Alpha Labs - The Alpha RF Shield Box

To improve our measurements, we build an RF Shield Box. We show you how it works and how well it already blocks RF... except for one frequency... :-).
#Alphalabs
#Science
#Lab
#RF
#Shielding
#DIY
#Hifi
#Audio

[@ac81017]

The mad scientist is at again :-) Love it.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Hahaha... yeah. It's getting a bit obsessive now. 🙂

[@p1366]

Interesting video, I have had success using the stainless steel catering bins (in UK they are called gastronorm), you can get quite large ones. Then use the foam/RF shielding sticky-back gasket to seal the lid which you need to press closed (use spring clamps). For feeding the cables I use the Icotek RFI gaskets which work really well and they offer a large range of sealing grommets for various cables sizes. You need to make sure all cables passing through are shield bonded to the box as close as possible to the box metal. I can get about 90dB isolation with this low-cost setup. Good luck!

[@markkraft6675]

I love the way you use data to drive continuous improvement into your own processes! I used some type of RF blocking fabric years ago in a non-audio application only to be somewhat disappointed (not the same as yours). I seemed to get better results with self adhesive copper foil.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It's not copper foil. It's special RF fabric and special RF blocking tape. (It's made by Mission Darkness). The adhesive copper foil is not good enough and doesn't really conduct on the sticky side ;-).

[@thinkIndependent2024]

He is right about Telecommunications but you may be better off shielding a small closet ( I use the term "Lab Grade Audio" ) I've recently sourced several EMI/RF boards along with DC Blocker boards from AliExpress my measurements show vast improvement . The Audio is now the Best I have ever heard. Great work Alpha Lab

[@matytinman]

ATL Audio (Aleksandar, Bulgary

[@thinkIndependent2024]

​@@matytinman I will research, for future orders

[@bunsw2070]

What do you mean? You put your stereo in a shielded closet and now enjoy a lot better sound?

[@thinkIndependent2024]

​@@bunsw2070 My reference spoke to testing RF is very invasive. As for as better sound shielding power helps All of my Network Switches , Streamers, DACs, Preamps, CD Player all run on DC with ripple noise downtown .0000001 amps & separate noise filter for Amplifier/Integrated devices

[@Rockapotamus91]

I enjoy these types of videos as well thank you

[@tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming]

Always things like this, Soon am going to RF/EMI shield my switches. Just cause I can and I think it fun. It good info to ground it. Keep the good and fun work up!

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Shielding it properly is very hard to be honest. Evey gap will let RF in. If I don't seal the lid properly, everything will get through. It's like sound proofing a room... if you leave the keyhole open, most of the sound will get in like you didn't isolate it at all...

[@tom_loves_audio_tech_gaming]

@@TheAlphaAudio I noticed yes, Am not going to aim very high! But you did show me. If you did, be sure you do the all casing and not just the big flat sides and pray for the best. Thank you again!

[@lupoal4113]

interesting video... in these days I'm playing around with cables... connectors... lps... smps... etc etc trying to detect and reduce the noise they irradiate...I've descovered that even a common schuko connector, when plastic housing , irradiate A LOT of noise at 50Hz freq. especially at the phase side connection inside... so when the connector is close to signal cables, like almost always if we consider IEC plug, there is a strong noise/contamination source that could copule directly with our precious weak signal I think it would be very very interesting to have video/tutorial about how to mitigate this kind of problems... for example: what is that graphite spray on your bench for?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

A 50Hz wave is huge... So shielding that takes a different approach depending on the strength of the field.

[@matytinman]

In the end you will end up studying Telecommunications Engineering 📡 🤓

[@TheAlphaAudio]

It's not my hobby. But it's good to understand what you are looking at when you start measuring this deep.

[@majtextwriter1794]

What about enveloping cables with such RF cloth material?

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Could work!

[@matytinman]

Ferrites? I have a lot of Würth 150 kHz ferrite 8 mm and some 10.5 mm in my two systems. The attenuation is like 1/2 Schaffner RF/EMI FN9244B inlet filter. An example: if two Schaffners attenuate too much, losing audio dynamics, I would put a Würth 150 kHz ferrite 8 mm and a FN9244B.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

I need them for some applications. I already have a Schaffner inside the box. Definately does the job. Very nice improvement. It's dead silent now to 430 MHz. That's good enough for what I do.

[@RudolfLas]

Hi, interesting to see ati RMI / RF box. What's the RF blocking textile? There is also that EMI blocking foil from MuMETAL®, any plans to compare them? See Audiowise's DAC Wrap, which if used around any DAC, preamp, makes miracles 😅

[@TheAlphaAudio]

This is textile from Mission Darkness. Pretty good stuff. I have read about MuMetal. But is not my goal to compare them all. This box works now. I have better, cleaner measurements. That was the goal. I noticed the DAC Wrap during my Google search... Well... I have my opinion about that. :-).

[@RudolfLas]

Thank you for your response Jaap, I was actually surprised how well NuMetal foil improved my Chord Hugo TT2 sound. No regret of costs, it really works well, no way to step back. I will try to experiment with the Mission Darkness' product 😅. Great idea you did that video.

[@TheAlphaAudio]

@@RudolfLas thanks! And good luck with your experiment. It is always fun.

[@fredmaas6028]

Kooi maken

[@TheAlphaAudio]

Dit is een kooi.

[@michaelhavlicek3233]

What is going on with your channel? Only Alpha Labs bla bla bla.Where is the Alpha Audio channel like 2 or 3 years ago,with testing different audio items? Pretty sucks so I am not longer watching that BS

[@TheAlphaAudio]

We have monthly live stream tests. And a lot of interviews. Recently we also posted the Grimm MU2. And yes... a lot of background videos for people that want to learn more about hifi. If you dont like it... Dont watch.