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.
Words mean different things to different people. Especially bland generic words like nice and good and very good. Are you guys a little gun shy? If you’re going to build suspense you’ll have to do better than that. In my quarters they don’t mean anything.
Still testing ... I don't want to be jumping all over the place yet. But so far, the noise floor has fallen another several stories. Tim says it may take a couple of weeks to reach its prime. We'll see ...
I'll start a new thread when the time is appropriate. Stay tuned.
My first applications of TC were the last week in February 2018 and have not been disturbed. I only treated interconnects, all power chords, power conditioners and power strips. I have still have not gotten to any fuse treatment due to work requirements. Interestingly enough, I did not expect any further musical refinement, since I never treated the interior of my equipment, wall outlets, electric panels etc. However, in the last 2 to 3 weeks I have noticed that the music taken on a more life like tonality. Better pace, rhythm and timing from top to bottom. I have also found that I can relax while listening since my mind has to work less and less to complete notes, that were once obscured by system noise, on very familiar recordings.
As as I noted before, the digital sources have really benefited the most, in my system. It sounds as if the digital “glare/hardness” has continued to deminish over time while the dynamics are steadily increasing.
As of this date, I still have not heard any negatives in the overall musical presentation.
By the way, I love being a delusional, brain washed, etc... audiophile, as I enjoy my Hi-Fi.
Just a little update on my system. The total contact gets better and better as it cures. Not only has the bass impact increased but the detail in the bass is amazing. I also have noticed soundstage has become a little bigger since my last update. Focus continues to improve and it is more organic and analog sounding. Really to sum it up this tweek is worth every cent.
So I’m assuming this new product works in conjunction with TC. Is it another contact enhancer or something completely different?
I have TC in all the usual places ... and then some. Yes, it works with TC. Its not another contact enhancer ... and it does some things like TC, but there's something else that I finally put my finger on last night. While the noise floor is lowered further, and is quite obvious, there is a relaxation to the music not unlike what we hear in live music ... enhancing the realism. As the days pass, this relaxation continues to get better. There's more, but I want to save it for later when Tim gives the word of its release. Stay tuned ... :-)
“While the noise floor is lowered further, and is quite obvious, there is a relaxation to the music not unlike what we hear in live music ... enhancing the realism. As the days pass, this relaxation continues to get better.”
Frank,
interesting, I am noticing the same thing. I really like it!
Frank, I am also listening this weekend with the new mystery tweak, left in the same place for two days now. This is also my eighth week after pasting all external points with TC. Question is, am I hearing the "peak onset" of TC, or am I hearing an improvement due to the presence of this new accessory? I have been more impressed each time I have listened these past weeks, and if I were to ascribe this weekend's improvements to that eight-week point in time, I would say it was right on time. But, if I were not willing to be held to a linear point in time, I would have to say this new tweak is responsible for the differences I am hearing this weekend. Instruments are standing out in clearer relief. There is more information revealed, just as in past weeks with the contact enhancer. Whatever this thing is doing, I have just reached another plateau of enjoyment---wow!
You should be hearing the big eight week jump at this point. The new "tweak" actually detracted from the SQ for the first couple of listening sessions in my system. So ... that would lead me to believe that you have a lot more in store for you SQ wise. Tonight's listening session was fantastic. The system has never sounded better.
I’d opine it’s rather difficult to tell why you’re hearing what you’re hearing, Hour to Hour, Day to Day or Week to Week, Rain or Shine. What can I say? I would not (rpt not) be very surprised if the sound is affected by Sunspot and solar flare activity. If you’re interested you can keep a log, correlating SQ to sunspot and solar flare activity or weather, etc. And unless you’re just sitting there watching the graphene cure and not doing anything at all to the system, you cannot separate all the variables. Things are far from static. They’re very dynamic.
Plus there are great big variables that are uh, unmentionable. And I don’t want to get banned so I won’t mention them.
You can track solar flare activity at,
SpaceWeatherLive.com
The following paragraphs are taken from an article posted online in 2014.
“The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center, which provides important resources to describe the space environment, including geomagnetic storms, solar radiation storms and radio blackouts, is forecasting the possibility of moderate-to-strong geomagnetic activity for Friday and Saturday. The source of the activity is a coronal mass ejection observed earlier this week. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) – also known as solar flares – create a large mass of charged solar energetic particles that escape from the sun’s corona and travel to the earth.
In situations such as this, an established, well-coordinated strategy is activated. The Energy Department, other government agencies, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), and electricity utilities across the U.S. are working together, closely monitoring the situation and evaluating the impact to the Nation’s electric grid. NOAA issued a G3 Geomagnetic Storm Watch last night so that the nation’s power grid operators have plenty of time to take appropriate actions for this level of storm. Reliability Coordinators for the power grid have been notified by NERC per their operating plans. The utility industry is monitoring the situation closely, following the NOAA reports and analyzing data from the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Sunburst program, a geomagnetic-induced current monitoring system. The industry is prepared to take action as needed, including reducing load if necessary and changing operational settings to respond to system needs.”
I tried the Mad Scientist graphene. It works but difficult to apply the right amount and too much can deaden the sound. It is very liquid and I had more on fingers than on contacts. That being said there is absolutely no comparison with the TC that has a far far better impact on SQ or, dare I say, on music.
Geoff, are you telling me this thing just tamed a geomagnetic storm? Seriously though, I am enjoying more retrieval of information within a more sorted-out presentation. I had to back the subs' volumes down by 20% due to more bass from the mains. Now I won't be listening at all for three days---back to work. Keep up the comments on this new accessory--need some backup here, because I usually don't believe in something unless I can envision how it may contribute.
Thank you so much for the comparison between TC and the Mad Scientist's product. Its as I suspected.
elizabeth ...
Thanks for returning to the thread. I'm glad you're here. :-)
Last night's listening session was really good. The new product is coming into its own now. I had my friend Robert over to gauge the improvement in SQ. There was a lot of foot tapping going on at the end of his legs. His comment was ... "Your system has never sounded better ... its so fast, and the leading edge on guitar strings is amazing. Piano too."
Robert knows my system about as much as I do ... and he's very critical and totally honest about what he hears ...brutally so at times. Nothing but smiles from Robert last night.
If we really want to stop listening to OP and his “crew” of followers; just stop engaging them on this thread. I do not think 66 sales is an indication that total contact is going to change Audio forever.
I am already a skeptic of the to be announced “tweak”
My modded Technics SL1200G has provided all the improvements that the OP and following have claimed for tc. I do it at the best place to start; The SOURCE. Next best place; The Room.
DEAL with WAF and all the rest as best you can.
Tweaks are not going to make your equipment and setup better. I Have been there and Done That. Have a box full or tweaks that I will never use again; including some of the contact conditioners.
Source, Setup, Room; Pay attention to these. You will find that all these “tweaks” just tweak your wallet.
Not looking forward to another 2000+ posts arguing about a tweak that will not change audio forever.
Let’s see if we can contain the arguments and let the Sales do the talking. 66 sales of tc. Do Not think they will be appearing on “Shark Tank”
The innocents wasting $300 on a tweak. Everyone needs to pay for their education.
Actually, without even batting an eyelash, I can think of a bunch of things that have changed audio forever. I call them the icons of Audio. Many of them are virtually unknown or dismissed. What can I tell you? If you missed em shame on you. Snooze, you lose.
1. Mpingo disc 2. Green pen 3. Silver Rainbow Foil 4. The original Intelligent Chip 5. Cables that are controlled for directionality 6. Aftermarket fuses (70,000 sold and counting) 7. Franck Tchang tiny little bowl resonators 8. Vibraplane, Townshend and Bright Star pneumatic isolation stands 9. NASA grade DH (Diamond Hardness) Cones 10. Schumann frequency generator (Acoustic Revive) 11. Crystals
The "new tweak" really isn't a tweak. I'd call it more of a component.
As far as "Not looking forward to another 2000+ posts arguing about a tweak that will not change audio forever." I have this to say ... Take a look at the finger you use to click on this, or any of my other threads, and do not raise that finger to push the button allowing you to access the threads. This way you won't be frustrated and turn that frustration into anger that may be turned inward and then have you suffering the consequential depression that follows.
On the sales figure you quoted, I don't believe you covered the direct sales that have been made by Tim Mrock. For example, my brother bought ... yes, BOUGHT two kits after I gave him Tim's phone number.
Like you, over the years I've tried a multitude of tweaks and a lot of them didn't work. Some did ... most didn't. These products coming out of the mind of Tim Mrock work big time, as you can readily tell by a fair assessment of the comments of those users who have reported their results here.
Its hard for me to understand your negativism toward a product that you haven't used ... or heard the results of in any system. Harder yet to understand is your need to post negative comments about a product you know nothing about. Weird.
"
Let’s see if we can contain the arguments and let the Sales do the talking."
We can contain the arguments if you and your ilk would just stop using language like:
"OP and his “crew” of followers."
66 sales of tc." "
I am already a skeptic of the to be announced “tweak.” "
My modded Technics SL1200G has provided all the improvements that the OP and following have claimed for tc." "
Tweaks are not going to make your equipment and setup better" "
You will find that all these “tweaks” just tweak your wallet." "
The innocents wasting $300 on a tweak."
Everything you've said above has no basis in fact. Until you have tried TC for yourself and heard the results, then you are just blowing smoke. In fact, everything you've said above comes across like someone who is trying to ruin the sales of a competitor. How about stating your intent in making that post? In other words, what were you trying to accomplish?
Because the new product is totally different from TC, I'll be starting a new thread as soon as its released.
It’s not a tweak, it’s a component? Oh, brother! That’s straight out of the Audio Marketing Handbook, page 1. Talk about an over-used expression.
Here we go, off to see the Wizard. And the product isn’t even out yet and the trite accolades are already flowing. We’re off to see the wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.
jafreeman Geoff, are you telling me this thing just tamed a geomagnetic storm? Seriously though, I am enjoying more retrieval of information within a more sorted-out presentation.
>>>Truly sorry to hear your system was out of sorts. Let me know when Diana Krall appears in your room.
Then, brothers, it came. Oh, bliss, bliss and heaven. I lay all nagoy to the ceiling, my gulliver on my rookers on the pillow, glazzies closed, rot open in bliss, slooshying the sluice of lovely sounds. Oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh.
O my stale and unimaginative brothers, that is how you write a mini review.
I am thinking of opening up my Denafrips Terminator DAC and treating it with TC. I am not too familiar with the parts inside that I should apply TC to, would appreciate if you or anyone who has treated their DAC advice.
Hi Geoff, I’ve only done numbers 6 through 9 tweaks, sort of. I have SR blue fuses, SR HFT system (32 units), a Townsend Pneumatic Sink under my VPI TNT VI and Stillpoints (everywhere). These are the tweaks that I’ve chosen to always keep after testing alternatives over the years. I’m so glad that OP has introduced me to SR products (although I tried some that he hasn’t tried, didn’t work out anyway).
It my cynical (of tweaks) and difficult to please friend Robert likes the tweak in Frank’s system (he told me so), then it is a keeper for those who can use it. He loved the sound of Frank's system.
Do to my extensive use of Stillpoints, the new tweak maybe incompatible with my system. Cest la vie.
Frank, Tommylion, myself, and now Resolution1 (Rc)? Like most of this group, I didn't even know I was chosen to try this thing--it just appeared in the mail---call for instructions. I was given the basic idea of its use and where---then, wait for something to happen---expect something even better than TC, as I recall. Considering what TC has done for my system, that is a tall claim, even from its creator. I could not even imagine how this thing could work, so I was not expecting much--then I sat there in disbelief as the sonic improvements emerged over several hours. No--must be the TC at eight weeks--has to be, but the changes came on too fast for that. I cannot explain this thing, but, as the others have said, "I like it."
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I have no experience with DACs. Maybe Tim could chime in here.
I discovered something really profound with the new ... oh what to call it? Tweak isn't right. As Geoff pointed out ... "component" isn't correct either. Okay, its between a tweak and a component. I dub thee an "accessory."
I discovered something profound to try with Tim Mrock's new "accessory." I'll share the info when the product is officially released ... and that should be any day now. :-)
When you return from your east coast visit, I'll loan you enough of the new product so that you can get a real handle on what it does in your own system. I predict that you won't want to return them. But ... you'll have to come up to my place to pick them up ... while at the same time, listen to what the Signature III's have evolved into.
>>>>>Wow! Whoa! What?! It’s just possible you guys have accidentally uncovered a new law of physics - Well, or accidentally stumbled onto something very hush hush. Something that’s been buried for centuries in obscurity. A big cover-up.
What is it? That for nanometer tweaks the break in periods are always even numbered weeks, two, four, eight. And that turns out to be yup, you guessed it! Powers of 2. 2 to the power of 1 is 2, 2 to the power of 2 is 4, 2 to the power of 3 is 8. Voila! But that translates to even numbered days - 14, 28, and 56. All divisible by the number 7. A prime number. Also the number of the devil. The sum of the numbers 14, 28 and 56 is also divisible by 7. Whoa! 8 of course is a Fibonacci number and is the number of letters in the word Graphene. Tim Mrock also has eight letters. Is he the devil? So does Audiogon. Coincidence?
Has anyone noticed another peak at week 16? It should be there. Keep listening.
This new thing may not be a component, but it's like putting in a new component. The SR Blues and the TC are also like adding new components. The system remains the same---the signal passing through it has changed dramatically.
jafreeman This new thing may not be a component, but it's like putting in a new component. The SR Blues and the TC are also like adding new components. The system remains the same---the signal passing through it has changed dramatically.
>>>>>The system remains the same. The song remains the same, too.
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