Interesting article about Medical Grade Claims

I like one of the final authors comments:

“In short, audiophile products should be judged on what they can prove.”

The entire high end industry is based on qualitative claims and ‘trust your ears’ as opposed to measuring some quantitative differences. Even if quantitative differences are measured they will be dismissed as ‘not perceivable by the listener.’

I think Shunyata makes a fine product. I have measured radiated electric and magnetic fields from Shunyata power cords I own. Compared to stock power cords there is a substantial reduction in radiated electrical and magnetic field strength.

I ‘think’ things sound better with these cords so I’m keeping them. Besides, they sure are pretty.
 
Sounds as if Shunyata has been making up all kind of claims about their cables. 🤣

What else is new? Not the first one to be caught lying about their cables and I’m sure will not be the last one.

This brings to mind a YouTube video of a ‘golden eared’ audiophile who during a blind test chose a very cheap cable instead of another costing thousands and then blamed it on the expensive one not being “burned” properly.
 
nicoff said:
Sounds as if Shunyata has been making up all kind of claims about their cables. 🤣

What else is new? Not the first one to be caught lying about their cables and I’m sure will not be the last one.

This brings to mind a YouTube video of a ‘golden eared’ audiophile who during a blind test chose a very cheap cable instead of another costing thousands and then blamed it on the expensive one not being “burned” properly.
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I downgraded from a set of Synergistic Research Speaker cables to Tara Labs Prism Bi-Wire cables since they sounded better to me. I didn't cover my eyes tho.
 
This article is likely BS, IMHO as a professional scientist and Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Q: Did Headphonesty or whomever conducted these "tests" perform, analyze, and validate their Measurement System by performing a formal and statistically valid MSA (Measurement System Analysis) before conducting these tests and taking measurements? A: No.

Therefore, it has no credibility with me as a someone who worked as a professional scientist his entire career (and with papers published in some of the most esteemed scientific journals in the world, including papers that describe and characterize a technology, PCR, that won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry).
 
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BTW, for those interested, here are two videos I made that demonstrate with DATA, the noise reduction capabilities of Shunyata Research Noise-Reduction power cords (Oh, and before I performed these meeasurements, I conducted an MSA on my measurement system. I used to teach this stuff professionally. ;))

Shunyata NR PC Video 1

Shunyata NR PC Video 2

We have a saying in Science: "The data is the...data".

Cheers.
 
But isn't the main questions the claims of Hospital Grade and Used in Hospitals? That should have been easy for Shunyata to produce a list of what Hospitals were using the item in question and it would have cleared things up. What about Tested in Hospitals and Doctor Reviewed. All that "data" should have been instantly producible from Shunyata to shut the guy up.

I am not arguing if the product works or not. Just found the article and claims interesting and easily defended if the data was there to prove the claims.
 
Puma Cat said:
This article is likely BS, IMHO as a professional scientist and Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Q: Did Headphonesty or whomever conducted these "tests" perform, analyze, and validate their Measurement System by performing a formal and statistically valid MSA (Measurement System Analysis) before conducting these tests and taking measurements? A: No.

Therefore, it has no credibility with me as a someone who worked as a professional scientist his entire career (and with papers published in some of the most esteemed scientific journals in the world, including papers that describe and characterize a technology, PCR, that won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry).
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I believe you have an actual working relationship with Shunyata. Yes? Transparency would be appreciated. Thank you.

If they claim to be used in hospitals, simply name the hospital they are used in and prove the FDA claims. Should be easy. Right?

Has nothing to do with data science or six sigma or any thing else.
 
Shadowfax said:
But isn't the main questions the claims of Hospital Grade and Used in Hospitals? That should have been easy for Shunyata to produce a list of what Hospitals were using the item in question and it would have cleared things up. What about Tested in Hospitals and Doctor Reviewed. All that "data" should have been instantly producible from Shunyata to shut the guy up.

I am not arguing if the product works or not. Just found the article and claims interesting and easily defended if the data was there to prove the claims.
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Correct - bringing six sigma and data science into this thread has no bearing on anything. Might as well say I had pizza for dinner last night as that has about as much bearing.
 
I always assumed "medical grade" meant it met standards to be used in that application. I didn't give it that much thought as it didn't mean much to me in purchasing anything. I tried my products before purchasing, or not.

I've been seeing these Headphonesty articles on various topics showing up on social media. Seems like they are trying to become popular through posting sensationalized topics. Anything anti-audiophile seems to give a certain population a woody.

With that being said a manufacturer should be truthful. Interestingly any contraversy on one brand some like to apply to all of that type product. You know the blood leaves the brain when they get a woody.
 
It’s a puff piece aimed at discrediting Shunyata. An un-named audiophile engineer thinks this or that - who cares?

No matter what Shunyata would have produced, the article would have twisted it to show something was still not presented to discredit them.

As a hobbyist in this field, I might be swayed to try something based on its marketing, I let my ears and heart make most of my decisions. I suspect most of us do the same and we don’t need a BS article like this to protect us.
 
"Medical Grade" means that the product has satisfied safety standards.
an UL Safety Standard is very pricey ($500 to $900) and upwards of 200 pages long.
A electrical product might have to meet more than one standard.
These standards are only about safety, not about how effective the product is.
 
So what does “hospital grade” power cords means? According to ChatGPT:
1. Regulatory basis
  • In the U.S., the FDA, OSHA, and the National Electrical Code (NEC) reference standards from organizations like UL (Underwriters Laboratories) and IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
  • Medical devices and many hospital electrical accessories must comply with UL 60601-1 or the current AAMI/ANSI/IEC 60601-1 safety standard. This includes the cord set.
  • NEC Article 517 has extra requirements for “health care facilities,” especially in “patient care areas.”
2. Differences from regular cords

Medical-grade cords:
  • Use hospital-grade plugs (NEMA standards, e.g., NEMA 5-15P “green dot” plug in the U.S.) with stronger blades, better grounding, and more secure retention.
  • Meet UL 817 requirements for strain relief, insulation thickness, and mechanical strength beyond consumer-grade.
  • Often have enhanced shielding for electromagnetic interference (important for sensitive medical electronics).
  • Undergo more rigorous testing for durability and electrical leakage.
3. Where they’re required
  • Anything plugged into outlets in patient care areas (operating rooms, ICUs, treatment rooms, patient rooms) must use hospital-grade plugs and cords.
  • Certain devices in non-patient areas may use standard cords if they are purely office/computer equipment and not part of the medical electrical system.

So…. Assuming that Shunysta’s power cords meet the requirements/standards listed above, they are “hospital grade”.

I actually have a several “hospital grade” power cords that I bought on Amazon for about $17. More than good enough for me.
 
I can clearly see why a good electrical connection is important for patient equipment.

From another direction. When I lived in Portland, Maine years ago. An employee of mine talked about his best friend that worked in the UL lab in Portland.
He told my friend David that for the right amount of money the UL lab would give you a UL approval on your Peanut Butter sandwich.
 
brad225 said:
I can clearly see why a good electrical connection is important for patient equipment.

From another direction. When I lived in Portland, Maine years ago. An employee of mine talked about his best friend that worked in the UL lab in Portland.
He told my friend David that for the right amount of money the UL lab would give you a UL approval on your Peanut Butter sandwich.
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That sounds like the BBB ratings.
 
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