High Fidelity Cable replaces NPS 1260

Crummwoody, 

Glad to see you got yours! I also ordered via Audiogon weeks ago, got a message from Rick after a week and said it will be mailed out no later then Monday that was 10 days ago and I haven't got any sort of shipping information or update. I guess I'll give it a little more time before I get MasterCard involved and hopefully get my money back. 

Steve

@sjsfiveo Perhaps check with Mastercard to see how much time you have to make a claim.  That way you know how long you can wait.  I was told many orders were filled at the same time as mine- for what that’s worth.  I got a tracking number from Canada Post a day after my promised shipping date.  Best of luck- I recommend you stay on top of this.

The waits will be rewarding…

68pete,

I got the information from the Safety Data sheet.

ozzy

But I think that was the old formula.

All solids were 5% each, balance was the suspension  binder..for the 1260.

He never published the formula and ratios of the Q series. Tom

So… there is no Safety Data Sheet for Q45T?  That was my point- the end user doesn’t know what is in the Q45T.  

People have bought this stuff and used it and not reported any "safety effects" ; get some cheap disposable latex gloves and wear them while applying if you are that worried about it

That's correct the info was based on the NPS 1260. The stuff is greasy and messy, so it makes sense to use gloves regardless of what product is used. A mask is probably overkill but hey, we probably have a lot of those hanging around so go ahead and use it.

ozzy

I know what the main active ingredient is. I published it in a post on Audiogon a couple of years ago. It's non-toxic. 

"I know what the main active ingredient is. I published it in a post on Audiogon a couple of years ago. It's non-toxic."  Interesting, except Q45T did not exist a couple of years ago...

Yes, very interesting. How could that be? A lot of audio manufacturers read Audiogon, I believe. Please feel free to draw the obvious conclusion.

I have 10 kilos of it, which I use for my own experiments. 

Boys and girls there’s a new kid on the block so retrieve your cleaning kits from retirement and have them ready to work again. This new product is better clearer than anything I have ever used, including nps 1260...This as of yet unnamed product is shockingly transparent and clear. I also have a container of unopened Q45 which I intend to compare to this new free radical ..It"s not dangerous. It’s just jaw dropping . Tom

Thanks for the info theaudiotweak. If it's black and slightly grainy or lumpy, then it's going to be the same stuff, perhaps with slightly different additives. Would you care to confirm? I'm very happy that this is finally getting out, but in my opinion it should be $60 not $600. Based on the tiny cost (and relative ease) of manufacture.

If it's not black and grainy, I would love to know more.

No its gray but you wouldnt see it.. and transparent as it sounds. Connects all the micro voids in your metals so there is only one continuous stream ..grain free. Tom

Thank you Tom.

“This as of yet unnamed product is shockingly transparent and clear.”

I haven’t tried NPS 1260 or Q45, but I have to agree with your assessment of the new kid on the block.

@theaudiotweak 

"Boys and girls there’s a new kid on the block so retrieve your cleaning kits from retirement and have them ready to work again"

Is it a Rick Schultz creation/product?

No it is not. ..Tom 

@theaudiotweak 

Thanks!

Gamechanger is a term that comes to mind.

Code name is, "the new kid on the block", huh?

I received a tiny sample in the mail this last week, and as I had already entirely pulled my system apart, found an opportunity to try it.
I had built some wooden frames for my QRD17 diffusers, and swapped out the temporary steel frame for the new ones, and to do so had to virtually empty the room. My wife helped me with the car jack to lift the diffusers onto the new stands, and I'm fairly sure it would have been funny to watch us dance with the diffusers.

I used a soft G.U.M toothpick looking device (my wife is a dental hygienist) that is used to clean between teeth like a floss, to apply a tiny coating over the following:

• XLR interconnect cables, both male and female ends.
• both XLR connectors on my Amp and DAC.
• speaker terminals on speakers
• power amplifier speaker terminals (I hate them, and should replace them - gold plated jewellery)
• speaker cables spades (only the on the contact face)
• USB cable, both male and female ends.
• USB connectors on my DAC, and both USB ports on JCat FEMTO USB card on my server computer.
• power cord for the amp, Grover Hoffman Pharoah both ends.
• started on DB25 connector (pass through for my Subs if I want it) Jansen Din-Li-Sum-B (line level summing transformer) but I stopped to keep some for my other speaker cables.

Gobsmacked! Oh yeah, transformative in this particular case isn't at all hyperbole.
I've never heard my system resolve even close to this, it's like a whole loom of top interconnects have all been swapped in. I can't hardly wait for my Fidelium speaker cables to come back from Australia (I sent it to a friend to be heard).

When "the new kid on the block", is released I can vouch that it easily is transformative as my Fideliums, Puritan psm-156 and spring isolation.
I don't often get this excited over a product, and particularly one considered a tweak. I can hear the fingers crossing the harp strings, breathing of the wind instrument players in recordings I had never noticed before, and the bass from my 6.5" stand mounts is extraordinary. Lenehan Audio ML2 Limited.

These other posters who have trialed it, are not overstating, it's simply incredible.
Oh, and a little tiny bit goes a hell of a long way. Nearly my entire system out of the test sample.

I plan on treating brass parts of my audio rack that is all direct coupled.Filling the micro voids of the metal surface should increase the vbrational surface area providing greater conductivity..Treatment of music strings would reduce shear wave interference and produce a cleaner noise free sound..As I see it..Tom

To those who recently auditioned "the new kid on the block" contact enhancer: Transparency, clarity, and resolve have all been used to describes what is being heard. Would you please describe the effects on things like timbre, PRAT, and just more musical engagement in general? I've used tweaks in the past that increased transparency and clarity, but turned out to be too much of a good thing. Jeff

yoby,

It’s all there with this stuff.

@yoby I'm not hearing shrill or an edgy sound, it's like hesitancy to portray an authentic organic sound has been removed. In much the same way when I cleaned all of my terminals (after years of having them transported and in storage), it removed the unwanted without damaging the presentation.

To me it seems as though the signal is decongested, I say that because it's a similar step towards realism that power conditioning presented at the voicing of my speakers. For me the timbre doesn't change so much as it were resistance or reluctance of the drivers to be faithfully controlled by the amplifier, it's removed.

I suppose for a lack of a better analogy, like a projector that seemed to be in focus, and it got a tiny nudge that finally got it into laser like focus.

I'm sure there's going to be more articulate and seasoned audiophile who when they discover this technology will be able to describe it better than I have.
This technology is going to become a staple for informed audiophiles, I would expect.

It will be interesting to hear a comparison between the "new kid" and the NPS Q45T product. I have not tried either, but I know what to expect from the NPS. The thing about the NPS (if it’s what I think it is)...it’s not just a contact enhancer. For example, you can apply it to the pins of a double adapter, plug it into a nearby wall outlet, and there will be significant improvement to the audio, even though there’s nothing plugged into the double adapter.

Since there has been no disclosure of the name of the company and hence direct company inquire is problematic , do any of you "trial guys" have an idea when the "new kid on the block " will be released , and/or more public disclosure forthcoming?

Hi Rick: Your description of your audition of the new contact enhancer is succinct and very helpful to me. I also received some and treated one AC cord with it (the AC cord that feeds my Puritan 156, that services the front end of my system). That includes a CD transport, DAC, preamp, and streamer. The clarity etc. I’m hearing mirrors yours. I have PPT Total Contact I all of my AC cords already, so I removed that before I applied the new stuff. My understanding from our supplier is that once this stuff is applied it’s permanent and can’t be removed. Hence my trepidation about treating my whole system as you have done. Thank you for your pioneering spirit and taking the plunge for the rest of us.

Yoby,

When a solution containing nano particles is removed..you are removing the binder mostly and only a portion of the elements contained. I understand that TC had a larger particle size vs the new kid on the block which is supposed to be nano vs microns that Tim Mrock used in his binder.But even with the  size Tim used I doubt if all was removed same with Rick's products which were smaller than Tim's.  Looking at the nearly clear binder I can see a color of silver and or graphene and both tend to be gray. I have no problem with applying a product that contains those elements or forms. If the particles are nano then they would augment the conductive surface area by filling in the nooks crannies and blanks something I would want to retain for its performance gains and not remove. Tom

The active ingredient used in Q45T is so far ahead of Total Contact (graphene+silver+oil) , it's ridiculous. Not to say you can't dope it with graphene (and other substances) to further improve the audio quality.

@yoby - Oh, I’m getting more and doing more. I am eagerly waiting for my speaker cables to get delivered back to me. I’ve had absolutely no negative impact to my system, what was good just got better,
Heck if there was a name competition for it, I’d submit the name, "Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers", three clicks of the volume dial and it’ll take you there!

I made a joke with a friend and said it’s like getting a hickey from Scarlett Johansson, I’d never want it to go away.

@whostolethebatmobile - I haven’t heard of Q45T, and the product name that I heard wasn’t the real name of "The new kid on the block", so what is it?

@facten - it’s already for sale, it’s distributed but not manufactured by a reasonably well known Agon member, the path to the product is perfect. Based upon what I’m hearing in my system, I’m guessing it’s going to remain a staple for audiophiles. I’ve got to get samples to friends overseas, it’s just that good.

An eCommerce website is being built for the business to sell the commercial product, for use in audio and video systems.
**I did call the distributor to confirm that I could both release this information, and verify this information.**

Rixthetrick - NPS-Q45T is the name of the High Fidelity Cables contact enhancer which replaces the NPS-1260. 

There definitely needs to be a shootout then. 

Once the new kid on the block is marketed, this belongs on a thread of its own.

Please be aware Q45T is perhaps not best used as a contact enhancer on your expensive cables. You don’t even necessarily need to use it on the stereo. Just use it on the pins of a bunch of cheap double/multiple adapters, plugged into various wall sockets around the house. Just a very thin coat on the ac and earth pins. The best option is a multiple adapter strip, with all the outlets filled with dummy adapters (each treated with Q45T). No current needs to flow (but if there’s a switch it must be on).

(I'm assuming Q45T is what I think it is. I don't have any Q45T to check. But if it is black, oily and slightly gritty, then it is probably what I think. To be sure, rub a droplet between two fingers. If the grains start to disappear after about 30 seconds of rubbing, then it's what I think it is.)

"I made a joke with a friend and said it’s like getting a hickey from Scarlett Johansson, I’d never want it to go away."

Funny thing, an old man now but even back in my hormone racing youth, I never understood the appeal of the hickey thing. Always thought it was people just trying to brag and advertise. That being said, I was a Scarlett fan way back before she was this popular and yes, I agree with that sentiment. And yes, the Q45T is all that. And more.

The new kid on the block is silky smooth, as is the resulting sound after application.

And yeah, willgolf I have no doubt when this stuff gets broader acclaim, it's going to have more than one thread about it, on many platforms.

Speaking of platforms there soon maybe a shootout between platforms. 

I have an unopened container of Q45.  I hate to open it's top to treat a cable or 2 in a comparison to make a fair and  valid listening test.  Tom

@rixthetrick 

"it’s already for sale, it’s distributed but not manufactured by a reasonably well known Agon member, the path to the product is perfect. Based upon what I’m hearing in my system, I’m guessing it’s going to remain a staple for audiophiles. I’ve got to get samples to friends overseas, it’s just that good"

Okay, so is the member to remain anomymous at this time except for a few?

Tom, I guess that's a sacrifice for science that someone's going to have to make eventually, for any sort of real world comparison?
I do understand your hesitancy, neither is cheap stuff.

@facten - I DM'd you, sorry I was too cryptic, I gave you a straight answer.

If the new product is purely and only a contact enhancer, I find it difficult to believe it could compete with Q45T (I’m assuming and I’m almost certain Q45T contains a particular ingredient). The Q45T ingredient is the holy grail, beyond belief, unassailable.

Disclaimer - I haven’t heard either of the two products yet.

I too can affirm that the new kid is killer.  Just applied it to the power cords only. Took the TC off, which I thought was great.  Holy Moly!!  What a HUGE difference.  I really can't wait to treat the rest of the system.  By far and away the best tweak I've ever experienced.  Although "tweak" doesn't really do it justice.  Great things are coming!!

Coming soon I will remove the previous contact enhancer and apply the new kid on the block  stuff inside my power amps..or maybe my speaker crossovers which are mounted externally. Then onto the tensil leads and even the voice coils. Don't tell any manufacturers about this revelation many may need clean up their house sound. Tom

You are so right Tom. The future for expensive power conditioning products looks very shaky to me. I'm sure manufacturers will find some way to adapt?

Can't speak for all the non-HFC suggested applications. Just know that I applied it to all of the suggested male power cord plugs, interconnects and banana speaker connectors. Around 20 with the extra MC-05's, electrostatic plugs, RCA Adapters, etc. Still have at least a half bottle left. Less than 200 dollars for this kind of radical sound improvement? An absolute bargain.

Great to hear middlemass. It does give me some pleasure, since I discovered the the active ingredient that gives the incredible improvement you’re hearing, in 2019. I didn’t invent the ingredient, I just discovered its benefit for audio.

I highly recommend you (or any members who have Q45T) should create one of these. All the double adapter pins should be painted with the black potion (both sides of the top one third of each pin is all that’s necessary). I made this today for a total cost of $22, from components bought at the supermarket (in Australia where I live). It improves the sound far more than my $12,000 power conditioner (brand name withheld so as not to unduly embarrass any manufacturer). You can plug low power audio devices into it, but I just leave it as is, with nothing plugged in. The benefit is, you’re not painting your expensive audio gear with the Q45T, but you’re getting incredible benefit for very low cost. And you can remove it any time you like, to compare with or without. And it’s portable.

I doubt the new kid on the block will be near the q45 but then who knows..John Nasaman Will eventually review this NKB then WE WILL  FIND OUT ...

While I have not tried the aforementioned HiFi Cable products mentioned, I have been lucky enough to try the New Kid On the Block. I will say that this contact enhancer is absolutely phenomenal.  I echo the sentiment and experiences of others who have tried it. Once you apply it, you will have to recalibrate your definitions of certain audiophile parameters.  Everything that you thought your system was good at will soon seem mediocre by comparison. I’m not a scientist But I have ears and respectable system and this has been more than the icing on the cake. It will not change your system. It will reveal your system.

The first thing I noticed was my system gained much micro detail. The space between players was greater defined and the image much more lifelike. As you play more music, you will then start to notice increased soundstaging, a lower noise floor and a timbre that is really stunningly close to reality.  The system loses the electrical aspect of the sound and becomes extremely pure and musical. This is what we all strive for with quality cables, vibration reduction etc, but this stuff has a very profound and distinct benefit.  This is something special.  When it is released, you will all be a happy bunch. My system has never sounded so incredible.  Have patience friends.  That’s all I got for you.  

Today is the first chance I have had to relisten to my system with the new contact enhancer that was applied to 6 total rca connectors. Still it is a very big deal just as transparent as when first applied but now with even greater musicality and texture across the spectrum.The bass has fleshed out to the total package proportions. The soundstage has waves that pass before me a visual that reminds me of bed sheets hanging from a clothes line and dancing gracefully with the wind. Those near physical images move before me and extend down the sidewalls 21 feet apart. Tom

Okay, where can I get this kool-aid?

I'd like to drink some. (Metaphorically, of course.)

I'd used Caig Pro-Gold. It's a decent cleaner. 

For a long time I used Stabilant 22, which I found to be much better. 

Now I'm using NPS-1260 which is richer and more fluid sounding while being no less transparent than Stabilant 22.

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