I sure do NOT intend to be " knocking on heavens door".
I think I got this......
🔧 🔧
I think I got this......
🔧 🔧
Perfect Path Tecnologies ‘The Gate’
Having been a music lover and audio enthusiast for more decades than I care to admit to I’ve had the privilege of owning some tremendous components over those years and thought I had attained a level of musical enjoyment that would be difficult to improve upon without spending more money than I could afford. Then along came The Gate to turn my audio conceptions on end.
While I was quite skeptical of all of the positive proclamations regarding the Perfect Path mats, cards and contact enhancer ( how could they possibly bring about such sonic improvements?) I took the plunge and purchased a nano bundle to see what the hubbub was all about. Much to my surprise they not only brought about improvements to my systems’ ability to recreate a more musical sound but did so in spades.
When Tim of Perfect Path Technologies asked if I wanted to try his new product, The Gate, I jumped at the chance thinking it would be a nice addition to what the other products provided. I wasn’t prepared for the quantum leap The Gate brought to my music listening pleasure. As much as the other products brought about a much lower noise floor, greater detail and delicacy, improved dynamics, richer tone and more realism The Gate does so in magnitudes difficult to describe. The best way I can describe its affect is unreal purity leading the most realistic musical sound I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.....outside of a live performance obviously. It has me listening to all of my CD’s as if for the first time again.
I have no idea how The Gate actually works or what it does I just know it’s the most dramatic tweak to my system I’ve ever experienced and I wouldn’t think of being without it. As to how it’s implemented, it’s installed in the electrical panel with one lead connected to the common buss and the other to a breaker ( preferably 220). Hope I got the terminology correct.....I’m far from being an electrician!
At $4,999.00 it’s not cheap but worth every penny to me as I’ve spent more on components with less sonic improvement.
Lastly, I realize some will scoff at something they can’t understand and I get not understanding it as I don’t, but I would hope people could keep their skepticism healthy and civil. I am not here to promote or sell, nor do I have any affiliation with PPT. I am only sharing something that I’ve found to be transforming in my system. Sorry for the lengthy introduction.
While I was quite skeptical of all of the positive proclamations regarding the Perfect Path mats, cards and contact enhancer ( how could they possibly bring about such sonic improvements?) I took the plunge and purchased a nano bundle to see what the hubbub was all about. Much to my surprise they not only brought about improvements to my systems’ ability to recreate a more musical sound but did so in spades.
When Tim of Perfect Path Technologies asked if I wanted to try his new product, The Gate, I jumped at the chance thinking it would be a nice addition to what the other products provided. I wasn’t prepared for the quantum leap The Gate brought to my music listening pleasure. As much as the other products brought about a much lower noise floor, greater detail and delicacy, improved dynamics, richer tone and more realism The Gate does so in magnitudes difficult to describe. The best way I can describe its affect is unreal purity leading the most realistic musical sound I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing.....outside of a live performance obviously. It has me listening to all of my CD’s as if for the first time again.
I have no idea how The Gate actually works or what it does I just know it’s the most dramatic tweak to my system I’ve ever experienced and I wouldn’t think of being without it. As to how it’s implemented, it’s installed in the electrical panel with one lead connected to the common buss and the other to a breaker ( preferably 220). Hope I got the terminology correct.....I’m far from being an electrician!
At $4,999.00 it’s not cheap but worth every penny to me as I’ve spent more on components with less sonic improvement.
Lastly, I realize some will scoff at something they can’t understand and I get not understanding it as I don’t, but I would hope people could keep their skepticism healthy and civil. I am not here to promote or sell, nor do I have any affiliation with PPT. I am only sharing something that I’ve found to be transforming in my system. Sorry for the lengthy introduction.
621 responses Add your response
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"The Gators." Has a wonderful ring to it. A crystal clear ring with no distortion evident at all. Mac ... Who knew Redbook CD's could sound like this? LP's too. Tim is breaking new ground in the hobby with his products. I know for some this sounds like over the top enthusiasm, but the truth is the truth. The Gate is the best yet. I can hardly wait to see what's next. Frank |
Congrats uberwaltz, you’re in for a real treat. I’m looking forward to hearing your impressions. Its been so much fun listening to CD’s I’ve heard so many times before but not like I’m hearing them now. I have Aric Audio building me some amazing 300B SET monoblocks with dual external power supplies that I can’t wait to hear with the Gate. I may not leave the listening room all summer......the garden won’t be happy 🍃 |
And now to return to our scheduled programming. We need a name for this elite group. How about The Gaters? We had The Fusers so sounds good to me. As a fyi, I ordered mine direct from Tim yesterday morning so will soon see what all the fuss is about. 90 day return policy so it's hard to go wrong in truth. |
^^^ Personally, I'm ready to give up on the usual terms we audiophiles use to describe what we are hearing from our systems. Why? Because with the installation of The Gate, all of the previous terms are passe'. Now, its more about an increase in perceived reality, or less perception in reality. With The Gate in the system purifying the AC, it is all about realism in spades. I'm just about two weeks in with The Gate installed, and still can't believe what I'm hearing (or not hearing). How is this possible?? Frank |
I admit that I tend to lump all signal noise into the noise floor, but obviously there’s all kinds of noise entering our systems. Isolation has been very beneficial in lowering noise/grunge/distortion or whatever along with the PPT products, grounding products like the Gutwire grounding cables and now the SR active grounding block SE and the Uberbuss passive power conditioner. They’ve all contributed to a cleaner, more pure sound with blacker backgrounds but nothing to the extent of the Gate. |
Regarding the noise floor, some time ago a poster was going on and on about the noise floor, saying it to be the most critical element in listening enjoyment. While not completely sold I did happen to locate a Balanced Power Technologies BPT Sig plus used. Later bought an Equi=Tech wall unit for further noise reduction with outstanding results. So I'm a believer. The Gate, if able to further reduce the noise to this degree is very enticing. |
Technically noise and distortion are two separate things. But both noise and distortion are accounted for in the expression signal to noise +distortion ratio. Also written S/ (N + D), where S, N and D are expressed in relative power. It is actually not necessary to identify every single source of noise and distortion, only to measure the cumulative N + D. However, fair warning - the are some sources of distortion that cannot be measured. Please, no angry PMs. |
Re obsession with noise floor. In my experience there are two types of noise - the background noise you can hear all the time mostly due to limitations of power and componentry, and the noise which only manifests during play, due to vibration. Lowering the background noise is one thing, but I think the obsession mainly relates to lowering the vibration induced noise which could also be regarded as distortion. Because removing it unmasks detail, it appears to be lowering the "noise floor", but in effect it is a lowering of the "distortion floor". |
I had the pleasure of Frank, and his friend come over to my home yesterday, and we listened before, and after installation of the Gate. I now have 24 hours of 'burn in' time, and wish to share my observations. First, it took around 10 minutes to install, with volt meter, to ensure proper and correct installation. I am noticing a distinct improvement in resolution, and as others have pointed out, much better bass response, with both depth and clarity. On Karrin Allyson's track of 'April come she will', the guitar riffs from the left speaker during her vocals were much clearer, more evident than I heard prior to installing the Gate. The systems sounds 'cleaner', purer, with lower noise floor, and greater ease. I think my rig is pretty resolving, and I am using 6 eMatts, some TC paste, Shunyata Triton 3 Power conditioner, and NAS streamed digital files thru a dCS Vivaldi 2 DAC....I wouldn't classify this as 'jaw dropping' improvement yet, but after 24 hours, do feel its a worthy addition to my system, and I like what its doing to improve my listening enjoyment. I intend on keeping the unit. I like the ability of Tim to offer his in home trial. By the way, the unit is very well made, weighs 10 libs, comes in perfectly made hard shell flight case, and does for me what other uses have already posted. I am a happy camper, and Tim supporter. As I notice further improvements, or not, I will add to this post... Bob |
Hey Fazee, That can happen when there’s a flurry of posts. Hopefully Tim or Krissy will see this post in order to answer your questions. I’m guessing the Gate will work just fine for you but Tim or Krissy will need to confirm that. I’m not sure about apartment usage either but I bet there’s something in the works for that. |
uberwaltz... Ah-Ha ... Another Red Coat in our midsts. :-) Congratulations on your escape and successful camouflage among us "Rebels." As a devout rebel myself, your secret is perfectly safe with me. *lol* jetter ... I agree completely with what you’ve said. This is a great site with really nice, enthusiastic people contributing. I’ve learned tons ... (that’s tonnes to folkfreak) from members here, including contributing engineers. I DO like to poke fun at the engineers though. They are quite (ahem) different in their perspectives. I truly appreciate their cautiousness. Without their "measure a hundred times cut once" demeanors, the entire planet would be in upheaval and chaos. Just a few examples ... traffic control, bridge construction, rockets, and airplanes. In the meantime, they drive the rest of us batty. Frank |
miller, for some of us A’gon is where we come to read posts and learn from fellow audiophiles with a common interest. Sure things are a little heated at times, but usually with posters familiar with each other. There are other audio sites where a constant confrontational style is the norm and is expected. Here it comes off as dull. |
Frank Careful with "The Brits" talk... lol. You never know who is reading! It really was not like that at all in England ,at least in my area ,but I was out in the stix. Shoot, an electrical colleague wired his main supply up to run his electricity meter backwards for half the quarterly charge period! Yes he did eventually get caught! However I did escape here back in 2000 and have no intention of leaving unless Uncle Sam finds me and throws me out.... lmfao. |
I had my master electrician look at the installation of my Gate and did some testing and said I had nothing at all to worry about and that it’s perfectly safe. As a matter of fact he wants one for himself after hearing my system.....he heard it last year after installing my new panel and dedicated circuits and was quite impressed with the new sound. I did not have him install the Gate as it was so easy that I did it myself but wanted him to check it out for safety purposes. It’s not going anywhere now! |
millercarbon ... No need for folkfreak to apologize to me. I have a skin that is two feet thick, plus I've become accustomed to the outlandish arrogance exhibited by many (not all) of the EE's, and engineers in general, posting on this and other audiophile sites. I've learned to expect it, actually. Also, what is understandable, is the fact that folkfreak is a Brit; a man from a country whose subjects are accustomed to not doing anything that is not pre-approved by the state. Conversely, what we are used to here is to do anything we want unless the state expressly prohibits it. Its the difference between being confined by rules, regulations, edicts, red-tape and the whims of bureaucrats, vs an attitude of "leave us alone." American as apple pie. :-) To folkfreak's credit, he understands the importance of getting the hell out of the EU for a more enjoyable independent life ... including regaining his economic liberty. In the meantime, I'm listening to the lovely voice of June Christy on the mini-system while typing this. "The Gate" has made this little pipsqueak of a system very enjoyable, indeed. Frank |
uberwaltz Best approach would be just do it yourself paying due diligence to your own health and safety. Bingo! What a difference, between the armchair quarterbacks and the real deal. Thanks! Would not be the first time I had been presented with a piece of equipment on site with zero paperwork or electrical prints and been asked to "just wire it in" Just to clarify, talking about two very different things here- the residential voltage Gate you would install in a heartbeat, and the high voltage/current applications you would not on your life do without thoroughly understanding exactly what you're dealing with. Well, of course. Makes total sense. Would be nice if more people knew enough to make such distinctions. Or if not then would just keep their comments to themselves. Hard enough finding really good gear without all the distraction. |
Please name one piece of AR gear that gets installed in an electrical panel. Also, you all realize there are 2 hot legs in a power panel, plus the neutral? This device connects to only one, and neutral, and fixes everything? That's certainly a level of engineering accomplishment I've never known about until now. |
millercarbon…."For certain they know absolutely nothing about what is inside the Gate."... We can expand on that, for certain we know absolutely nothing about what is inside any of the Perfect Path products (LOL). Not to worry, this will all be put to bed when Tim comes on here. millercarbon, you just became the last person anyone would apologize to. |
Well then its even worse than I thought. Because a genuine EE ought to know enough to be throwing water on this with knowledge and not fanning the flames with innuendo. Another teachable moment: saying you're an EE is not even remotely the same as demonstrating actual knowedge. Saying you're an EE only matters to people who think titles matter. Which sure ain't me. Which is why I asked for actual hands on experience, and a demonstration of electrical principles. Neither of which you've provided. Oh and, still waiting on that apology. |
Being an industrial electrician dealing with mostly lethal high voltage lines of 480v I might know a thing or two about being careful concerning electrickery. I would likely agree that the largest hurdle here would be persuading a reputable outside electrician in a state that is very code conscious that it is "ok" to wire this into the main panel without a bit more than your say so that it is fine. Best approach would be just do it yourself paying due diligence to your own health and safety. As I obviously would do this in a heartbeat I am not at all concerned but can concede the point. Would not be the first time I had been presented with a piece of equipment on site with zero paperwork or electrical prints and been asked to "just wire it in" Uh uh, no way Jose! However we are talking 480v and 1200a plus applications, something that will pick you up and throw the leftovers across the room if you screw up! |
@millercarbon I’m actually an EE by training so somewhat aware of how this stuff works. Its actually not scaremongering (I’m sure that given how this is connected it’s not going to cause issues, but do worry that the "home made" appearance is more than a little off-putting) but a more practical question of having the basic information needed to reassure a skeptical electrician that what he/she is doing is kosher. The very fact that PPT in their own advertisement state "Hookup is simple, but must be performed by a licensed electrician" implies that they are well aware of these issues and I (and others it seems) think it would seem reasonable to provide some basic information to convince the electrician installing this item for us what it is and whether it is safe and code compliant. Over the years with Balanced Power on wall installations, dedicated spurs in conduit and other power related changes have had many awkward conversations with the electricians doing the work and inspectors conducting subsequent sign offs. Perhaps one of the owners would post a copy of the installation instructions and this can help us all out? |
The teachable moment in all this otherwise pointless scaremongering is, notice how all the alarmists have absolutely zero tangible direct knowledge of what they are nevertheless so eager to advise others all about. For certain they know absolutely nothing about what is inside the Gate. More than likely they know next to absolutely nothing about electricity, beyond probably getting a shock one time. And that was it for them! Electricity scary! Electricity bad! Tell me I’m wrong. Next scaremongering commenter, tell us all how many panels you’ve installed, components you’ve built or modified, and then instead of parroting regulations let’s hear you explain the risks in a way that demonstrates some understanding of electrical principles. At all. Because I sure haven’t seen any signs of it yet. And I actually have done all that stuff. And oh folkfreak, "obviously over your head"? Frank went to an awful lot of effort checking and you may not like what he found but that’s no cause for insult. I think you owe Frank an apology. |
@oregonpapa the language you are looking for relating to your consumer electronics is this https://standardscatalog.ul.com/standards/en/standard_60065_7 Even the ARC manuals I looked at contain language that to all intents and purposes complies with the above, as a rule ex US manufactures do a much better job of being more explicit and citing the rules they are complying with (probably it's that EU bureaucracy all us Brits are railing against 😏) |