The system might already be well sorted. Your signal path feels short, interconnects are likely quality, grounding probably stable. You’ve taken care to match gear that plays well together. Still, every now and then, something drifts. The noise floor seems to lift just enough to notice. Transients could lose their snap. Cymbals come across as soft around the edges. You start eyeing the DAC.
But what if the culprit isn’t in the box—but behind it?
What to Do
Turn around. Take a good look at the back of your rack. If signal cables are snuggled up to power cords, start there. Separate them—ideally by at least 6 inches. Where they must cross, go perpendicular. Never bundle AC with analog or digital. Avoid coiling excess length. Long loops of unused cable—especially USB or coax—can reflect RF noise back into your system. Use Velcro ties to keep things neat, but don’t cinch too tight. Keep signal cables loose, lifted, and if possible, running parallel to the floor.
Treat this not as a cosmetic upgrade, but a signal path intervention.
Here’s Why That Works
AC lines radiate. The more current they carry, the more they emit. Analog cables pick that up—especially if unbalanced or loosely shielded. Digital lines aren’t immune, either. And when those cables are coiled or tangled, they act like antennas—amplifying what they should be rejecting. That mess translates not just to hum or buzz, but to low-level haze. The kind you feel before you hear. A background that’s not quite black. A stage that doesn’t quite lock.
Clean lines aren’t just neat. They’re quiet. Once you clear the back end, your system tightens. The air darkens. Transients regain their shape. And suddenly, the signal isn’t just passing through—it’s arriving intact.
Sometimes, it’s not your gear. It’s the clutter trying to sing along.
