Lautus/Cusat review

Before each plot, the VNA was calibrated using the standard open/short/load/through procedure. The resulting plots are attached:

I also ran a second set of plots for the Lautus using the CuSat within the calibration regime. This was done to normalise the plot relative to the CuSat and highlight any differences attributable to having the ferrites in place.

It's pretty clear that there's no visible difference between the two types of cable as far as any signal being transmitted through the cables. 

What I'm not able to do with the test gear available to me is look at the effectiveness of the cable screen with regard to externally induced RFI (cable screen outer boundary acting as an antenna). This is where the ferrites will really be having an impact. Looking into available methods to test this (Belden do it  this way) show that it could be done using a VNA by addition of a test setup to measure signal leakage in the other direction (from inside the cable and picked up on the outside of the screen). I'm afraid that's not something I'm going to be able to rig up.

I'm sorry that my tests aren't able to provide objective evidence to validate the benefits of the Lautus design. It was worth a try.

As an example, my son was experiencing the negative effects of the electrical noise environment within his house on his Ham radio setup (remote controlled radios and loft mounted antennas). By strategic use of ferrites on his cabling, he was able to significantly reduce the RFI impact. He was also able to visibly detect, measure and demonstrate the effects at each stage of his journey in mitigating the RFI impact.

While the affected signals he was interested in aren't in the audio spectrum, the RFI effect on the system is the same as Graham looks to mitigate for audio with the Lautus cables.

Geoff

BTW - I'm still looking at how we might get objective measurements with the Lautus cable to support their benefits 

First impression is very positive none of the shiny new cable sound. I decided to push some music through it from a long playlist and dip in now and then. Very good so far... (To be continued)