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Isolation Ward From ebony pucks to magic foil, mystical and controversial tweaks. |
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Isolation Ward From ebony pucks to magic foil, mystical and controversial tweaks. |
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In Reply to: RE: I have four bricks posted by May Belt on June 30, 2007 at 03:56:01:
about the 'passive' gear: I somehow read it to mean a 'passive' preamp, i.e. one without active electronics.
That being said, you can demonstrate the magnetic effect by placing the brick under a component also. Or, if you wish place the brick on the shelf below.
As for designing to minimize the effect of a brick, one reason why toroidal transformers became popular was because they generate a smaller magnetic field. But as far as completely eliminating the effect of magnetic inductance, I suggest a brushing up on physics basics. Electron flow and magnetism are inextricably bound together.
Again, magnetic fields would rather travel through ferrous objects rather than through air. Sprinkle iron powder on a sheet of paper and place a magnet under, gently tapping the paper to align the powder with the lines of force. The place a piece of iron close by, doing the same. You will see a change in the nature of the lines generated. Using that knowledge will enable you to 'properly' locate a VPI brick on your gear, and also explain why some positions are more effective than others. There is no one carte blanche solution for very situation.
As for measurements, yes, you can measure changes (I have a Lakeshore Gauss meter). Most will not own or have access to a gaussmeter, but you could even employ a simple compass and see changes in the needle deflection, which is how I started out. But you can also use your ear, too. Again experiments with iron powder show that strategic placement of something like a VPI brick can reduce the stray magnetic field.
Measurement of magnetic fields are actually very enlightening, and you can measure the relative fields by again using a simple compass. On a 12 inch woofer, I can see and measure magnetic deflection up to 4 to 5 feet away. even a foot away from a CD player I can measure changes. The pervasiveness of magnetic fields, not counting the field of the planet, is far greater than many realize. The same applies to RFI which can be measured by a simple meter used by microwave servicers.
As far as actually placing the brick on a shelf, several other manufacturers, (Enacom, Argent, Roomtunes, Shakti, Shun Mook) have effectively demonstrated that placement of anything within the room can have an effect on the reflected acoustic wave, however small. You should get a similar effect using a weighted wooden box, as you have pointed out.
I use pieces of wood placed throughout my sound room for sonic advantage. By using sample blocks, I can easily assess which woods sound 'better' to my ears, and surprise, surprise (actually no surprise) the better sounding woods mirror their use in musical instruments.
One of the Shun Mook founders told me that the effect of the wood was discovered (by them) because one of them had a guitar for decorative purposes one one wall. His son decided to learn how to play the instrument and removed it, and then he realized that the skewed soundstage in his sound room suddenly reverted to normal. Ever notice that they often have a violin on display in their booths at CES, placed between the speakers? The placement is not purely for decorative purposes.
I have often visited my customers' homes, and by strategically moving their existing furnishings and decorative fixtures, greatly improved certain aspects of the sound, using their tastes as a guide.
Again my apologies for making that mistake on passive components, but I still must stand by my statement in that trying to 'mystify' a basic application of physics, you are actually doing audio a vast disservice.
The one thing I will say in parting is that the human body's sensitivity is quite astonishing, although not every one shares that sensitivity.
Stu
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Follow Ups
- My apologies - unclestu52 11:53:42 06/30/07 (2)
- Nice post... - SF tech 13:14:13 06/30/07 (1)
- Shakti Stones - unclestu52 20:00:10 06/30/07 (0)
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