Anyone using cryo NACA5 speaker cables? Benefits or not?

Thank you CHARLIEP.  I will have to try it out.  Many thanks to all.

interesting that cryo apparently does make some difference at all... despite what the "engineers" are telling us...

enjoy

ken

CharlieP posted:

... There is obviously a lot of scepticism regarding cryo treatment of cables, and reasonably so because the physical mechanism for audio performance enhancement is not obvious. ... But does it matter how the treatment is performed?...

Apparently yes. It gets stranger still. If you look up a paper titled "Effect of Deep Cryogenic Treatment on Electrical Conductivity of Cu-Base Multicomponent Alloy" (Journal of Material Science and Engineering), the authors found that while cryo treatment increases conductivity, heating the copper alloy at 500 C for 30 minutes after deep cryo treatment increases conductivity even further.

Abstract: The electrical conductivity of Cu-base multicomponent alloy before and after deep cryogenic treatment at different situations were measured by conductance instrument, its microstructures were also characterized by optical microscope, and the effect of deep cryogenic treatment on the electrical conductivity of Cu-base multicomponent alloy was studied in this paper. The results show that deep cryogenic treatment can change the electrical conductivity of Cu-base multicomponent alloy, and the electrical conductivity increases with the extension of deep cryogenic treatment time, when deep cryogenic treatment time exceeded 100 min, electrical conductivity increases slightly. However, the higher electrical conductivity can be obtained by aging at 500 °C for 30min after deep cryogenic treatment.  

Jan-Eric, Interesting...

As I recall, Art Dudley gave a favorable review of the AVOptions SuperWiremold Deep Cryo treated power strip (for North America).  He mentions:

According to Chris West of AVO, the SuperWiremold begins life as a stock L10320 strip, then is subjected to deep-cryogenic treatments at –320°F—"fundamentally for improved conductivity," West says. "The deep cryo is done here in the US. And it's not just a matter of getting something to a deep temp: It's doing it under very controlled circumstances. This process brings [the strip] back up in stages, taking 36 hours altogether."

I have a high opinion of Chris, which is really what motivated me to try the Tibea cords.  (I would have tried an AVO SuperWiremold by now, except for the many non-HiFi demands on my budget lately.)

Charlie

WTCRP,

It sounds like you are listening to cried NACA5.  What do you think?  How does it sound?  Who did the cry treatment?

Charlie

I got to 9 mins watching that childish couple before thinking wtf. I'm disappointed in myself for allowing it to go on that long.

"I don't like spades because they can be knocked off whilst vacuuming"? ?

If you heat up steel and rapidly cool it down, the crystals don't align back to the state they were in before heating.

I know of many professional photographers who know far less than some amateur photographers.

Cables don't burn in??

Those two are similar to the people who support Ken Rockwell.

I very much value the opinion of Chris West.

Better off getting an RF spectrum analyser and learning how to use it. TTI here in huntingdon make a great handheld product, called the PSA1302. Google it. Its 800 quid. 

Based on AB conducted with member Kendrick some months ago on his rig the AVO cryo'd Tibia was only slightly behind the PL. Same results on my rig. The cryo'd PL supposed to be the sh*%. Need to cryo the NACA5.

M

CharlieP posted:

WTCRP,

It sounds like you are listening to cried NACA5.  What do you think?  How does it sound?  Who did the cry treatment?

Charlie

I purchased a fellow Naim enthusiast CB Nait 2 that was fully redone by AVOptions.  It is the one pictured on AVOptions website.  It has the cryo'd power cord and cryo'd NACA5 cable.  Yes, a full rebuild done by AVOptions (chassis, parts, etc).  This thing is MINT!!!!!! It also has two Vishay naked resistors in the phono section along with an upgraded WBT rca plugs.  Although I will not state how much I paid for this amp and cables, for fear of driving up the cost of other CB Nait 2.  It was worth every one of my precious pennies. Sounds? ----> spectacular!!

I have heard a non cryo'd NACA5 cable with a SN2.  But this cryo'd NACA5 cable on my Nait 2 makes the highs sound pretty smooth and clean.

WTCRP,

I saw the photo of your Nait 2 - it is a work of art.  Congratulations!  You can pass that one on to your grandchildren.  

Thanks for your reply.  I guess we don't yet know how the cryo-ed NACA5 compares to the standard cable, but I guess you made your decision and are comfortable with it.  

Good listening,

Charlie

The focus on cryo-treating is all about the metals. I wonder about the long-term effects on the wire insulation and casing. These materials were not designed for exposure to extreme cold. Could microfractures lead to oxidation issues, etc? Maybe NASA has the answer.

joerand posted:

The focus on cryo-treating is all about the metals. I wonder about the long-term effects on the wire insulation and casing. These materials were not designed for exposure to extreme cold. Could microfractures lead to oxidation issues, etc? Maybe NASA has the answer.

You raise an interesting point, and I don't know the answer.  I do observe no apparant difference between the Tibea chord and its deep cryo treated version.  For all I know, the cryogenic treatment of the insulation could contribute to performance (I am not suggesting it does). 

Perhaps somone out there knows about this?

Maybe cryo-treating has the serendipitous benefit of making NACA5 more pliable, though that probably would be vaunted as an additional selling point