Hifi blew up - chance for new AV amp? Suggestions please :)

[RichL]

Errr, is Copper magnetic? I dont think so, but I cant remember that far back to my school science lessons!

I tried a quick experiment using the speaker from my desktop PC and an old 1p peice (new ones arent copper) and I'd say it isnt.

[Wombat]

Okay Jammy, that was funny. I should send it to my old physics professors. One keeps a "Hall of Impossibilities," and about 90% of it is dedicated to audio BS.

[dave m]

No copper isn't, but by running a current through it you can induce a magnetic field in something ferrous that it's wrapped around i.e. an electromagnetic

Dave

[Jammrock]

*sigh* copper isn't naturally magnetic, BUT because of its high conductivity it will produce electromagnetic fields when current is passed through it. There is a difference between a 'natural' magnet and an electromagnet. Copper is probably the most common metal used for electromagnets because it cheap, maliable and conducts electricity well.


As a side note: I could really care less whether speaker cables or analog sound cables have a break-in period. My only care when it comes to audio is that it sounds damn good While I was listening to my music yesterday I merely began pondering whether there could be a scientific basis for cable break-in. Ye old brain came up with said theory.

There is more to it than I wrote, but that covers the base, and I don't think anyone here really cares for the full story. But I suppose it shows that it can be reasoned that cable break-in is possible. At least in my own twisted world I'll break out my old physics texts and do some more research to make sure my theories are sound or not later.

Jammrock

[Wombat]

Now let's ponder the how a signal is transfered across a cable. It is obviously not done by the electrons zipping through the cable. Electrons have mass (however small) and are traveling through a solid metal mass, so the electrons actually creep through the cable, taking hours to days to reach from one end to the other (don't argue with it, it's true...). Although charges will travel faster along the surface of the material, it is still not "at the speed of light" or instantanious.

This whole paragraph is way off. Better hit those books pretty hard.

[Jammrock]

Yes and no. Depends on what theory you follow on how electrons and energy work. I'll do some digging later. Been too damn busy to do actual research. Like I said, I'll hit the books later ;-)

And yes that part has been greatly revised in my head as I have pondered it the past few hours. Nothing happens overnight ya know.

Jammrock

[Wombat]

Depends on what theory you follow on how electrons and energy work.

You can't say that without expounding. Oh, wise one, what alternative theory do you have running around in your head?

[ALBPM]

As Paul shakes the copper electrons out of his head
and has more coffee

I don't think I ever noticed or claim to have heard a difference from cables being broken in.

Although some "Audiophile Experts" claim there is. I think they just like to read their own BS correct or not.....LOL

Also what happens if you turn the cable around so the nice little arrows the MFGs put on the insulation point the oppostite direction (towards the Amp)....."Nothing" Mine still sound the same.

I have noticed a difference in switching from a single run of cable to bi-wiring my speakers and have heard new speakers warm up a bit after a period of time. And I have heard a difference going from Home Depot 12 gauge to my present cable and interconnects.


No Wait!!!!! The last of the copper electrons buzzing around in my head sound much fuller, have better separation and a greater soundstage after 40 hrs.......Really


Paul

[Jammrock]

HAHAHAHAHA...wise...me...hahahahahahaha...only in a few things...

It's been so long since I've dived this deep into this crap. I've seen field/wave theories, charge theories, particle theories and combinations of those three to explain electricity, transfer of energy and the like. The standard fair is obviously electrons moving through a conductive material, yadda, yadda. I was reminded of something about that after my post, just haven't gone back in to revise.

Field theory, like Tesla's HAARP. Energy transfered through magnetic/energy fields. HAARP is fun to study if you have some time.

Charge theory is an oddball. Can't remember it that well.

Jammrock

[RichL]

Originally posted by dave m
No copper isn't, but by running a current through it you can induce a magnetic field in something ferrous that it's wrapped around i.e. an electromagnetic

Dave

Well obviously, duh!

But as copper isnt magnetic and only forms an electromagnetic field when a current is passed through it, how can it retain any form of magnetic alignment when the power is off?
Hence, how can it be 'broken in'?

Once, I understood what I wanted to say at the start of this post.

[Fat Tone]

Think electron holes...

[Wombat]

Electron holes are normal. AKA ionization.

Now, if you're thinking electron <I>winds</I>, well I don't see them affecting anything so large as a speaker wire.

[Fat Tone]

I'm refering to the way a signal travels down a conductor. An electron doesn't pop in one end and fight its way to the other. What actually happens is an electron 'hole' travels from -ve to +ve, each electron only moves from one position to the next.

At least thats what I remember from those lectures 13 years ago. Jamm, hand me that suit please

[Wombat]

Yay, Tony gets it.

[Marshmallowman]

electrical current in metals(copper) is entierly by electron flow.
Metals are said to have a "sea" of electrons, that is the outer electrons do not bind strongly to the nucleus/atoms but flow quite easily around the metal, the atoms kind of share their electron.

electron holes are only used to descibe current flow in semiconductors, where you have junctions that use postive charges/currents(as you know electron are negative)