I have had 6 QSA Stones on top of my power conditioner (2 each of red blue and clear) for about three months, and have really enjoyed what they bring to my system. This week, I got another set of 6.
One thing I have learned over many years in this hobby is the importance of power supplies, and the impact they have on the sound of individual components and systems. A number of audiophiles with DIY skills upgrade the power supplies on components with bigger and/or better capacitors, and in various other ways. Unfortunately, I lack the skills to do this.
I ended up placing the new stones on top of the power supplies of my CD transport and amp (1 red, blue and clear on each). To me the very positive results sound similar to upgrading the power supplies, without all the hassle of soldering etc. Particularly with my amp, there was an increased sense of ease and musical flow, along with more solidity and authority.
I don’t claim to have any real explanation as to how the QSA stones work, but it seems to have something to do with their interaction with electromagnetic fields, such as those around power transformers. Fortunately, I don’t need an explanation to enjoy the results🙂
If you think this is all bunk, or can’t see how these type of things can have any impact on the sound, that’s fine, but I’ll politely ask you to refrain from making repeated posts to that effect. The QSA Stones are obviously not for you, nor is this thread directed towards you.
Thanks for the Link George. Upon further study I note that the seller of these items take careful care not to claim they actually work. They use the phrase "These seem to ....." twice, and the phrase "these reach the upper mids".....which of course is a meaningless statement. A rock can not "reach" anything. Legally, if they actually worked, the statement would read "These Do X,Y,Z." not "These Seem to Do X,Y,Z". This keeps them from legal exposure for running a scam. It also keeps them from being shut down by their local regulatory body. It is sad that these types of people do this....imagine some poor guy on fixed income being told,..."just buy more rocks and it will sound amazing."
Please cancel my request for the technical information.....however If someone would be specific as to the mineral needed, I will gladly audition the rock. I just tried a bocce ball and it did not do anything either.
Can someone with a little technical knowledge let me know what kind of rock (the actual mineral) this item is? I have tried several different types of rocks this morning on my components and have seen zero results. If there is a claim that a rock can improve sound, my friend who is a geology nut will help me test the correct ones. Also, the brick and the charcoal was a total failure.
Repeat George, 15 times you've chimed in on a thread about stones. Several more have been deleted.
How many times are you NOT going to contribute?
If you've used the stones chime in, if you have NOT, STOP..
I haven't tried them and most likely won't, that has nothing to do with those that have. I'm glad I can use them and choose what may work better for ME, IF I so choose.. It's a choice,
I LIKE choices..
One that seems to be lacking is NO. Pretty simple one..
If people want to chime in and tell other people how thing "can't" work, then why chime in at all? If you have an explanation WHY, then share it and move on.
The same goes for everyone else that chimes in to explain everyone else's ignorance or usually just calls everyone a liar. Their opinions and 5 dollars will get you a cup of coffee.
It's like talking to Klingons (Grand Nagus Zek, DS9) What's the profit in that? In this case where is the wisdom in "you shouldn't try it"? OR at least pay attention..
I disagree with everything George usually posts. As well as you Mr_M. Accepted and appreciated @Tony1954.
I have bought a number of extras for my system. The ones that have improved the sound, I report as such. The additions where I have heard no difference I don't tell others they should try them.
I will be upgrading to SR Purple. Happily so. Looking forward to it.
Maybe the best answer is the simplest one. If you buy these stones expecting good results, then your mind will convince you they work even if they do absolutely nothing.
I'm always open to new ideas that have science to back them up. Anyway, what's the difference between these and any old gem stone mounted on a platform?
Remind me,
exactly
how does it achieve its magic. Does the presence of EMI interact to create magic field that makes everything sound better? Someone said cymbals decay slower. Is that an improvement? If the autosuggestion has helped improve the listener's hearing, then that's terrific.
Perhaps one hundred placed in a circle with burning candles works best.
Perhaps I should have said that their existence is entirely independent of any given person having an explanation, or not. Some really seem to believe that, if THEY don’t have an explanation for something, it can’t be true, it must be false or fraudulent.
What many don’t seem to get is that the existence of these “characteristics” is entirely independent of explanation.
Oh, I sort of disagree, if I understand that correctly. I think there are perhaps quite well-known explanations for people advocating the existence of these characteristics.
Slightly different but on a similar theme, on another current thread there is a discussion about colours and music. This may seem rather mystical to the casual observer, however it is quite well documented and researched and there is even evidence of this trait being inherited.
“…Any requirement to have the necessary belief system is conceding that no known science may explain certain characteristics”
What many don’t seem to get is that the existence of these “characteristics” is entirely independent of explanation. They make the leap, totally unsupported by logic, to “I don't have an explanation, therefore fraud or deceit MUST be involved.”
I feel sorry for all of you that are unwilling to try something outside of your limited belief systems.
Insofar as certain tweaks are concerned, the word "belief" is not in the vocabulary of the skeptic. Any requirement to have the necessary belief system is conceding that no known science may explain certain characteristics.
Which makes statements such as the one quoted rather redundant.
Sometimes certain unusual technology may be caught by this requirement to have faith were it not possible for purveyors of said technology to take full advantage of the patents system for a variety of very good reasons. Credibility being one reason.
A possible example I read about recently on these pages was the liquid technology as embodied in teo products.
"However, I did not spend 3000 dollars for a set of 4."
And neither did I.
And by the way, what were the results when you compared four Shakti Hallographs to your two small ficus trees? Did you prefer the ficus trees over the Hallographs?? Please describe the differences. Thanks.
Absolutely Oregon, I do not argue against diffusion. I find the same thing happens when I remove the ficus trees that I use with my Magnepans. However, I did not spend 3000 dollars for a set of 4. Cheers
I doubt many will want to buy because for that kind of coin you can actually improve your system by upgrading a component.
Have you tried the Shakti Hallographs in your own listening environment? I have four ... one in each corner of the room. They make for a very easy a/b comparison because they can be easily removed from the room. I’ve demonstrated the effect for friends many times. Once removed, the soundstage collapses and the sound goes to hell. They are expensive, I agree. They are flimsily made (keep a tube of Gorilla Glue handy), but they are absolutely essential for getting room acoustics under control. And by the way, I don’t know of an electrical component that will give the same type of improvement the Shakti Hallographs will. If you know of one, please name it. Thanks.
Frank
PS: Please give a short synopsis of what your experience has been when you used the Shakti Hallographs in your own listening environment. I look forward to your input.
The stones/pebbles/magic rocks scam has been around a while. Interesting study would be to see what states allow Corp or LLC from these people. Maybe it is in the words of the marketing literature....words like "May" and "Could" instead of a fact? Here is a thread from 2007 https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/review-machina-dynamica-brilliant-pebbles-tweak - No idea if this guy is still selling rocks. Audiophile Rocks were sold by Coconuts Audio....they are shut down. One guy I read swears by cans of spam & soup. Have to admit they will be a better price point than a painted rock. Another fellow even swears by Charcoal Briquettes......something to do with Carbon. Puts them under components, on top of speakers and lays bags on cables. Charcoal. I can only imagine the mess. While I have an open mind, I do not smoke my breakfast. Contempt prior to investigation is never a good thing but it requires limits. Never a new debate here so I look forward to the wonderful and exiting news about how these old scam tweaks are breaking new ground and the delightful reasons why Upscale Audio, Sweetwater and Audio Advisor, just to name a few, are not selling them. I am going to call a couple of the top 10 audio equipment dealers in the country and ask when they plan on stocking these wonderful rocks. Strangely enough they began selling these things when the internet became popular. I'm having trouble finding magic rocks that predate the 90s. The only stones I can find are, of course, Rolling.
PS. For 1500 bucks you can buy this piece of wood. https://www.shakti-innovations.com/product/hallograph/ I doubt many will want to buy because for that kind of coin you can actually improve your system by upgrading a component.
"in spite of the fact no one has a very good explanation of how they work"
You said it Miller. Except no-one has any explanation WHATEVER.
Except me. The impression that a passive lumps of **** can have any effect on system sound is caused by psychological and mood changes in the listener and mistaken post purchase sub-conscious need for gratification.
OK. OK. You believers go on wasting your money, why should I care.
And by the way, Miller, don't badmouth my system. You have no idea what it is, except I have posted it contains the greatest power packing amps of them all: the Krell Reference KRS200, uprated to 400w. Don't make em like that any more, the green madmen don't allow it. That's why in power amps vintage kit rules more and more. Soon we will all have to have wimpy Class D by law and some will continue pretending it can do a Class A job.
Really love Miller carbons setup. Great looking room as well. Interesting to know how he decided on that speaker setup and what the process was to decide on them.
Thanks.
The system is in a room built 30 years ago, the culmination of a lifelong dream to have a dedicated listening room. There is so much nonsense around this I won't even go into except to note everything I am talking about is based on actual experience.
So the room gets built and having drilled into me how important this is first thing when empty the floor is gridded out and I am trying all possible speaker locations. I mean literally gridded out, lines on the floor. Every speaker location I listen to music and also play test tones. Remember 30 years ago we don't just push a button, we have to actually try and learn and understand. By the way when I say all possible I mean all, including listening locations. Speakers go one spot, listen here, then 6" farther back, 6" farther, 6" more- move speakers, move chair, lather rinse repeat.
Again, 30 years ago. Thanks to this exhaustive work I have enjoyed really excellent imaging right from Day One. JBL L7, Linaeum Model 10, Vandersteen something or other, Talon Khorus, Moab- if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Acoustics went through the same process. When my turntable was built Steve Clarke took some pictures and they are a kind of snapshot of what things were like at that point in time. https://theanalogdept.com/c_miller.htm We had some guys over recently, Brandon was impressed with how smooth the response was but there is a peak that creates a bit of ringing and this is a good example of how none of this push a button stuff is necessary. I said yeah listen and clapped my hands. Flutter echo, ringing. Moved, clapped, no flutter echo no ringing. Could use some diffusers. You can figure out where just by clapping and listening. Don't cost nothin'. Works. I even know what I want them to look like. Just need to actually stop and build the damn things.
+2 on that, and it’s more than just cars he chasing. Just look at the dubious amount of products attached to that system, must be 10 of every pieces of each ever made. A how does he tell what’s doing, if everything transforms the system as he says it does. And the lava lamp has me intrigued because it’s so close to interconnects etc , they have a rubbish power supply to light and heat the wax that makes a lot of noise.
@phcollie.There maybe some truth to the statements you made.
My system is not a Raven Blackhawk or Tekton Moabs! No I own a Audio Hungary Qualiton X200 and QLN Prestige 3 speakers, a Clearaudio Innovation Compact Wood Turntable and, Clearaudio Stradivari MM Ctg and a Lejonklou Phono Section. Bel Canto DAC 2.7 and CDt 3. All my cables are Signal Cables. And it all sounds spectacular!
Whats even better is I tried all these Voodoo stick’s, stones and crystals when I owned a Raven Blackhawk and Klipsch Forte IV. I soon figured out that it will never be the system I really desire voodoo or no voodoo. You know you can stuff a Porsche motor in a Honda Accord and at the end of the day it is still a Honda.
Chuck can glue all the magic stones and crystals to his system and it will still sound like a Blackhawk hooked up to Tekton Moabs.
That is great for @millecarbon but not for me. I will bet he has more money tied up in voodoo tweaks than he has in his core components.
Of course, shills will state "You have under-developed listening skills" , "Your system is not resolving" , or the old and tested "They require system synergy with components you lack".
Really love Miller carbons setup. Great looking room as well. Interesting to know how he decided on that speaker setup and what the process was to decide on them. I am more of a single driver or most 2 way.
@oldhvymec. Funny thing is I have tried all this stuff, Shitaki Stones, Petoskey Stones, Tuning Sticks, Crystals and none if it did anything, Did not even make my wallet lighter as I sent all the crap back and only bought this stuff from vendors with return privileges.
Here is the other thing I do not see this stuff being sold the real high end audio dealers.
@jerryg123 Fair point. There is some twisted logic in this thread. If someone tells me they have tried hitting themselves on the head with a hammer and it hurts, then I do not have to do the same thing to have an opinion about hitting yourself on the head with a hammer. Likewise the converse if someone tells me it feels great.
If a product has value, it will be sold at reputable dealers, reviewed in the trade magazines and publications, and most importantly, there will be competition from other companies to sell similar products and take advantage of the economic laws of opportunity and market share.
Of course, shills will state "You have under-developed listening skills" , "Your system is not resolving" , or the old and tested "They require system synergy with components you lack".
Don't comment statements apparently are needed by the shills helping someone sell something. One doesn't need to buy expensive rocks to have an opinion about said rocks.
" All these "snake oil" products need to be eradicated, from forums, where they get free exposure and get massive profits, without posting themselves if you notice, they just let their shillers do it for them. That way there’s no liability back to them for any claims on what they do.
Cheers George"
Hey George, you’ve never tried any of them, right? "Eradicated"? Is that your MO? Right. Lather, rinse, REPEAT.
Your opinion would mean,,,,,,oh, so much more,,,,,,had you actually TRIED the things you rail against.
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