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.
Two Omega E Mats in the breaker panel is a good idea and very effective.
I managed to fit four Omega E Mats into the circuit breaker box by stacking them. They barely fit, but I got them in there. Also, I pasted as much of the interior of the box, including the breakers, the connecting wires, and the inside of the interior metal door with PPT's Total Contact. So, the circuit breaker box now sports four mats, tons of TC paste and a "Gate." The result of all of this was stunning.
After you put the additional mat into the breaker box, you'll want to get enough of the new PPT "Stop Its" to plug into all of your unused electrical outlets inside the house. They are not just icing on the cake ... these little plug-in devices are very effective in lowering the noise floor even further, and cost-effective to boot.
I have one E-Mat in the main breaker box over the audio breaker and two E-Mats on the outside panel of the audio breaker box. I thought that the E-Mats work just as well through a sheet of metal (the breaker box cover) as inside. Should I keep the breaker box cover open with the E-Mats attached to the inside of the cover?
"Too bad the Audiogon Moderators don’t remove this thread!It looks to be PURE advertising!"
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, Ozzy, but try to keep in mind, that what one person sees as "PURE advertising," others see as enthusiasm for innovative products that improve the overall sound quality of one’s audio system.
My whole point of being on this site is to discover the new innovative products that improve the SQ of my stereo system. When discovered, I like to share that information with others. Also, I’m here to learn from others about their own discoveries, old or new.
Let’s put things into perspective here, Ozzy. Please list the ways in which you’ve been treated unfairly on this site by me or by Tim and Krissy, or anyone else in general. Once you do that, then I’ll be more than happy to supply you with a list of the more than fair treatments you’ve received over time by those involved.
It has been said before, but here it is again ... The answer to ideas you don’t agree with isn’t to shut down those who express those ideas but to come up with some innovative ideas of your own, then discuss them as well.
Take care, Ozzy ... and keep a positive mental outlook.
Steve ... I have my mats on the inside of the breaker box door, resting right up against the switches. I haven’t tried putting them on the outside of the door.
By the way ... you must take some time to come up for a listen. Robert is playing air guitar between the speakers now. He actually thinks he’s Chet Atkins. *lol*
Well lets say that the owners wife posted some ugly untrue things about me on the now deleted thread. The owner has called my home several times threatening lawsuit. And by your own admission you have so many of the products it must number into the $20,000-$30,000 range yet your system page shows a average modest system.
The products may be good, to me they seem to be overpriced for what they actually are. There appears to be about 6 people posting on these forums promoting the products that are probably more than just happy product customers.
I’m going to leave it at that. If what you say is true, then be assured that I am in total disagreement with phone calls to your home. I, however, am getting a completely different story. Nuff said ...
Take care, Ozzy ...
Frank
PS: To replicate my system at this point, at full retail the cost would be right around 100k. Modest, indeed.
My listening room cost $165K and my analog front end is $22K. My old/great speakers are only $2.5K today. The dozen E-Mats make a significant difference and I wouldn't want to be without them. I would probably need to buy $35K to $70K speakers to get me close to my current sound without E-Mats. My high end TVs have enhanced color and sound with them. E-Mats work as advertised.
I have tinkered with my sound system and tv setup for years always wanting to tweak and get the most out of them. My previous use of HF mc-2.5's and various Mad Scientists discs was really good and was quite happy with both the sound of the stereo and picture quality of my tv. Yesterday marked around one month I have had the mats in my system and I'm getting not only the best sound I have had thus far in my two channel setup but also an incredible tv picture. I still have a 2013 Panny plasma and really have no desire to get a new OLED but I'm sure I'll be tempted to some day but these mats really are amazing and are much more discrete in their presence around the house versus having magnets sticking out everywhere.
I have had the Gate in and out of my system for about three months. My music (Energy Room) is dedicated area with a highly advanced approach to acoustics and vibration management. There is a dedicated breaker box mounted to a Star Sound platform. All AC wire is cryo treated and terminate at Furutech outlets.
When I indicate the Gate has been in and out that is because I was stunned at the difference it made and I wanted to confirm what I was hearing - multiple times. As I have experienced with Tim's other products they do take time to reach full potential and with the Gate removing it leads to a gradual decline in performance until you are at baseline. I would put in back in the circuit and everything already posted occurs: more air, higher level of detail, lower noise floor and expansive, concert-emulating sound stage. And, it improves day-to-day while the system reaches potential.
I agree with the others that this is not a tweak which to me references a small, incremental change. The Gate should be viewed in the same context as major changes to a component or number of components. At this point it is indispensable. I have a very nice setup but with the Gate it reaches an entire different level of performance. The cost is by no means high given the outcome. With the generous trial period and ease of installation I would say, go for it.
That energy room must be awesome, especially with the Gate. There was another member here who had one but I think ended up selling the house to move. I have Apprentice platforms under all my components and Rhythms under my speakers. Really love what the Star Sound stuff does along with the addition of my Omega mats.
^^^ Guys, if you haven't done so yet, get enough of the new Stop Its to plug into every open electrical outlet in your home. They really enhance every PPT product you've invested in so far. It's like someone fed "The Gate" an overdose of testosterone.
"Stop It's" is the latest product from PPT. They are little two-prong devices that plug into unused wall sockets. Think in terms of those child safety plugs that keep little fingers from getting poked into the outlets. When treated with the PPT formula, they become small power conditioners. I have them in every open outlet in my place. It took 25 of them to do the job. I haven't spoken with Tim for a couple of weeks now, but when I got mine, they were $10.00 each. Very effective, and highly recommended. Same 90 day return policy.
Last evening I had a listening session after about a week of not turning my system on. I wanted to have fresh ears and listen again after the 30 day mark of The Gate installation. Well, I was once again amazed that more realism had somehow made its way into the sound of my system. I can’t describe the experience better than the the word “real”. The Gate has been described as a “major component upgrade”, but I’d say it’s more like you upgraded every component in your system! Just imagine upgrading your amp, cables, speakers, front end, etc. That’s the best description I have for what I’ve experienced. Many thanks to Tim for his work on this and other products, as well as Frank (Oregonpapa), with whom I’ve had several phone conversations about the products. Its been a fun summer! Happy listening, everyone!
Surprised website still not up. I was wanting to order some products before trying the gate. I know most feel secure about PPT, but for someone fresh to this scene, it seems a little unusual and slightly worrisome. Hope Tim gets thing up and running soon.
You’ll need one Stop It for each outlet. If you have unused dual outlets you’ll need two Stop Its to cover them. You have four unused outlets, so you’ll need four Stop Its. Ideally, you'll want a Stop It for every open outlet in your house. I have 25 of them throughout my place.
Great product, by the way. Very effective.
marc777 ...
I spoke with Tim this morning. The website will be up soon. The webmaster is still working on it. Maybe by next week, I hope. In the meantime, you can call the number here:
Nope, my ARC gear is staying put. But knowing how fertile Tim Mrock's mind is, I wouldn't be surprised to see something else after the power strip.
I'd like to try one of the power strips for sure, just to see if it would be an improvement over the modified Sound Application power conditioner presently being used. Tim didn't say when it would be available though.
Ordered another E-Mat so that will make two for the breaker panel. Very pleased with all the PPT products and curious to see the power strip option coming.
Off and on over the past two days, I’ve been burning some CDs for a friend, being careful to select those with superior performances and sound quality. As I was digging deep into the CD collection, I pulled out a little gem that any jazz fan reading this should jump on. If you like Miles Davis and John Coltrane from the Kind of Blue era, here’s one not to pass up:
It only came in mono, but like a lot of the early mono jazz recordings, it sounds very natural and involving. I have the "Six-Eye" original LP too. If you can find it, grab it. It has superior sound also.
I haven’t listened to this recording since installing The Gate and the Stop-Its. I knew it was good ... but now it is just incredible.
By the way, the website is up and running ... and much improved. It even has a video presentation. Check it out:
What is carcinogenic? The 40 years of cigarette smoking (he quit 8 months back), the years of ham, bacon, ice cream and whatever else he wanted. (He hated my organic food.) The stress of starting a new company in a tough industry....well, they all add up. The products are safe and non toxic. Krissy
The other thread didn’t seem like the place for this. So has The Gate magically gotten UL, CSA or CE certification?
I would warn all potential buyers that they should use a bonded, insured, and licensed electrician to install The Gate. Additionally, require a signed and notarized letter from the electrician that they find The Gate to be safe in their professional opinion. Good luck finding such an electrician! 😂
Anything less and you can guarantee that your insurance company will laugh at you when you make any insurance claim related to your breaker box. They'll discover you have an unknown device connected to your breaker box, that you have no clue what it really is, or what it does. More importantly they'll find that it is not certified by any NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories).
$5000 could buy you FIFTY+ Furman SMP pieces or Series Mode conditioners! That's probably enough to filter almost all electronics in most homes. That will result in actual noise reduction that's been measured, and far greater proven safety & protection for your home and electronics, than anything from PPT. Furman products are certified by UL, CSA, ETL and TÜV!
You could even put part of that money towards a Furman ELITE-15 PF I for the main system, and have proven Power Factor technology & over 45 amps peak charge for the most extreme peak power demands.
Jay, you’re not reading for comprehension---the OP stated back in April that he did have his master electrician evaluate his Gate--his electrician said it was safe and that he even wanted one for himself, and he had even installed all of the OP's new circuits. I wouldn’t expect much from that little Furman, to be used on a 15A circuit and weighing all of 15 lbs.
@jafreeman You're lacking the comprehension. That's pure conjecture and won't hold up in court. The electrician can easily claim he didn't install it and never said any such thing.
Even a "little" Furman with SMP can handle up to 1000+ 6000V/3000A surges without breaking a sweat, and handle overvoltage conditions.
I suggest that you do not buy a Gate. Don't even think about buying one. It would make your system sound way too good and would reduce you to a puddle of tears.
However, if you DID buy a Gate, I would be the first in line as a volunteer to bake your crow pie.
@jafreeman Thank you for proving you have comprehension problems. There is a large difference between peak/instantaneous and continuous power. Furman also provides a 20A continuous model. That's the most you would draw from one outlet for US market gear, so The Gate won't do you any magic tricks in comparison.
@oregonpapa You would be wrong on both counts. A client was suckered into buying one. The only one crying was him after hearing what real power conditioning can do, and how colored the PPT gear is. He was past his return period, so luckily he was able to sell it to an audiophool that is blissfully unaware.
So don't try to sell us on your "extreme peak power demands" comparison, implying great sound all of the time if only we would have bought your little Furman, when the Gate is what delivers great sound all of the time. Really though, you irked me with your offer of RIP, (but be sure to say you don't like the products)---then you drag a personal post about Tim over here to rip into the Gate. As Uberwaltz said, "Show some class".
@oregonpapa Tell yourself whatever you have to feel better about your system. I have thousands of hours of unreleased remasters I've done, from recording sessions I've sat in on, because the labels want the crushed 💩. Do you have one such hour of masters that you've worked on and know as well? Yeah, I didn't think so.
The Gate isn't good enough for such mastering work. If you're happy with it, good for you. 👍
I'm not saying the Furman idea is the solution, but it's a better use of funds.
@jafreeman She claimed the products were safe. I’m telling the reality of what the insurance situation would be. You can pay attention and be forewarned or not. Your huffy puff does nothing.
The roughly 50+ Furman solution would achieve far better sound all of the time through constant and measured lower distortion levels than that one Gate could ever hope for.
Hi jay23: Just so you know, I have the Gate pugged into the service AC outlet that's located right next to my main breaker panel and am getting stunning results from it. No need for an electrician or inspectors. Good listening. Jeff
What’s next, you need a licensed electrician to supervise changing a fuse? I removed the magnetic steel panel door of my circuit breaker box. Was that wrong of me? Am I in deep kim chi with the Law? Will there be some serious jail time involved?
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