Hi, I had problems with my valve pre, one channel was louder than the other until I turned it right up. I ended upgrading the volume pot and volume control, now the image is dead centre. Do you clean your cd's too? Regards, Steve.
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 Wow here we are at opposite ends of the world, totally different equipment, yet we find exactly the same problem. Yes I do clean CDs occasionally and use ordinary washing up liquid and water, as I believe that simply dusting will probably rub the dust in rather than remove it. But it is a very rare problem. Pleased to see this thread back on course and no more a slanging match!!! John...
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Hello Steve, glad to see you use valve equipment I am just finishing off the design of some valve equipment which will then go on sale, two KT88s and a very high grade output transformer it delivers 42 watts into 6 ohms and sound very nice, I have nothing agains solid state but people do like valves and will pay a lot of money for this type of equipment. Regards Gerald
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Hi John and Gerald, Yes I like the old valve sound. I use a valve pre and Rotel and Nad power amps (solid state), and consonance cd player with B&W speakers (crossover upgraded and hardwired etc). I am thinking of Bi amping sometime just to see what impact it will have on the sound. Has anyone tried bi amping? Have a great day. Steve.
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Steven, only just noticed this thread and your question. I actually have a Zion PE cable stuck into my power amp, and will give you my thoughts. Firstly it is the thickest almost non bending cable ive ever come across, and because of that it is very easy to dislodge it from the amps socket, and bearing in mind a good fit is paramount, I would say it is too thick for its own good! As for its sound capabilities, im not 100% sure it actually offers an improvement, that said, I persuaded myself that when I changed it for a different one, the sound didnt seem so "meaty" John will be along in a minute to confirm it must have been my imagination! For the reason mentioned in the third paragraph, i dont think id recommend it.
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 Hi John, "Now this is going off the ricter scale, tonight I noticed an imbalance in the stereo image. I thought this must be a cable problem, unplugged, then re plugged. no the right hand channel was definitely down. Oh a good opportunity to try wotslice's cable, no difference there. OK so lets just connect the right channel, then wang the volume up, suddenly it came back into focus. Simply dirt on the wiper of the control. I tend to not change volume from a setting that I know is acceptable to those around me so the control rarely gets touched......" I also used to get the same problem with a Naim pre-amp potentiometer....(scrunchy noise arising from a particular area of the track being used).... Slowly and smoothly rotating it from one end of it's travel to the other then back again always cleans it up nicely and gets rid of the noise. Kind regards, Bill.
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I get a similar problem with my TSD preamp, I took the pot out and put it in the freezer for a couple of hours and then dipped it in Savlon and it now works as it should in fact the sound has improved to such an extent that I am going to do it to all the post in my various pieces of equipment, not sure if it is the Savlon or the freezing but the clarity of the sound and the depth and warmth is astounding, maybe Russ Andrews should market a kit for this type of improvement to the sound. Gerald
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I have been told that using single cream and washing the pot in Rose wine will have the same effect but change the sound in a different way I am going to try this and will put the results on this site as soon as I can I wont drink the wine until I have put the results on here, I would rather use double cream as I can use what is left over with some strawberries.
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You all must think I am crazy with the things I say on here but no more crazy than all the rubbish you all talk about cables in fact there are many words to describe what is said about cables and their effect on sound but as there are supposed ladies who read this and maybe a few clergymen I wont use those words though I am sorely temped.
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Hello John and Pluto, can you tell me how to improve the vertical image of my HI FI I do like a good.listen. As it is said that speaker cable must enter the amp and speakers from above if I was to fix the cable up the wall at the amp end and down the wall at the speaker end would this improve the vertical image of my sound without the horizontal image your thoughts would be most appreciated. Changing the subject I used to like the Russ Abbot show on TV but since he has gone into selling various very high end accessories I don't think of him as funny anymore, maybe maybe the likes of Jim Davidson, and his contemporaries should go into the same business.
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John and Pluto is it true that having speaker cables laying on the floor will make them pick up vibrations and is it worth purchasing some things to keep them off the floor Russ Abbot makes them at an enormous cost, would those made of wood or plastic be better. comments please
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Hi Icehockeyboy, Thanks for the feedback. It sounded meaty do you mean bassy? Did it improve over the normal lead? lIt sounds like you don't recommend the Zion PE cord then? Did you try any other power leads? Regards, Steve.
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Hi Gerald, They say laughter is the best medicine of all and it certainly seems to be working for you !  Enjoyed your uncommonly polite response to Steve earlier....keep up the good work... Kind regards, Bill.
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Steven, I think its just too thick, to the point where its always dragging itself away from the unit its powering, especially if its lower than the unit, where its sheer mass just pulls it downwards. I have other cables, from Russ Andrews and Krystal Kables, and i have just started a thread at Hifi Wigwam, about not really thinking that they offer any improvement, but being unwilling to sell them on, a lot of us there seem to be of the same opinion.........
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Hello Bill and all, yes I do like a laugh and to take the P**S out of the rubbish that is talked some of the time. The main people who know what they are talking about are John Fisher and Pluto and some others amongst you, as they say "You are all entitled to your opinion even though you are wrong". I have my views on cables which are that they all sound the same. I have been professionally involved with sound equipment since I was 10 years old setting up equipment for my late mother who used to tour in the variety theaters. when I was about 12 I built my first valve amplifier with my grandad and have not looked back since then. I had a recording studio in Soho and recorded a lot of the big groups, I built a home studio for Pete Townshend, and equipment for lots of pop groups in the 60s. I am not 65 so I have had a lot of experience with sound having done a lot of recording and amongst other things two mixers for the London Palladium one in 1968 and one in 1978 cant get any more experience than that. I am now going back to the past and building and designing valve/tube equipment again, and I have never heard any difference between one piece of cable and another and will never believe there can be any. I am trying to find time to write a book on the various customers and the equipment I have designed and built over the years, but my memory had to be given a kick start to remember back all those years. But there are a lot of people out there who are making a lot of money out of the gullibility of HI FI nuts. Regards for now Gerald. Not my real name but it give me a laugh to use it like some of you who use alises, I will reveal my real name in the near future.
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Hi Gerald, You sound like you are very experienced in the sound department - I love the valve sound, I have a valve pre myself and recently listened to a melody integrated valve unit. Its interesting that people with much experience in hifi have differing oppinions on cables -not discounting your oppinion just noting that there are people do have differing oppinions who work in the industry who just love good sound who are not driven by the dollar at all. Im interested in your real name is it Rolf Harris - just joking Have a good day. Steve.
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Hi Icehockeyboy, I could not find your thread on power cables. Im only looking for 1 cable that sits on the floor to join a 6 outlet box - so it does not matter if its a big power lead. How does the Zion compare with the others soundwise? Regards, Steve.
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Hello Steve, no not Rolf I am not into bondage with Kangaroos well at least not yet. Maybe our old mate Russ Andrews should make some wobble boards with oak cones for the Australian market. I met Rolf once in the wings of a theater when I was doing a small job and I had a girl with me with the smallest mini skirt, some would call it a "Pilots Mini skirt" or a "Sailors Mini skirt" I wont explain in case David Oliver takes offense but if you need to know I will send the answer in a plain brown envelope! Well mate off to make a Billie of tea and get some Lamingtons. Regards Gerald
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Hi Gerald, Yes I like Earl Grey tea. I thought I just add one thing Gerald you do seem to get a little over passionate sometimes and it may stop others who may want to contribute to answering the question especially to newbies like me. What speakers, cd players and leads do you use? Have a good day. Steve.
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Steven, its in the 2 channel section, called, "Will you be getting rid". As for the sound of the Zion, just let me say, although I havent done any A/B comparing, I dont think there is any audible difference in any of the aftermarket leads I own! Many folk will swear they hear a difference, maybe my mains are good enough not to show up any differences, I dont know...... Gerald, I reckon that as you have been in the sound business for so long (as I have in radio and clubs, but not as long as you).....I think your hearing must be a bit shot to not hear any differences in ic's and speaker cables.
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