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Perfect Path Technologies: Omega E mat

I’m curious about this product from Perfect Path Technologies and would like to hear from those that have experience with it. I’ve bought and used the Total Contact enhancer and like what it does for my system so I’m interested in hearing how this Omega E mat performs. 
t_ramey

Showing 3 responses by golfrules

golfrules
6 posts
 

Hi All, 

First post in quite a while.  Just wanted to chime-in and say that I've purchased two of Tim's mats about 4-weeks ago and I love the effect on my system (sorry I don't have it posted - yet).  I enjoy the improvements enough that I just purchased two more. 

The effect is as previously stated by others - the music is much more relaxing to listen to, more enjoyable.  It did not seem to impact or alter any particular frequency range over the other, but I find that listening at lower volumes is more enjoyable and I am able to play music at a higher volume setting on my pre (Parasound JC-2) and it is more clear and lifelike. 

I struggled with placement.  The first was my breaker panel (exterior) and then under my DAC (Parasound Z-DAC).  After 3-4 days I was enjoying some sound improvement, but not like some had expressed.  So, I removed the one from the DAC and heard minimal changes...interesting.  I then removed the one from the breaker panel and the remainder of the effect went away fairly quickly...  Next-up was Power Conditioner (S.R. PowerCell 10 uef se) and Preamp...after 3-days, not quite as good as the original setup.  I decided to try two on the breaker panel...wow, sounded pretty good w/in 24-hrs.  Next step was something I probably should have done moment-one.  I had 3 MC-0.5 units in my dedicated outlet that feeds my stereo...I removed them and seemed to get a nice bump in sound...however, I'm not certain if it was the removal that helped or the "breaking-in" process...but I have begun to wonder if the HFC cables that I have connecting my components might not be playing "nicely" with the mat, when in close proximity...?  I will run this down beginning about 3-weeks from now, once all 4-mats have settled-in. 

I allowed the mats to settle-in for ~2-weeks and decided that I needed MORE of this.  As others have stated, the music is much more emotionally involving and engaging.  I purchased two more.

Presently, I have three mats on my breaker panel; 2-thick at the top where the dedicated breakers are for the stereo and surround/TV, and one on the lower section where the breaker for the computer resides.  the fourth mat is now under my DAC. 

I've purchased and kept some other tweaks in the past, but some did not do much for me:

1) Z-Sleeves - extra heavies,  I like these a lot...still use them (I think I posted on them here, many moons ago), 2) Alan Maher's older Products: parallel filters, power factor correction, etc... (per his earlier descriptions): all removed from system...for the moment...they were used on non-audio circuits (microwave, dryer, PC, etc...) and helped  3) Shakti stone and onlines...never really did too much for me, 4) Highwire PowerWraps - same, not much of any impact for me.  5) Walker SST Extreme - nice initial impact but dulled the sound after a few months and a PITA to clean-off.  6) Total Contact - good stuff.  breakers and ground ere first - good...then outlet, interconnects, plugs, soldered connections in speakers & DAC, same in subs, etc...  quite happy with TC, also still in the system - application about 3-4 months ago.

I'm anxiously awaiting the mini-me version of the mats!  I know I'm a bit all-over-the-place in this, but I wanted to share that I am quite happy with my purchases. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend and happy listening!

Doug

golfrules
6 posts
 
Forgot to mention, talking with Tim is a pleasure.  I've taken the opportunity to do that twice and will likely do so more in the future.  Those of you that have questions that you don't want to ask here, give him a ring! 
golfrules
6 posts
 
I just want to share some of the spots that I've used TC, though most are a rehash of what others have suggested, done already, or contemplated... 

I started with the breaker box.  First was breakers to bus and wire-ends to breakers + neutral/ground wire ends.  Also disassembled ground to copper piping connection, Emory cloth cleaned the connectors and the piping, TC'd and reconnected.  Nice...  
Outlets as part of system were next.  However, I found some benefits from doing outlets and plugs not on the system.  Not huge gains, but every little bit...  I figured (maybe faulty logic?) that doing this on outlets/equip that is notoriously noisy (microwave, fridge, computers, etc...) might limit some of that noise or junk put back onto the lines.
Interconnects, speaker cables, binding posts, and plug-ends were next.  very nice gains.  I took suggestions from DavidPritchard (sp?), GK, and oregonpapa by opening the connector ends of my interconnects and pasted the soldered connection points - that worked really well!  Breathed new life into ICs that I had placed on the shelf as potential sale/trade-in's.   Also, I have made numerous cords, so I removed the plug & IEC ends, trimmed & restripped wires, applied TC, applied a crimp fitting, TC'd that, TC'd the connection points on the inside of the connectors, and re-terminated.  Another WOW! 

Opening the lids on my amp, pre, and conditioner yielded great results as well.  I cannot believe how cheap so many of the crimp connectors are/were in there.  Regardless, I purchased some small brushes from Amazon for painting tiny designs on finger/toe-nails so that I could hit only the very specific spots I wanted and not get any where I did not.  Work like a charm.  I may trim the bristle length to firm them up.  I made sure to do all power/crimp connectors, I pasted not just internal fuses, but the compression tabs to hold the fuse - all the way down to the board and over the solder point.  Ribbon cable ends and others were also done.  Very happy!
I did similar with the cable box, connectors, and such for the television, Roku, etc... 

I have done the binding posts on my speakers, the connection points to the drivers, and am in the process of doing the crossovers.  I realized that I did not remove the terminations on my speaker cables and do that yet...on the list. 

Those of you that have TC and think you've hit all you can - there is likely more possible...  I have not tried the wall-plates for outlets or on the external plug shells, yet...my tube gear is tucked-away for the moment, so none there, yet. 

All-in-all, I am quite pleased with TC (and the mats/cards).  I really like how the clarity improves, but the tonality (I think that's the right term) doesn't shift...  Using Walker SST Extreme and similar in the past lent a 'sheen' or 'sparkle' almost immediately, but seemed to go downhill from there.  I've only been applying TC for about 9-months or so and have not noticed any degradation of SQ.  Hope this helps some...and please share other 'discovered' locations for TC, cards, and mats.  Oregonpapa, thanks for the card on the outlet box suggestion...I've not tried that, yet,  but I have used velcro wire-ties to wrap cards around power-plug-bodies...not bad at all  ;)  Also, I placed cards in between the 4 binding posts on each of my speakers since I haven't re-popped the drivers out to TC the crossovers.  I'll move them to the crossovers at that point.
Happy Friday-Eve to all!Doug
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