that some brands of blank CDR discs have 
> had 
> problems with sporadic static. I normally use Sony and Maxell 
> "music" CDS, 
> as I do not record music with computer software. Anyone else heard 
> these 
> periodic reports of static issues with blank CDR discs?
> 
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF/WPE8CXO
> dfischer at usol.com
> HHI: Halligan's Hallicrafters International
> http://www.w9wze.net
> HHRP: Historic Halligan Radio Project
> hhrp.w9wze.net
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Peter Markavage" <manualman at juno.com>
> To: <vintage-audio at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 5:15 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vintage-Audio] Re Gold Plated Audio Cables
> 
> 
> > If you play something between these two units and move the cables 
> around
> > and/or tap the connectors with a stick and hear static or 
> distortion
> > static (I'm not really sure what distortion static is), then the 
> problem
> > is most likely in the cable or connectors. If this activity 
> doesn't bring
> > upon the static, most likely it's coming from one of the units.
> >
> > Pete, wa2cwa
> >
> > On Tue, 6 Nov 2007 16:58:10 -0500 "Duane Fischer, W8DBF"
> > <dfischer at usol.com> writes:
> >>
> >>
> >> Hi All,
> >>
> >> Have any of you used the supposedly better quality gold plated 
> audio
> >> cables?
> >> The pairs I have are six feet long with male RCA plugs on each 
> end.
> >> Very
> >> heavy shielded cable, I am not sure of the gauge.
> >>
> >> One thing I noticed when I first installed them was that they 
> fit
> >> very
> >> tight! Removing them was not something one was supposed to do
> >> often!
> >>
> >> Since gold is not subject to corrosion I have left my four pairs 
> of
> >> audio
> >> cables connected for the past eight years.
> >>
> >> I am now getting some periodic static distortion between my Sony 
> ZA5
> >> ES DAT
> >> deck and the Sony CDRW deck. I have the gold plated cables on 
> both
> >> the
> >> input/outputs of the DAT deck running to the amplifier and from 
> the
> >>
> >> amplifier to the input/output of the Sony CDRW deck. I have 
> checked
> >> all
> >> cables to be sure they are not loose. I even partly unplugged 
> each
> >> one and
> >> then re inserted it in case of a poor connection.
> >>
> >> Nothing I have done thus far has eliminated the sometimes there 
> -
> >> sometimes
> >> not static. Any suggestions or experiences with such cables to
> >> share?
> >>
> >> Thank you.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Duane Fischer, W8DBF/WPE8CXO
> >> dfischer at usol.com
> >> HHI: Halligan's Hallicrafters International
> >> http://www.w9wze.net
> >> HHRP: Historic Halligan Radio Project
> >> hhrp.w9wze.net
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/vintage-audio
> >> List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> >> ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
> >>
> >>
> > _______________________________________________
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> > List Administrator: Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> > ** For Assistance: dfischer at usol.com **
> >
> >
> >
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> > 11/1/2007 6:47 PM
> >
> > 
> 
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