>> >> Reporters were also shown audio players powered by a regular battery
>> >> vs. Oxyride. The one with Oxyride delivered a stronger, deeper bass, 
>> >> and
>> >> Matsushita officials said some music experts express a preference for
>> >> Oxyride.

>> The bass thing is real. On low power equipment the bass peaks drain
>> amps directly from the battery since there is not enough filtering
>> capacitance in the tiny machines. Low battery = scratchy bass due to
>> drooping power rail. I have heard it, it's real. If the battery shows
>> lower internal resistance then it could postpone this effect until
>> closer to the end of the life of the battery.

>I believe it, in vacuum tube amps the drag on the power supply at peak
> causes distortion, sometimes unwanted, sometimes wanted.  I know guys
> that use carbon comp 9v batteries in stomp boxes just for the same
> reason.

I have no doubt that both battery characteristics and speaker cable 
characteristics can have some (highly variable) effect on sound quality. But 
in the former case it would largely be a design defect in the equipment that 
allowed this to be the case (as Peter noted) and, in the case of speaker 
cables, the real factors are very largely over-ridden by the hype, lies and 
snake oil. Matsushita's comment seems to me to be targeting the snake oil 
end of the market. They specifically refer to "music experts", suggesting 
that the quality enhancement applies to the upper end of the market. If your 
regulator output isn't rock steady and essentially immune to battery 
impedance then you are in trouble.


        RM

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