US/UK mains voltage/frequency

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

Andy
Balderdash cubed. Your friend heard the daftest thing I've read in ages!

<andycormack465@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1112722065.866790.95700@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all,
> I really would value the benefit of your knowledge/experience on this
> one...
> In the pub last night a friend said he had heard that the difference in
> mains voltage/frequency between the US and the UK meant there was (or
> could be) an inherent difference in the quality of recordings made
> (with the same pieces of gear) (possibly something to do with
> transformers).
> Unfortunately, as between us we only have enough knowledge of
> electronics to be very dangerous, we couldn't decide whether it was
> true or not.
> What do you think?
> (Many thanks in advance)
> Andy
>

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

High cycle three phase has the advantage of being obvious and therefore
easy to track down and requiring really good shielding and grounding.
When you've stamped it out, it's stamped out. It's a moot point,
though, unless you're building a flying recording studio.

Many turntable people feel DC servo motors are less desirable than AC
synchronous motors. Whether that's true or not I am not sure, but AC
motors leverage modern power companies' quite good frequency control
pretty well. Also you can use a AF gen and a bench amp to run things at
any speed (within reason) such as for playing 78s on the 45 rpm pulley
of a table.

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

<calcerise@hotmail.com> wrote:
>High cycle three phase has the advantage of being obvious and therefore
>easy to track down and requiring really good shielding and grounding.
>When you've stamped it out, it's stamped out. It's a moot point,
>though, unless you're building a flying recording studio.

I do a lot of recording in airplanes and 400 Hz trash is the bane of
my life. It's everywhere, and sadly enough the electronics I am often
connected to are anything but well-shielded and grounded.

> Many turntable people feel DC servo motors are less desirable than AC
>synchronous motors. Whether that's true or not I am not sure, but AC
>motors leverage modern power companies' quite good frequency control
>pretty well. Also you can use a AF gen and a bench amp to run things at
>any speed (within reason) such as for playing 78s on the 45 rpm pulley
>of a table.

I think a lot of the argument is because there have been some very badly
designed DC servo systems in turntables over the years. There are a
number of units like the Ariston, which never stops hunting. Also, of
course, some people make the incorrect assumption that DC servo means
direct drive.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

<calcerise@hotmail.com> wrote:
> That and there's also the different curves -CCIR vs NAB-and a few
>hundred other minor details. However the world is getting to be a much
>more uniform place than it was forty years ago-technically at least.

That is one of the big things that the digital world has made much easier.
I haven't even heard anyone arguing about digital emphasis being a good
thing in nearly a decade now.

> As far as metrering goes, does anyone really serious use anything
>besides Dorrough today?

I like the RTW meters a lot more than the Dorrough, but to be honest
I still use old Western Electric moving iron meters sometimes. And
the Nagra modulometer..... and the PPM meters on the Ampex... sheesh,
you'd think we could settle on just one metering standard.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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andycormack465@hotmail.com wrote:

> Hi all,
> I really would value the benefit of your knowledge/experience on this
> one...
> In the pub last night a friend said he had heard that the difference in
> mains voltage/frequency between the US and the UK meant there was (or
> could be) an inherent difference in the quality of recordings made
> (with the same pieces of gear) (possibly something to do with
> transformers).

Your friend is taking too many drugs !


Graham

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 02:33:38 +0100, Pooh Bear
<rabbitsfriendsandrelations@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>calcerise@hotmail.com wrote:
>
>> If the power supplies were marginally designed running them on 60 Hz.
>> rather than 50 ......
>
>Ohhhh - you took the troll seriously ?

How can this be a troll? It's not crossposted.

>
>
>Graham

-----
http://mindspring.com/~benbradley

Archived from groups: rec.audio.pro (More info?)

<andycormack465@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1112722065.866790.95700@g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all,
> I really would value the benefit of your knowledge/experience on this
> one...
> In the pub last night a friend said he had heard that the difference in
> mains voltage/frequency between the US and the UK meant there was (or
> could be) an inherent difference in the quality of recordings made
> (with the same pieces of gear) (possibly something to do with
> transformers).
> Unfortunately, as between us we only have enough knowledge of
> electronics to be very dangerous, we couldn't decide whether it was
> true or not.
> What do you think?

You are nearly right - you 'almost' have enough electronics knowledge to be
dangerous.

Unless there was recorded hum and you can tell the difference between 50 and
60Hz, then your drunk friend is letting the pub-product do the talking.
There is no inherent, or perceivable different unless something is broken.

geoff