Herbie’s Super Black Hole CD Mat - Wow!

What's going on?  My last two posts are under submission rather than immediately posted.  Is it a change in Audiogon policy?

I've used four different CD rings including a green and black Marigo.  The Herbie's use results are the same in my system as in Robert and Frank's.  Diminished musicality, reduced dynamics and compressed sound.  Not good.  However, I have an alternative use for the black hole.  I use it around the center spindle of my VPI TNT VI with superplatter.  It slightly lifts the label area to good effect with the VPI heavyweight to provide a better VTA for standard LPs (140mm and thinner).  It's probably due to the VPI platter's slight indentation slope towards the spindle area. 
I also have an Ultradesk cutter and demagnetizer.  I have since found that the Walker Talisman demagnetizer to be a superior and elegant product to use on every disc, CD and LP, with obvious benefit to every CD I play.  Sure, it over $200 for a pair of magnets but I use it exclusively since 2008.  Wonderful product or make your own.  Easy to test. Play an undemagnetized CD, then swipe the Talisman on top and below the tray with the disc in it holding a finger on the edge.  Then replay CD.  Voila, clearer, cleaner sound.  Just as if the resolution increased and distortion/hashy sound decreased.   I wouldn't want to be without it. 
I also highly recommend Herbie's tube dampers.  I've also used dual silicone rings around tubes to lessen tube vibration to great affect.  Tube vibration is not a good thing for audio.  Many cheap current production tubes can be made so much better sounding with just adding vibration control.   E.g. EAR 864 phono stage has EJ 12AX7s.  Placing dual silicone rings on each tube will improve the sound of those tubes 100%, closer to a nice pair of  NOS Siemans or Philips (not as good, but a lot closer).  Luckily my phono pre and pre-amp have only subminiature tubes with nearly vibration free glass envelopes (suitable for bomb use).  

I have had four damping discs including the Marigo green and black and the Herbie's super black hole.  The same results with the Herbie's, dulling the dynamics and highs, robbing the sound of it's musicality as Robert and Frank report.  Yuk!  However, I am using it on my VPI TNT VI placed on the center spindle where it raises the label slightly and with the VPI heavy weight, gives my less thick, standard discs (under 140mm thickness) a better VTA.  I suspect that the center dip in the platter is compensated for by the Herbie's black hole. 
I also have the Ultradesk CD cutter and a first edition of their demagnetizer.   The only, major and simple to use product I've been using for about 8 years now is the Walker Talisman demagnetiser, a pair of magnets swept over the top and bottom of discs.  It's so obvious in use, just play a disc, then demagnetize and voila, a superior sound (more coherent, dynamic, clean).  Sure it may sound like a rip off at over $200 for a pair of magnets but it's elegant and better than the Ultradesk cutter in so many ways.   I also highly recommend Herbie's tube dampers.  Even multiple silicone rings on tubes are great at reducing ringing/vibrations from tubes.  

I've used four different CD rings including a green and black Marigo. The Herbie's use results are the same in my system as in Robert and Frank's. Diminished musicality, reduced dynamics and compressed sound. Not good. However, I have an alternative use for the black hole. I use it around the center spindle of my VPI TNT VI with superplatter. It slightly lifts the label area to good effect with the VPI heavyweight to provide a better VTA for standard LPs (140mm and thinner). It's probably due to the VPI platter's slight indentation slope towards the spindle area.
I also have an Ultradesk cutter and demagnetizer. I have since found that the Walker Talisman demagnetizer to be a superior and elegant product to use on every disc, CD and LP, with obvious benefit to every CD I play. Sure, it over $200 for a pair of magnets but I use it exclusively since 2008. Wonderful product or make your own. Easy to test. Play an undemagnetized CD, then swipe the Talisman on top and below the tray with the disc in it holding a finger on the edge. Then replay CD. Voila, clearer, cleaner sound. Just as if the resolution increased and distortion/hashy sound decreased.  I wouldn't want to be without it.
I also highly recommend Herbie's tube dampers. I've also used dual silicone rings around tubes to lessen tube vibration to great affect. Tube vibration is not a good thing for audio. Many cheap current production tubes can be made so much better sounding with just adding vibration control.  E.g. EAR 864 phono stage has EJ 12AX7s. Placing dual silicone rings on each tube will improve the sound of those tubes 100%, closer to a nice pair of NOS Siemans or Philips (not as good, but a lot closer). Luckily my phono pre and pre-amp have only subminiature tubes with nearly vibration free glass envelopes (suitable for bomb use).

I had a problem for the last week accessing only the forums I tried to post in.  The moderator answered today and said she had no problem in Chrome.  I just found out using I.E. that all my posts and updates were available.  I don't know why my Chrome isn't working for only the sites I posted to and not the others.  Sorry for the repeated posts.

I took felt rings off of my Legacy Focus dome tweeters because they restricted the off-axis high frequency sound.  Sort of like a clamshell on a clam.  So much more open without the felt rings.