Sistrum or Neuance or...?

Good-day to all,

My name is Robert from Star Sound Technologies, LLC.

Please accept this simple invitation for all Audiophiles, veterans and novice alike, to pick up the telephone and call me at 1-877-668-4332 (toll free) or my personal line is (740) 922-0459.

I will answer all of your questions.

No sales pitch will be presented as our gracious return policies dictate all of our products performance capabilities. I will provide you information that will increase your core of knowledge while opening up a few new thought processes as well.

Should I not be able to answer any question appropriately, I will immediately direct the question and/or client to a specific Star Sound engineer. They will provide you the correct information in order to help further your understanding of exactly what it is that we have discovered and how we are applying these newfound technologies to the recording sciences, sound reinforcement industry, musical instruments and of course the audio reproduction processes.

However, please realize in advance that we will not disclose any sensitive information with regards to our proprietary technologies.

Star Sound Technologies has always strived to provide our callers a greater understanding of resonance profiles and the control thereof. After fifteen years of research and product development, we along with some very qualified and dignified Industry reviewers have positioned The Science of Resonance Energy Transfer as a functional vehicle within the terminology associated with resonance control methodology.

Providing the public an education of our newfound technical breakthroughs has been one of the most difficult and expensive tasks we have ever embarked upon. The majority of our advertising budget is spent on verbally communicating with Audiophiles from around the world. Believe me when I state that we truly enjoy every personality, conversation and every penny we have invested to date on this format. We believe that public opinion and word of mouth still carries the majority of weight and holds the true secrets to success in the music business.

Should some of the members here remain committed to attempting to aggravate us by using simple terms like technical BS, or wish to call us out onto these forums to simply accuse, argue or ridicule – please, dial us in first?

The advantage of a phone call is always in your favor. I will not know who you are yet you know who I am. If I do not have enough time to discuss your agenda due to my additional responsibilities, we will set up an evening appointment.

I will spend as much time as required of me in order to advance your understanding of resonance profiles and how this Science of Resonance Energy Transfer establishes a more efficient state of operation.

We can also discuss the expected results from employing this process and the merits associated with the increased flow of information and how more information flow will increase your systems musical performance along with the more important bottom line; enhancing your enjoyment from listening.

We thank you in advance for your time and very much look forward to speaking with you.

As always – Good Listening!

Robert Maicks
Star Sound Technologies, LLC

Good-day to all:

Robert here, from Star Sound Technologies, LLC. I was not available to answer the various questions tabled over the past week as we asked Tom Lyons to step in and address your inquiries on this thread.

After reading all the information listed above and trying not to create additional confusion, I would like to address a few members here and again ask them what specific questions they would like us to answer for them with regards to the function of the Sistrum Platforms design.

We really enjoy all of the telephone communications provided by you the listeners, however it remains a request, in so many words, that we answer here in print as well.

As you begin to process some of the information written below you will realize that there is much to be said and learned, so please direct your questions as accurately as possible.

In order to play some catch up, I would like to provide you a basis for understanding of our newfound discoveries of which definitely addresses a change from the age old thought philosophy with concerns to resonance and the controlling thereof.

Sistrum Platforms invention was initially based on the study of raw materials and how they vibrate, their associated frequency response, what additional properties are borne from said vibrations, what inefficiencies are borne related to the vibrations, analyzing multiple resonance properties and establishing various patterns, documenting various amplitudes thereof and how to apply the results from these studies in order to establish a greater efficient state of operation. Then, apply all of the above information and test results by inventing and manufacturing a product that both provides the hi-fi listener a more musical environment and establish a newfound technology that is expandable for additional industry.

Within the Specialty Audio Industry there is little written, little understood and even less quantitative research available to aid the end user in their search for a truer wide-ranging understanding as to what detriments are actually formed from vibration, how and why resonance prohibits functionality and what the benefits could be achieved by targeting a specific application to reduce the disadvantageous effects from Coulomb friction (a self induced problem).

A typical resonance pattern embodies Coulomb friction (the downside or negative) as well as micro and macro dynamics (the upside or positive). Add to that all the combined resonant frequencies from electrical and mechanical forces plus the many individual harmonic frequencies that are also formed as part of a typical resonance pattern. These combined frequencies also combine with other harmonics generating yet more types of resonance patterns of harmonic frequencies and without any specific structure over time. That said, hopefully you can now begin to understand, the further in we go into the topic of what is termed resonance the more difficult a general definition, understanding and/or description becomes. A slight change in materials alone and the resonance patterns again change as the analytical process begins anew. It has taken us eight years of research and prototyping just to bring five models of Sistrum to the market and we are still learning more about our discoveries each and every day.

Lest we forget combined with all the variables listed above when it comes time to set up for testing and evaluation the process of how to properly establish testing methodology also begins anew. Initially, we must establish a common ground for testing that also requires individual formulas for each test application, the various types of test equipment required along with re-calibrating each piece, environmental details also play a critical role and are calculated in, which materials to use and what determines the order of employment as the list of criterion continues to expand.

To completely understand and apply the term resonance or a more often used terminology – ‘energy’ in a simple context is not easily done.

The goal of Star Sound Technologies, LLC and Executive Lead Designer Brent Riehl is to remove the multiple amplitudes of Coulomb friction formed on all surfaces without disrupting or destroying the natural dynamics and harmonics that reside within each individual instrument (components, loudspeakers, cables, acoustical control devices, walls, flooring and ceilings, and even musical instruments) thus establishing a more efficient state.

The results of this efficiency is immediately noticed as the you will hear more information produced at the loudspeaker level such as a defined triplet on a snare drum head or a longer sense of cymbal decay without sudden drop-off or actually hearing the breath before the voice. It will also appear as if your system is working with a greater sense of effortlessness. Our opening statement to all audiophiles who inquire is that the equipment you already own possesses many of these qualities. All we provide you is the ability to hear and appreciate all of these musical traits. We accomplish this by providing a high-speed pathway for the exit of Coulomb friction effect.

The Sistrum Platform is an active device. It vibrates continuously and simultaneously. The primary function of the Sistrum Platform is to be capable of reducing said friction while in motion, as everything in a musical environment is moving.

The Sistrum Platform is also the noisiest Platform in the world. Actually the term Sistrum comes to us from an age old musical instrument often described as a “rattle triangle”.

Proper Definition: The sistrum was an ancient musical instrument, kind of like a rattle in shape combined with the idea of a modern tambourine. It had two basic designs, the naos and the hoop. Most late period was of the hoop design. Most commonly it featured a representation of Het-Hert (Hathor) on the handle. It was used in sacred rituals, most particularly for Het-Hert but later associated with Imen (Amun) and Aset (Isis). It was most particularly used by the women musicians and chantresses who served in the temple, and the sound was believed to ward off the powers of chaos.

Our noisy “rattle triangle” vibrates creating a multitude of frequencies. One of the key elements within this design is that the materials employed produce a frequency range well above as well as well below that of our human hearing – therefore we only hear the instrument or component in its uninterrupted and natural vibrating state free from the detrimental effects caused from Coulomb friction.

I have noticed much confusion here over the directionality of the Audio Points when placed onto the Sistrum design. As previously stated by Tom Lyons, should you invert an Audio Point (tip facing skyward) on a standard shelf or plane, you reverse our geometry and the Audio Points will not function properly. Try to think of the Audio Points, by themselves, as a two dimensional design. The varying amplitudes of resonant energy enters the body of the Audio Point and are transferred through the tip into the greater mass or grounding plane below (shelf or racking eventually contacting the flooring).

Now think of the Sistrum Platform more in a three dimensional plane. The inverted Audio Points when “Direct Coupled”, meaning that there is another intersecting Audio Point below the steel shelf with the tip facing downward (model SP-004 and SP-1) or on our Multi-Shelf Designs (models SP-2, 3, 4, 5, 6) there is a one inch brass bolt with a specified diameter that sandwiches the steel shelf and intersects the Audio Point facing skyward, is a requirement for the design to function. This Direct Coupled technique enhances the now inverted Audio Point's performance, in essence creating a mechanical amplifier. The inverted Audio Point now works much like a megaphone; however we rely just as much on the shelving material and the main support rods to draw the friction away from the component or loudspeaker. Do not think of the resonance first going through the tips of the points then to the shelving as all the materials are engineered to function as a whole. These parts are all formulated to work as a unit or not at all.

If we were to add a greater mass to the shelf, use another steel material other than that of our own cold rolled steel formula, loosen or eliminate the brass bolts connecting the shelf to the Audio Points, use a different materials formula for our brass which is extremely critical to the Audio Points function, use a solid steel main support rod (more on the rods shortly as I am sure there will be questions asked on those topics) instead of our three part design – the Sistrum Platform would become dysfunctional.

We do have a few simple requests in order that all parties involved with this questions and answers thread remain focused on the concept itself and they are:

1. Please do not state any rebuttals in the fact that we are marketing and advertising our products throughout this thread. We have had an Advertising Agreement with Audiogon for some time and will continue to advertise according to our Agreement. Certain members who have criticized us for this in the past are also the members wishing to call us to the table and now must realize by doing so they have actually opened up the door for such.
2. Please provide us a few days in order to properly answer your questions. We are in our busy season as the job is also demanding more of our time.
3. If you have a debated issue that will take away from the context of what will happen here, I will request a phone call in order to satisfy the questioner with a one to one understanding.

Thank you for your time and we look forward to the communications.

As always – Good Listening!

Robert Maicks
Star Sound Technologies, LLC

Good-day,

Robert here at Star Sound Technologies, LLC.

Hello Sean, I have not forgotten about your published question. This morning I was finally able to read all the threads posted from the previous week.

In order to assist you and the balance of interested parties and provide a greater understanding of our technology, today I have taken a few steps towards this new short term goal of ours.

I have asked one of our mechanical engineers to write a descriptive paper on Coulomb friction as I feel the more information we can provide you with the concerns to the actual problem itself (associated with equipment’s efficiency of performance) the easier it will be to digest the rest of the information that will follow. We will have a separate link to our website that we will post here in order for everyone to review this initial paper.

I have also requested that Brent Riehl, our Lead Designer and inventor of the Audio Point®, to provide more accurate information and in a more descriptive manner than I am capable of. We know that the information provided by Brent will clear up a few concerns and present a more detailed picture for you. We also realize that his involvement will lead to even more questions and that situation we view as a positive thing.

In addition we have also requested that Dr. Wilbur Highleyman, D.E.E. and one of our founding members to provide additional technical information on the applications of resonance control. Dr. Highleyman is currently in Africa and will be returning in two weeks so please afford us the time it takes to respond here.

After reading your replies concerning actual testing at your residence and realizing that you have knowledge of how much time involvement it takes to properly research and test resonance, we want you to understand that Star Sound would never create any animosity should your testing results differ from ours. Your environmental surroundings are completely different than that of ours as this characteristic alone would have a profound impact on your overall results. Actually anyone providing us information based on third party testing of our products would be graciously accepted here as that type of service costs upwards of thousands of dollars to procure.

If you really enjoy the process of discovery as you seem to rely on much of what you find through your own understanding and testing methods, we are working on providing you a few formulas that have helped us in the past. These are only formulas as we cannot guarantee you that the results you attain will be of a positive nature or similar to ours, but it is a fairly reliable initial approach. At the very least it should help you with your overall knowledge with concerns to vibration and the controlling methods thereof.

I am sorry that we are not timelier in providing you information and answers but we are a very busy group this time of the year. I will soon commit a bit more time to remain focused on helping you as much as we can. We simply ask that you have some patience as we begin this course.

As always – Good Listening!

Robert Maicks

Good-day Listeners,

Star Sound Technologies, LLC has now posted Part One of three documents that will provide you a greater understanding to vibration, the positive and negative effects created from vibration and how our technology provides newfound methodologies in dealing with the topics of resonance control.

First we must understand the primary problem that is created from vibration and that is termed Coulomb friction (a self induced detriment).

Vibration forms what is known as Coulomb friction. Coulomb friction is a property that creates detrimental inefficiencies across all signal pathways (being that of the whole).

Vibration also creates many positive qualities related to sound such as dynamics and multiple layers of harmonics. The question is how does one dissipate Coulomb friction without altering the extremely sensitive yet very critical phase relationship that affects the dynamics and harmonic structure of the instrument (component or loudspeaker) residing on a vibrating plane?

Technical documentation can become somewhat difficult to easily follow without a mathematical or engineering background. The middle portion of this paper can become somewhat confusing as we deal with the specifics of Coulomb friction; however we have tried our best to maintain a general “high-level” understanding for all to benefit from the entire content and proof. Please follow through its entirety at

http://www.starsound.biz/coulomb.html .

We will be happy to answer all of your questions as we invite your calls at 1-877-668-4332 (toll free).

We thank you in advance.

As always – Good Listening!

Robert Maicks
Star Sound Technologies, LLC

Good-day listeners,

I would like to invite each of you who feel that Star Sound Technologies is associated with unfair business practices or whatever you are accusing us of; to please telephone me directly. I will take the time to personally discuss and address all of your concerns. If you truly feel that Star Sound is such a huge problem here, then speak directly to me on these issues (toll free 1-877-668-4332) or email us your telephone number from abroad and best time to call as I will be happy telephone you. If any prefer, at that time we will also initiate a conference call with Audiogon management and clear the air once and for all.

In the beginning there was a rouge player, an Authorized Star Sound Dealer from Canada that initiated very questionable ethics. Unfortunately for us he chose our products as his vehicle to do so. Until that point in time Star Sound never was concerned with nor participated with Internet forums of any kind. As soon as a few of our customers notified me of this Dealer’s actions and upon our discovery thereof, we immediately had our Legal Counsel issue cease and desist documents to said Dealer. If you research the history of Star Sound participation here you will also discover that once this Dealer was silenced our participation completely disappeared from this site for more than half a year.

Eventually a few veteran members of Audiogon posted comments on our products and were immediately attacked by a few upset participants who provided their predetermined judgments against our company based on the past situation. These veterans were also heavily criticized with written accusations against them. They, who were completely innocent of all, should have never received the type of treatment that was bestowed upon them.

I received a telephone call from a few clients with concerns as to our reputation being damaged on Audiogon as they highly recommended that we should participate once again. Needless to state when we posted answers to a few questions we too were immediately met with the same type of response. It appeared that some of the villagers here found their new monster. This time though instead of our products taking the brunt of the attacks, the focus was more dead set against the believability of our technological advancements.

When we explained in basic terms how the technology functions, time and time again certain posters here refused to accept any response whatsoever coming from our company employment (degreed engineers). This was the principle reason that Star Sound established the paraphrase – “your money back if you do not enjoy what our products do for music and listening”. (Please do not look at this printed paragraph (above), turn it around and again position it as an advertising ploy as it is only intended to be recognized for what it is – a simple solution for all to justify any argument.)

Star Sound participates in the most volatile and contentious part of the Hi-End Audio Industry – resonance control. Our products have been accepted by listeners long before the dawn of the Internet and this forum. Our company is driven by science and discovery and will always stand behind our products, employees and the results from their labors in any and all situations regardless of financial or social risk. Our intent is to provide an understanding as to the technology, product function and the results thereof.

Every manufacturer who participates here wishes to create sales from their participation otherwise why would they be spending their limited time? When you, yourself, work hard at your job, providing your labors that are critical to your future and the future of an industry, do you not expect to gain from your efforts?

The only way a manufacturer receives payment for their hard work, dedication and investment in research, thus growing this Audio Industry is through the sales of their products. Every manufacturer (in any business) is always concerned for their employees and families well being, increasing more jobs and adding additional wealth in order to support a greater positive growth. The bare necessity for increasing sales for all manufacturers arises each and every day of their existence.

Audiogon is growing and constantly evolving into a much more educational site and is consistently drawing more manufacturers’ participation. We wish to continue our efforts here as I ask this question. How does one provide enough information on a newfound process without coming off as a sales pitch or shilling products?

I personally now find this history of ours – just that, history.

Again moving forward, please feel free to contact me. If you ever have the chance to speak with any manufacturer via phone or face-to-face (at an audio show or seminar); you already know the satisfaction you attain when all your questions are answered.

At that time you will also realize that manufacturers are actually no different than the Audiophiles who purchase their products. Enjoyment from listening, the gaining of knowledge and creating friendships is the exacting end result, each and every time.

Thank you for your understanding and as always – Good Listening!

Robert Maicks
President
Star Sound Technologies, LLC