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Lautus/Cusat review |
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gwebster
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2014 Location: Liss, UK Status: Offline Points: 175 |
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I've now carried out the return loss and transmission loss measurements on the 1.5m long CuSat50 and Lautus cables Graham sent me. These were carried out using a Nano-VNA-F V2 vector network analyser.
Before each plot, the VNA was calibrated using the standard open/short/load/through procedure. The resulting plots are attached: CuSat50 Lautus 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. |
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Inspire Apollo tt, O/L modded RB250, Ortofon 2M Black, Slee Different Approach inspired Phono, Putzeys Pre, Cusat, Raspberry Pi/Volumio, Bitzie, Self Load Invariant Power, Acoustic Energy AE509s
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Fatmangolf
Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 8998 |
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Thank you Geoff for doing this work and sharing the results clearly.
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Jon
Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
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gwebster
Senior Member Joined: 04 Oct 2014 Location: Liss, UK Status: Offline Points: 175 |
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Graham is using ferrites in the construction of Lautus cables as a means of suppressing interference from unwanted external, principally FM and DAB (and maybe mobile phone) emissions. This is a well known mitigation method against RFI and its certainly possible to demonstrate its benefits.
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
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Inspire Apollo tt, O/L modded RB250, Ortofon 2M Black, Slee Different Approach inspired Phono, Putzeys Pre, Cusat, Raspberry Pi/Volumio, Bitzie, Self Load Invariant Power, Acoustic Energy AE509s
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Aussie Mick
Senior Member Joined: 21 Feb 2014 Location: Bendigo Aust. Status: Offline Points: 1091 |
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I understand that many people enjoy the engineering nitty-gritty of measurements, etc, but I’m still stuck, myself. Can someone who enjoys it please try to explain to me what it is about measurements that are exciting them? Is it as simple as the hobbyist enjoyment of the technical deep-dive? Or is it something more? I’ve never had a technical bent for electronics, but I’m an A1 nerd about woodwind reeds and acoustics. I suppose everyone has their thing.
Cheers, Mick.
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Rega RP8 - Apheta 2 - Accession MC Enigma PS -Solo ULDE (Focal Utopia) - PS Audio M700 - Fical Kanta No2
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Fatmangolf
Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 8998 |
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I bought a secondhand music server last year that I connected directly to my Majestic dac using an old Chord usb cable. It was fine and I added a ferrite choke at a calculated distance along the cable. A bit better until recently I thought why am I not trying a Lautus USB cable? So I ordered one and it arrived today.
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)
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Jon
Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
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Fatmangolf
Moderator Group Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Location: Middlesbrough Status: Offline Points: 8998 |
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I am very glad I bought a Lautus USB cable. It Not only sounds more musical, I've heard a number of details that lost in the mix until now. Voices and lead instruments are clearer and more natural. I am also more aware of the room an orchestra is playing in.
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Jon
Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC. |
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Ash
Senior Member Joined: 18 Mar 2013 Location: Dorset Status: Offline Points: 4334 |
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I was always impressed with the sound quality through the Lautus USB cable.
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