Is it possible that the “noise floor” has been swallowed by a black hole Geoff?
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.
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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. |
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 🍃 |
"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 |
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After one week of the Gate's installation, the sound is still changing for the better. If you have a good system, you probably know what you like about it. I believe the Gate will make it better, in all of those areas. I can't identify any flaws or other existing issues that the Gate will solve, although even identified shortcomings are likely to be improved. With the Gate in your system, you will gain more detail and be closer to the music. The music will be bigger, fuller, and sound "more complete." I agree with the positive comments already posted, and understand how difficult it is to really comment on the Gate. The improvements aren't in any one area. The Gate simply enhances every aspect of what I am hearing. Pretty special. |
Well said sgordon1, putting into words the affect of the Gate in traditional audiophile terms, or any other terms for that matter, isn’t easy as the totality of the sonic improvements doesn’t seem to fit within our normal audiophile nomenclature. I believe such descriptors as realism, purity, liveliness, presence and intimacy describe the Gates affects quite well......not the most ‘audiophile ‘ way of putting it though. Congrats on your new Gate and welcome to the club! |
Alright, gaters, pasters, matters, and fusers go to one side of room, good old regular apple pie loving audiophiles to the other side. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd85ozj0p8o |
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Yes, the Gate can be connected to either a 110 or 220 breaker but 220 is recommended as it’s affect is more powerful. i just sent my 300B SET amp in for a total upgrade and had to throw in my old Proceed Amp 2 in the system until my new amps arrive. I always enjoyed the Proceed in my home theater but for two channel listening I’m a tube guy all the way. While the Proceed doesn’t do for me what my SET does it sounds better than ever with the Gate doing its thing. I’m amazed at the sound I’m getting and it has me wondering what First Watt or something similar would sound like in my system now......I’m too much in love with my SET to cheat on her to find out though 😎 |
The Gate is in the system as at 9.35am EST 4/21. Connected to 220v house AC breaker, I did ask Tim if it mattered which breaker as I thought the house AC might be noisy but he said it did not matter at all. Just managed to squeeze it into my old Cutler box under the cover, going to have to replace this old thing one day I am sure. Now we shall see..... |
Holy sugar...... I am sorry but this is not remotely a subtle change! It has only been installed 4 hours but I thought I would spin some vinyl. First test, ear against speaker, hmm sounds quiter.... Next test play a well known album. WTH! Who added the subs? And new speakers with vastly more dynamics especially in the upper mids. Truly astounding, way more effect than tc or emats, not that they were not impressive on their own right but this... Just 4 hours in and I have a new system! |
Just wait uberwaltz, as good as it’s sounding now you ain’t heard nothin yet! Yes, it not only gets better but a lot better with more time. Glad to hear you’re enjoying it and hearing what I heard the first day......hold on to your hat tomorrow though. I could be totally wrong but I believe the Gate delivers more than just clean power.....it energizes the power somehow, if that makes any sense. Tim would be able to give a scientific explanation but you’re stuck with my amateur description for now 😁 |
I believe Tim probably cannot give too much in the way of explanation without giving the game away. Yes the price is high but with a 90 day inhome trial its hard to go wrong. And honestly with what I heard just a few hours in, it is by far and way the largest single upgrade I have ever heard. Yes it was worth the kidney. Spleen and gall bladder up next. Interesting about Clay County Carpathian, where do you live? We are served by Clay Electric as well. |
Well I have tingles running up and down my spine. Norah Jones is in my room singing just for me personally! And this on " obsolete tech" , a CD ... Lol. Less than a day and it is majestic. If anybody is on the fence on this just do it! Glad I spoke to Mac, David and Tim about it . Join " The Gaters", you know you want to! 👍👍 |
thecarpathian I so nearly bought a lake house while there, glad I did not as it dried up! Gatorbone Lake, not sure if the lakes have come back, been years since been through Keystone. Lalitk. I was/am using Core Power Tech Equicore 1800. Tim feels it is likely to be surplus now though. I will test at a later date with equipment just plugged into a couple of power strips and the Equicore out of the system. |
uberwaltz ... Like the wise man once said ... "You ain't heard nuttin' yet." The Gate just keeps getting better over time. Can you believe how real vocals sound? And, you mentioned the improvement in the bass. Nice. Do you have any recordings that have lots of percussions, say like bongos, congas, wood blocks, and cowbells? If you have anything by Arthur Lyman, try that for a big surprise. Frank |
Frank Not really my type of music, closest that would contain those type of instruments would be say Santana. Vocals, especially female vocals are scary good. Example, last night listening to Norah Jones. The scene it conjured for me. An old Vegas style lounge, smoky, intimate. Norah on the small stage backed by a stand up double bass, three piece drum kit and piano. Myself sitting at a table closest to Norah . I can "feel" the swish of brush on drum skin, almost see the bass strings vibrate. She is looking at me and performing just for me. I mentioned extra bass earlier, what I truly mean is extra bass weight,and definite separation of instruments. I am now able to "hear" bass runs and licks that were obviously there in the mix previously but did not stand out. Now I do not mean stand out as overpowering but as subtle but sure instruments in their own right not just as some congealed mass of music. Its going to be a GREAT week! |
@uberwaltz, I am ecstatic for you. I can relate to the ‘feel’ above. Listen to the track, And Then There was You by Norah. Every time I listen to this track, I get goose bumps, it was recorded in a beautiful intimate setting. I love Norah Jones as well, hoping to catch up with her one of these days, she is touring very soon. |
Glad to hear you’re enjoying the Gate in your system so much uberwaltz. Dare I say “ I told you so”? 😀 When the music sounds so ‘right’ like we are hearing it’s quite addictive. Like hearing all of your old records/cd’s for the first time. I found removing my power conditioner improved the sound now that the Gate is installed. Originally I had the Equitech Son of Q balanced conditioner and while it really lowered the noise floor and added clarity I didn’t realize how much it was suppressing dynamics until I switched to the PI Audio Uberbuss. Now after removing the Uberbuss I’m experiencing slightly more dynamics, more bass control and more life to the music. Im going to make a power center with high quality outlets, power cord and wire that I’ll treat with Total Contact to plug all of my components into. I could have paid for over half of the Gates price with what I spent on the two power conditioners I no longer need. For those with multiple systems the Gate will be an economic option. Lalit, I think we’d all like to ‘catch up’ with Nora one of these days 😜 |
jetter For a $5K unit some persons would want a bit of an explanation of what’s going on to make it work. Mildly surprised Tim hasn't. Yeah, wouldn't it be nice to know? Right down to the parts list, cheapest/best places to buy them- oh, and assembly instructions. Mildly surprised Tim hasn't posted all that. More I think about it, kinda selfish, keeping it all to himself. After doing all that work. Himself. To not just give it away. Or do you mean, mildly surprised Tim hasn't made up some mumbo jumbo marketing malarkey? Audiophiles absolutely LOVE marketing malarkey! Slurp it up like Mother's milk! Two problems: one, it takes real talent to do that and come off like Ted Denney III and not the Machina Dynamica guy. And two, well never mind the first one should be more than enough to make the point. You'll just have to trust me when I say, when you understand enough of this deeply enough after a while they pretty much all start to sound like the Machina Dynamica guy. Besides, even if he did explain it, what difference would it make? Ted Denney says right up front that a lot of his products (PHT, ECT, HFT, FEQ, etc) work on the principle of dither. So what? So dither for starters seems a difficult concept to understand. Even if you do, what difference would that make? None of this would matter in the least except for the fact people actually avoid taking steps that would dramatically improve their systems simply because they can't get past the mental stumbling block of having to understand why. How do I know? Because I for years did exactly that. Now I know better. You too can stop stumbling around. Simply change your mind. Easiest thing in the world. |
I've had my Gate installed now for just over two weeks, and feel it has settled in nicely. I agree, that there is a steady improvement over time...and as other's have posted, there is a significant improvement in quality of bass...much deeper, and cleaner than before. Female vocals do sound much richer, with more 'sonic density', full orchestral works allow me to better hear each section with better resolution and detail...much better reverb and ability to convey the space the music was recorded. I do suffer from a poorly designed room, so can't really address improvement in sound stage, but that's on me, not the Gate. I don't like going overboard with hyperbole, but can honestly state I am impressed with the improvement of the Gate; perhaps not as 'jaw dropping' as others have experienced, but it provides significant more enjoyment, and improved sound that I will be sending Tim a check shortly and purchasing the unit. I guess my review is putting my $$$ in the game, not just my opinion. I agree, that many of Tim's products are synergistic, and the TC paste, and eMatts, and now the Gate all have contributed in different ways to elevate my system, so its sounding the best its been, and enhancing my listening enjoyment and pleasure. Thanks, Tim, and Frank for bringing these items to my attention. Enjoy the music, Bob |