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.
Almost forgot, that audio myth slide show of Mr Kite that shadorne posted is from 2001. The amazing thing is folks still think like that almost 20 years later. Looking on the bright side, I guess we would not have audio forums if everyone agreed. Kind of the yin and the yang. 😛
Haven't read thru all the posts on this but have found a Graph ene solution made by Mad Scientist Audio. Might want to check out their site. Large price difference.
So, after being under constant attack in three different threads over three years, you decide that "Quite a salesman" doesn't have the right to defend himself? Should I remain nothing more than a whipping boy for certain member's infantile egos? Exactly how much crap should a "salesman" have to take before he/she begins to fight back?
Your solution is to punish a product? Too bad, jaybe, because its a great product in spite of what the nay-saying bullies are trying to do here. If you don't buy, they win and achieve their objective ... which is to crush another businessman. They get their rocks off doing this stuff. Yes, its a great product ... and if you don't buy because of my defenses, you will be cutting off your nose to spite your face.
And by the way, in spite of what the bullies would have you believe, if you don't buy, its no skin off of my nose at all. I make nothing off of the sales ... NOTHING. I'm just a fellow audiophile who has found a couple of products that has transformed his audio system and had the desire to share the information with other hobbyists just like you.
Try to understand, I'm not talking about all those who post here. I'm talking about the main offenders. The rest of the offenders are just followers. I understand that.
If you go through all three threads -- the two fuse threads and this one, you'll see the same voices spouting the same nonsense. In spite of the overwhelming evidence, they STILL slam after market fuses and the directional quality of those fuses. And now, they come into this thread with keyboards blazing in an effort to destroy this thread as well. Remember ... they haven't seen the product, haven't touched the product, haven't tried the product, and they haven't heard the product. And yet ... they know exactly how it looks, feels and sounds ... with only negative input spewing forth from them.
Would you say that the majority here has found the SR fuses to be a worthwhile upgrade? I would ... probably about 99% positive after tens of thousands of fuses have been sold to a satisfied international audience. The same will hold true with the "Constant Contact." The improvement is that obvious.
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.
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.
I’m not bothered at all by what you consider "bullies". Maybe they are bullies just to you. Whatever.
It is true however that Mad Scientist Audio’s graphene contact enhancer products are $79 tops, so that’s hard to ignore.
Otherwise I have no stake and don’t care to get involved and will let my wallet do the talking. I’m sure that low road response will be coming, but I’ll be elsewhere.
All this chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter 'bout Shmatta, shmatta, shmatta, I can't give it away on 7th Avenue This town's been wearing tatters (shattered, sha ooobie shattered)
That's what makes our town the best Pride and joy and dirty dreams and still surviving on the street And look at me, I'm in tatters, yeah I've been battered, what does it matter
Don't you know the crime rate is going up, up, up, up, up To live in this town you must be tough, tough, tough, tough, tough! You got rats on the West Side Bed bugs uptown What a mess this town's in tatters, I've been shattered My brain's been battered, splattered all over Manhattan
Ha! My relatively polite counter post to Frank (the OP) referring to my post as stupid and inane has been removed. Since his consistently aggressive and unprofessional posts have not been removed, I guess we know who is responsible.
I know the constitutional right to free speech does not apply to a forum like this....but, come on, Frank!
" I’m not bothered at all by what you consider "bullies".
You’re not bothered by the bullying? Gee, I wonder why?
" It is true however that Mad Scientist Audio’s graphene contact enhancer products are $79 tops, so that’s hard to ignore. Otherwise I have no stake and don’t care to get involved and will let my wallet do the talking."
We live in what’s left of a free market system. We still have choices in our purchases. Buy the product that fits your wallet and your prejudices. If that is what the Mad Scientist produces and it makes you happy, then I say buy it.
Old adage: "Ya pays yer money ... and ya gets what ya pays for."
"I’m sure that low road response will be coming..."
No "low-road response" from me. After all, you’re just another consumer making a free choice.
One thing to consider jaybe ... you have made the choice to NOT buy a product based upon bully tactics. This is exactly what the Negative Nellies wanted. You lose, they win.
" but I’ll be elsewhere. "
Too bad. Check in once in awhile and read the upcoming extremely positive results and reviews once Total Contact hits the market. Should be in a week or two. ’Till then, you might want to save your money.
I missed this thread started on Xmas Day. I have read all 6 pages of postings and as someone who has reviewed gear/tweaks in the past, I always re-read my own reviews to check on whether my review expresses genuine enthusiasm or if I have strayed into hyperbole territory.
I think a lot of the controversy here was generated by obvious hyperbole. I mean claims of reducing electric bills if the TC is applied to the entire house-full of electrical connections is just silly. I'm not an electrical engineer but if anyone can actually explain the logic of that claim I would love to learn!
As far as I know, Total Contact may be the best Tweak since the original Mod Squad Tip Toes came out all those many years ago. I may even be tempted to try some. But...the hyperbolic statements made by proponents is not serving the manufacturer of this product well IMHO.
When you guys walk into a audio store and you don't like the salesman do you treat him like you treat Frank. Do you go back and back and back to make him know for sure how you feel.
And you know what, Frank isn't trying to sell anybody anything. He is not playing salesman on this thread. He was asked to post this thread for others. Ya this thread was suppose to be for people who wanted to hear about this new thing he had mentioned in another thread. What is this thread becoming? Sounds not like an audio thread but a religious or moral thread. If you look at his hundreds of posts which I don't think most have he has given the benefit of doubt to most and he has replied in a reasonable helpful manner. It is strange to me how somebody seems to get all bent out of shape over a persons sharing his joy in what he has discovered with others. Maybe some people don't trust their own shadow.
Sounds like some people have taken their sound systems to seriously and not enjoyed them near enough to share their joy with others.
Thank you for the reasonable, intelligent post. Tim will be posting here soon and I suspect he and other’s will be talking about how graphene makes electrical systems more efficient. In reading the six pages, did you come across the post I made about Tim’s experience with lighting in hospital OR’s?
marqmike ...
Thank a lot for your kind words and rebuttal. Here’s the quote of the day so far:
" It is strange to me how somebody seems to get all bent out of shape over a persons sharing his joy in what he has discovered with others."
That is exactly my main point with these guys. They are out to kill that joy. What else could it be? I keep asking them what their intent is. To date, I haven’t received an answer. Either they haven’t given their intent any thought, or they know what it is and won’t dare to claim it.
Carp ...
Two of my posts were removed as well. So ... you can stop whining. And by the way, go back and read my posts. You’ll discover that I took a defensive stand against aggression in ... I think every case. Attacking the attacker, if you will.
@oregonpapa I would very much enjoy hearing from Tim about his creation. Perhaps he can explain much that has led some on this forum to go on the attack against the TC claims.
Do you agree with the following statement by thecarpathian about more universal applications for TC if it turns out that it does truly increase conductivity on the scale discussed here? Here's the quote: "If this paste can do everything that it’s been claimed to do,(and I’m not saying it can’t) this product is a game changer on a global scale. Electronics corporations, electric companies, the defense and aerospace industries, battery manufacturers, the automotive industry, myriad multi-billion dollar corporations should be lining up for this product."
You’re not alone, dynaquest4, I’m at three and counting, and they were laughably mild compared to what was allowed to remain on here...they even took one off asking why they took one off!
Yes, I’m in agreement with Carp on that issue. Graphene and graphite is already being used in industry and defense. Tim and I had a very interesting conversation the other day about Tesla cars and how their performance, as good as it already is, could totally benefit from graphene applications. Stay tuned to the thread ... Tim will be explaining things in detail soon.
Carp ...
Don’t be fooled by a softer approach. No one has "talked to me about it." The fact is, no one has attacked me here so far today. You can bet that I will be defending myself when the time comes though. When slapped, I tend to slap back.
hifiman5 I think a lot of the controversy here was generated by obvious hyperbole. I mean claims of reducing electric bills if the TC is applied to the entire house-full of electrical connections is just silly. I’m not an electrical engineer but if anyone can actually explain the logic of that claim I would love to learn!
>>>I actually think contact enhancers, generally speaking, might very well reduce electricity bills. How much they would reduce electricity bills depends on a lot of things, obviously. Like how much energy is consumed per day or month and how many contacts are treated. Why would contact enhancers reduce cost? Because the electricity would be used more efficiently. Kinda like the Shakti On-lines, that were demonstrated to improve gas mileage when used on electrical cables in cars. And kinda like some other audiophile products, WA Quantum Chips come to mind, and perhaps certain line purifiers, act like traffic cops, organizing the flow of the electrical signal and making it flow more efficiently. 👮🏻♂️ Obviously an audio signal that is more “efficient” can measured by Signal over (Noise plus Distortion).
And perhaps contact enhancers are analogous to audiophile products that improve the efficiency of how Acoustic Waves propagate through air, e.g. tiny little bowl resonators, SteinMusic Harmonizer, Ultra Tweeters.
Frank, your entire demeanor has changed and now you’re posting like an absolute cherub. I applaud you for your realization that name calling, insults, and personal attacks are no way to advocate for a new product. And no, I’m not starting anything. I’m just wondering why now 4 of my posts and those of a few other members have been deleted when I cannot recall a violation of the rules in any of them, and much, MUCH worse posts were allowed to remain. Just wondering if that had anything to do with your new demeanor, that’s all. Have a productive day as well...
I mentioned a concern with the moderators in another thread (blue fuse?) about the lack of any rationale being provided by the moderators for deleted posts so those of us participating on the thread have some idea as to the type of things being posted that are found to be offensive.
Someone's post was deleted after Geoff's benign last post. Why? What was the nature of the infraction?
Could Audiogon moderators come up with a few categories that would give context to the reason for a deletion. I believe it would be helpful to all of us and help us to follow the "flow" of the thread.
As a hockey fan, if a penalty was called on a player but the infraction was not indicated by the ref. making the call, it would be darn difficult for players and fans alike to follow the action.
@hifiman5 , on this thread, the only rationale I can come up with is this thread had devolved into a free for all. You know what I'm talking about if you read all 6 pages. Assumably, the moderators have decided enough was enough, allowed all the former nasty stuff to remain, but starting recently, put the kibosh on anything even remotely off color. Honestly, none of my posts violated the rules as stated, (they weren't exactly nice, and were clever as all get out, but violated no rules that I can see) and neither did the other deleted posts. Perhaps for the sake of civility this was done.
@thecarpathian Agree with your post above. My comments about the moderators are in no way meant to denigrate the hair-splitting nature of what they do to maintain a sense of civility on the various threads.
Again, moderators, could you come up with a few categories of post infractions so when a post is deleted you can inform the A'gon community about the basic nature of the infraction to help maintain the integrity of the threads?
One more thing moderators, please don't overdue the censorship here. We're all big boys and girls and should be able to handle reasonable discourse.
I would hate to see A'gon go the way of so many college campuses where we need a "safe space" to have dialogue here.
Anything political seems to be off limits here .... and for good reason. I absolutely love politics. In addition to music, literature (especially political history), my children, grandchildren and yes, my great grandchildren, politics is my driving force.
With that said, I don’t mind sharing with you guys that I used to belong to another site (not audiophile related) that had a politics section. I was a moderator on that forum. I thought it was great fun at first, but it soon denigrated into friends becoming enemies. In today’s political climate, it would be a lot worse. Therefore, as much as I would love to debate politics with some of you, I support the mods on this forum to keep the politics out. I think we should all respect that.
When a post is deleted by a moderator here on A’gon, the "offending" poster is notified via Email that their post was deleted and the reason why. Usually the deleted post had nothing to do with audio and everything to do with a lack of respect for another member. I think the categories for deletions are:
1. Lack of respect for other members ... like personal attacks. 2. Political discussions 3. Religious discussions. 4. Other things that don’t really pertain to audio.
There’s most likely more that I can’t think of right now ... but the key word is to watch our "P’s" and "Q’s" and for sure, try to be kinder in our dialogues.
Its fairly simple really. Just include something about audio along with your insults. *lol* That was a joke, Carp. :--)
Whoa! Hey, relax, fellas. I’m pretty sure someone who doesn’t believe wire makes any difference would not (rpt not) use contact enhancer. Could he be a chain puller?
contact enhancement, to the extent it excludes oxygen definitely can cause distortion that can be measured (at least by Benchmark - not so sure about a small co. with fe technical resources) - it is in one of their white papers (they like Neutrix connectors BTW)
that doesn't mean it can be heard
*** the issue here is not whether this liquid works so much as whether it works _better_ than commonly available and much less expensive liquids (Caig products & Tweak)
the manf. really needs to do some testing to establish that
How much of the fabulous effects could I get by using graphite powder (which is a multi-layered and certainly much less potent form of graphene) in a WD40 (or similar) suspension? Maybe for some of us on a budget, or just cautious, this could be a first step...and free
WD40 is a penetrant although somehow it has falsely become known as the ultimate lubricant. It is also extremely flammable. Spray some into a small empty food can or other similar container (outside) and ignite it. Watch out though! I never use WD40 for anything.
I must admit that this thread has certainly changed in tone since some posts were deleted. Whether they met the criteria for deletion or not the deletions certainly seem to have changed the tone for the better. So, thank you moderators. As to claims about improving electrical efficiency I would assume that any time you can reduce resistance you improve efficiency since resistance is dissipated as heat. Lower the resistance and therefore the amp draw for a given application and it will be more efficient. Now, does this paste do that? That's the big question isn't it? I remain agnostic (not a religious term) on the issue although
Graphene certainly has interesting properties.
Now that the name-calling and veiled insults on this thread have been halted by the moderators, I’ll weigh in on this tweak.
First, the notion that the absence of a money-back guarantee on this product should arouse suspicion is just a red herring. Many things are sold without a money back guarantee. If you want to buy a house, a new car or a phono cartridge, you’ll have to conduct your due diligence, and then be willing to assume some element of risk. (Although, in the heyday of the LP era, my audio dealer did offer money-back on phono cartridges. But those days are long gone, I think.)
This not a tweak I’m inclined to try. It’s not the cost, which is less than a set of tubes for my tube amplifier. It’s that I prefer connections to be clean and tight and - obviously - this goop would violate that. And if I tried it and didn’t like the result - then what? How do I get the goop off of those connections?
Does this goop work? I have no idea but I wouldn’t dismiss it without some first-hand experience. There are some who believe that their knowledge of physics or electronics, or who put faith in what they read in magazines or online forums, allow them to divine the sound of something without listening. I claim no such clairvoyant power.
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