Because they have the sense to know that someone who hasn’t tried it saying it doesn’t work tells them absolutely nothing about whether it actually works, or not.
Saying that you think it is unlikely to work, and therefore don’t feel the need to try it, is perfectly valid. Making an absolute statement that it doesn’t work, when you haven’t tried it, is either just ignorant, or intentionally trying to stir the pot.
There are a multitude of tweaks out there that I have no plans to try, for various reasons, but I can't say with any certainty that they don't work. I can only say that I don't see enough potential benefit to try them. |
I have found that, as I progress in making improvements to the sound of my system, it becomes more and more about dealing with problems that I didn’t have (or rather, didn’t realize I had until they were fixed).
Another way of saying it is: You'll never make any improvements in an area, if you are not open to the possibility that there are improvements to be made. |
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Enthusiasts get enthusiastic when they find something that really makes a difference, and they want to share it with other enthusiasts. It's that simple. Do we go over the top a little bit sometimes when sharing our experiences? Sure, but it's because of our genuine passion for music and it's reproduction.
I've been around enough to know a shill when I see one, and Frank is definitely not one. I'm getting awfully sick of people coming in here for no other apparent reason than to throw around these accusations and disparagements for their own amusement.
When you see someone has a history of making these kinds of posts in numerous other threads, what other conclusion can you draw?
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If I make a post, or start a thread, to share my positive experience with a particular product, I pretty much know ahead of time who is going to show up and spew their negativity. I dearly wish this forum had an “ignore list” feature, like some others. |
You read the posts by the “usual suspect” trolls, with long histories of derailing threads, and you’re upset with him? It's about time someone called them out for what they are.
There are members here, almarg being a prime example, who can post with genuine questions, concerns, or skepticism, and still make a contribution to the discussion. This crowd is a different story.
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The oft mentioned solution to aggressive trolls is to ignore them, and they'll go away. The problem is, they don't. Moderators do what they can, with limited time and resources, but I think it’s up to us, the majority who can carry on a civil and decent conversation with those we may disagree with, to let them know they are not welcome here. |
ps,
forum member ozzy tried the Mad Scientist graphene enhancer, and, I believe, stopped using it because of some issues. You can do a search to find the details.
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The bigger corporations, institutions and industries are always going to be slower to adopt new ideas and technologies, for a variety of reasons. Of course they are going to want extensive testing. Meanwhile, us individuals can try things, and take advantage of those that provide us with benefits, without waiting for all that.
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dynaquest4,
Trolls run down and ridicule things they have zero experience with, and no real interest in trying, in order to stir up controversy for their own amusement. That's exactly what you’re doing here, and have a history of doing elsewhere.
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It is common knowledge that the RCA is not an especially well designed connector, but it is the standard that designers are stuck with, if they want to be compatible with other equipment.
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geoffkait,
I was just saying, don’t blame the equipment designers for the connectors they’re pretty much forced to use.
Do you remember Mark Levinson and CAMAC? |
What’s that I hear...muttering from under the bridge? |
+1 They are cyber-arsonists.
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Frank,
Are you using any sort of grounding block/box or cable(s) in your system? |
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hifiman5,
thank you you for setting an example of how to express your skepticism and concerns in a manner that doesn't include inflammatory accusations and name calling, but actually contributes to the discussion.
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I just wanted to note that several posters have expressed genuine skepticism and/or concerns about this product, and have been treated with courtesy and respect.
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perfectpathtech,
My disposable audio income is depleted after getting a second Ultimate Ground, but Total Contact is next on my list. Yesterday, I was wondering what effect it would have applied to the UGs.
I'm not too far from you in Burlington, VT, just a straight shot on I89. I'm thinking I might like to head down for a visit, when the weather gets warmer. |
wolf,
you're just incapable of letting anything go, aren’t you? Sad, really. |
Brass makes for nice trumpets and trombones, though. |
Annie Lennox says it's going to rain, and she wouldn't lie to you.
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Wow, that's a duzie of an insult 😉
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Agree with the sentiment, but you should have used $$ 😉
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wolf,
Much as I wish you would go away, as long as you manage to skate along the edge of forum rules, I know that’s not going to happen. Ignoring you doesn’t work, so we might as well have a little fun at your expense.
I'm sure you are making your case with individuals who are already like-minded. |
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If anyone who has Total Contact also has one, or more, of the High Fidelity Cable MC-0.5s in their system, please treat it/them.
That's all I'm sayin', for now.
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Tim,
Obviously, I got the TC today. I was trying to decide what to treat first, and settled on the MC-0.5 that is plugged into the wall outlet that feeds my system. I wasn’t really expecting to hear much right away, but after it settled in for a bit...Made me wonder if there's some kind of special synergy going on?
I'm being cautious here, but, if what I'm hearing now from treating that one connection continues, never mind about 4 weeks, or 8 weeks, that's worth the price to me right there.
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deeperthought, I appreciate your efforts, but shadorne is just another broken record.
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One might get the impression from reading this thread that you'll only hear slight improvement after first applying Total Contact, and will have to wait 4 or 8 weeks to hear any substantial difference. I can't yet speak to what happens after the 4th and 8th weeks, but I can tell you that what I'm hearing, after treating just two AC plugs in my system, is worth the full price to me.
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wolf,
I hope you are actually getting enjoyment out of listening to music through your system. I sure am.
Currently paying: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers Moanin' |
I just treated the spades on the amp end of my speaker cables. At least in my experience, the increase in transparency, clarity and musicality is obvious right after you apply TC. If it gets even better over time, then I am going to be one happy camper 😁
My lazy side is not excited about taking apart and treating all the connections in my system, but each one I do increases my motivation.
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Nickel Creek's self-titled debut album is sounding wonderful right now 😀 |
Genuine skepticism and caution certainly have their place, but I struggle to understand and tolerate those who just enjoy raining on someone else's parade. I guess the old saying “misery loves company” applies.
When somebody experiences something good, and shares it, I want to be happy for them and with them, not deny that it's possible, ridicule them, question their motives, or hammer on potential negatives (real or imagined).
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hifiman5,
My comment was not aimed at you. With lots of sarcasm flying around here lately, I too wasn’t sure at first if the post was that, or genuine. |
On the subject of micro-arcing, I have very little technical knowlege, but the concept makes sense to me. Contact surfaces are not perfectly smooth, but have tiny pits, spaces or gaps. Why wouldn't arcing occur in them, and why couldn’t it have an effect on the musical signal?
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So, how about that contact enhancer...? 🙄
Where's Delta Force when you need them? |
Treated the AC plugs of my CD transport, DAC and amp last night (pre is passive), and am enjoying the fruit. As I said previously, the three words I would use to describe my experience so far with TC are: transparency, clarity and musicality.
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slaw,
I’ve only done plugs, and I wouldn’t feel safe or comfortable treating outlets myself at this point, so I’ll let others address this further. But, to answer your question, yes, that makes sense to me, if you are comfortable with, and capable of doing it.
As far as the brush, it looks to me like something that would be readily available at, say, an art supply store or website. |
slaw,
things happen on forum threads, especially with trolls slinging their mud around. Don’t let it keep you from trying TC. It really is amazing, well before 4 or 8 weeks, and Tim is a good guy.
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slaw,
Obviously, you are free to do what you choose, and I respect that. I just hate to see a fellow music/audio enthusiast pass on something this amazing due to misunderstanding/miscommunication on either side.
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Thanks, I wasn't familiar with her.
I heard Anne Sophie Mutter play the Tchaikovsky in Symphony Hall, with Ozawa and the BSO, back in the '80s. Great experience.
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Before this week, I knew my system sounded good, really good. It was that way because I invested time, money and effort into it. I am also grateful to those here who pointed me to some exceptional products.
To be frank (pun intended), when Frank finally revealed his “secret tweak” I wasn’t really excited. Painting all the the contacts in my system is not something I was looking to do. I like tweaks you can plug and forget. I don’t mind enduring a break-in period, but hands on stuff? Brushing a grey substance on closely spaced pins with my not terribly dexterous hands, being very careful not to accidentally create a short, is not real high on my list of fun audio activities.
I’ve come to trust Frank’s ears, though, so I took the plunge. A week, and 8 connections later, I am rather stunned. The sound I am hearing from my system is definitely what I have been working towards, and hoping for. I honestly did not think I would get here without spending thousands of dollars more. Over the years, I have carefully chosen the components in my system, with an eye to getting the best my limited resources would allow. I know that they are all very good, even exceptional, values for the money. I had no idea, though, that they were capable of this level of sound quality.
I am told that I am only at the beginning of this audio adventure. I don’t doubt it, but I am already one very happy camper.
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shadorne,
My wife hears these things at least as well as, probably better than, me. She plays the violin, and has a great ear. Believe me, she is not the type to lie, just to gratify my ego.
Listening to Heifetz play Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto (her favorite) with her last night was absolutely wonderful.
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Some people have a vested interest in tweaks being imaginary. If they’re real, then their carefully constructed world will come crashing down around them, and they won’t be in control any more 😉 |
If you are nervous about your first treatment, and happen to have one (or 64😉) HTC MC-0.5, that is a good place to start. Because it is not directly in the signal or AC path, it’s less likely to cause problems if something goes wrong. Also, it nicely benefits from treatment pretty much right away.
Painting contacts with TC is really not as daunting as it might seem to some. It goes on nicely with the supplied brush. The big thing to watch out for is leaving a trail of TC between two pins/contacts that could cause a short. Spades on speaker cables are also a good first choice, because it’s easy to keep them separated during treatment.
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slaw,
I believe the phrase “cutting off your nose to spite your face” has some application here.
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geoffkait,
It's fascinating that whenever there’s even a hint of of controversy, you’re always right there...stirring the pot...hoping it will boil over? Do you consider yourself some sort of agent of chaos, or something?
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Thanks Frank for inspiring me to pull out “at Basin Street” 😀
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If you don’t trust your own ears, what are you doing in this hobby?! (rhetorical question) |
