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.
Ah, yes, the old last tweak syndrome. I know it well. You start off with some footers and wall treatments and maybe some Vibrapods. They next thing you know you're into the more advaced stuff. You know, fancy fuses and expensive interconnects and power cords. "Hey, this stuff is great. My system never sounded so good. I don't think there's anything I can do now to make it any better." 😛
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.
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.
Tweaks are not all expensive. Obviously some are more expensive than others. I sell over 30 tweak products, only a handful of which are more than $50. My complete isolation system for components is less than $50. Hel-loo! And there are many other examples of inexpensive tweaks. In fact, some of the most iconic audiophile tweaks are not expensive. I.e., less than $100. File under Stocking Stuffers: Audio Prism Green pen, Mpingo disc, the Super Intelligent Chip, Shakti Stone, Silver Rainbow Foil, Vibrapods, Small DH Cones, Nordost Anti-static Spray for cables and CDs, aftermarket fuses, Auric Illuminator CD Treatment, Cardas Caps for RCA input/outputs, Deoxit Contact Cleaner, Daruma III roller bearings, Herbies Audio tube damper, etc.
Nice that wives support their husbands strange pursuits. I bet they don’t tell their friends about their husband’s compulsive obsessive behaviour. I bet they don’t dare tell friends their husband spent the entire weekend replacing perfectly functional fuses and pasting a kind of dark coloured toothpaste on all their home electrical connections. Nor do they dare admit they actually can’t hear a difference (when pressed by their husband after two days pasting and swapping cables) as that would ruin all the entertainment value.
^^^ We tweak to solve problems that are inherent in audio playback systems. Trying to eliminate micro vibrations is one of the main things that smear sound. There are tweaks to take care of that.
Remember, we are tweaking the playback end and not the recording end.
Why so expensive? Supply and demand in some cases. Trying to recover cost incurred during R&R maybe.
I’ve worked as a technician in the Hollywood entertainment industry close to 40 years and we’ve never utilized “tweeks” when recording. Why do it on playback?
Synergistic Research HFTs... This is slightly off topic; however, after TC and the fuses, I decided to try HFTs despite already having 2 pairs of Hallographs in my big system. I built the room with a bad slap echo problem. Frank told me to try the HFTs, I bought Level 1 and 2 installed as recommended. I don’t know how it works so well but while music is playing, the slap echo is 90% nullified (one can clap during the music and faintly detect an echo). I was still wanting a better balanced sound (my wife wanted a more open sound for her rock music) so instead of purchasing the next several levels, I purchased a pair of HFT/HFT 2.0/HFT X speaker kits. These were more difficult to apply so that the sound was balanced due to the unusual driver configuration. However, upon settling on slight changes of 3" up or down, I achieved a balanced sound. P.S. I removed two forms of large damping panels and two rugs/material cover from the room which makes the room look better, just with little pimples on walls and speakers (very tiny sitting 12’ to 20’ from them).
My wife gave her full approval for listening to 60’s+ rock to heavy metal in the room. It has all the spaciousness of the recording venue plus the detail, dynamics and tonally rich full frequency range that the TC and fuses provide. WOW!
I highly recommend the SR HFTs to maximize the TC abilities. However, I also recommend at least one pair of Hallographs behind the speakers. I tried the setup with them removed and I got a very clear, super sharp imaged sound, lacking ambience and air. It was antiseptic sounding yet tonally correct with excellent dynamics. The Hallographs brought in the gorgeous tonal qualities and air/ambience.
I will answer my experience with TC for Norbert. It is easy to apply to A/C pins, speaker wire/terminals and IC pins. It is more difficult to apply to IEC pins which are located inside the equipment, especially if the equipment is not easily movable (same thing for A/C pins located in back of a Bryston BIT 20 Transformer box).
It is slightly messy upon application to one's fingers and easily removed (I used dish soap and water-immediately gone versus alcohol which took more effort). I am sooo happy that TC is not runny and is more like a paste that solidifies on the pins rather than on or in equipment. It's the only enhancer I've used. I was very reluctant to use anything until I tested it on ICs. After seeing the application and hearing the result, I was smitten.
Tim mentioned that it lasts longer in a sealed or vacuum packed baggie, even longer in the freezer (six months or more was quoted).
TC has made as great an improvement in sound and music enjoyment (the subtleties, dynamic contrasts and bass improvements) in both my "megabuck" system and my much lesser cost system. I'm waiting for a new tube to apply it to my video systems both TVs and associated equipment (audio & video). I have more fuses in my systems to treat than just the SR Blue fuses (those little Littlefuses in receivers, speakers and CD players). Should be interesting to hear the improvements.
One of the last things he said to me before I left was that he wanted to wait two weeks before posting his results, allowing the paste to cure a bit.
" I want to see and read the comments of people that have ordered it , received it , treated their system with Total Contact and post Their impression ..."
Read Steve Fleschler's and Tommylion's comments. They are in this thread. You can be assured that there will be many more positive comments coming. The product is THAT good.
You know that I have stated that I am a skeptic. I am waiting for at least the first “Batch” of purchasers / buyers to post Their first impression of Total Contact. Frank; posting your opinion / impression of treating Mribob’s system and your posting that he made the comment......... is hearsay. Why can’t Mribob post his own comment? If he’s not a member. You think that he would have the courtesy to register and post “positive comments” himself or do you paste his already great system and post his comments? Mow his lawn, do the laundry? I think that’s enough to get my point across.
I want to see and read the comments of people that have ordered it , received it , treated their system with Total Contact and post Their impression, in their words. Was it easy to apply? Is it messy or not? Do they think that they can store what’s leftover without it drying out to fast? Did it make an improvement to their system; whether it a guy with a decent system or a guy who been at this hobby for 40 years and has a megabuck system. How about letting the first 20 - 25 post themselves. This is what I am waiting for and I think at least a few others.
Frank; I do agree that you have the right to defend yourself. I think myself and others would like to see everyday audiophile’s post For themselves and give the “ back and forth “ a rest.
"
By the way, I painted both ends of my new LG TV power cord with product. Noticed much improved picture. For the UVa Duke game in HD I noticed more solid colors, more vivid colors, more solid and darker black, more shimmer and gloss on the court, very natural face color. Super duper."
You have described my experience with my rear projection 73" Mitsubishi TV. Better blacks, sharper picture, better colors ... almost a 3-D experience. "Super duper" indeed.
I only have one Master slaw ... and He walked the earth over 2000 years ago. Which "master" do you answer to?
Actually slaw, I spent the afternoon over at Mribob’s home pasting his wonderful system with TC. Unlike you, no one has kicked my cat today, so I go on about life with a positive mental attitude. Suggest you do the same.
" I was a potential customer..."
No you weren’t. You’re an adversary and have been from the start.
" All of the sudden ... oregonpapa/TC’s spokesman says... slaw, you don;t mean that much to us..."
Nope, that’s not what I said. Post it if you can find it.
" Why would you want to deal with a company that disrespects it’s potential buyers/customers verbaly (HERE) and seems to be proud of it?"
I have the right to defend myself, do I not? Do you honestly believe that I would just sit back while a few ... a FEW naysayers try to kick my ass and then make an attempt to run Tim Mrock out of business?
" Actually, (THE) trouble is, YOU trying to make A CASE for someone else (ME) to have a reason for your ongoing mistakes in the way YOU rolled out/ then responded to others for this new product!!!"
Mistakes? Name them. The way I rolled out then responded to others? I’ve asked you repeatedly to read the long initial post I made on page one of this thread in the "roll out" and then post what you found to be offensive. So far, nothing but crickets.
Responded to others? Again, go back and reread the entire thread. I only responded negatively to the arsonists, the looters and the destroyers. They were responses to personal attacks. Again, its called self defense. What is it that you don’t get, slaw? Are you taking my responses to others personally? If so, that’s kind of weird, don’t you think?
"So, I was thinking,...Why would a decent, respectable person such oregonpapa, try to disrespect me,( someone who just disagreed with the way he and his masters) tried to make the case for my (not) wanting to purchase their product???"
Disrespect? I’ve tried to answer every one of your questions in a positive manner. Again, go back and read the thread from the beginning.
In my humble opinion slaw, you have every right not to buy the product. Its your money and your choice. But when you try to dissuade others from buying it based upon who knows what ... considering you haven’t tried it yourself, haven’t seen it, felt it ... .well, that’s a bit weird too. Guess what slaw, I don’t care if you buy the product or not. Again ... you are just not that important.
By the way slaw, just so you know ... Mribob’s system was sounding better than ever when I left his home. His Venture speakers are fantastic. The TC left his bass sounding very articulate, full and organically natural. He made the comment that its the best mid-range he’s had so far. Considering his system, that’s saying a ton. Its only going to continue to get better from here on as his TC cures. But see slaw, you won’t be having that experience with your system because your nose is so far out of joint worrying about what other people think about you, coupled with an inordinate fear of being taken advantage of, that you would cut off your nose to spite your face by not buying and/or experiencing the product. Too bad for you, I’d say.
@slaw I have no dog in this fight. I just got a bit behind on this thread and after reading the last couple pages of postings, the first instance that I can imagine you would have taken offense was over the misunderstanding of your Silclear question. oregonpapa's response seems reasonable to me, simply pointing out that Tim Mrock would be bonkers to let his binder be known at the genesis of his product roll-out. Tim flat out apologized for misconstruing your post. I'm not sure what else you would want him to do to make amends.
I feel a little like a guy on the gridiron in the striped shirt here. I think most good folks today are offended a bit too easily. This tiff never would have happened in a face to face. Body language and the ability to jump in and correct a misperception would have nipped this unfortunate circumstance in the bud.
I sense more civility from all of the relevant players in this drama. Perhaps everyone takes a step back and start fresh. Slaw I have no idea if TC is good stuff or not. Everything we know so far is anecdotal. Perhaps some of the claims and applications of TC have seemed a bit over the top but the players seem genuine and decent as do you.
I'll send you guys a bill for my totally unsolicited and completely amateurish counsel.🤩
By the way, I painted both ends of my new LG TV power cord with product. Noticed much improved picture. For the UVa Duke game in HD I noticed more solid colors, more vivid colors, more solid and darker black, more shimmer and gloss on the court, very natural face color. Super duper.
So, I was thinking,...Why would a decent, respectable person such oregonpapa, try to disrespect me,( someone who just disagreed with the way he and his masters) tried to make the case for my (not) wanting to purchase their product???
@oregonpapa Says, "Do you honestly believe we are here to make you happy?"
YES!!
Isn’t that what any company is there for? The customer? You seem to have a twisted view of a relationship when things go awry from your twisted view of your mixed relationship w/ TC.'
Actually, (THE) trouble is, YOU trying to make A CASE for someone else (ME) to have a reason for your ongoing mistakes in the way YOU rolled out/ then responded to others for this new product!!!
Do you honestly believe that we are here to make you happy, slaw? I/we presented our case regarding the product and treated you with respect, and yet, you continue to whine and moan as if someone kicked your cat. Honestly, you are not that important.
"This was from a representative of a brand new company that's trying to increase sales???"
And you have done nothing from the beginning other than to attempt to destroy those sales. You are not making a difference, slaw. Could this be what's troubling you?
"You’re just not that important, slaw" (( oddly enough, I (was) oreganpapa’s darling, he said, "I may be TC’s best proponent" or something like that)). now... Well... which is it Frank? You say one thing when it feeds your interests, but quickly turn on that VERY thing that fed that interest.
(I had logged off.. never to reappear here again. My human nature said... just one more time... Then I read the above.)
People, are these types of remarks towards me, just because I have a disagreement with the company and their BETAs...
...do they represent the type of people YOU want to deal with going forward in any endeavor?
If you, in the future, have an issue, do you feel you will be treated in any other way?
^^^ Disproving your posts? I/we don't disapprove or approve your posts. You're just not that important, slaw.
"is a factor in other's thoughts as to how to go forward with this company."
Uh, slaw ... Who are these "other's" that are you referring to?
The sales are going along quite nicely without you. So far there isn't one complaint, just amazement about the effects of the product. Are you reading the responses slaw? Have you read Steve Fleschler's comments? How about Tommylion's comments?
The very fact that you're both taking so much time to disprove my posts, ( when you previously, (I assume, approved them) is a factor in other's thoughts as to how to go forward with this company.
Get over me and try to improve your company and it's quasi-employees.
It's kind of ironic now, that this discussion has evolved to the level it is now, after those who try to sell this product have deduced that I'm no push-over, Now, are finally making some concessions in their language,.
Maybe at some point, I'll try it. YOU MISSED YOUR CHANCE WITH ME!
Hopefully you'll learn from your treatment of me and people like me that we can respond with our sentiment and out pocketbook.
Slaw ...
Nope, you're no push over ... even when no one is trying to push you over.
I'd say that the chances of you "trying" TC "at some point," is between slim and none ... and has been from the very beginning.
"Treatment of me and people like me..."
People like you, slaw? What type of people would that be? Try to be specific please. Thanks ...
So far, you haven't pointed out any mistreatment or disrespect other than to say that I didn't answer a question you had in the Blue Fuse thread.
Keep searching for the disrespect shown toward you by me, slaw. I don't think you're going to find it .... especially if the best you can do is to say that I didn't answer a question you had in an unrelated thread.
I just spent a half hour chronicling all discussions held between me and slaw in this thread. So far he has given no concrete answers on where he was treated with disrespect, other than to say that I didn't answer a question he had posed in a completely different thread.
There are folks in this world who, if they had both legs cut off ... would still kick.
It's kind of ironic now, that this discussion has evolved to the level it is now, after those who try to sell this product have deduced that I'm no push-over, Now, are finally making some concessions in their language,.
Maybe at some point, I'll try it. YOU MISSED YOUR CHANCE WITH ME!
Hopefully you'll learn from your treatment of me and people like me that we can respond with our sentiment and out pocketbook.
Did you read my last post where I chronicled our discussions? Please point out where I "went low." Thanks ...
"On the Synergistic fuse threads, I have made a comment or asked a question that wasn’t threatening, but you never answered. Why? Was it that I again wasn’t taken seriously?"
I see, slaw. So it was something I DIDN’T say? Could it be slaw, that I just didn’t see your question?
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.
Since you went low... I'll just remind you of other instances in which, (you chose for your own benefit, not to respond to a simple question)..
On the Synergistic fuse threads, I have made a comment or asked a question that wasn't threatening, but you never answered. Why? Was it that I again wasn't taken seriously? I'll give you an opportunity to respond here. (Unlike , just a while ago when you assume my intentions.)
Slaw, here was your first question in the thread. It appears on page one:
@oregonpapa ,
Now.. what I need is an evaluation of the "blue" fuses w/wo this new coating. Is anyone up for this?
Here's my answer on page 2:
I tried the SR Black and the SR Blue fuses without the "Total Contact," and with it. With it was clearly the better option. Like the other applications to power cords and IC's for example, the results are the same type of improvement in SQ. So go ahead ... paste the end caps of your fuses and you'll get an improvement there also. Another one of your statements:
@perfectpathech
Perhaps you should have chosen jafreeman as your Beta Tester?
How was I supposed to take that, slaw?
Your question: If very little is needed to treat a system, why isn't it available in a smaller quantity? Maybe this would alleviate some concerns.
My answer: You're getting 1.5ml ... enough to do a large system plus video. Save the rest or share with a friend. What "concerns" would you like to alleviate?
Your answer: The shelf life of a new/unknown product.
Overbuying a brand new product that isn't refundable. It seemed like a valid question, don't know why it would be tested.
Why what would be tested, shaw?
Your statement: If I was the manufacturer. of TC, ...I'd have grave concerns regarding my initial product roll-out, VIA this, (way).
Have you found any negative statements in the initial "roll out" post on page one?
Again, you said: In spite of how this product was rolled out to us, I always had interest in it.
Again ... read the initial post on page one. Find the negatives. Thanks ...
See.... Now I'm being dismissed again.
How are you being "dismissed again?" No one is "dissing" you. All of your questions have been answered in a positive manner. What you are reading into the answers is beyond me.
And finally, your last statement:
If as a BETA tester, (whatever that entails in a (business sense) includes a commission, YES, I think that has a bearing on the entire discussion here. I don't "have a negative attitude", if it is a clearly stated objective/benefit of the BETA tester. I'm sorry if this kind of transparency may offend you.
I was "on the hook" . You're GUY , cut the hook!
DEAL WITH IT!
Uh-huh? What? For the third time ... there are NO commissions involved. And I'm not offended ... but you seem to be in a perpetual uptightedness situation. What's troubling you, shaw?
<Sheesh!> man, let it go ... buy the product when you're able and enjoy the results.
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