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The winters lessons.

I think it's time to move on from this past weeks discussions to something new. This past 5 months I've tried out a number of different footers, shelves, tweaks, power cords and conditioners. I'd like to share what I've learned here and hope others will do the same. Due to the unreasonable length of this thread I've broken it into three posts, Footers and shelves, power cords and conditioners and tweaks. That way you only need to muddle through my rambling if they interest you. My basic set-up has not changed this year, SCD-1,Kora pre-amp, Aloia amp and Audio Tekne interconnects (and my Empire turntable, clearly not a major component here). I started trying different footers but I went in a bit different direction that Redkiwi. I have been trying a number of Black Diamond Racing products since using a series of cheap cones and have found through a lot of trial and error a good match for my system. I also bought two sets of (OB) Orchard Bay cones, one titanium and one brass. These became the building blocks for me. As a lot of you know, and some don't like, I have a sandstone slab on a masonry hearth so my base is solid and in effect ground. For Christmas I got some BDR pucks, Cardas caps and these "vibration sheets" sold at Music Direct. As a summary of the following posts I would rate the value of the below items in the following order. 1- BMI power cords, 2- P300 power conditioner, 3- Neuance shelf, BDR puck, 4- Quiteline filters, 5- Monster HTS-2000, 6- dedicated circuit. For the rest you'll have to judge for yourself after reading this. If anyone has particular questions feel free to post or send me an e-mail. I tried to keep notes so I could tell you more, GOD FORBID!
J.D.
jadem6

Showing 4 responses by gregm

gregm
3,411 posts
 
Yup, as you say Jadem, the cone placed about 1/4 way back next to a screw that secures the power transformers onto the base of the box.
Weight: I DO have a weight on the supply (though mine is heavy) -- forgot a compact dictionary i never use on the box, bit less than the size of the power supply box. Kept it there ever since. I beleive (i.e. voodoo?) it makes a clarity difference, esp. in the mid-low bass.
BTW, my pre is SS -- not that I'm much safer, as you say.
Regards
gregm
3,411 posts
 
Great thread, Jadem6 -- thanks for sharing experience & tips. I particularly liked the one about the metal dish w/water. I'll use the trick to relocate my cones.
BTW, chords do work, we now even have scientific evidence (See Elisabeth's thread on this same forum).
Surprised you get little effect on yr pre. I tried one cone under the pre's power supply, placed opposite the power connectors pointing down, listened for 10' then, added two more. I am probably deaf, but IMO the sound is better -- just as clear but with better transients -- with one cone.
gregm
3,411 posts
 
J, not only, but also, this is a FRENCH language dictionary; it seems to work better with Carmen than say, Buddy Guy or Mahler... Do you think we have a case of language-sensitivity?? (Seriously though, give the weight a try... you never know).
Regards
gregm
3,411 posts
 
1st Update on winter lessons' lessons. I managed to locate certain vibration points using Jadem6's water trick (thanks again!). Placing cones accordingly, I gained treble energy and clarity using cones on the power supplies (CD and pre) rather than the machines. Putting cones undet the CD and pre, *shifted* the frequency response upward, giving too much treble at the expense of bass. A friend suggested I use absorbant material as a weight... sand bags etc being out the WAF region, I tried large, thick books (6-7 pounds), placed over the vibration points on: the CD, better imaging, tighter focus; the pre, more neutral sound, no loss of detail throughout the audible spectrum.
Maybe metal weights give their own *flavour* to the system -- i.e emphasizing treble??
On the down side, books on a piece of equipment look a bit silly....
BTW, JD, one cone under the power supplies, placed as per your findings, still sound better than three in my system!
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