LSi9 jumpers - surprising results

[anonymouse]

So I replaced the stock jumpers on my LSi9's with some monster cable I had laying around (I think it is Z1) tonight. Just did one speaker so I could do an A-B.

I found the stock jumpers to be superior in terms of bass and imaging than the monster wire. Not by a huge margin, but I definitely preferred the stock. I then replaced the second set of jumpers with the monster and listened for a while. I experienced listener fatigue for the first time with the LSi9's. Switched back to stock and decided to leave well alone.

For reference, I am driving the 9s with a Rotel RB991 (300WPC@4ohm); Cobalt ultimate speaker cables.

Anybody experienced anything like this? I have often heard that replacing the jumpers yields an improvement, but this was not the case.

[danger boy]

all i can say is try it again. using different jumper wire... YMMV :)

[janmike]

I replace the stock jumpers with anti cable jumpers and did in fact notice a difference.

[wingnut4772]

Yep. That was one of my first biggest 'discoveries' on my long road to tweaking and upgrading.

[MikeC78]

Yep. That was one of my first biggest 'discoveries' on my long road to tweaking and upgrading.

Yep, that it made a difference or didn't?

Mike

[sickicw]

I replace the stock jumpers with anti cable jumpers and did in fact notice a difference.

Was this a difference for the better? How much of a difference did it make? I got a pair of thoes anti ic's. Not sure its worth $100 a pair, but they do sound better than bluejeans cables.

[wingnut4772]

Yep, that it made a difference or didn't?

Mike

Yep that it did.

[AndyGwis]

Maybe that just means that the stock jumpers are better than monster wire. Doesn't surprise me :)

Try some different ones and do the a-b again. Maybe you'll find other wires to work better for that application.

[janmike]

Was this a difference for the better? How much of a difference did it make? I got a pair of thoes anti ic's. Not sure its worth $100 a pair, but they do sound better than bluejeans cables.

I found there was quite a bit of difference. Really opened the 9's. I sure did't pay $100, I only purchased their jumpers. Have you tried just regular good cable.

[jabrax]

I always thought my 9's were a little flat sounding. The clarity and seperation in the highs and mids just weren't there for me (maybe too much wax in the ears). Even experimented with jacking up the treble a bit. It could also be the pairing with rotel as I believe some shops use rotel when showing brighter speakers like b&W (no facts to prove.) just observation

Anywho, I took the really cheap spur of the moment route when adding plugs to my cables. I cut off a piece of 12 awg cable and created jumpers for one of the speakers to compare.

It made a huuuuge difference to "my" ears. Opened the 9's up very nicely. Just sorry it took me so long to try it.

Wide open is another mans harsh - smooth and warm is another mans flat :)

[John K.]

Anon, there's no way that Mr. Polk(or any other competent speaker designer), after spending time and money to design and manufacture an excellent speaker such as the the LSi9, is going to sabotage his own creation with a connection which audibly degrades the sound. The resistance over the distance of 2-3" involved doesn't vary appreciably regardless of whether the stock jumpers or speaker wire are used. There's no audio principle which would suggest that there would be an audible difference and no objective evidence of one by way of a carefully controlled blind listening test exists.

[F1nut]

Hey Johnny boy, here's a novel idea. Try using your ears to listen instead of rehashing every bit of internet BS you happen upon.

On the other hand since you think Axiom speakers and CD mega changers are the cats meow, I'd venture to say your ears aren't worth squat. So, with your poor hearing and total lack of any real audio experience to rely on, I'd have to say your words mean zip, nada, zero. However, the entertainment value is absolutely priceless. Thanks for the laugh....once again.

[sickicw]

Anon, there's no way that Mr. Polk(or any other competent speaker designer), after spending time and money to design and manufacture an excellent speaker such as the the LSi9, is going to sabotage his own creation with a connection which audibly degrades the sound. The resistance over the distance of 2-3" involved doesn't vary appreciably regardless of whether the stock jumpers or speaker wire are used. There's no audio principle which would suggest that there would be an audible difference and no objective evidence of one by way of a carefully controlled blind listening test exists.

Actually there is principle that would suggest this. It’s called physics. Some materials are much better conductors than others. Most jumpers are made out of brass which is nowhere near as good as copper. Also brass is much cheaper than copper which would explain why brass is used for the jumpers.

[MikeC78]

Polk jumpers are made out of brass?

[F1nut]

Polk jumpers are made out of brass?

Yep, but in the 80's they were made from copper. How about that!?!

[MikeC78]

Yep, but in the 80's they were made from copper. How about that!?!

Well, copper sure was cheaper back then! :o

I won't be using the stock jumpers on my LSi's anyway, but I at least figured they were made out of copper? :(

Now I can see why jumpers or having them bi-wired could make a difference.

Mike

[jdhdiggs]

Actually there is principle that would suggest this. It’s called physics. Some materials are much better conductors than others. Most jumpers are made out of brass which is nowhere near as good as copper. Also brass is much cheaper than copper which would explain why brass is used for the jumpers.

Uh, have you actually looked at what the resistance difference would be between copper vs. brass, silver, gold, etc... Especially once you add in the cross sections of each piece and the length. From a physics standpoint, John K is right. You would be better off arguing on contact resistance than on Cu vs. Brass.

By the way, do you know what Brass is? It's Copper with some Zinc in it to keep it from corroding. Worst case (lots of zinc) you're looking at 4X the resistance of pure Cu. So as long as the cross sectional area of you pure copper wires is at least 1/4 of the jumpers size, you could say that you are decreasing the resistance. However, compared to the resistance in the drivers and X-over, this change is typically viewed as insignificant (sig figs). Besides, brass picks up less EMI than Cu so you could add that argument.

Doesn't neccessarily mean that it won't sound different to you though.

[Marcinko7]

F1 - I have dirt on my back from rolling on the floor laughing. Truth is I'm no more informed than Johnny, just smart enough to not try and sound like I know better!

[univera]

I have heard that using a pair of Signal Cable Risers duct taped to the jumpers improves sound by over 25%....At least that's what Zombie Boy says....

[zombie boy 2000]

I have heard that using a pair of Signal Cable Risers duct taped to the jumpers improves sound by over 25%....At least that's what Zombie Boy says....

Only on every other Thursday...

on any other day, performance actually decreases by 32-37%. Go figure..

Now if the aforementioned Thursday happens to fall on the Vernal Equinox, things get a bit tricky...

[janmike]

Only on every other Thursday...

on any other day, performance actually decreases by 32-37%. Go figure..

Now if the aforementioned Thursday happens to fall on the Vernal Equinox, things get a bit tricky...

WOW, I found the same results. :D :D

[F1nut]

Marcinko7, a very wise man you are.



James, Sorry, Johnny is never right.