one thing I think I will never have is last tweak syndrome. I have not, however purchased anything new tweaks since I got my tc. I am in no hurry but I will never say never
New Tweak --- Its Fantastic
THE NEW TWEAK
Over the good part of this past year I’ve been beta testing a new tweak, the name of which is "Total Contact." Its a hi-bred graphene contact enhancer that is different from all other contact enhancers that have come and gone for one reason or another. I’m not new to these contact enhancers, having had quite a bit of experience with a product developed by the late Brian Kyle and his "Quick Silver" contact enhancer. The "Total Contact" is different ... a LOT different.
"Total Contact" is graphene based and is not a vibration control. It eliminates micro-arching between two contacts. Micro-arching, much like Micro-vibration smears the sound in our stereo systems. Its the type of distortion that we don’t know is there .... until we eliminate it. There is no break-in as we know it. The sound is improved right off the bat, but what you hear is only a smidgen of what’s to come.
I tested three generations of "TC," each of which was an improvement over the previous incarnation. The final mix was cryogenitically treated and made for a more effective, much smoother application. It comes in a large hypodermic needle type plunger containing 1.5 ml of product and includes a instructional DVD and an application brush.
The application should be applied with a very thin coat to all of your electrical connections .... from your cartridge pins to your power cords. I did my entire system, including the ends of my fuses.
Upon initial application, you will notice an improvement in clarity, correctness of tonal balance and a more overall organic sound. But ... that is just scratching the surface of what this magic paste does. As it cures, the improvements become more apparent. Much more!
There are two real break-through events that happen almost to the day with "Total Contact," one at four weeks and another at eight weeks . At four weeks, you’ll get a real jump in clarity and overall improvement. That’s only a taste though of what’s to come at eight weeks. At eight weeks your system’s focus will make a jump in SQ that is so real - its surreal.
After 40 years in the hobby, and a total tweak nut, I have never heard anything that does what this graphene paste does. The see-through clarity at eight weeks becomes simply amazing. The "paste" eventually cures into a kind of polymer plastic and it seems that the sound improves with each listening session. So, its important that you leave your contacts alone for the duration. If you’re the type of person that continually switches wires in and out, you’ll have to re paste until enough time has elapsed to get "the cure."
The only problem I had was with the first batch and that had to do with shorting out a tube pin in the line stage. Use the "TC" very sparingly on tube pins, if at all. I only had problems with the line stage tube pins. The Amp, CD Player and Phono Stage has had no tube pin problems at all.
Tim Mrock, one of our fellow A’goners, is the developer of the product. Its taken Tim 15 years and several patents to get it right. Tim has "pasted" every electrical contact he can find in his audio system, all of the switches in his circuit breaker box, every contact in his car ... and has used it in commercial applications such as hospital circuit breakers, surgical lights ... and other places where efficiency and long life of electrical components are deemed important.
This product is highly recommended to anyone who truly wants to get the most out of his/her audio systems. There’s enough product in each tube to do at least two audio systems as it just takes a very thin coat on each application to be effective. The last tube was enough to do my system twice and then a friend’s system this past weekend.
Frank
PS: There were a couple of other A’goner beta testers of this product as well. Hopefully, they will chime in here with their experiences for comparison. I "pasted" both of Steve Fleschler’s systems a few days ago, perhaps he will comment on his results too. We forgot to paste Steve’s power cords though, so there’s a lot more to be had from Steve’s two fantastic systems.
Frank
Over the good part of this past year I’ve been beta testing a new tweak, the name of which is "Total Contact." Its a hi-bred graphene contact enhancer that is different from all other contact enhancers that have come and gone for one reason or another. I’m not new to these contact enhancers, having had quite a bit of experience with a product developed by the late Brian Kyle and his "Quick Silver" contact enhancer. The "Total Contact" is different ... a LOT different.
"Total Contact" is graphene based and is not a vibration control. It eliminates micro-arching between two contacts. Micro-arching, much like Micro-vibration smears the sound in our stereo systems. Its the type of distortion that we don’t know is there .... until we eliminate it. There is no break-in as we know it. The sound is improved right off the bat, but what you hear is only a smidgen of what’s to come.
I tested three generations of "TC," each of which was an improvement over the previous incarnation. The final mix was cryogenitically treated and made for a more effective, much smoother application. It comes in a large hypodermic needle type plunger containing 1.5 ml of product and includes a instructional DVD and an application brush.
The application should be applied with a very thin coat to all of your electrical connections .... from your cartridge pins to your power cords. I did my entire system, including the ends of my fuses.
Upon initial application, you will notice an improvement in clarity, correctness of tonal balance and a more overall organic sound. But ... that is just scratching the surface of what this magic paste does. As it cures, the improvements become more apparent. Much more!
There are two real break-through events that happen almost to the day with "Total Contact," one at four weeks and another at eight weeks . At four weeks, you’ll get a real jump in clarity and overall improvement. That’s only a taste though of what’s to come at eight weeks. At eight weeks your system’s focus will make a jump in SQ that is so real - its surreal.
After 40 years in the hobby, and a total tweak nut, I have never heard anything that does what this graphene paste does. The see-through clarity at eight weeks becomes simply amazing. The "paste" eventually cures into a kind of polymer plastic and it seems that the sound improves with each listening session. So, its important that you leave your contacts alone for the duration. If you’re the type of person that continually switches wires in and out, you’ll have to re paste until enough time has elapsed to get "the cure."
The only problem I had was with the first batch and that had to do with shorting out a tube pin in the line stage. Use the "TC" very sparingly on tube pins, if at all. I only had problems with the line stage tube pins. The Amp, CD Player and Phono Stage has had no tube pin problems at all.
Tim Mrock, one of our fellow A’goners, is the developer of the product. Its taken Tim 15 years and several patents to get it right. Tim has "pasted" every electrical contact he can find in his audio system, all of the switches in his circuit breaker box, every contact in his car ... and has used it in commercial applications such as hospital circuit breakers, surgical lights ... and other places where efficiency and long life of electrical components are deemed important.
This product is highly recommended to anyone who truly wants to get the most out of his/her audio systems. There’s enough product in each tube to do at least two audio systems as it just takes a very thin coat on each application to be effective. The last tube was enough to do my system twice and then a friend’s system this past weekend.
Frank
PS: There were a couple of other A’goner beta testers of this product as well. Hopefully, they will chime in here with their experiences for comparison. I "pasted" both of Steve Fleschler’s systems a few days ago, perhaps he will comment on his results too. We forgot to paste Steve’s power cords though, so there’s a lot more to be had from Steve’s two fantastic systems.
Frank
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tobor007 I have my dream system consisting of $20k of new McIntosh equipment. I contacted them about this pasting procedure. They basically told me if I past my contacts it’s a dumb idea and may void my warranty. I think I will listen to their advise. >>>>>Bingo! That’s what I’ve been saying all along. Amp manufacturers are the most conservative of all the food groups. They are at least two paradigm shifts behind the power curve when it comes to anything beyond circuit hyper focus. 👀 Anything even remotely resembling audiophile woo is quickly dismissed. Contact enhancers, vibration isolation, fancy fuses, directionality of wire, anything more than 2 Sigma off the flatline of moderation. “Oh, protect our precious circuits. The ones that are already perfect.” |
It would cost McIntosh 2 cents per unit to paste their contacts and have a huge edge on the competition in sound. It would force the competition to paste their contacts as well, because they know this paste makes a real sonic difference. Perhaps you should get in touch with the manufacturer of your equipment prior to sloping your components. You trusted them when you purchased the components, perhaps you should trust their answers. Their going to call BS (sorry). However your going to save $300. |
Just another indication that circuit focused high end amp manufacturers never got the memo regarding contact enhancements, fancy fuses, expensive power cords, wire directionality and other advanced audio concepts that audiophiles have been using for like forever. Oh, well, no harm done. Anybody can do it all himself. Why these high end companies don’t employ these well know tricks for the big audio shows, you know, to optimize their chances for obtaining great sound with lots of witnesses, is another question. You’ll have to ask them. 😳 |
My passive pre has two transformers (actually autoformers) as volume controls, one for each channel. Yesterday, I decided to do an experiment, and painted just the top surface of the square shroud on both with TC. The results were immediate, and the already fantastic sound I was enjoying got even better. Add transformers to the list of areas where TC is effective. What a fun ride! My system is doing all the things I've hoped and wished it could over the years, and I know there's more to come. |
With the improved clarity in the system since getting involved with TC, I've been listening to a lot of vocals. I was listening to Keven Mahogany two nights ago. Here's a big, bold baritone voice that will hold your attention. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Kevin-Mahogany-My-Romance-CD-MINT-condition-E18-778/253586659528?epid=32915... Ear candy! If you like really good jazz ballads, this is highly recommended. Frank |
I painted all the shiny centers on the tops of 20 or more capacitors in my transport..Simple and easy pretty much an obvious bulls eye. Sound stage became even more coherent and much denser. One of the best returns of any of the TC applications I have performed. I had made several TC apps previous to this one in the transport ..Oh I also treated the 3 separate transformers at the same time...will flip the lids on other components soon.Tom |
“I painted all the shiny centers on the tops of 20 or more capacitors in my transport..Simple and easy pretty much an obvious bulls eye. Sound stage became even more coherent and much denser. One of the best returns of any of the TC applications I have performed.” Tim had suggested I try this last week, and I just did it with my CEC TL-5 CD Transport. From the early results I am getting, I have to agree with you. |
What about the glass tops of tubes? Volume control, balance and tone control knobs? And chassis screws? What about the battery contacts in the remote control? Is it recommended they all be TC painted too? How about toe nails? Anyone try that and if so what was the difference both with and without your tin foil hat? |
There are a couple of reasons for the tubes and one especially for a tin hat. You will have a change of impact if your soft in the head or a knuckle head where that head is located and what it is attached to and the results will vary and I am only kinda half joking..The real answer will bring out the flame throwers. Tom |
shadorne ... I painted the very top of my tin foil hat. My eyesight improved dramatically. I may be mistaken, but I believe it was you in a much earlier post who claimed that you pasted your sphincter with TC with amazing results. If I remember correctly, I had asked you what you found the benefits of a tighter sphincter to be. To date, you haven’t answered the question. How come??? Frank |
Update on my office system. As reported earlier I had switched out my Office Depot “special” powers strip with an “Eichman” power strip. Before installing, I applied the TC to the new Crimson powerchord and re applied it to the male ends of each components power chord before re plugging them into the new power strip. Right out of the box it was an incredible improvement. I attributed most of that improvement to the new Eichmen strip and Crimson powerchord. Now after about four to five weeks of curing. All I can say is that I am blown away by the music’s organic presentation, dynamics, pace, rhythm and timing. Eight weeks should to be incredible. I will report back at that time. I have been very busy in my business lately but I have been buying and listening to a lot of various types of music late into the night. My listening sessions are long because it is not fatiguing in the least. jafreeman, Welcome me to the fun and Enjoy the music. rc |
A great day--my TC kit arrived Friday noon, only 48 hours since ordered, so I went right to work. I painted each end of six power cords' connections, my one pair of interconnects, four banana plugs to REL subs, speaker cable spade lugs to amps, twenty-four Maggie pins, and nine SR Blue fuses. I used 0.5 ml of the 1.5 ml supply and placed the syringe in the freezer. First listen is very impressive: Even more information is emerging from a deeper, quieter center. Instruments are more layered, more dimensional--the whole is more seamless, sweeter, clearer. And all of this will get even better over eight weeks? Then this stuff has got to be about the best audio bargain I have heard and will continue to hear as a constant upgrade over many weeks. I highly recommend Total Contact to the most knowledgeable, the most skeptical, the most cynical--to all who are looking for an upgrade without spending for one. |
Listening to Lee Ritenour's "World of Brazil" on CD, and the percussion is popping out and hanging in the room with a dimensionality not present before Total Contact. Floor toms, kick bass, congas--all with a crisper attack and a fully extended, sweet dwell. Every instrument is more fully defined in its own space on a more dramatic soundscape. If you enjoy developing your system with easy tweaks, this contact enhancer is for you. If you've done the heavy lifting, the big investment, found the right combinations, then Total Contact is a further step to tie all the pieces together in a more seamless whole--more hardwired, if that were possible, and it nearly is in the way it all sounds. |
^^^ jafreeman ... Percussion is amazing on my system also. On good recordings, the realism is uncanny at times. Have you noticed that your system seems "seamless" like your crossovers don't exist now that you've applied the TC? By the way ... you haven't heard anything yet. There's that four week ...and especially the eight week breakthroughs yet to come. :-) Frank |
Frank---Yes, the whole is now greater than the sum of the parts. The better connections are creating a more seamless energy pathway throughout all components. According to claim, the TC solves the problem of oxidation and continues to improve the connection over eight weeks as it hardens. This is very appealing to anyone who is putting together power cords with clamped connections from the excellent DIY materials now offered and should also appeal to anyone who has put together a component system at all---highly recommended. Frank, thanks for starting your threads on all of the sound improvements I and others have been making through being informed of these products right here. |
Regarding DIY, in addition to treating the inside of Furutech PC plugs, I recently treated the compression fittings of ICs made with Bocchino B11L RCA connectors and EIZZ XLR connectors. I also treated the wiring harnesses inside a SOtM USB-to-Ethernet converter, a SOtM USB regenerator, and the DIN plug between the PCB and Rubidium core in an SRS Perfection 10mHz master clock. It’s all good. Next stop is the ATX power harness inside a QNAP RAID server that hosts Roon. |
jafreeman & dgarretson ... Have you guys pasted your receptacles yet? Also the connecting wires and screws at the plug (turn electricity off for this one). Also, try pasting the inside of your wall plate before you reinstall it. I have a dual wall switch. One controls the porch light and the other controls the audio system. I pasted the receptacles and the inside of the face plate resulting in a noticeable improvement ... a further lowering of the noise floor. Frank |
I still have plenty of places to paste with TC. I think I'll do the power conditioner next: Sound Application power conditioner with upgraded receptacles. http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/soundapplication_xe12s.htm Frank |
jafreeman ... A dedicated line is on the bucket list. I think I’ll have it done when I have an electrician install a new and upgraded circuit breaker panel. David_ten ... I haven’t done much with my computer system other than the connections on the Audio-engine speakers, the Dragonfly DAC and the headphone jacks. I think I’ll try the modem sometime this week. Thanks ... Frank |
Hi Frank: At the risk of sticking my nose where it doesn't belong, in the near term you might want to consider bypassing the wall switch by using wire nuts to make a direct connection in the circuit (at least until SR comes out with a Black switch!). A little perfect contact on the wires wouldn't hurt either, I'd have to imagine.... |
I applied TC to my ethernet cable connectors from modem to router to Mac mini and streaming Tidal is just amazing. I started pasting TC about 3 weeks ago to power cable and speaker cable connectors and then every few days or so would apply it to something new. Eventually pasted the pins on all my tubes and iec inlets but after doing the Ethernet connectors I got a big jump in performance. This TC product is truly amazing. Easily the best addition to my system I can remember in quite a while. |
Bad news. I was subjected to a long barrage of hyperbolic praise and over-excited ranting and raving about how good his sound was and how his TV picture for DVDs was now better than Blu Rays after an acquaintance of mine applied a smidgen of the new product I had sent him to only two power cord plugs, a refrigerator plug and some video connectors. I could hardly get a word in edge-wise. I’m not hot doggin ya. (He was one of the mystery Beta testers for the first version of the product, which was not exactly a big hit. I got quite an earful on that occasion, too, gentle readers. |
Total Contact works very nicely on Pass Lab amps! Yesterday I took the top off the Pass Lab HP-1 headphone amp and got to work. I applied the Total Contact to the top of the capacitors, the transistors, the relays and the large 3 watt resistors. I did not treat the very small resistors. The product was easy to apply and it was easy to control how much was applied. The sound took an immediate change for the better. The music had a better flow, the space between instruments was more precise, details improved and yet there was no unnatural exaggeration of one particular part of the audio spectrum. The music was more involving and also emotionally more engaging. My headphone listening pleasure has taken a big step up. David Pritchard |
^^^ I've been experimenting. My TV (73" rear projection Mitsubishi) has taken on a new life ... its amazing. Color saturation, blacks and overall clarity is much improved. Resembles an LCD without the digital cartoonish look that I can't stand. Huge increase in the PC desktop system too. Just a pair of Audioengine A2+ speakers and then for headphones a pair of Grado RS1's plugged into an Audioengine DAC. The main system has been down for a couple of weeks while I wait for a part from ARC. Transformer that feeds the power tube started buzzing, then nothing. New transformer to be delivered this coming Thursday, then off to the tech for installation. Boo. TC is an amazing product that we are only scratching the surface with. More to come when Tim gives the word. :-) Frank |
@littlecx refrigeration will prolong shelf life, I do have a syringe that is now on its way to the 5 year mark, and the product is still fluid. @geoffkait No mystery to me. First off he did not received the first version, only Frank did, which was crude, but was good real good. He received the second version, and there was nothing wrong with that, actually good enough, that about half my system still has it. The sonic signature is the same! My point is the Beta Tester dropped out for other reasons, had NOTHING to do with my product PERIOD. No hard feelings on my part, forgiven and forgotten. I have all the emails which paint a much different picture that was portrayed on this thread. So, I thank you for sending him a little to try, and I am happy that he is impressed, we will see if he is impressed enough to purchase his own kit. If so he will be treated with the same respect and enthusiasm that I extend to all my customers, which I would like to thank again! Stay tuned something big is coming in the next month! |
