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.
It's four weeks today since I put 16 mats in place (two on my power panel, and 14 in my system). Wow! Basically, the longer I leave them in place, undisturbed, the more real, solid, immediate, involving and natural sounding themusic (and the space it is being performed in) gets.
If your experience is like mine, you will hear improvements in transparency and detail immediately, or fairly soon after, placing them. During the first two weeks the sound will vary from day to day, with it being “off” some days (usually followed by being really “on” the next day). Around two weeks, there will be a “pop” in the the sound quality. It will then continue to improve consistently out to three weeks, then four...and beyond?
Wow, I did not have your experience. I installed six and after one day, the system sounded great. It sounded better as soon as I put the first six in. Installing the last three of 12, one per day, gave me diminished sound for less than a day. I never had worst sound after that until the third week when it stabilized at a maximum improvement (I've had them in for 2 or 3 months now).
16 mats is a tad less than 10,000 dollars. Probably a hard question to answer but what is the optimal number based on cost, probably system dependent. Another way of asking is how did you come up with the number of mats to order. What should someone spend on mats relative to the cost of their system?
I wanted to put two under (or on) each component (including my power conditioner and speakers), and two on my power panel. This many was a stretch for me, but I knew that's what I wanted eventually, and I decide to go for it, so I only have to go through the “charge up” period once, rather than several times.
Speaking of the Omega mats I have just ordered three more. " tommy lion" has taken one approach of putting the Mats in place all at the same time. He has proven that the "just go for it approach " works and will get a system to that highest level in the minimum amount of time.
Since the Mats have been available I have been placing them in my systems two to four Mats at a time. I have not yet tried Mats under the speakers, or on top of the Synergistic Research Power Conditioners. All of my audio components sit on Synergistic Research Tranquility Bases. All components have had a further improvement when one or two Mats were placed on top of each piece of equipment.
The break in phase of putting Mats in a system is real but not so severe as to make listening to music not enjoyable.
My feeling about how to best approach a system is as follows. If just starting out, buy one Mat and one syringe of Total Contact. In my opinion this will be the most cost effective improvement one can make to any system. Place this first Mat at the Circuit Breaker Box. Treat the connections at the Breaker Box, the wall outlets that feed the audio system, and then the various interconnects. It will take more than one session to treat all these connections. Put the Total contact on spareingly - a thin coat is better than a thick coat. During the time you are pasting the system with Total Contact the Mat will be in place 'energizing' .
The system will start to sound better 24 hours after installation of the Mat or an application of Total Contact. At 3 days a higher level is noticeable and at 10 days the system will have a sense of ease but with improved detail that is most satisfying.
A more rapid but middle of the road approach to system improvement is to order four Mats and one syringe of Total Contact. This would allow Mats for the music source, amplifier, and two mats for the Circuit Breaker Box.
So far the Mats and Total Contact have improved the sound and also video picture quality in all the systems I have tried them in. And since the Mats are sold with a 30 day return policy this is just a plain fun audiophile experiment to undertake!
Yes, one mat to start will bring great improvements. I noticed the difference in one hour under my CD player with my first mat, and in eight hours with the second mat, placed alongside the first to cover the entire chassis. Of course, the improvements continue to accumulate over time.
jafreeman: I agree with your Mat placement on large CD players, that two Mats side by side give additional benefits compared to a single Mat on a CD player. A single Mat sounds good but using two Mats sounds even better. This also applies to the Oppo Blue Ray players. One Mat improves both sound and picture, two Matts side by side on the Oppo has an even greater beneficial effect.
Everyone seems to be debating the best place to put the mats, on top, on the bottom, on the sides.
But.
Perhaps tim will fabricate mats that completely enclose a unit with a zipper to undo, then put the unit in the "bag" and then re-zip same. Will need a hole to put the cables through, but can have a Velcro cover to ensure maximum sealing. Of course this will only work with units that do not emit much, if any, heat.
I would have to say that units do not need to actually be turned on for the mats to work their magic. I have been working away for a week and the change in sq today after 1 week is glaringly obvious.
So much space and air around vocals, piano, acoustic guitar etc. It's almost spooky!
Seems they are for cell phone use mostly/ideally. The Audiophile comments on their usefulness seems rather subdued and a tad less than completely enthusiastic. I get they are only 1/10th the size and I guess possibly 1/10th the effectiveness? Look forward to owner comments on use and actual effectiveness. I was thinking of placing them in smaller 5-12 VDC LPSs, USB reclockers/filters and speaker crossover boards. I think in the right application these cards may be a great little tweak. These smaller LPSs and USB filters/reclockers are very small in size and perhaps the card is all that is needed for maximum impact?
I have 2 E cards that I tried out on my mono amps. I placed each on the top case over where the mechanically grounded transformers reside. I walked away to sit down at my work table again and knew there was an immediate change and one for the better. I was watching news on DTV and not listening to music..the program content was not of a relaxing subject but the bloom of sonic air was certainly more relaxed and open with the E Cards in place. I was not expecting this result at all based on the mass, size of the amplifier its placement and the small stature of the E Cards. With my current workload and travel plans my friend has the E Cards now and is quite high on their performance ..one on his transport the other on his dac. All positive for sure..Tom
I have 2 e-cards and can confirm their size belies their effects. I have one each under half width units, a DAC and a music server and am truly impressed.
The larger mat is perfect for breaker doors and full width units like amps etc.
The small size of the card gives much,more flexibility with placement and usage imho.
Just had a very cool "P. Path" moment. I've had and enjoyed the album Buckingham/Nicks for decades and feel I know it well. Just listened to "Crystal" and I never knew Stevie was just to the right of Lindsey during the harmony part of the song. It's kinda spooky hearing that micro separation that I never knew existed before. FWIW I pasted all easily accessable parts 3 mos ago and have a mat under the power conditioner and between cd and sacd player. Ordering 3 more mats now!!
Going from 4 mats to now having 6 is another impressive jump in sound quality. The last 2 mats which I got 4 days ago were placed on my pre amp and pre amp power supply. This produced a jaw dropping amount of pure clean powerful bass and dynamics. I can also hear even more details in the music then even before. These 2 mats have made a very impressive improvement that was only matched by putting a mat in the breaker box. I am going to have to wait a little before I get any more mats but I am thinking I will go for another one in the breaker box and then maybe try putting another one on my cd player like some have suggested. For now I am going to sit back and enjoy the music
kedoades: A very good approach you are using. The Mats will continue to improve the sound with a sense of better finesse over the next two to three weeks.
I am now trying two Mats under a Synergistic Research Power Cell 12 conditioner. I first gave a one hour trial with a Mat on top of the unit and then tried it under the Power Cell. Under the Unit showed more potential. It has taken two days for the sound to improve but now I am beginning to hear improvement. The big in size Pass Labs INT-60 amp likes two Mats placed side by side instead of in a stacked position.
With my dedicated headphone unit I am also trying additional units. I just placed a Mat under the Synergistic Research Power Cell 8 unit and a Mat under a Synergistic Research Transporter (this unit replaces the wall warts SR uses with their older lines of cables).
It will be interesting to listen to these music systems over the next two weeks to hear what changes take place.
Five weeks yesterday since I placed 16 mats in my system, and the sound is still improving. When it will stop, I have no idea. I have not moved anything, or madeany changes at all to my system, during this time (nor do I particularly desire to). I’m simply hearing even more of the qualities that I (and others) have described previously.
Thanks again Tim, for making this audio adventure possible!
The 12 E-Mats combined with my new Pharoah GroverHuffman cables (IC, A/C, speaker cables) are a double or triple improvement in my system making my Legacy Focus speakers sound like $50-60K resolving, dynamic speakers. Amazing. However, I don't think the cabling would have been so fantastic without the E-Mats. Great synergism.
Steve, you'll have to come up to hear the Signature III's. Way better than when you were here last. I pasted the power conditioner and the speaker crossovers with Total Contact. The improvement was a real break through.
I agree with what fleschler has experienced.The installation of E - Mats reveals that one's present system can be significantly improved without upgrading components .And unlike auditioning or buying a new component , placing a E - Mat in a system is quick and easy. And best of all , if you do not like the Mat, send it back for a refund.
Today was a fun E - Mat day, and it has been a fun E-Mat week! I listed the locations of the new Mats in the above post and today I had a critical listening session. Clearly a meaningful improvement. So now there are Mats under or on top of all components in the horn system and the headphone system. I have not tried them under the speakers yet. My crossovers are located in the bottom of the cabinets so this location will eventually be tried.
I now thought about the power coming into the house. I already have two Mats installed on the inside of the outer door panel of the sub breaker box. I also have two mats placed next to each other on the main breaker panel.
Under the actual Electric Company's Power Meter they have a locked box that then sends all power to my main breaker box. I attached one Mat on the outside of this box. Kept the mat in it's water resistant plastic bag and covered that with 3-M External Painters tape to block the sun from causing any damage. The main breaker box is tall enough that I could add a third Mat inside this panel to now cover all the breakers for the house.
Today was fun because these two Mats caused an immediate improvement in clarity, harmonic texture and emotional impact.
First, Let me apologize. I know the question I'm asking has been discussed here before but the thread is too long to track the answer down. Question: I just moved a Mat from underneath my power regenerator to under why line stage. How long does it take for the Mat to become fully effective once moved to another component?
I am looking to purchase two of the e-cards. Is anybody interested in selling me two or splitting the cost of a kit? Just contact me through Agon if interested.
Seems they are good for many things including cell phones. I think they will be marketed to use on cell phones also. I want them in my small LPSs and speaker crossover compartments.
Why not GK? Today's smartphones are extremely powerful and competent. If it can say boost reception or help prolong battery life it would be a good idea. Of course no idea if it does, I have not tried one between phone and case but might be worth a try just to see. Anybody actually tried one on a phone yet?
Funny, this new generation of kids... that’s ALL they listen to. Longer run time, better reception. Top to bottom, APPS are instant. No one has ever offered an upgrade quite like this for an Iphone. Why wouldn’t you try it? It’s a big deal. <3 Krissy
And just a shout out for Tim here as being a true gentleman and excellent to deal with all round. I placed an order with him and before the ink was dry on the check I was writing for him he sent me a USPS tracking number and 2 days later I had the goods. All this BEFORE I had even sent him his money!
I have no idea if it can GK, it was just a guess. I mean would be nice if it could as I work in a lot of factories with lots of noise, electrical and interference of buildings etc. Anything would be a bonus.
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