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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: It’s mad, mad, mad... electricity.
Post Subject: The single "silver bullet" proposition, backed by some serious evidence no doubt?Posted by oxric on: 3/20/2010
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 drdna wrote:
I think it has already been stated. Batteries in audio are inherently of limited utility. It is a tendency of audiophiles to dedicate themselves to a single "silver bullet" instead of building the system based on the particular needs and compromises involved. In the case of batteries, these are not perfect sources. Rather they are very real physical objects with their own physical problems restricting the flow of electricity in idiosyncratic ways. The conflict is that these issues will be more prominent in low signal applications, while in high current applications, the batteries would need to be so large as to make their use prohibitive for the home. This leaves the use of batteries limited, as Romy opined, to those systems plagued by such bad electricity that even this heavily compromised approach is an improvement.


Adrian


Adrian:

I fail to see the utility, as I have always done, of opinions, approaches or theories which make some dogmatic assumption based on limited experience with the said device. So for your opinion, which seems to deny that the Living Voice or the Red Wine Audio propositions have anything to offer, I take it that you must have tried these solutions and compared them maybe with solution(s) that in your view best addresses our dissatisfaction with the quality of mains electricity. I trust that this must be so, in the light of the opinions you express, and must therefore bend to your findings until I have the chance to do such a comparison myself, doubtful  as it is that I should ever get  the opportunity.

If that is not the case, then at the very least, you must have some experience of using battery power supplies in your system, maybe in the pre-amp you built, or even more extensively, and that's the basis for your opinion. In that case, I would suggest that this is  not a sufficient exposure based on which to form such an all-encompassing opinion. The only significant compromise you mention which is worthy of note relates to the 'restriction' on the flow of electricity. This is a matter of implementation and can be overcome. What about your other point, that batteries are 'not perfect sources'. One would need to do some substantial distortion to our understanding of a source to think of batteries as a source. So that leaves your third and final point, that they would be too large as to make their use prohibitive for the home. You home maybe, without trying to be impertinent or sarcastic in the least. Certainly prohibitive in my home, although a partial solution I envisage using in my system at the pre-amp stage will involve 75kg of batteries. But not necessarily out of proportion to the rest of a system such as Romy's, or somebody else who has the technical background, the inclination and the means.

I agree (who would not?) that such a heavy-handed solution must be used as a last resort, but can you guarantee a universal panacea, even merely an approach or solution easily accessible to all that is sure to address or alleviate problems with 'bad electricity'. No need to answer, I doubt you or anyone can or this thread would not be as long or as enduring as it has been. Adrian, for someone who waxes so lyrical about quantum mechanics though, I am perplexed by a view like yours which is so categorical, in spite of the complex issues involved which few would suggest they comprehend fully.

Now there is a long list of advantages to a battery based solution, even if only a partial one, that would enable one to power all or parts of one's system from batteries. I will not bore everyone or offend anybody's intelligence by enumerating the most obvious ones so I will stick to what are in my mind the most critical ones. Firstly, in cases where there are audible advantages to a battery based solution which makes sense from a cost perspective (that is does the expense involved give more improvement than spending an equivalent amount elsewhere in the system?), there is absolutely no reason not to give it a place in a system which is at this level invariably a combination of very many varied components. Secondly, and maybe for some more importantly even, however unsatisfactory the solution, it sets an absolute benchmark by which better and more practical solutions can be evaluated as and when they are tried at a later date. Thirdly,and this is more an issue for some, when you do have to move house, it is easier to preserve an irreducible core of performance below which the performance of a system should not fall, because of 'bad electricity'. 

I value my time and the cumulated wisdom of forum contributors here too highly to advocate a solution with marginal and intangible benefits but thus far nobody has advanced a specific complaint that shows a technical or other shortfall in a battery-powered solution which makes it one that deserves to be treated with contemptuous dismissal. I believe the problem is in part that Romy's system is, again, for obvious reasons (just imagine the amount of batteries it would take to power just his super Melquiades), inherently antagonistical to a battery-powered solution. Romy, in my mind, would only be able to rely partially on such a solution. But others, with more suitable systems, may be able to pursue such a solution and compare their notes here for the benefit or amusement of all. I would hope that as individualistic a character as Romy has not merely surrounded himself by a bunch of hangers-on contaminated by a herd mentality that make them mistrust their own intellectual faculties.

In brief, batteries are probably not for 99% of audiophiles, even those who frequent Romy's website. But for those of you willing to push the boundaries of what can be achieved a little bit further, do not let Romy's or Adrian's or anyone else's opinions or prejudices dissuade you from such a venture. When I look at Romy's monumental website, and when I think of his  own unique mammalian symbology, I cannot help but think of the Egyptian civilisation, which likewise venerated the cat (to the point of mummifying thousands of them ritualistically) and thought they were the repository of all worthwhile knowledge until the abysm of their arrogance engulfed them in a fire that led to their complete collapse. So be warned.

Regards
Rakesh

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