Clever Little Clock - high-end audio insanity?

Line, to make the type smaller you must have the CLC. With two CLCs it will be even smaller. Letters always appear smaller from the perspective of the observer when there is a time dilation.

According to the manufacturer, "The Clever Little Clock does not plug into the wall and has no direct influence on the audio signal -- not on house wiring, audio components, cables, interconnects, power cords or acoustic waves."

Therefore, they openly admit that it does absolutely nothing. However, some users make a claim that the Clever Little Clock eliminates "mental clutter".

This is by far the most disturbing audio accessory and takes away from the credibility of the industry as a whole.

I was so curious about how this thing worked, that this afternoon I actually got on the phone with Jeff at Machina Dynamica. He really didn't want to go into details as he was worried that an explanation into how the clock works would raise even more eyebrows then not providing any explanation at all. After I probed him some more he finally revealed some details to me that were so mind boggling that it really made me actually consider buying this thing.

As I promised him, I will not reveal the details here; but there was a plausable, although mind boggling explanation. There may actually be something to this thing. I figure that if it comes with a 30-day in home trial, you really have nothing to risk.

Also, I thought that Jeff was a really intelligent down to earth guy who was not trying to over-sell his products. Very interesting.

Here is something that you can do at home as a tweak that is completely free and will only cost you a few minutes of your time. This is also the concept used in the Clever Little Clock. I am very intrigued as to what others will experience. Please try this at home and let me know here if you believe that there was a sonic imporvement.

Here are excerpts from Belt's article:

"Simple everyday objects such as batteries., magnets., photographs and the very music recordings that we attempt to replay all conspire to seriously impair our senses. To understand this problem, it is necessary to realise the very basis upon which nature evolved the senses. Within each and all living creatures, there is an attempt to maintain an inner symmetrical pattern. The senses all measure the degree of asymmetrical energy patterns exterior to the body and compare the external asymmetrical energy patterns against the internal symmetrical energy patterns. Modern science and technology has surrounded each individual with innumerable objects which have asymmetric energy patterns that create a chronic problem for our senses. It is necessary to remove the effect of these environmental pollutants so that the senses can begin to function at a high level.

Each individual human had a fundamental adverse problem imposed on their senses when they had their first photograph taken. A photographic image captures the unique identity of the subject of the photograph but imposes a significant temporal (time) asymmetrical pattern. The action of this photograph radically changed the inner symmetry of the senses of the photographed human being. Fortunately, this debilitating adverse condition is reversible.

To restore a significant temporal (time) symmetry to any person's senses, it is necessary to acquire one photograph which was exposed when the person was young and another photograph exposed when the person was older. Each photograph is placed, individually, into it's own clear plastic bag. The two plastic bags, each containing a spaced time photograph of the same individual, should be placed inside the freezer compartment of the domestic refrigerator. This will create a most unusual beneficial phenomenon. After placing the two separate photographs within the freezer compartment, either live or recorded music should be played within the listening room. A significant improvement to the musical sound should have taken place. Removing the photographs from the freezer compartment should produce an immediate adverse response if the music is played again. Replacing the two photographs within the freezer compartment will immediately restore the beneficial improvement in the sound. It should be noted that it is not necessary for the photographs to reach the low temperature of the freezer compartment. This experiment demonstrates that within the freezer compartment, there exists a high degree of symmetry and that this symmetrical condition is imposed on the temporal asymmetric condition of the two chronologically spaced photographs and is, in turn, imposed on the senses of the human subject of the photographs. It is unfortunate that the vast majority of people, including many who work in science and technology, do not appreciate that a photograph functions within the quantum mechanical world."

So guys, take a photograph of yourself when you were really young and a current one and put in the freezer. Please let me know if you can hear an imporvement. I thought I did, but then sound is so subjective and the experience is subjective. I want to see what other people have to say.

What if the picture was taken with a digital camera? A negative would not exist in this case.

All of this clearly sounds ridiculous, but the goal here is to get at least a representative sample of audiophiles to try this to see if they notice a sonic imporvement. This experiment can be organized within 5 minutes. We might as well put the issue behind us and get to the bottom of this instead of speculating about quantum mechanics.

I am waiting for people in this forum to try this and report back their experiences, as crazy and silly as it sounds.

Can we keep a certain level of seriousness and composure in this thread? I really want fellow audiophiles to attempt this experiment and report the results. Let's keep the wise-ass comments to a minimum.

Zaikesman, I am sorry, but I didn't understand anything you just said.

I really just want people to take two photos, one of them when they were young and another one that is current, and then put them both in the freezer. Then do some listening evaluation to determine if there was a sonic difference.

I believe that when something appears to be completely ridiculous, it is still important to remain open minded to test it, especially when the test is free. Remember when Consumer Reports claimed that Cervin Vega were the best speakers in the world and when Stereo Review wrote about how all interconnects sound the same?

I do admit that it is a ridiculous notion to think that keeping photographs in the freezer can change the sound quality of a system. But why not give it a try anyway?

The CLC is a time travel device. It minimizes the time difference between the time captured on the recording and the current time. This ads realism to the music.

Let me add, that I am NOT trying to be sarcastic here.

I can't stress this enough; I am NOT being sarcastic.

The company offers a 30-day in home trial. So there is no possibility of fraud, because if the consumer believes the clock does not improve the sound of their system they can return it for a full refund.

Bill, you missed my post above. The manufacturer does give an explanation over the phone if you call them, but he will not reveal it in print because the explanation is difficult for some people to accept. Here again is an explanation of how the device works:

The CLC is a time travel device. It minimizes the time difference between the time captured on the recording and the current time. This ads realism to the music.

Because this device functions as a sort of a time travel apparatus it is not necessary to connect to the audio circuit. It has entirely to do with shortening the distance between time events.

Geoff,

Common man, I am trying to help you here. I think that the CLC is a fascinating device. I thought that I would offer audiophiles a glimpse into the explanation. Notice, I did not provide the complete explanation. With all this talk about the CLC you should have a bunch of orders.

I think people here think I am being sarcastic, but I am completely serious. Plus I think that time effect that we discussed is entirely possible. People here should read Steven Hawkin's Brief History of Time.

In fact, I would venture to say that most of the "accepted" audio imporvements are probably just as imaginary. For example, many people claim that they can hear a difference between WBT or Cardas connectors (binding posts and RCA plugs) vs. regular Radio Shack types. Also, many people claim to hear a difference between different types of insulation.

I am willing to put down $10,000 cash on a challange of any double-blind scientifically organized listening test. If the listener can identify WBT posts versus 50 cent posts from Radio Shack in a double-blind listening test, then I will pay this person $10,000.

Anyone care to accept the challenge?

So, please stop trashing the CLC when you people accept other ridiculous accessories.

And Elizabeth, if mdhoover would have set up the same listening experiment for what I just proposed above, his group would of had nearly identical results.

Also, let's keep in mind that the CLC can alter time, and the WBT posts, that cost like $200 for a set of speakers, cannot. So which is a better value?

Oh, before I forget, I will also pay anyone $10,000 who can correctly identify a difference between a $2000 fancy power cord (you can choose your favorite manufacturer) and a $2 computer grade power cord from CompUSA in a scientific double-blind listening test.

Anyone care to accept my challange???

Wellfed, I would like to add one caveat to my offer so that it is taken very seriously and so that I know you are not going to waste my time.

1. If you can identify your power cord vs. a $2 CompUSA powercord in a scientific double-blind listening session, then I will pay you $10,000 as promised.

2. If you fail to correctly identify your powercord, then you will pay me $1,000.

So if you are very confident that you can do this then this should not be much of a risk for you. Besides, I am risking 10 times as much money.

The reason I want to structure this challenge this way is because the previous offer would allow you to only gain and nothing to loose if you are wrong.

Please let me know if you are willing to accept my challange.

Tgun5,

My intention is to show that a lot of what we believe to be actual upgrades are quite imaginary. This does not, however, mean that the upgrade was not effective. Whether you are imagining it or not, the sound quality is improved. "I think therefore I am". If you discovered that your entire life is just a figment of your imagination, would it make it any less important?

So my examples are used to demostrate that the imaginary imporvement of a power cord is not any different then the imaginary improvement that occurs with the use of the CLC. In fact, the CLC may be quite a bit better then a good power cord upgrade.

Also, the explanation for the way the CLC works makes a lot of sense, a lot more sense then the explanation for power cords. The problem here is that the manufacturer will not provide this explanation on his website. But he did explain it to me on the phone. As I said, the CLC is a type of time travel device.

Finally, I live in NY. I know you will fail the test. This will be the easiest $1000 I ever made. I suggest that before you embarass yourself, that you try a few double-blind listening tests at home with the help of a friend.

Faziod,

You have heard nothing yet. My girlfriend and I popped an ecstacy on New Years Eve. The music on my friends CreativeLabs computer speakers gave me orgasmic sensations all over my body, it was going though me, in waves. I have never been so emotionally connected to music in my life. And the bass! Man it was shaking my world. I can honestly say that this little upgrade made this system sound better then any other system I heard at the CES, regardless of price. So if this upgrade made $50 speakers connected to a PC sound better then a $500,000 systems at CES, this is like a $500K upgrade for $20 - street price!

Actually, come to think of it, I am going to bring some audiophile grade MDMA form Amsterdam and start selling it on Audiogon. Guaranteed the best upgrade anyone has ever heard - or your money back, no questions asked.

Also, Faziod, the improvement heard after 8 Buds is also completely imaginary. "The Buweiser does not plug into the wall and has no direct or indirect influence on the audio signal -- not on house wiring, audio components, cables, interconnects, power cords or acoustic waves. Yet the Budweiser has a pronounced affect on the sound of digital and analog playback systems."

So I take it that no one will accept my challenge?

Tgun5,

Here are the simple conditions of the test:

1. We choose a high-end audio system of proper calibre. The test could be done at any high-end audio showroom with high end equipment. (Don't worry, Radio Shack receivers don't have a detachable power cord).
2. You will then be blind-folded. You can use your own CDs for this test.
3. You will listen to the same track 10 times. Each of the times you listen to it a power cord switch will be made or not made by a neutral observer.
4. The neutral observer will mark which power cord was used each time.
5. You will also mark which power cord you believe was used each time.
6. We will then compare your notes with the notes of the neutral observer. If you are correct 80% of the time (8 out of 10 times) then I will pay you $10,000. If not, you will pay me $1,000.

This test will even allow for a 20% margin of error. So if you can really hear the difference between power cords, there is no way for you to loose.

So, are you ready to take me up on my challenge?

Puremusic, I completely agree, The person accepting the challange should familiarize themselves with the system and use their favorite CDs.

I am confident that everyone will fail this test. Again, I suggest that people try this at home first before accepting this challenge.

So far, no one has given me a firm commitment.

Elizabeth, I think your comments are completely tasteless.

Wellfed,

I think that it has to be a neutral environment where the observer of the test has no interest in the outcome either way. Your home would not be this kind of neutral environment.

I suggest that the test should take place at any high end audio showroom, where you should spend as much time as necessary familiarizing yourself with the system and playing your favorite CDs. When you announce that you are ready is when the test will begin.

Is the New York Tristate Area convenient for you?

I am surprised that other then Wellfed, no one else is agreeing to the challenge. And where is Mdhoover with his listening team? Let's compare a good power cord with a bag of pens from Staples!

Elizabeth, let me ask you question, did you purchase audiophile speaker cables or are you using lamp cord wire from Home Depot? Now how is this any different then using POTATOES in your listening room? You have invested into the same "puffery" as the people who bought the clock. You are being a complete hypocrite.

Tgun5, I agree to all your conditions. Wellfed, I travel to Chicago quite often so lets schedule a time to meet there. Please email me directly at audioari1@yahoo.com to make arrangements and to schedule this listening session.

For this test, both of us should place money into an escrow account. You will put in $1,000 and I will put in $10,000 for each challenger.

Sherod, the powercords could be changed on all components. I don't care how you slice it or dice it, everyone fails the power cord test in a double-blind listening session.

All of my contentions here including this challenge are really my support for the Clever Little Clock. I believe that the Clever Little Clock upgrade is roughly equivalent or better then a good power cord upgrade.

It makes a very meaningful imporvement in sound quality but cannot be identified when tested scientifically, therefore, the improvement is completely imaginary.

It makes me sick here that people are mocking the CLC when they invest in other similar upgrades and consider them perfectly acceptable.

I am will be waiting for emails from Tgun & Wellfed. Any other challengers please go ahead and email me. Heck, I could make a living this way, challenging people to power cord tests and making $1000 each time!

By the way, I have done many such tests with friends and other audiophiles with very good systems, and none of them have ever been able to identify a change in power cords in a double-blind test.

Elizabeth, what does me posting about DK Design products have anything to do with any of this?

Do you people realize that the CLC is a time travel device? This means that it is significantly more advanced then any power cord upgrade.

Pabelson,

Unfortunately, you miss the point of high-end audio entirely. It is precisely because listening results do not correlate with science is what makes high-end so interesting. For example, a $200 JVC receiver from CircuitCity has better measurements then nearly all single-ended tube amps that cost thousands of dollars. But the tube amp surely sounds better then the $200 JVC receiver. But HOW CAN THAT BE?????!!!! OH MY GOD, MY REALITY IS SLIPPING AWAY FROM ME!

As I said, the CLC is a time travel device. Line, you are right that time is an illusion of the brain.

Well, that certainly sound like a much better bang-for-the-buck then you are likely to get with any power cord, interconnet, or speaker cable!

Line, I did Google your phrase and then ended up reading a long interview with Deepak Chopra. Here is a quote from his discussion that I thought was most relevant to our discussion of the Clever Little Clock:

"All technologies are based on the overthrow of the superstition of materialism in the world of technology. The next step is to realize that these so-called fields of force, or information, are actually fields of intelligence and knowledge. Because when information is self-referring, in that it has a feedback loop that influences its own expression, then you cannot just call it pure information. Everybody understands information in today’s information age. But the next step in the evolution of this knowledge is to understand that it is not just information, it is intelligence, it is knowledge, it is consciousness. The force fields of nature are force fields of consciousness."

At this point, audiophiles would have to be silly not to try the Clever Little Clock!

man, what a little thread i started

I tried something last night that was major major upgrade. I took some LSD. While the LSD does not act on the system directly, it has a profound affect on the listener. Man, things sounded pretty incredible. It was even better then my MDMA trip last month. I was also definitely traveling through time. Pink Floyd's The Wall lasted for what seemed like an eternity and yet I am certain that the recorded content on the CD is not much longer then an hour.

Zaikesman, good one!

Wellfed, Why are you so well fed? What have you been eating?

Zaikesman, please do post the response to Dave Clark. I think the issue we are discussing is of huge importance to high end audio in general. I think if we keep on, we may end up somewhere and perhaps make progress. I am sure that influencing Dave Clark will eventually send ripples through the whole industry.

Zaikesman, I think that Miklorsmith made a very valid point. In fact, I was part of an even more baffling experiment. This was a system with VTL monoblocks, a VTL Reference preamp, and Wilson speakers. Everyone was floored by how amazing the VTL pre-amp sounded, I had to agree, it sounded pretty damn good. Then someone in the group made a comment that listeners would not be able to detect in a blind listening test when the VTL was in our or out of the system.

So we set up an experiment substituting the VTL preamp with a $200 NAD preamp while people listened blindfolded. Not a SINGLE person in the group was able to consistently tell which was the VTL or the NAD. One is around $10,000 and the other is $200.

This brings up the inevitable conclusion that listening evaluation is probably extremely flawed in these types of tests no matter how you slice it or dice it.

I think the more proper way to evaluate equipment is to put in a component and the listen to it for several days and then make the switch. For some reason, rapid A/B switching doesn't allow the brain to make the adjustments quickly enough.

Otherwise, how would you explain these results?

Zaikesman,

I think that your proposed test of 3 clocks is just as flawed. This is because all 3 clocks will look visually identical.

Suppose something else for a moment. Let's say I take a Boulder 2008 ($40K) phono pre-amp chasis, take out the electronics, and replace them with an NAD $150 phono stage. Then I will put it into your system without you knowing I changed the inards. I would bet the dickens that you will sit there in amaziment telling me without end how wonderful the sound is. Inevitably, the visual impression has a very strong affect on perceived hearing.

This is also similar to another effect that has been demonstrated time and again. If I take a $5 bottle of wine and pour its contents into a bottle that belongs to a $300 wine and serve it to you, you will probably think it is the best and most complex wine you have ever tasted.

I think it is clear that the psychological anticipation of the event is more then half the battle.

Zaikesman, the test with your girlfriend does not have the visual element taken out as I had explained above, since obviously she was not blind folded. And the result of her conclusion, only further proves my point, she preferred the cheaper pre-amp.

It is also entirely possible, that if you had the $6500 preamp and a $200 preamp side by side, and they both looked visually impressive without her knowing the cost of either, that she would have prefered the $200 piece!