Tweaks

Jax2, You need help.

Somebody, help me please!

Perhaps that’s why you don’t post your system.
Is it Bose?

Good guess, but everyone knows that I'm a Close'N'Play kind of guy! Blows Bose garbage right to the back of the trailer park!

I can only give you feedback on one of the three things you asked about - anti-vibration devices certainly can make a difference in my experience.

I would qualify that, and further comment on any of the input you get here by saying this:

The differences made by any of these devices or techniques are going to be largely dependent on two important factors - how resolving is your system, and how discriminating are you as a listener? An encouraging answer to both to pursue this further then begs the next question - are the differences you hear worth the price you paid (which I guess is at the core of why you are taking a poll here)? Really, only you can answer this question yourself by trying various things in your own system. I would say that if it is NOT a very resolving system then some of these tweaks may not have a very discernible effect. If it is, then you may want to buy used and listen for yourself. If it doesn't warrant the price, resell them here at a minimal, if any, loss. If you decide to invest in one of those clever little clocks, or telephone calls that transform your entire system, I would warn you that you will not likely recoup that investment anytime soon.

Ozzy - please accept my apology...I really meant no offense to you. Most folks who know me around here know I have a rather acerbic sense of humor and like to poke fun...even at myself. I do know that I sometimes go too far, and if you actually took offense, I am sorry. My opinions of the Dynamica products have been honestly stated, albeit illustratively embellished with images some prefer not to savor. I also meant it when I said that I believe you should make your own choices. You do have my respect for posting your opinion, make no mistake about it. Geoff's products do occur to me as totally ridiculous simply at face value, make no mistake about that either. Nice system, BTW!

To roughly paraphrase a comment that was made some time ago in an unrelated thread by the estimable Tvad, you don't have to conduct a controlled clinical trial to determine that a witch-doctor cannot cure cancer by shaking a rattle and burning incense. Some things are self-evident.

Well said (Grant!) - thanks for the quote Almarg. I'd have to agree that this applies to my own opinion in this case. Some people would strongly disagree and argue pointing at the minds power of healing, etc. That is where my comment that the effect of tweaks like Geoff is marketing begin and end at the grey matter. I don't believe in them (that's probably the most polite way I could put it) and therefore I'm quite certain they'd have no effect on my experience of my system. It's like going to church when you don't really believe in god (just an example, not necessarily my viewpoint). Geoff's tweaks are a leap of faith in that way. Sorry Geoff, I have no faith at all in them, needless to say.

Remember the surprise when you first tried a high end power cord?
Remember thinking; how the heck can a 5 foot power cord improve the sound quality when there are miles of power cable leading to my house?
Well you tried it and today most Audiophiles recognize that a proper power cord is basic equipment.

FWIW I've read some very compelling explanations why power cords do make differences that actually make sense to me, even with a laypersons understanding of such things. I've never been really wowed by the difference a power cord can make in a system, though certainly I've heard differences in resolving systems like my own close-n-play system (I have to quit crunching my Capt'n Crunch in order to hear it though), and can appreciate what they can do. For me personally those differences I have heard are not worth the premium that is charged by many of the manufacturers of those cords, but hey, if folks want to pay that much for that kind of difference, that's their own business. That said, I do have power cords that seem to render a positive difference in my system, which some would opine that I paid a ridiculous price for. It's all relative. I have never read any compelling explanations why any of Geoff's products do anything beyond tell time and decorate the top of components with colored stones. Reading the "Papers" on his website are just about as entertaining as reading one of the threads commenting on his products. I'm sorry, I just can't take it seriously - it occurs to me as absurd. Mebee I just to dum to undastand it? The circuitous explanations occur to me to say something to the effect that these things work because, well because they work. I must not have read them hard enough.

Anyway, Just one more opinion among many.

Furthermore, could 1000 audiogon customers be wrong?

You're kidding, right?! Yes, most certainly 1000 Audiogon customers could indeed be wrong, Geoff. History has proved over and over that not only thousands, but millions, tens of millions, entire nations can be misled over far more serious choices than an LED geegaw made in China, or colored pebbles in a glass bottle. People are vulnerable in all sorts of ways in all matter of choices. As far as the silly little choices we make here on Audiogon, one need only read some of the input here in various threads and you will quickly learn how varied people's stated preferences are. If you've been at this very long you'll also see with what degree of contrast others stated opinions diverge from your own observations. By all means, make your own choices. I don't pretend to speak for anyone but myself. I made no "observations" or comment on your products other than their resale value on the used market. I've most certainly have poked fun at them in the past. I find them very easy to poke fun at because at face value they occur to most people with conventional reasoning powers to be ridiculous. From your advertisements, you actually seem to have a sense of humor about them...either that, or your elevator ain't making it to the top floor.

Your "observation" that investing in clever little clocks and teleportation tweaks is quite unwarranted as there is a 30 day money back guarantee on both products.

In case I was not clear; my comment was referring directly to buying items used and reselling at minimal or no loss. I have very rarely seen a used Clever Little Clock here on A'gon, which means one of four things to me (one could posit more if one were inclined to contemplate this at length - I am not):

1. The folks who buy them are delighted with the results and are hanging onto them to hand down to their grandchildren. My grandfather only left me a wooden tool chest and his stamp collection.

2. The folks who buy them are less than delighted with their effectiveness as an audio tweak, but like the conversational novelty of having one, and or are in need of a cheap time piece for the bathroom. I'm sure some of them may be wondering why the flushing of the toilet actually sounds better with the clock in place there.

3. The folks who are buying them are taking full advantage of your 30 day warranty and are returning them after trying them out. I'm sure this never happens so we may as well just strike number 3 and forget I ever mentioned it.

4. The folks who are buying them are just too embarrassed that they made the purchase and had allowed the 30-day period to lapse before realizing what they were less than delighted at what they'd paid for.

Now the Magic Clocks, brilliant pebbles, I have them all and they do improve the soundstage. Geoffkaitis really on to something there. Not sure why , but they do .
Many people have bought them but are afraid to post because of all the crap you can get back in replies.
I actually did a review of them, if you care to read it its in the Audiogon Review section.

Your grandchildren will be bustin' their britches when they find out that, among the stuff you've left to them is jar or two of BP's and a Clever Little Clock. Did you purchase the phone call from Geoff too? I wonder if those phone calls skip a generation or can be passed along with the gear. Geoff?

Your review, well, actually the responses to it, make for some very entertaining reading. I've found that any mention of Geoff's products tends to render some amusing responses.

I guess unless you try these things you really shouldnt comment on there effectivesness.

I agree.

For the record, I have not tried any of Geoff's products. As I've made clear, I find them ridiculous at face value and certainly feel fine in stating as much publicly. I am very confident the majority of rational people would have a similar viewpoint. To be fair to Geoff, I am not basing my comment(s) on experience with his colored pebbles or LED clocks, or phone calls or any other tweak he markets,but simply on common sense. They are not intended as opinions on the actual function of the product or a review of the product since I have not heard them and likely never will.

Ozzy, my hats off to you for posting your review in spite of ridicule (my own included). I have no doubt you believe what you are hearing and that's what counts. I wonder how it would show up on a room response curve, though that's really not what matters, is it? So when you take all the pebbles and LED clocks out of the house and place them in a lead box with sacred symbols engraved in it, in the tomb of a nearby church, synagogue or in a vault at the nearest NASA facility...you know, so that none of the mojo gets out, does your system go back to sounding like just your run of the mill, pedestrian Pass-labs/Eggleston/Cary ho-hum system again? Kind of like waking up the morning after a bender to find what you'd slept with the night before was not at all what it seemed to be when you made that choice just a few hours ago?

Alas, I don't think I could be so open-minded to enjoy the benefits of the Geoff's offerings. I believe that this would be a requirement as the benefit of his stuff begins and ends in the grey matter. I guess my grand kids are just getting that tool chest, a few stamps, and an old sweater or two. Maybe they can come visit your grand kids and enjoy Geoff's tweaks there. Oh my, this is sad. I'm going to go drown my sorrows in cheap whiskey and cry myself to sleep in the corner of my bathroom where the toilet sounds like shit when it flushes because there's no clever little clock in there.

On a more productive note to the OP's query. I recently did a test of isolation products a few months back. I can't recall the name of the product I was trying as it was supplied by a friend, but it was a rubber-based isolation product. I compared it on my front-end digital components comparing it to my favored Sistrum stands, which are metallic cone-based systems. I could certainly hear a difference between the two options. The Sistrum sounded more focused and clearly etched. There was a particularly muted vocal passage in one cut that became much more easy to hear and understand. The rubber based isolation product (It was not Vibrapods, which I have also used) sounded a bit softer and less focused, and the particular vocal passage was nearly impossible to make out. Just my .02 Lincoln's but this says to me that isolation products can sound differently and it would be worth trying out various products yourself. I had a similar experience with Vibrapods as one poster already noted; they made marks on a component that were not removable by any means I tried. They also marked up wood. I would not use them myself, simply for that reason. This speaks nothing at all to their effectiveness, and I think the manufacturer is aware of the issue because they did assist me in trying to find a product to remove the marks (not successful).

Damn, Albert. You swore to me you wouldn't tell anyone!!!! That's the last time I buy the drinks!!!!

I wish you had not posted that at Audiogon, Marco was planning on introducing the dog-here, dog-gone tweak at CES.

Old news, my friend: You don't need the Dog-Here Dog Gone tweak anymore (some folks don't want a large dog sitting in the middle of their listening room. I can't imagine why, but I guess there's allergies and cats and bunnies and other small critters.). For just $49.95 my dog will give you telephone call that will transform your system into a friggen symphony hall, cure your erectile dysfunction, and grow hair where it's missing. Hey, it's amazing but it's true, and it really works. OK, I dial the phone for him and hold the receiver, but it's really MY dog on the other end of the line. The beautiful thing is that you don't even have to answer the phone in your the same room...the effect will be the same. Heck, you don't even have to be in the house when you get the call! You could be in Denver, or Wichita, it'll still work. It even works by voicemail if you're just too busy to answer the CanineCall™. You actually can get the full benefit of the call by just thinking about my dog calling you up. As a matter of fact, I think you owe me $49.95 if you just read that cause you can count on those improvements that I promised you! I bet you feel something in your pants right about now. Go listen to your stereo now....12th row center, yeah the guy with the hair and the bulge in his pants and the great big smile.

This guy took the CanineCall™ and "forgot" to pay me for it, and look what happened to him (seen here in his listening room). Don't even think about not paying me if you read about the call in the previous post. If you read it, better call up PayPal so you can just sit back and enjoy the benefits like this young rascal learned at an early age (seen here upon first hearing his Victrola after an early CanineCall™ from Petey (seen here demonstrating the CanineCall™ to a radio audience.

Albert, with your two systems you need the new CanineCall™ Signature Edition which handles not only all the audio gear in your house, but all electronic appliances as well. The early reports of the toasters growing hair on them are all a vicious lie started on Twitter by an anonymous Twit. Yes, you get all the systems covered, the appliances, the hair growth, and your johnson brought back from the dead all for the unbelievable price of only $99.95 + tax and nominal cellular charges. My dog is standing by...well, actually he's out playing in the yard, but he'll come when I call him...sometimes.