I believe this type of wire is superior than Zip Cord.

[mtrycraft]

Now that we've nailed down 0.5 db loss at 20 khz by buying an expensive wire, what do we do about all of those other variables?

Like what? Can you hear 20kHz?

[Bobby Blacklight]

But are the measurements relevant?? Do they represent the same conditions the product will be used at home. If the measurements don't correlate to an audible improvement in yours system, what do they mean?? If this gives you peace of mind and it's important to you for what ever reason fine.

[Monstrous Mike]

I think what you need to do is examine what kind of signals are being picked up by zip cord when it is acting like an antenna. For example, what can a 20 foot piece of zip cord actually pick up? Ifwe take the well known theory of a quarter wavelength being the signal that will be picked up the strongest, an 80 foot wavelength is a signal around 12 mHz (I just did quick math).

I just don't think that there would be any signals in the audio range that this wire would pick up, especially signals that were strong enough to be audible (i.e. in the audio spectrum) or interfere with the audio signals from the amp.

So getting back to skeptic's assertion, you would need to measure what kind of signals are present on a 20 foot piece of zip cord due to antenna effects, decide if any of them are in the relevent frequency band and then decide if they are of sufficient magnitude to be any sort of even a potential problem. I think you'll find the answers to this to be no, no, and no.

Therefore, even if a cable measures better than zip cord, using it will improve nothing that matters, and that is what sounds are coming from the speakers.

[skeptic]

If I owned a $3000 Bryston amplifier and someone wanted to convince me to buy a new power cord for $500 to $1000, what would they have to do to convince me? Measuring what interference got into the power cord wouldn't matter beans. I'd want to see what was happening inside the amplifier. I'd want to know how this translated into changes in the dc bias voltages, the noise and distortion, the frequency response. If there was a change, I'd be on the phone to Bryston to ask them what the hell they sold me with a power supply whose regulation and filtering is so poor that could be improved with a different power cord. Frankly, I'd be amazed if there was any change at all. It doesn't make sense.

BTW folks, don't try to shield your own power cords. The conditions of their UL listing will be violated as they are rated to operate in "free space." Putting any shielding on them such as aluminum foil or braiding will restrict air flow, decrease heat radiation, and create a safety risk.

[Tony_Montana]

All of you have good points regarding this type of wire, and I agree with "If ain't broke, then don't fix it" mythology, but if they help to "noise proof" a system, I say it wouldn't hurt. The only draw back here is extra cost associated wit this wire.

What is fascinating about this wire is that it does three things:reject outside noise, reduced emitting noise to its surrounding, and lower inductance. Certain applications might benefits from these advantages such as in wall long cable runs

[mtrycraft]

but if they help to "noise proof" a system, I say it wouldn't hurt. The only draw back here is extra cost associated wit this wire.

You are right, it won't hurt at all and maybe some may benefit from it having to place it near power runs that just cannot be avoided.
Most audiophile cables work. After all, they are wires making a complete circuit, no breaks but they don't make economic sense, for you.

[skeptic]

""If ain't broke, then don't fix it" mythology,"

It isn't mythology. It may be good marketing to alarm people to a problem that doesn't exist and then sell them a fix for it but it is bad engineering because it is a useless waste of money. Why not put your amplifier in a steel cage to protect it against a tiger attack. No tigers in your neighborhood lately? One was loose in Jackson Township New Jersey just about 5 or 6 years ago. Some crazy woman had a tiger preserve on her property but she claimed the loose one wasn't hers. Maybe a circus troupe passed through and one jumped out of one of the cages. You never know when it just might happen to you too.

[Tony_Montana]

Most audiophile cables work. After all, they are wires making a complete circuit, no breaks but they don't make economic sense, for you.

That is true, but most of them make claims that can not be confirmed objectively. But in case of star quad vs zip cord, its superiority can be confirmed and tested

It isn't mythology. It may be good marketing to alarm people to a problem that doesn't exist and then sell them a fix for it but it is bad engineering because it is a useless waste of money.

Well I wouldn't say that it is a problem that need fixing, but rather an improvement. Wouldn't you say that star quad is better than zip cord in some instances such as long runs or extremely noisy or sensitive environment? Mtry seem to think so