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.
I just ordered The Gate! After using Total Contact and the Stop It A/C outlet plugs, I decided to get the granddaddy of them all. Tim’s products have transformed my listening experience to such a degree already that I can’t really imagine what the Gate will add...but I know it will be fantastic. I will be posting my early impressions as soon as next week, and will add more posts as the Gate matures over the next month, or so.
Been a while since I’ve posted here. I’m finally getting around to buying some omega mats/cards and was wondering if those of you who had High Fidelity mc 0.5’s in your system how many omega mats did it take to replace the mc 0.5’s. I have eleven mc 0.5’s currently and am a little shy about replacing them because they’ve been such a good addition. But I’ve gone thru two tubes of the TC on all my cables and equipment so I know the mats and cards will be just as good.
Also, do you have to message or call Tim to order the stop it’s? I don’t see them on the website yet.
Your Gate will continue to improve as the weeks pass by. As you dig through your record/CD collection to pull out old favorites that you haven't heard for a while, you'll gain a new appreciation for them.
Read yobi's response above, as that is your next logical step. Be aware that there is another break-in period involved there as well.
Hi debjit_g: Now, install some of the AC outlet "Stop Its" into various unused outlets around your system and around the house. The more the better. Tim describes their action as "completing what the Gate does". They cost $10 each, and look like the inserts that are used to childproof electrical outlets. Their effect is, for lack of a better word "spooky". The music really comes out of nowhere, with an even more organic and palpable presentation. I've had the Gate installed for a little over a month, so it's fully run in.I initially installed 5 around my audio system. Then, I added 12 more around the rest of the audio room and also the TV room. I'm now seeing more detail, less grain, and depth on my plasma TV. I've been told that some of my dealer's customers have had similar results without having the "Gate" installed. These things are a no brainer.
I started with a pair of emats and the improvements (along with joy) those sheets bought to the audio, I discussed with Tim and quickly ordered the Gate - always thinking at the back of the mind and feeling comfortable that I could always return if it didn’t meet my expectation. Honestly speaking spending that much dough on power conditioner and that too with vodoo (?) science (well, there is science, its just that we aren’t aware of it) is tough to digest, at least for me.
The Gate arrived, installed it as described and then what ? I was very much disappointed. After all these things are just hype and too good to be true ? I consulted with Tim (and few members here) and he assured that give it couple of weeks - so did I. The Gate has been installed for couple of weeks now and the result ? I will keep it short and simple - at this point I don’t think I can hear my audio without it. It has made an enormous impact to the system - music just flows in all directions without any barrier - that's the kinda effect it has on my system!
What a great innovative product! The question now is where do I go from here ? Is it possible to further improve upon what the Gate does ? Will see...
waltersl ... You won't be disappointed with The Gate. It will not only enhance the other PPT products you already have, but it is a killer of a product all on its own.
Thank you all for the great feedback. I do have dedicated lines, that are grounded to their own grounding plates, and not the rest of the house. I think due to cost (P20 is a greater expense than the Gate), the Gate may be the best place to start, and then I can determine if additional power conditioning is needed... at least that is my thinking so far.
Corroborating @oregonpapa experience I also get great results from the combination of Gate and transformers (in my case both a Torus WM75BAL and Synergistic 12UEF) -- the former is an undefeatable part of my system upstream of the room and the latter acts as a distributor to my front and back end components (I actually have two 12UEFs and am in the process of upgrading them to the latest SR conditioners)
As what the Gate does is entirely different from what transformer based or other conditioners do I have no difficulty seeing these as complementary rather than mutually exclusive -- the sonic results certainly bear this out.
Obviously this does not really answer your question as to which gives the best return for your money but at least you can have some confidence that you may like the results from having both.
My personal bias if in your situation wold be to start upstream (i.e. with the Gate, or with other typical power moves such as a dedicated line(s)) and work down from there, testing the effect of adding each piece as you go.
I've gotten reports from some Gate users that their sound has improved by removing their power conditioner after installing The Gate. My approach was a bit different.
Months prior to receiving and installing The Gate, I took my Sound Application power conditioner apart and used the TC paste to paste the entire interior of the power conditioner, including the inside of the lid. It took an entire tube of TC paste to accomplish the job. The result (after a few days of breaking in) was a very significantly improved overall SQ.
After installing The Gate, I left the power conditioner in the system because I don't have enough outlets for the entire system. The power conditioner is plugged into a two-outlet wall receptacle. The turntable is plugged into the second outlet. The outlets have also been treated with TC.
As good as the "modified" power conditioner was, The combination of the treated power conditioner and The Gate has provided clarity, musicality and a three-dimensional presentation that is absolutely stunning.
My experience with the Bryston BIT 20 isolation transformer (no Gate) is that it smeared the sound and was slow sounding until I replaced the stock power cord with a high end cord. Bryston engineers informed me that their cord was specially designed for the unit-not! Does anyone have experience with isolation transformers and the Gate as opposed to power conditioners?
Good question Lou and congrats on your PPT success.
While I don’t have any experience with the newer PS Audio regenerators I prefer the sound of my system without any power conditioning since installing the Gate. I tried my old PS Audio P300 and a brand new Equitech Son of Q before and after installing the Gate and noticed an uptick in dynamics and overall fluidity with the Gate alone. Now I have two heavy power conditioners collecting dust!
My guess is that you’d be better served with adding the Gate. I’m sure the re-generator would bring about a nice sound improvement but I believe the Gate will bring about an even greater improvement......without any current limitations. Another advantage of the Gate is that all of your electronics in the house will benefit, my TV and computer screens have never looked better.
I have recently become a believer in the goodness that comes from PPT products. I have used the TC paste on my entire system, including AC lines @ the breaker, and at the outlets of my 2x 20A lines, as well as tube pins, and internal power connectors within all of my components. Additionally, I have an Omega Mat at the breaker box, and 10 e-cards distributed between my DAC, Pre amp, and transformers on my tube power amp. I will be writing up a review shortly, but due to a recent power tube failure, I needed to re-tube my amp, and I wanted to ensure the new KT150s are fully broken in prior to doing so. But so far, the improvement is not subtle.... In fact, and as reported from others, my system sounds just as good at 5:00 pm ET as it does at 11:00 pm. Normally my system would sound like ass at 5:00 pm, not any more...
With the above in mind, my question revolves around the use of ’The Gate’
I am contemplating the purchase of either ’The Gate’ or a PS Audio P20 re-generator. I cannot afford to do both, but am wondering if there are any folks out there who have experience with both. What will provide the biggest bang for my dollar? I used to own a Power Plant Premiere (which admittedly was one of PS Audio’s worst re-generators from a reliability perspective). Mine died after 5 years of use (but since I bought used) I didn’t see the point of paying to get it repaired. Where I live, THD on the power line was never greater than about 3.6%. Question is, which helps produce better sound. A P20 regenerator that will lower output impedance and reduce or completely eliminate THD, or the Gate, that will significantly reduce noise, but likely not help the output impedance at the outlet, or reduce THD???? Anyone have both?
Those of you who are installing it on the 220 breaker, I am curious to know if you are talking of dual pole breaker and installing the Gate into one of them ? As per my limited understanding in US, the 220 breaker has two inputs and each take the 110 from the service line. In that case the Gate will be installed into one of the input which effectively means into a 110v line. How is this installation different from other 110 breaker ? I am not an electrician, so pardon my ignorance :-)
For those wanting a much less expensive PPT product than the Gate I highly recommend their upcoming STOP IT. No, they don’t provide nearly the sound improvement of the Gate but at only $10 each they provide a definite increase to what the Gate already instills.
They are simple outlet covers that you plug into any unused outlet in the house. I purchased 12 and installed them throughout the house and they definitely build upon what I already have with the Gate, E-mats and cards. I had some Alan Maher devices throughout the house that thought might have made a slight sound improvement but replacing them with the PPT STOP IT plugs has made a noticeable and appreciated sound improvement.....even blacker background allowing more details and nuances to emerge.
If you are impressed by the improvements afforded to you by the PPT products thus far, The Gate will blow your mind. No joke ... it is that good. Old system or new system, it doesn't matter.
Remember, there is a 90-day return policy, no questions asked.
About 5 days ago I installed e cards on the remaining “un covered” power chord connections, digital and analog interconnects and speaker connections in both my main and office systems. I did not think that they would provide this much of an improvement in resolution and dynamics on both of my systems. I had previously treated all of those connections with TC and have one Mat on the main power panel, one on the CD player’s power supply and one on umbilical chord from the power supply to the dac/transport. As stated before my main system consists of an approximately 15-20 year old dac / CD player amp and preamp.
The question I have is, if these cards can further improve my system to this level how much improvement will The Gate bring to the table once installed in this old of a system?
Thank you for the response. I'm really happy that you're enjoying your Gate. It is an amazing device.
I'm sorry I took your reserved comments to be a lack of enthusiasm and I apologize. I am, after all, a "Yanker" ... and as you know, we can at times be Wankers. :-)
Just as an addendum to my last post when taking the shots of the Gate in situ I wondered if as the Torus wall case is a noisy (actually, it's quite hummy) environment if some additional isolation for the Gate via fo.Q damping material might help
Answer is "don't do it folks" -- having fo.Q anywhere near the Gate messes things up big time. Think collapsed soundstage and rolled off highs. Clearly the squidgy material the Gate is made of has some special properties and trying to second think it with other footers or damping materials is not advised. I'd also guess there's some of that eMat special field source in there as well that a second type of damping material interferes with
Anyway hopefully this advice can avoid anyone else wasting their time -- and also act as another good demonstration of how effective the Gate is
@mrs_ppt the Gate was installed by Ron Hedrich (Marigo Audio) based on advice provided by Tim. It is on the 240V input side of my Torus WM-75BAL wall conditioner. Electrically this is identical to installation across the 240V breaker that the Torus is connected to - just at the other end of 30' of Romex from the breaker box to the Torus. This was the best compromise between space/ease of installation and closest to the main system -- I accept that it may give up something in "whole house" treatment (although again electrically it's the same as being in the breaker) but in no way compromises the impact on my audio system. I added a photo in my system so you can see -- the black lead is hard to make out but is connected to the 40A block just under the left side of the transformer.
By the way having a dealer to work with you is a major positive and I hope Ron is only the first of many local dealers that you will be working with.
@oregonpapa this is me being enthusiastic -- I am British after all and we are reserved. Perhaps another way of looking at it is to realize that in a system with $200K invested in acoustical, power conditioning and other tweaks (not including cables btw) the addition of The Gate made a positive and differentiated impact not achievable by any other such change -- that's quite an endorsement is it not?
The Gate is such a significant improvement in every system in which I've heard it, that I find it interesting that you're not bubbling over with enthusiasm.
I'm wondering if you've installed it incorrectly. Did you connect it to a 220 amp breaker switch? If not, then you are totally missing out on what The Gate does so well. It will work off of a 110 switch, but will not be as effective as when attached to a 220 switch. If you have it on a 110, try the 220.
If you have installed it elsewhere in the system, take it out and put it in the circuit breaker box, then sit back and enjoy your new, very improved audio system.
Hey @folkfreak , Curious if you put the Gate in your panel , or did you install it some where else? Judging from your description it is NOT in your panel. . . . <3 Is it? Krissy
I've had several similar experiences when introducing new products into my system that mandated raising/lowering speaker plane.
Your statement that said:The Gate will be more/less impactful dependent upon the current state of one's system,( IS ) and should be taken to heart to those of us without The Gate, going forward.
I have previously read your grounding solutions topic.
@slaw thanks for the questions. I don't really do % improvements as in my experience any improvement is always substantial (in the sense that once you have it you value it greatly) but at the same time inconsequential (as the next improvement will overpass it as you move on) -- similar to the idea that there's no such thing as diminishing returns
A better way of thinking is by analogy. To my mind the gate is less impactful than introducing top quality power cords or power conditioning in the first place (bear in mind that this is in the context of a system that already has this, absent the multiple layers of conditioning I already have the impact may be different -- audio is if nothing else heavily path dependent). It's perhaps closest to introducing a grounding solution -- it brings a new element to the mix that is not otherwise accessible (see my musings on this topic here).
The "negative" is that at least in my system it changed the tonal balance and smoothed off some top end edginess that I'd been managing by placing my ears slightly below the plane of my M3 tweeters -- post Gate I raised the listening seat and was rewarded with superior top to bottom linearity -- arguably less forgiving on edgy recordings but such is the nature of the Magico voicing -- truth 'oer all.
IMO, I’d keep the Hyrda, unless you need the funds for The Gate. ……......…………………………...
@folkfreak ,
Personally, I’m glad you chimed in. Your system is one we all should be in awe of. Given that...I’m wondering since you now have The Gate, and apparently like it......how would you classify it in the following terms:
(1) How much improvement to your current system did The Gate provide in %? (This would be based upon all of your system history). (2) In terms of any one component, how does The Gate rank in the positive (moving forward) aspect of your system? (3) Was there any area of SQ that suffered?
I have a dozen E-Mats installed on equipment and power panels. I kept all SR 32 HFTs, SR fuses in my amps and SR power outlets. I rejected the SR black box because it cut off frequencies about 8Khz and shrunk the soundstage. The SR Atmosphere XL4 will be challenged in my new audio room as the former room had eccentricities which the XL4 sometimes helped. The new room is totally superior, comparable to the finest sound studios but constructed for listening only. The Hallographs and Stillpoints also remain. I don't use Total Contact. I hope to experience The Gate in the future but cannot afford it at this time due to the high cost of my listening room.
mac48025... I have a Shunyata Hydra V-Ray2, which is a passive conditioning/distribution unit. I bet that The Gate would render that obsolete in my system. Maybe selling the V Ray could raise a few bucks for The Gate, but I’d be giving up the surge protection it offers.
My findings were that there was a definite improvement upon installing the Gate in my system but I incurred even more sound improvement when removing my Equitech balanced power conditioner and SR Active Grounding Block.
I surmise that in the case of the power condition that it wasnt needed any more once the Gate was installed as the Gate provides an even blacker background than a power conditioner without any of their limitations. With the Gate in and the power conditioner out there was an increase in dynamics and more life to the music.
There was less less of a difference with and without the SR grounding block with the Gate. When used together there was a small increase in background blackness but upon removing the grounding block the music was more alive. Basically it didn’t make sense to me to keep the grounding block as I couldn’t warrant its cost when the Gate seems to be doing all it can.....and more.
The Gate just may be the one tweak to rule them all. I consider it to be much more than a tweak but not sure there’s a sufficient product category for it......yet.
barbapapa... Yes, that makes sense. I have the SR Panels and UEF Dots. Those would most likely stay. I have some ECTs on my Amp and CD player which would be easy to try both ways. Actually, who am I kidding?...I’m a long way from being able to buy The Gate. Looking at starting with the E Mats for my CDP, Integrated amp, and curcuit breaker panel.
I removed all my ECTs after installing only one Emat. When I removed them the sound was obviously better. I keep all my room treatments. I agree with Folkfreak they don’t work on the same plane... well I hope so. Never tried to put them out.
I cannot understand why you would remove other different and complementary products after adding a PPT product? As the basis of operation of each product is different why not see them as complementary?
Acoustic treatments such as HFTs, Atmosphere etc affect the room, which is not anything the PPT products touch. Grounding solutions provide a common ground for all elements in the system, again nothing anything from PPT will affect (although the Gate may affect the overall ground you still need all components to share that).
The only exception might be power conditioners and the Gate, but even there one acts only passively while isolation transformers and most conditioners act on all legs of the power and provide additional benefits.
All of this is to say that in my system which includes all of the above, the Gate provided an incremental, and clearly differentiated, benefit strongly suggesting that it is complementary rather than duplicative.
I'm using a ten-pack of SR HFTs throughout the room. They are staying where they are. They are great for getting a difficult room under control. Other than SR Level III power cords and the SR Blue fuses, the HFTs are the only SR products I'm using at the moment, so I can't speak for the rest.
One of my friends will be installing his HFTs shortly and he has The Gate already installed. He has a real need for room treatments. Perhaps he will chime in here after the installation.
Also, I believe that A'gon member Steve Fleschler had some experience with removing some SR products after installing his Omega E Mats and pasting his system with PPT's Total Contact. If he becomes aware of this thread, maybe he will share his experience as well.
I wonder about Synergistic Research products such as Atmosphere, UEF Acoustic Panels, UEF Acoustic Dots, HFTs, ETCs, etc. Better to remove them when using The Gate?
Hi drpie: Fantastic system you've assembled! Like barbapapa I too found that removing 7 High Fidelity MC 0.5 waveguides (which are for sale BTW) from my system after installing Perfect Path paste and E cards was a real improvement in my sound. It was not subtle either. Also, I was using a couple of Audio magic Pulse Gen devices (one inside the sub panel for my stereo and the other inside the power supply of the CD player). After removing them and replacing them with E cards, the sound was even more improved with less glare and bite. Good listening. Jeff
drpie... like you, I had Bybee IQSE and ARN, Stein harmonizers. I aslo had big box Entreq.
I just kept the room acoustic treatments : Harmonizers and ARN. I sold Entreq and IQSE when I installed the Emats in my system and after using total contact enhancer.
Tim’s products work better without them.
I can’t speak for every power treatments but for the one I am speaking that’s a fact (in my system and room of course).
When I will be able to buy the gate, maybe I can put my Torus out, who knows ?
So the PPT.s products are not that expensive in the end...
I just took a look at your system. It is awesome. It deserves The Gate for sure. With a Gate, E-Mats and Total Contact, as good as your system is now, it will be transformed into something beyond what you ever imagined possible. No joke.
Heya, <3 Thanks for the question. <3 The Gate is compatible with all of these products you've mentioned above. <3 What our customers are experiencing... well.... the feedback is extraordinary. <3 Here's what's up....
After our products have been in for awhile, customers have removed certain other devices, allowing our technology to increase the sound quality vastly further. Astounding. <3 I've experienced this effect for myself with magnets and Bybee devices. <3 ;)
YOU WOULDN'T BE UNHAPPY leaving everything as is, and installing a Gate. It is an unusual device, the first of it's kind. It has many, many positive attributes, some of them yet to be discovered.
When you experiment and move the other devices out, it's truly bizarre. The Perfect Path effect is greatly increased! @drpie great set up you've got there! This level system will benefit from installing a Gate.
As someone who does not like to buy my Hi-Fi gear on line, save for a few items on AG, all I can do to in response to the negative things said about PPT and the owner/inventor, are not at all true in my experience.
If had not worked I would have returned it and demand my money back. However, none of the products I have tried and used from PPT have ever failed to work as discussed in this forum. In fact, they have surpassed my expectations.
As for Cutomer service, last Friday I placed my fourth order to PPT, on Friday morning and received it in priority mail, without being charged or asking for it, on Monday afternoon. It was an Oder for 10 e cards and got a “pelone” that I did not ask for.
I will continue to do business wit PPT because the products are reasonably priced for what they do, the service is fantastic and the owner is reachable by phone or email for if you have sincere questions about the product.
As a former ignorant jerk, I’d like to chime in.... fsonicsmith, PPT owners are good, honest folk who are passionate about enhancing their customer’s musical experience.
Indicator number 1- All purchases (except TC) come with an industry leading 90 day no questions asked full refund guarantee. Point out another comparable company that does that. I see you failed to mention that tidbit when you were picking apart their website. Hard to get swindleded with that guarantee, wouldn’t you say?
Indicator number 2- Owner’s personal number to discuss product info and ask questions. Doesn’t appear to me they’re hiding behind anything.
Indicator number 3- Generous to a fault. They were offering free Alpha cards for anyone to try. Simply pm your address. Well, I took them up on their offer and they graciously sent me one. They also added something else for free that was very generous and completely unexpected. All this after I was a naysaying jerk. No stipulations, no strings attached. They also send extras along with most customer orders, no strings attached. You tell me the last company you dealt with that does that.
Indicator number 4- The products actually work! Know this comes as a shock to you, but everyone here praising their products are not a bunch of ignorant rubes that will fall for any tweak du jour. These are intelligent, successful people who know their audio.
So, before you judge without having a shred of evidence to the contrary, try one of their products at zero risk. If you are not willing to do that, you are talking from a position of literal ignorance.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
