I believe in getting the biggest bang out of my audio buck that I can. I don't know about you but my audio budget is actually limited.
I find it interesting when I hear about folks spending a zillion on the best magnetic cables and then someone comes along with some new cable technology like new liquid-infused cables that equal or best the magnetic cables at a fraction of the price. Some makers of magnetic and other cables may want you to believe that a patent pending means there must be something there that ordinary Joe Audio could never make himself. My experience leads me to say -- don't believe it.
I have been using neodymium magnets for years in my cables and around my system to improve SQ -- at a fraction of the cost that makers of magnet-containing products charge. OK, mine may not be at the very top of the performance chain when compared to those expensive products, but who cares? I have managed to get stunning returns for a pittance. It would have cost thousands, or tens of thousands, to obtain similar results from various makers.
The same applies to audio makers with a patent pending (or an actual patent) who market little aluminum audio resonators the size of pimples. I make my own resonator pimples for about a buck apiece -- with stunning results. I saved over $4,000 making 70 of my own. Maybe they are not at the very top of the performance chain compared to those expensive products, but who cares? I am very happy with results that are far beyond what I expected when I started out.
I am having a lot of fun doing DIY projects at home that reap wonderful results at a small fraction of the cost charged by audio makers for their similar products. Have others had similar experiences making their own audio products at home? Can you share your DIY experiences with us?
Bluestone spoken here. A handsome stone if ever there was one. 18x18x3 $20 bucks at most Home Despot. Cannot beat with stick. Cones or springs. You decide.
Glad to hear you know the secrets. Ooooh. And that you can see through me. Fantastic. You are clairvoyant as well as being an audio know-it-all. Playing amateur psychologist again, are we? Reminds me of the Beatles song ... "I'm Looking Through You"? And I thought my wife was the only one who could do that. Lol.
"Grasshopper" ... a new appellation ... we can add this to your "nerds, little old ladies and knuckleheads". An appellation a day keeps the posters away. Lol.
I know, I know. You've got an audio business to run. Got to keep in the spotlight.
Since you have no idea about the placement that I am using you can only speculate about how I use my "cheap DIY tiny little bowls" to give such stunning sound for only $70 for a set of 70. I am already working on where to place the next 60. I can afford the $60. Lol.
I already know the secrets of the magic bowls, grasshopper. You, on the other hand, obviously don’t. I see through you like you were made of glass.
Since you have no idea about the placement that I am using you can only speculate about how I use my "cheap DIY tiny little bowls" to give such stunning sound for only $70 for a set of 70. I am already working on where to place the next 60. I can afford the $60. Lol.
Sabai, you see everything. Except where to place the tiny little bowls. Which is really the most important part, no? That’s why it took so many of your cheap DIY tiny little bowls. Maybe put another 60 bowls around your room. Don't forget the other rooms. Franck would approve. 😃
Sorry about my error on the last point. Your ceramic resonators are actually $100 each -- not for a set. Let me see, I have 70 DIY resonators in my system. If I bought yours it would cost me $7,000. Mine cost $70 to make -- for the set of 70. I know, I know. Yours are "the real maximum". Lol.
By the way, I wonder if you copied your resonators from someone who was already marketing them, or if your idea simply came to you in a moment of profound inspiration. Lol.
Sabai, one wonders what’s going on with you. Your posts are frequently filled with angry childish personal attacks but never address my comments except in some silly snarky way. One suspects it’s actually you who’s blowing his own horn and who wants to be the leader of the band. In any case this thread has probably outlived its usefulness. Nothing is more alarming than to watch a cheap DIYer unravel. I hate to be too judgemental but almost everything I say seems to be too deep for you.
You should add "in my system" when using the word "superior", referring to what works in audio systems. Sand boxes work just fine, in my system. If that's OK with you.
"... except in your mind". Did you come to this profound conclusion by also reading the minds of others on the forum? Doing a bit of amateur psychology again, are we? Lol.
Trial and error ends you up with "not the real maximum". Ooooh, that's too deep for me. Lol.
"...who would know better than I?" Who, indeed? The forum needs a know-it-all to keep us in line. You fill the position with unqualified success. Excuse the pun. No need for a 4th lol yet. Still laughing from the previous 3.
" My old boss at NASA". Always tooting your own horn when the opportunity presents itself -- or when it doesn't. I know, I know. You have a business to run. Got to keep a high profile. Lol. That makes 4.
Keep it coming. You may end up winning an Audio Sit-Com Award. Grand Prize -- a set of geoffkait ceramic resonators -- value $100 each. Lol. That makes 5.
Sabai, just curious, is English a second language? You seem to misunderstand my posts frequently or else put words in my mouth. I never said sand boxes don’t work. What I said was glass microspheres are superior to sand. As far as the tiny little bowls go there is no mystery about them except in your mind. Both acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves are like germs, what you can’t see can hurt you. One cannot really solve the puzzle of the tiny little bowls with getting his hands dirty and measuring the relevant parameters. Using intuition only scratches the surface. It’s like trying to solve a set of three simultaneous equations in ten unknowns. It’s the same idea as trying to position your speakers by trial and error and listening - you would be destined to find a local maximum, not the real maximum. I’ve already told you exactly how to solve the Riddle Of the Tiny Bowls. So, where’s the beef, Sabai? As for some things not being measurable who would know better than I?
Never get behind anyone 100%. - my old boss at NASA
In my experience, sand boxes work just fine. And, in my experience, having used my meters extensively, this is far more complicated than peaks and nodes. Using various measuring devices is a good start. But there is a lot that cannot be measured by modern testing devices. There is an old saying -- not everything that counts can be counted. You may note that Franck Tchang often moves about the room sensing intuitively where the next bowl or sugar cube belongs. His basic design is excellent -- to be followed by personal experience.
Well, first let me just say perfectly round glass microspheres are quite superior to sand which by comparison is all like knarly and won’t move in fluid like motion like the microspheres. Second, just reporting very good but surprising results experimenting with my trusty new RFI meter. Why guess when you can find the peaks of RF around the room. Like acoustic waves electromagnetic waves form standing waves in the room and energy peaks in various locations around the room. That’s why you might notice your iPad signal performance varies around the room. Of course this second point relates to our old friends, the tiny little bowls.
I use Tupperware containers filled with sand to top and bottom load. This varies from one component to another depending on how each placement sounds. I also have a few solid wood chopping boards in the mix along with some cork panels. Of course, this is all trial and error.
i enjoy using the wifes granite and wooden chopping boards as isolation platforms 10gbp a piece for under equipment.. Im currently using two granite type chopping boards with a sorbathane in between . it doesnt cost no extra outlay as the boards are from the kitchen and the sorbathane was a gift that was just sitting in a box. im currently looking into a ball bearing type isolation platform for my speakers as i have read that barry diament has had great results but from using a named brand costing up to 500gbp. if anyone else has had results from similar projects i would love to hear any advise is very much appreciated. as for magnets i have had no experiences at all , years ago my friend brought round hes SR acoustic arts system and i was amazed at the positive effects to the sound of my system , i know this was not a free or cheap DIY project but the objects when placed around my room had a very positive effect to the sound, if i new how ted had made these objects i would definitely have ago at making my own can anyone advise thank you
You stated, "What I think you meant to say is, "Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share so I can appropriate them and turn them into my own ideas that will be commercialized and classified SECRET?""
In an earlier posting you mentioned psychoanalysis being offered by others on this thread. Well, well, the pot does indeed call the kettle black. You are a very poor mind reader. Don’t give up your day job. Better you should stick to audio. Lol.
By the way, the product I have developed is unique and unlike any other on the market. It was not appropriated from anyone. And though there is always a chance I may commercialize it some time in the future, the odds are actually against this happening.
Your insinuation that I am up to stealing the ideas of others here with an ulterior motive in mind makes today’s thread worth a good laugh. Perhaps this is how you run your audio business ... may we speculate for a moment? Since you do have an audio business, we may wonder if you copied your resonators from someone who was already marketing them, or if your idea simply came to you in a moment of profound inspiration. Lol.
sabai OP My, my. Talk about touchy. Stalking? Lol. This is better than a sit-com.
Looks like you missed this -- again, "Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share ...?" Perhaps a new eyeglass prescription should be added to your to-do list.
What I think you meant to say is, "Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share so I can appropriate them and turn them into my own ideas that will be commercialized and classified SECRET?"
My, my. Talk about touchy. Stalking? Lol. This is better than a sit-com.
Looks like you missed this -- again, "Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share ...?" Perhaps a new eyeglass prescription should be added to your to-do list.
I guess you must have missed this -- repeated 3 times in the past 2 days:
"Getting back to the OP, I mentioned earlier that I have developed something special I am keeping close to my chest, for now. Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share, or not (for whatever reason)?"
so what? Haven't you been following my comments? Does this mean you have nothing more to say, I mean mean other than to stalk me?
I guess you must have missed this -- repeated 3 times in the past 2 days:
"Getting back to the OP, I mentioned earlier that I have developed something special I am keeping close to my chest, for now. Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share, or not (for whatever reason)?"
No need to be so touchy. These are not personal attacks at all. If you look at what is being said you will see these comments are simply observations of fact.
Observations of fact? You and your Droogies are unable to see the truth. Your observations are silly. Good luck with quest for mediocrity.
No need to be so touchy. These are not personal attacks at all. If you look at what is being said you will see these comments are simply observations of fact.
You stated, "
Sabai, am not inviting anything ..." Perhaps you think you aren't, but others may differ on this point. Your perhaps unwitting invitation opens the door to humor, and I am not one to ignore the opportunity for a good laugh when it presents itself in such an inviting manner.
On the other hand, I think your use of such personal terms as "nerds, knuckleheads and king loony" may be taken by some on the forum as descending to the level of personal attack -- on your part. But I do not look at it that way at all. For me, this is simply audio entertainment. A good way to get some laughs -- like an audio sitcom.
Getting back to the OP, I mentioned earlier that I have developed something special I am keeping close to my chest, for now. Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share, or not (for whatever reason)?
I am not trying to straighten you out or convince you of anything at all. Just making some observations that need to be made. When you draw attention to yourself in the way that you do you can only expect this to happen. You are inviting it.
Sabai, am not inviting anything, especially all of the personal attacks. Do you think this is my first rodeo? Do you think you’re the king loony here? I’m drawing attention to my ideas. My free ideas. You either don’t understand what I’m saying or pretend not to understand as I’ve had to repeat myself many times.
Sabai Getting back to the OP, I mentioned earlier that I have developed something special I am keeping close to my chest, for now.
So, I guess the answer is no, you won’t be talking audio anytime soon. Good luck with all those commercial "secrets."
I am not trying to straighten you out or convince you of anything at all. Just making some observations that need to be made. When you draw attention to yourself in the way that you do you can only expect this to happen. You are inviting it.
Getting back to the OP, I mentioned earlier that I have developed something special I am keeping close to my chest, for now. Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share, or not (for whatever reason)?
Sabai, when are you going to stop talking about me and start talking audio? Just curious. All the really insightful observation notwithstanding. 😬 And if you’re trying to convince me you’re stumbling around in the dark you’re doing an excellent job.
geoffkait operates like a particular politician who constantly places himself in the spotlight (I won't mention any names). His constant noise says more about him than it does about the topic at hand. I think he needs a magnetic muzzle to muffle his barking.
Getting back to the OP, I mentioned earlier that I have developed something special I am keeping close to my chest, for now. Has anyone else developed any special devices they would like to share, or not (for whatever reason)?
I would think the commercial aspect of his participation is not secondary. Everyone knows that geoffkait frequently uses the forum to advertise his company’s products. I do not think we would see as ubiquitous a geoffkait if he did not own an audio company.
This is the kind of situation I think he enjoys best -- when the spotlight is on him. This keeps his commercial agenda in gear. We see this time and again. As long as he makes some sort of comment his oar is in the water. He elicits opinions, then says he does not care. You see, it makes no difference one way or the other. As long as he keeps his oar in the water. It is all about pebbles and clocks. IMHO.
If you don't care then why bother eliciting opinions about placements, and then take the trouble to comment, "...
you are using his diagram incorrectly." Seems like a contradiction to me.
You are such a tease. Just to point out the diagrams of Tchang's that you value so much are ONLY for his Gold and Silver bowls, as he says. In other words you are using his diagram incorrectly.
The courtyard example doesn’t contradict what I said. He also placed a bowl in the refrigerator as I recall. I never said this whole thing was not complicated. In fact what I just posted suggests quite the opposite. I never said Tchang’s diagram wouldn’t "work." I said it was a good guide, like my diagram, but you can do better. I realize you don’t wish to entertain such an idea.
Franck Tchang adjusted a single bowl in the outside courtyard -- not an adjoining room -- and the effects on the music were not subtle, inside the room.
I believe this is a lot more complicated than discovering SPL peaks. And I believe Franck Tchang knew this. Which is why his diagram is so accurate -- at least for starters. You may have forgotten that you stated yesterday in this thread that we should trust Franck Tchang.
Ultimately, I trust my own ears. I have developed a unique sets of devices for walls and components. They are unlike any other resonators -- and they offer stunning results.
toddverrone Geoff- I will say that I’d try little bowls if there was a believable explanation for how they work and what they do.. I’m not a total reductionist, so I don’t shoot things down if they aren’t ideas in the mainstream, but my mind does need something to go on, so I can figure out how to implement. Though I suppose it would be pointless since I can’t imagine decorating my house with copper bowls.. My lovely wife let’s me do what I want with the music room, but she wants input on the rest of the house.
The tiny little bowls are acoustic resonators and work much like small Helmholtz resonators by dissipating energy when placed in locations of very high sound pressure, such as on the wall at first reflection point or in a room corner. Anywhere there is a SPL peak much higher than the average SPL in the room. As I’ve mentioned on this thread at least twice the best way to determine locations in the room for the tiny little bowls is by using a SPL meter and a test tone. I find a test tone of 315 Hz to work fine but other frequencies will work too. You can also use Franck Tchang’s diagram which will be fine but not as accurate as my method.
The tiny little bowls also dissipate RFI/EMI. This is because not only is the diameter of the tiny bowl equal to an acoustic wavelength but also equal to an electromagnetic wave length, I.e., RF wavelength. Thus the tiny little bowls are two, TWO tweaks in one! That’s why I hear an improvement in the sound on my headphones - not because of the acoustic resonator function but because of the RFI/EMI dissipation function. Since there is no diagram for where the RFI/EMI peaks are in the room you have to either make a reasonable guess or obtain an EMI/RFI meter. I have so far chosen to place my tiny little bowls in upper and lower corners, one per surface, figuring that all waves behave similarly so will bunch up in room corners.
If you have a speaker system the improvement to the sound will be due to BOTH functions. The reason the sound improves when the tiny little bowls are placed in rooms beyond the listening room, kitchen bathroom, bedrooms, etc. is because RF doesn’t attenuate over distances involved in the house so that reducing RFI/EMI in other rooms reduces RFI/EMI in the listening room and in the house wiring. Whereas acoustic interference from other rooms would be very secondary. But if a room is directly adjoining the listening room then acoustic interference might be expected. I use bowls of several diameters to spread out the operating bandwidth. Better safe than sorry.
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