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My Snubway and Main Stream Master Class Combo Review

I must admit I am a sucker for tweaks.

I have owned and tried so many. I have always admired those who think outside the “box”. Some of these items were great, some maybe? And then some were just a “swing and a miss”.

I have communicated with Mark through the years and have used several of his products. So, I ventured into the Vera-fi Audio filters that many of you have expressed that you have liked. That is specifically; the Snubway and the Main Stream filters. I’m not sure if that is the appropriate category but I think that is what they do.

When I first received them, I tried them on my Audio dedicated AC line. First listen, the music sounded louder and more in my face. I was concerned that perhaps they were too much for my already “clean” audio system.

I then moved them to my dedicated Video AC line. On this line, I have an AudioQuest 1200 conditioner, an 85” Samsung TV/LED, Oppo 205, Satellite Dish, Apple TV and a 7 channel Outlaw amp. And I also had a Puron filter. When I first viewed this Video system with the filter combo now in use, boy, was I impressed! I watched a few pre-season NFL live games and the image was fantastic! So clean, immersive, with deep contrast, and deep colors. I knew these units would be a permanent part of this system.

So today, again, I tried that combo on my Audio Dedicated line. On this line is my AudioQuest 7000, Lumin X1, and 2 Michi 8 power amps. But now this time I did not get the image overload, perhaps these take some time to burn/break in. I will let these units percolate for a few days before I pass additional comments. But… I did order another set of them.

ozzy

128x128ozzy
tommy5849
1 posts
 

I have had my mainstream and snubway combo for 3 days in, and another mainstream at the outlet for my amplifier for a day. Let me tell you, all the things i hated about my system: Buzz, Mediocre soundstage, lack of clarity, digital glare, and boomy bass is all gone. I don’t know but these conditioners are basically the backbones of my system. It made music so much more enjoyable and exquisite like eating steak to now eating wagyu. Mark was remarkable, always there to assist me when he can. Still waiting for the 120hr mark for thrm

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rlb61
786 posts
 

After having found additional receptacle space on my Zerosurge to plug in the Main Stream, I can state confidently that the Main Stream is the missing piece of the audio puzzle. The Snubway works great on its own, but both of them working in tandem have raised the listening experience to an entirely new level.

In particular, micro-detail now is off-the-charts as I am hearing things on very familiar recordings that apparently had been blocked due to "dirty" electrical lines. We all likely have heard about "blacker backgrounds," but I’ve experienced that with these products first-hand as I now have a prior point of reference.

I don’t think that folks realize the large degree of hash and other noise residing on their electrical lines, particularly where the line isn’t a dedicated one. We spend so much time and money on components, but don’t give much, if any, attention to power concerns. That may be due to ignorance or the ridiculous cost of many "audiophile" power conditioners, many of which have a deleterious effect on sound quality. These products are the antithesis of that general reality.

You know how you can have a great listening session one day and a not so great one the next? I think that inconsistency is due to what’s going on at any particular time with the amount of line noise. Nights are usually better because there’s less equipment operating. Well, that’s not the case with the Snubway and Main Stream. So far, my listening sessions have been consistently good and satisfying with both of them in the system.

To me, the Snubway and Main Stream, when combined, are the equivalent of a huge component upgrade at a very reasonable price. I really am floored by these little wonders, and am getting so much more from my system than I did before. It’s really quite astounding.

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