Lots of things are hard to explain, this hobby is very full of them, ever since audiophile cables first reared their ugly heads 40 years ago. There are scads of other things that have prompted audiophiles to flip their gizzards ever since. Audio cones, vibration isolation, CD fluids, WA Quantum Chips, tiny little bowl resonators, Schumann frequency generators, crystals, the Intelligent Chip, Shakti Stone, the Tice Clock, the Clever Little Clock, Silver Rainbow Foil, Cream Electret, Red X Pen, Green Pen, Purple Pen, Ultra Tweeters, demagnetizations of CDs and cables, fancy fuses, directionality, even the “audio signal.” And many others.
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Sometimes the 'why' can't be explained.
How can that possibly affect sound reproduction?
And the negative attacks/posts/comments from the outside, could appear at some level almost to be valid.
Except...
The multitude of responses from direct experiences for all the things that we have tried/installed/tested/tweaked.
Not advertising, tricking. Just our honest responses and experiences.
e.g. I held off buying good isolation pads under my equipment for years. I had a negative view; couldn't possibly have the affect others were stating. Kept it to myself though. Had Sorbothane, then Vibropods. Why something else?
Bought Black Ravioli pads for amp, DAC and power supply a few months ago. And wow, what an improvement. Consolidated all the changes and tweaks I'd been adding. And had to eat humble pie.
Again, I was wrong.
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millercarbon,
I am very grateful that we are able enjoy the benefits of things, without having to know the how or why.
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Its sad because however whacky some things may seem more often than not it takes all of like 5 minutes to check it out. I mean just how hard can it possibly be to pull a fuse and put it back in going the other way? In 5 minutes you could probably do that with an interconnect or two as well. Then you would know if directionality matters. Or if elevating cables up off the floor sounds screwy, well how hard could it possibly be to prop them up on something and see? Its a sad fact of life that some will answer, "A heck of a lot harder than posting ignorant uninformed derision. Now hold my beer and watch this!"
I don't have Orange yet but had an interesting experience with my first Blue. Because of the way it mounts it was impossible to tell which way it was going so 50/50, popped it in. Immediately noticed obvious improvement in dynamics, detail, extension. Of course being brand new it also had the standard chaotic quality that is hard to describe yet universal to anything new. Not so much chaotic as just not as coherent as it should be. Yet it wasn't long before I started to feel something just wasn't right. I want to be clear: this was not me wondering if it might be better the other way. This was me thinking it was wrong! Or at least not right. I mean really not right. Within just a few minutes it was really bugging me. Again, to be clear, while it did indeed sound much better than the stock fuse, it did not sound right.
So I flipped it around and immediately settled in and enjoyed a wonderful experience. I did flip it back briefly, easy to do on this amp, but not to be sure (there never was any doubt, directionality is night and day) but to try and get a handle on how to describe the difference. But its so wrong I can hardly stand it and actually think "wrong" will just have to do.
There was another time when I accidentally connected a really good interconnect the wrong way and was so crushed at the sound I could hardly even sleep that night, so worried I was over how awful my system had become. Next day, aha! Flipped it around. The magic is back!
Point being, I have far too many stories just like this to be so rudely dismissive as some are of these kinds of things. Of course I take everything with a big grain of salt. I am a dyed in the wool skeptic. Experience however has taught me the main thing to be skeptical about is not the result but the reason why.
That is why I love threads like this. As skeptical as I am when it comes to "why" I'm much less skeptical when it comes to "what" the people say they are actually hearing. And the more the people and the more consistent their comments the more sure we can be that what they are hearing is real- and that is something that is true and will remain true whether anyone else can say why, or not. |
Tommylion
Got the emoji thanks.
And I ’got’ the emoji.
But my annoyance at how these threads are taken off topic - not to mention the personal attacks - is high. I’m just thankful that I am not one of them. Would hate to have that much anger in me.
Have ignored the fuse debate, digital debate, power cable debate.
Now hopefully ignoring the PPT debate.
Hang on. If a poster harangues and berates others’ experiences, that’s not a debate. It borders on abuse.
Also, no-one has the right to say my experiences are invalid.
I value the experience of the even handed, honest, friendly audio enthusiasts here. It is such a pity that we have to sift through the garbage to find the worthwhile comments. |
Update on the EMat+ installation on my power panel:
After the mats had been installed for 3 days I decided to take a break from listening to my system in order to have fresh ears. I stayed away for 2 1/2 days and then listened. What I heard was a jump in performance, similar to all previously heard improvement caused by the PPT products. Improved holographic imaging, quieter backgrounds, etc.
What strikes me most is the fact that my listening experience keeps improving despite my belief that it cannot get any more “real”. I enjoy a listening in a dimly-lit room, mostly with my eyes closed. However, I will often open my eyes to observe the space where a certain instrument is located in the sound field, almost expecting to see the player in my room! Vocalists and acoustic guitars are my favorite and perhaps the most real sounding.
My listening/evaluation of new components, cables, PPT products, etc., is actually quite scientific, for lack of a better term. I have about a dozen CDs that I use, with specific tracks and volume settings written down, thus insuring my comparisons don’t have variables influencing my opinions and observations. I have about 15 years of experience in recording studio mixing in a home studio,and I know my reference recordings about as well as if I mixed them myself. I know the subtle nuances and details of my chosen songs that will best indicate changes to the signal path.
So, after 6 full days of breaking in, the EMat+ mats are another major hit!
Best to all!
Greg
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jerrybj,
Excellent post, yours is the kind of attitude that still makes this forum worthwhile.
Did the wink emoji I used at the end of my post come come across on your end? I am using an iPad, and I’m not sure if the Apple emojis show up on other platforms. My comment was meant to be a lighthearted poke at the frustrating behavior of certain posters on this forum you are referring to.
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tommylion
I have orange fuses in my CD transport and amp (DAC is next). They are great, but don’t you know talking about them kills threads around here. That’s the reason I spend most of my time on other audio forums, in different continents. I find some of the posters obtuse and asinine. Arrogance in the face of so many reasoned replies. Our listening experiences are subjective. There is some objectivity, but I can’t measure it. I admit I sometimes struggle with the ’I spent $250, so I’m sure I can hear an improvement.’ For most of my tweaks, I doubt there is very much scientific evidence to support the sound improvements. It comes down to advice from people on forums on purchase decisions. The even-handed advice I’ve got from the very many good people has been worthwhile. Audiogon was too much for me to read when I started an overhaul of my system. A dozen people ruined it, and about the same number continue to do the same. I return, but previously, I quickly leave. Our peers in other countries are far more open to reasonable discussion. My view is, if I haven’t tried a product, I won’t comment. I am a cynic. Skepticism is inbuilt. But I have fuses, Akiko products, SGS grounding box, Mad Scientist products, Bybee iQSE, HFC MC-05, Black Ravioli, Schumman Resonators, iFi products, and mains conditioners (as the main tweaks). Most of these were suggested. Trying MS donuts, and a PPT product as well. Have upgraded power cables to put in. Really, imho if you haven’t tried a product ’humph the humph up.’ Ask questions, express your dismay at its science, and then be quiet. It’s that simple. Sorry Tommylion. Was going to be brief. |
jerrybj,
I have orange fuses in my CD transport and amp (DAC is next). They are great, but don't you know talking about them kills threads around here 😉
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Flicking through some favourites (while putting off the last stage of end of year school reports).
But initial review of the SR Orange fuses:
Base stronger - seems to hang in the air.
Instrument separation more discernible.
Again, hearing things in tracks I'd never heard before.
Overall, a huge A+ in my view
Let my Love Open the Door - Pete Townsend (Gross Point Blank)
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads (Stop Making Sense)
World Mix - Deep Forest
Armagideon Time - The Clash
Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed
Paradise Circus - Massive Attack
The Decoration - Eyeless in Gaza
No Ordinary Morning - Chicane
Tilted - Christine and the Queens
Biko - Peter Gabriel
Wurlitzer Jukebox - Young Marble Giants
New Dark Age - The Sound
Tomorrow - Bono/Adam Clayton (Common Ground)
The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove - Dead Can Dance
Wish I had longer, but gotta work some!
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liquidsound,
TC does take some time to fully cure (8 weeks), but after that, it becomes hard and durable, so it can be plugged & unplugged without reapplication being necessary. Even after it is fully cured, it can be removed easily with alcohol, if that is a concern.
I would choose connections that you can leave alone for 8 weeks to try it initially. You should notice improvements right away, but there is a substantial bump at 4 weeks, and an even bigger one at 8 weeks. Mark your calendar, because, IME, they are pretty much to the day. Don’t be alarmed if things go south, at times, during the first week of break in. It can be a little bit of a roller coaster, but, if the sound is “off” on a particular day, it will come back better the next. I know all this may sound like a pain, but the end result is definitely worth it.
If you want to try PPT in a more convenient, easily reversible way, with less break in time, I would recommend the Alpha card or Omega mat. |
I've been contemplating using Total-Contact on my system. My concern is (like with many of these "connection solutions"), does this stuff build-up or scrape-off with every connect/disconnect ? I have a few amplifiers/components that I switch in and out of the system, fairly often using the same cabling. Does this stuff have to be re-applied ? I realize this is nano-technology, basically filling-in the micro-spaces on the contacts, however I'm just a little skeptical. I've been cleaning my interconnects and speaker-cables occasionally with alcohol, which I believe makes a modest difference, however I'm also looking for something more. The reviews on Total-Contact seem really good and genuine. Can anyone give me their experiences with Total-Contact on my questions above ? Thanks ! |
^^^ Looking forward to your review, jerry. |
Three orange fuses installed, to review... |
I have used Total Contac(TC) on my car system. It makes a big difference. Start with the battery contacts. Then do the ground connecting wire to the body of the car. those will take a few days to settle in. You will get additional benefits by treating each connection from the car's alternator to the audio system. A final place to treat is the speaker wire connectors.
Your car's music system will definitely improve.
David Pritchard
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Hey Tommylion, did you ever try TC on the battery terminals of your wife's car? I think Timmy mentioned it during a visit.... M would love it.
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t_ramey,
Sometimes my wife and I will debate about which polarity sounds better for a particular song or album. She often wins.
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“Build it and they will come.” 😬
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Two (now 3) mentions of the dreaded orange fuse? The vultures are sure to descend on this thread now! 😱
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My wife enjoys listening too and will notice differences and ask what I did. The last change was an orange fuse... |
My wife enjoys listening with me sometimes, and has a very good ear. Not sure how well that would go over, though. Maybe an Orange fuse? 😉
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These Omega + E-mats are a must-have. So, if you are still in a quandary over what to buy the wife for Christmas, here's your answer.
Frank |
Dang it you guys! I wish you could curb your enthusiasm over the Emat+....at least until after the holidays. :) |
I’m glad to see a fresh, new thread!
I installed 2 of the new EMat+ mats on my power panel a few days ago. The effect was amazing after only a few hours and it’s still improving, having been installed for about 60 hours at this point.
I have previously treated my connections with Total Contact, installed The Gate, StopIt AC and RCA plugs.
The effect is always more realism when PPT products are added, even when I almost couldn’t imaging that it could get any closer to reality! Listening sessions are quite an experience thanks to the PPT products allowing my components to deliver all they are capable of.
In addition, I’ve been communicating with Krissy and have continued the friendship bond previously established with Tim. It’s been quite an amazing few months to say the least.
Greg
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