Cable Lifters!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Do they really make a difference?

I can't help but think this is of the snake-oil variety. Your thoughts, opinions and viewpoints are appreciated!

John

 

[Steve Williams]

They make absolutely no difference other than being able to tidy up your runs of cables. I've used cable elevators for at least the past 10 years

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Thanks Steve...I kinda thought so. The subject came to mind after seeing that youtube video of George Cardas' audio set-up. He's well-respected and he uses them...so I thought???????

John

 

[Steve Williams]

there are all sorts of postulates suggesting how they improve sound but honestly IMHO all they do (at least in my system) is make your cable runs a whole lot tidier

 

[vinylphilemag]

As with other audiophile tweaks I've yet to try, I remain sceptical, but open-minded, about the audio effects cable lifters. Like Steve said, they can be used to help tidy one's cables: I may pick up a few of the Shunyata cable lifters just for that purpose.

 

[naturephoto1]

I have yet to try them. Some claim they work and just like most tweaks others claim they do not. I may try them in the future, but I have an awful lot of long cable runs with which to deal.

Rich

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

As with other audiophile tweaks I've yet to try, I remain sceptical, but open-minded, about the audio effects cable lifters. Like Steve said, they can be used to help tidy one's cables: I may pick up a few of the Shunyata cable lifters just for that purpose.

I was thinking that a few paperback books placed strategically could offer the same result!, yet at ZERO cost.

John

 

[Steve Williams]

People also use cork, rubber pucks and even styrofoam coffee cups

 

[audioguy]

Clothes pins (remember those) work great. Just snap on the cable and the other end holds them off the floor. Paint them any color you like.

I would like someone to come up with an easy to use cable arrangement device to help the sphagetti behind my equipment rack. With power cords and interconnect between two racks and 15 pieces of equipment, I have yet to find a way to keep it organized (other than having all custom made cable lengths made).

 

[MylesBAstor]

I think that one of the problem with evaluating cable elevators, towers, etc. is that act of moving or disturbing the cables affects the sound--and one has to wait for a period of time before careful evaluation. Now don't take this the wrong way, but the effects of this tweaks is heard best in the better resolving systems.

 

[Steve Williams]

Id like to think I have a very resolving system but still found no audible difference.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Id like to think I have a very resolving system but still found no audible difference.

Steve, If I remember correctly you're using Transparent MM2 Opus? That cable is in part designed to deal with resonance issues.

I think it might also be assuming too much that all cables are sensitive to vibration issues since there is such a variety of designs.

 

[sharkaattack]

Imho, I would have to say if the sound improved in a noticeable way by using cable lifters, then the cable wasn't designed all that well in the first place. Physically, any improvement would have to be the result of reducing the cable's interaction either with other cables or the floor or objects in the room. Isn't it a reasonable expectation for a well-designed cable to be shielded well enough from its surroundings that this wouldn't be an issue?

 

[MylesBAstor]

Imho, I would have to say if the sound improved in a noticeable way by using cable lifters, then the cable wasn't designed all that well in the first place. Physically, any improvement would have to be the result of reducing the cable's interaction either with other cables or the floor or objects in the room. Isn't it a reasonable expectation for a well-designed cable to be shielded well enough from its surroundings that this wouldn't be an issue?

Guess that's the difference between theory and reality The same could said for power supplies, etc. There's always tradeoffs and compromises in every circuit design or speaker ever built. If you want dynamics, you have to sacrifice from another area. It's how these different factors are combined and minimized that makes the difference.

 

[audioguy]

I'm glad I can't hear the difference. One less thing to spend money on !! (But then again, that's not stopped me previously when I invested about $37,852,061.07 in power cords )

 

[Steve Williams]

Steve, If I remember correctly you're using Transparent MM2 Opus? That cable is in part designed to deal with resonance issues.

I think it might also be assuming too much that all cables are sensitive to vibration issues since there is such a variety of designs.

I use Valhalla for most everything with an occasional Tara Labs PC and Transparent cables from my tube buffer to the pair of Gothams

 

[FrantzM]

Hi

I will try to remain as polite as possible. Cable elevators cannot make differences unless as noted earlier the cable is woefully, inadequately, impossibly ill-built, conceived, assembled .. I think you get the gist. There is no design involved in these. Some things simply cannot make a difference like for example, shining a light on a planar speaker membrane .. If that were to make a difference, then a person sneezing would affect the rings of Saturn in some way... I apologize for the strong tone but this is one of the things that cannot work.
The truth of it is that we, audiophiles, are too willing at times to accept things. I believe that a little bit of skepticism should be interjected in our audio nirvana quests. Some things simply can't work. Cable lifters are that .. Some would call them snake oil ...
If you want your system to look nice and tidy by all means use them but don't go for any "audiophile-approved" ones. Google "Porcelain insulators"... The "audiophile" cable lifters are simply re-badged , actually badged, porcelain insulators.. Porcelain insulators, Low Voltage Pin Type , what are sold as cable lifters, go for less than $3 each or even much less I have seen box of 25 for less than $15 ... Alternatively you can buy collectors item, some of these insulators were quite fancy and even pretty ...

Frantz

Frantz

 

[FrantzM]

Id like to think I have a very resolving system but still found no audible difference.

THE understament of the decade

Frantz

 

[Steve Williams]

Here is what I use made by Precision Audio Products

here is their explanation as to how it works. Snake oil, science or a bit of both
The Reasoning

Precision Audio Products provides the following explanation on how and why cable elevators work:

Cables come in contact with a wide variety of flooring surfaces. Each can have a different effect on cable behavior. By elevating cables off the floor you eliminate static charge and you lower capacitance. The net effect is lower noise and increased dynamics. Another factor is the dampening of the natural modulation inherent to all cable. That is an electrical signal passing through a conductor (cabling) produces a desirable mechanical resonance that is dampened when placed on the floor. This also constricts dynamics and low-level detail. Placing cables in free space would be ideal.

 

[MylesBAstor]

I use Valhalla for most everything with an occasional Tara Labs PC and Transparent cables from my tube buffer to the pair of Gothams

Yes well I think the Valhalla can fall into the same classification as the Transparent. Hey Steve, how come you didn't go to the Odin?