The Wiremold Power Strip (Q&A) - November 2024

I recently received an inquiry from a patron regarding power consumption and the Wiremold Powerstrip:

Lou,

I was listening to you discussing the Wiremold power strip.  I’d like to know your advice on how I should use my available power.

I have two dedicated 20A circuits that terminate into 8 PS Audio receptacles (4 per circuit).  I also have one 15A receptacle that is shared with the other receptacles in the room.

I have three monoblocks for my front three speakers, a Rythmic E15HP2 subwoofer, a preamp, HT processor, music streamer, DAC, network switch, and TV.  I’ve been wondering if I should use one of the 20A dedicated circuits for the Amps and Subwoofer and put everything else on the other.  The TV is plugged into the 15A non-dedicated circuit.

I don’t know if it is best to put the high powered components together or split them across circuits because that would mean the lower powered components would be sharing the circuit.  Anyway, sorry for the long question but if you have any advice that would be greatly appreciated.

Warm regards,

-William

A most interesting question and now be prepared for an interesting answer.  I'll let the use of the Wiremold power strip be my guide.   

Conventional thinking on a power strip is to plug the most current demanding piece of equipment at the beginning of the strip and lesser demands down the strip.  In actuality, the reverse is actually better.  Why?  Well, once an inaccuracy is introduced early in the chain, it cannot be fixed.  What happens is that the amplification actually uses more energy  to produce the inaccuracies than otherwise. 

So, with that said, what do you do?  Well, double sockets usually has one as the primary receiver of the wire and then it is jumped over to the adjacent socket.  Which is which is not obvious from the outside.  So.....

You get to play with the permutations of the outlets.  A trial by experience, so to speak.  The mono blocks do not concern me unless you are playing at high volumes with inefficient speakers.  I don't know what you do or how much current is actually demanded by them.  Class D mono blocks do not require as much as say vacuum tube AB amplifiers or some solid state designs. 

That's the best answer I can give you with the information that I have.  -Lou

Why Audio Prices Keep Going Up - October 2024

Sometimes I receive good questions that respectfully deserve my attention including one from a fellow patron below:

Hi Lou,

The world of Hi-Fi Audio retail has changed so much since the 1970’s with so few independent stores still operating. Yet outstanding audio products continue to be produced but at seemingly much higher prices. While outstanding audio can still be found at affordable prices, flagship products are much further out of reach for the average consumer than they were 30-40 years ago. Meanwhile the world of computers become more affordable every year.

Please offer your opinion on why so much audio equipment is priced higher every year?

Well, I suspect there are a number of factors at play here. Some ordinary, some market. 

In the ordinary, a lot more effort (and cost) is spent on aesthetics.  Look at Classe and its transformation, for example.  They went from black boxes with handles to smooth metal wrap-around chassis.  With speakers, look at how many now have very expensive finishes and I am familiar with those costs having been an attorney for Baldwin Piano.  We also have the pressures of lower volume against fixed costs.  Add to this that many of these specialty units are also hand built and labor costs have soared.  I cannot speak as to R&D, part costs,  failures, and the like.  I am sure they play a part. 

There is also the attraction of making fewer units at a higher price for a limited number of people.  Why try to make a living selling popcorn when you can be better off selling steaks?  So, the lure of the Far East Market, where about 90% of all American High End is sold, can be a serious influence in what and how something is built. 

I certainly saw this when Jeff Rowland began to focus on the Far East.  Others followed suit. Some followed this path in hopes of becoming a recognized brand, regardless of competition to become like Rolex or Tiffany.  If you own one, you have arrived and so pre-sold becomes the goal. 

Now, if you look at the American market, for example, notice how fewer there are of specialty retailers.  Then go look at the magazine racks to see if any of them are about audio. All of this began long before the internet.   Others are simply following what appears to be a successful approach by constant flag-shipping against an assumed competitor.

Without question, part of the pressure also comes from Far East production, particularly China, who produce goods on a scale and cost basis that smaller companies simply cannot compete.  Thus, those companies are driven up the pyramid of customers to an ever decreasing number.  The same phenomenon occurs with retailers as well when distribution of cheaper goods forces them into more expensive products to stay in business.  

And, all of these factors are both related and dependent upon each other.  It is not a single answer or conspiracy.  Whether it is right or not, however, is not my decision but those who run the companies.  Can some of these factors become self-defeating?  In short, yes.  Likewise, it may be the only path available to them for however long it will last and with many of them approaching retirement, that may be just enough. -Lou

A Revelation That Defies My Imagination - September 2024

Many of you have followed my story about my wife and her journey through medicine. Some have offered prayers of different faiths and all have been welcomed. I thought I would share with you my thoughts about her, the Path, and a perspective of life: A Revelation that defies my imagination.

When I married Debbie Hamilton, I had no idea the journey I would either experience or witness.  I thought I was marrying a woman who loved what I did, horses.  While the west was amazing to enjoy and see, it was Daisy who first introduced me to a whole new world called humanity and compassion. It was who you are and shall ever remain, Spirit willing.

Now, years later, over a very uncertain road, and very tough physical experiences, Debbie has managed to reach a most unique position and role with the incredible insight, brilliance and service of the Cleveland Clinic involving nearly every department in their service from doctors, technicians, nurses, and every person imaginable in their employ.  About the only test she has not experienced, one way or the other, is pregnancy.  Through all of her experiences, I have been, either voluntarily or involuntarily, vacuumed along her journey like a piece of lint.

On Thursday, Dr. Soltesz, with great effort, brought Deb through a portal of life, de-transplanting a well loved heart from Erik, and transplanting another from a family yet known.  In that successful moment, Debbie joined a precious few others in human history to receive a second heart transplant.  To put it into mathematical terms, Debbie became one of 6,000 or so to be so gifted by a surgeons hand amongst a human history of 119 billion humans.  In percentages, that is .00000000504201681.  That's roughly the odds of my becoming the President of the United States.

I am finally able to say to you, contrary to your personal beliefs, that you are, indeed, most special and unique.  You carry with you, now, not only the desire to live but by doing so, adding to human knowledge about medicine, a field you dearly love. I know you have looked upon yourself, with all the cuts, stitches, and scars, amongst those you have already suffered, in disdain and a sort of embarrassment. I know you don't think much of your appearance in comparison to others. Yet, loves, you have been chosen and blessed, through your dedication and strength, by the Cleveland Clinic to become yet another step forward in human understanding of our earthly bodies. Wherever you have been in the Cleveland Clinic, you have brought so many into your friendship and they enjoy yours.

Now we journey forward again and hopefully you will be able to enjoy life more fully.  We both look through the looking glass, darkly.  But the truth now stands, that you shall forever be a teacher from this point forward with many still caring and watching along the way. In your own unique way, you are contributing to the field of medicine and human knowledge.

In short, Wow.

-Lou