Why Do Schumann Resonators Work?


Schumann Resonators are little boxes you plug into the wall that produce electromagnetic radiation tuned to 7.83 Hz. This is the frequency that the earth/atmosphere system “rings” at when the Earth is struck by lightning. It is also a common frequency your brain “ticks” at.

When employed in the listening room, many people claim it makes their audio sound better. If this is true, then what is the mechanism of action?

-Is it a matter of the resonator producing a more relaxed mental state?
-Does it help block or alter electromagnetic interference?
-Does it add its own electromagnetic interference to your system that just so happens to be pleasing?

I experimented with one recently and what I noticed is that it seemed to remove some of the high frequency nasties or what some might call “digital glare” (although digital glare can also show up in analog systems). When I made this observation, the resonator was placed right next to my power strip that my CD player, preamp and some other devices are plugged into.

My “proof” of the effect is that I could turn the volume up louder than usual without it sounding “too loud.” The sound levels of the system weren’t any quieter, it’s just that the digital glare was reduced so that I could go louder before thinking “this is too loud,” which usually isn’t a sound level thing per se but the point as which some frequency (often the highs) become irritating.

So who here has experience with these devices? Do you like them? Does anyone know why they work?
128x128mkgus

Showing 12 responses by mkgus

I don’t know what a Schumann Frequency CD is. Can you explain it? Is it just a 7.83 Hz sine wave recorded to a disc?
You’re right, 7.83 Hz is very far off from most EM “pollution” sources.” I don’t have a good answer for you. The only thing I can do is try to relate it to something similar. Have you ever noticed when you properly set up a subwoofer or two, it’s not just the bass that improves? The audio gets better all the way up and down the frequency spectrum. Yet 50 Hz and 5,000 Hz are no where near each other on the audible frequency spectrum.
7.83Hz is very hard for speakers to reproduce. Rotary subwoofers can get there. Traditional subs will visible oscillate at 7.83 Hz but the output will be minuscule.
What do you mean “get a wave out into the room?” Are you referring to the room dimensions being much smaller than the wavelength? You don’t need to fit the wave in the room to hear or feel it. If that were the case, you couldn’t have bass in cars, yet the most powerful bass I’ve ever heard was in a car. 
Gotcha. Since you’ve got two Schumann devices in your system, I assume you’ve noticed enough of an improvement to keep them around. Care to share what you notice with them? Does it improve the sound?
So they are saying the effect comes from its positive impact on the human brain. So the Schumann Resonator works via resonator-brain interaction? Are there resonator-audio system and resonator-environment interactions as well that explain some of the effects on audio or is it all “in my head?” I want to believe there are resonator-audio system interactions because the effect I heard was as instant as plugging it in and playing a track. If it was all “in my head,” I would think it would take some time to take effect because it would take time for my brain to shift into a different mental state.
So do you need 2 audio systems? I assume you play the Schumann CD while playing music with another system. 
I found some interesting comments over at Audio Circle:

Concerning the effects of these devices:

”Installing the SW1 on top of one of the speakers and switching it on changed the spatial representation of these recordings. 2-d became much more 3-d, with clean open space between all the instruments, and more depth contrast where there was little before. Tonality, harmonics, dynamics, etc. seemed unchanged...the illusion of performers in space rather than inhabiting a more 2-d canvas is enhanced in an enjoyable way... I’ve been listening carefully for any changes in tonality. The only things I can note are that the bottom end seems to have slightly less weight and body, but with enhanced dimensionality.”

Concerning a potential mechanism of action:

“So- these seem to work as many (but certainly not all!) users have described, and the mechanism is totally unknown. My own speculation is that the EM energy is somehow acting as a dithering signal in our personal aural processing chain (nerves and brain?), but this is pure speculation.”

https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104810.0

@mahgister. You have peaked my curiously. Please tell me more about these stones and crystals. What type and where do you place them?
What’s the reason some manufacturers say to elevate the units? With wavelengths in the thousands of miles long, I don’t see how placement would matter in the slightest. 
I’ve tried an iFi low noise switch mode power supply, a Teradak linear power supply and a battery DC power supply. They all have worked well. Battery power gets my vote. 
They do work

Oddly enough, physical placement matters a lot and so does the power supply. Clean power is important.