Years and years ago I read on a hi-fi enthusiast website that if you use un-terminated speaker cables, the copper wire can, over time, become oxidised.
The recommendation was that every six months or so, you remove the cable from the amplifier and speakers, and snip each end of the cable off by about an inch to reveal lovely fresh shiny copper.
The theory goes that this will have an effect on the sound quality.
Certainly in theory, it makes sense. An oxidised cable will create a barrier to prevent the electrical signal passing to its full extent.
Of course in reality that barrier is so small that it is very unlikely to make any discernible difference.
But, everytime I remove my amplifier out to connect or re-connect something, I still do have a little snip of the end.
Do I notice any difference in sound quality? No of course not. In fact I don't know why I still do it - it just seems to be a habit now, so I guess I probably carry on doing it - until I run out of cable to snip back that is!
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Friday, 4 February 2011
Home Cinema Systems in 2010 - a retrospective
It's early 2011 and probably as good a time as any to reflect on the last years products and see if it gives us any clues as to where we might be heading in the coming twelve months with regards to home cinema systems.
2010 saw many more Blu-ray all in one systems being introduced than DVD so it looks like manufacturers are really starting phase out DVD based systems. That said some of the DVD based systems that did come out, such as the Sony DAV-DZ330, were fantastic value for money, and appeared to sell very well indeed.
We've always had great looking systems here and there, but in 2010 we saw alot of good looking systems. Most of them, it has to be said were from Sony, whose 'monolith' design concept really caught peoples eyes, and translated well across their other products too.
We're talking about Wi-fi predominantly here, and most systems had at least an option to make it internet enabled. Sony's implementation was very good here too, and they are showing a real commitment to online content. Samsung's Internet@TV service looked promising too, but their patchy support for the BBC iPlayer and other online services was very disappointing, and many people were annoyed that the promised services and firmware updates never came.
We saw a few more home cinema systems with wireless speakers coming out too, but despite frequent complaints from customers who have to run cables around their rooms, they didn't seem to be as popular as we'd have thought. I can only presume the increased cost of them was just too much.
So, that is a little summary of the home cinema year in 2010, lets see what 2011 holds!
The beginning of the end for DVD Home Cinema Systems
2010 saw many more Blu-ray all in one systems being introduced than DVD so it looks like manufacturers are really starting phase out DVD based systems. That said some of the DVD based systems that did come out, such as the Sony DAV-DZ330, were fantastic value for money, and appeared to sell very well indeed.
Stylish Home Theatre... at last
We've always had great looking systems here and there, but in 2010 we saw alot of good looking systems. Most of them, it has to be said were from Sony, whose 'monolith' design concept really caught peoples eyes, and translated well across their other products too.
Wireless Home Cinema Systems started to break through
We're talking about Wi-fi predominantly here, and most systems had at least an option to make it internet enabled. Sony's implementation was very good here too, and they are showing a real commitment to online content. Samsung's Internet@TV service looked promising too, but their patchy support for the BBC iPlayer and other online services was very disappointing, and many people were annoyed that the promised services and firmware updates never came.
We saw a few more home cinema systems with wireless speakers coming out too, but despite frequent complaints from customers who have to run cables around their rooms, they didn't seem to be as popular as we'd have thought. I can only presume the increased cost of them was just too much.
So, that is a little summary of the home cinema year in 2010, lets see what 2011 holds!
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