MY Place sbayne

by sbayne on Ever Evolving

Description

High priority on tone, soundstage and overall balance of sound.
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Components Toggle details

    • Tekton Design MOAB
    These speakers use a double tweeter array to produce the midrange. The Be tweeter between the arrays is used as the actual tweeter. Then two big ass woofers are added. Extremely well reviewed and high value speakers!
    • Innuos PULSE
    Network Streamer internal with a RECAP2 power supply by Dr. Sean Jacobs built-in. Uses the innuOS 2.0 and Sense software. Its the best sounding streamer, OS and control software I've every used.
    • Aria Audio Aria Signature MK2
    This is a beautiful hand-built amplifier that puts out100 watts of Class A power with very high current capability. A extremely seductive yet authoritative sound with the Moabs.
    • Border Patrol DAC
    I've recently gone back to the world of Non-oversampling DACs. They simply sound more natural than high-resolution oversampling DACs. This is the USB model with Jupiter caps. It took a couple hundred hours to fully bloom but it was worth the wait.
    • Network Acoustics Muon System
    This is a complete digital cable system (filter, LAN cable, USB cable). This at a higher level than the famed EVO system.
    • Synergistic Research Powercell 12 UEF
    This is a classic power conditioner. It's UEF/EM based and compliments every component plugged in to it!
    • DIY speaker, interconnects and power cables
    DIY speaker, interconnects and power cables. They use multi-strand copper, an open weave, cotton cord in the center and ERS cloth at both ends. It's the formula Danny Richie uses for his cables. They have an open, airy yet very solid sound. The key is to break them in for hundreds of hours and use them as a "full loom" throughout your system.
    • Synergistic Research Black Box

    The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Subwoofers, Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.  

    • Synergistic Research ART System
    This is Synergistic Research's older acoustic system that's based on resonators. It works very well with their current UEF system and provides excellent results. Complete ART systems are getting hard to find.
    • Townshend Audio Seismic Isolation Podiums
    These decouple and "float" your speakers on a spring-loaded metal base. It opens-up the sound and adds solidity to the bass but doesn't make the sound harsh like most metal speaker bases.
    • Synergistic Research: Atmosphere XL-4, Atmosphere, Mini-Atmosphere, FEQ X4 (2), UEF Dots, UEF Panels, Risers,ECT and GCT
    The UEF Panels, UEF Dots, Black Box, Risers, ECT and GCT are all types of sound resonators. I use an Atmosphere XL-4 (green ATM), Atmosphere (red ATM), FEQ X4 (2) (red ATMs) and Mini-Atmosphere (green ATM) - when used with the Synergistic Research control software they generate various frequencies of Schumann Resonances around the room. Bottom line they work: create a huge/realistic listening experience!
    • Synergistic Research Galileo SX Grounding Block
    The Galileo SX Grounding Block makes the system absolutely silent at idle and creates very black backgrounds for music. I made my own "high definition" grounding cables.
    • Akiko Audio Tuning Stick; Kemp QA Plug (2) and Zero One (2)
    The Akiko Audio, Kemp and Zero One products treat the signal and power in my system keeping the electrons spinning around the electronic signals as uniform as possible or by adding more standard frequency Schumann Resonances. These products are excellent at making your system sound more "natural".
    • Perfect Path Technologies Total Contact, RCA caps, Stop-It duplex plugs, E-Mats & E-Cards
    This company has now closed because the owner has passed away. These products work to achieve a uniform and consistent RF/EMI and electron treatment around my components which greatly helps the sonics.
    • Synergistic Research Tranquility Bases and Tranquility Pod
    I use original MIGs under the Tranquility Bases.
    • Audio Magic Pulsed Electron Alignment
    The PEAs are battery powered. Spintronics is the ability to control or manipulate how electrons spin. Electrons spinning around electronic signals carry audio information. The goal of the PEA devices its to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible. It opens up the sound and makes subtle cues in the music even more real.
    • Puritan 156, ADD-Powr Sorcer and ElectraClear EAU-1
    The Puritan is an excellent line conditioner. The ADD-Powr and ElectraClear devices actually add electromagnetics (EM) to the AC line using an active circuit and algorithm. Contrary to popular belief not all EM is bad for sound quality in stereo systems. The proof is in the listening.
    • Timbernation and Bright Star Audio Platforms
    Solid maple platforms stained cherry for electronics and Bright Star platforms for the subs.
    • Puron AC Line Conditioner
    I've added two of these line conditioners into the same outlet that feeds my Puritan 156 line conditioner. They open the sound soundstage, give a more realistic presentation of vocals and reveal a little more texture and impact to the bass. Highly recommended!
    • Stein H2 Harmonizer system
    I have 4 Stein H2s in my system.I went with one in each of corner of the room with a Stein stone at each and a Stein diamond on the ceiling in the center of the room. They add layers and layers of depth with each vocalist/instrument being in their own separate but integrated spaces.
    • Tombo Audio Lotus Harmonic Enhancer
    The bell on the top gives high resonance frequency while the tip on the top of the bell performs as a wave guide streaming high frequency up to the ceiling.
    • Townshend Audio Allegri
    The Allegri is an autoformer based passive preamp. There is absolutely no noise but with with excellent soundstaging and dynamics. 

    • Cayin Audio Mini-CD MK2
    This is an excellent little CD player. I mostly stream but I still have hundreds of CDs.

Comments 566

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Scott, understandable and many have done the same. Hopefully you will reconsider.  - David.

david_ten

Owner
I'm going to stay off the forums for a while. Seems like most people there just want to show they are better than someone else. There is no real discussion going on. Not worth my time.

sbayne

Owner
I've come to the conclusion that to get truly high-end sound you must treat the signal, power and acoustics. The components are not nearly as important. Companies like PerfectPath, Synergistic Research, AudioMagic, Tice, Bybee, Kemp and Akiko all seem to be "snake oil" but in reality they are simply using fairly well known technology to get better sound quality.

sbayne

Owner
I added Audio Magic silencers/clarifiers and placed on E-Card on top of them. They have only been cooking for a couple days but they sound spectacular together! I admit, I've officially gone tweek crazy!

sbayne

Owner

I haven't touched my system for over a week now but did do some extended listening last night. The E-Cards and Total Contact are the real deal. Using just a modest (but well engineered) Yamaha receiver I'm getting really, really good sound. But, of course, I can't leave well enough alone so I've been looking at the Audio Magic line of products and have exchanged brief emails with the owner Jerry Ramsey. Here is a quote from his website which is VERY interesting:

"The theory about Pulsed Electron Alignment is based on how electrons spin. They spin either up or down in a phenomenon called spintronics. When there are billions of electrons all spinning their own way, it can create chaos in and around components. By aligning the electrons, you create a more efficient space and eliminate noise. This means that your listening experience is more realistic, with a more musical presentation featuring tighter, more dynamic bass, highs that are delicate and more natural and beautiful midranges."

sbayne

Owner
I placed an E-Card on top of the Kemp QA, the end of my Ethernet cable where it enters the Yamaha and over the speaker binding posts. Its now a couple of days later, and holy crap, the sound has opened-up even more. Problem is I don't know which placement added the most bang-for-the-buck. I'll probably end-up just leaving them there. There is also the additional settling of the Total Contact on the Ethernet cable and the E-Cards on the transformers. Just too many variables too quantify everything.

sbayne

Owner
As a number of you have pointed-out, I've been calling PerfectPath Technologies....... Perpetual Technologies. 

Brain fart, mistake, and apologizes all-around! 

sbayne

Owner
Wow, I posted some reading material over on the Perpetual Technologies thread regarding spintronics (the direction electrons spin around the atom i.e. quantum physics), how it can effect electronic signals in circuits/wire and be manipulated by magnets and graphene. It quickly went to middle-school name calling. I guess we can't have civilized discussion anymore. As a person said on that thread - its "sad".

sbayne

Owner
Last night, I removed a couple of the E-Cards from on top of the Yamaha and placed them directly on the transformer inside. I also applied Total Contact to the ends of the Ethernet cable feeding the Yamaha. Heard an immediate improvement so I'm looking forward to once they settle-in.  Tweaks like this continue to amaze me!

sbayne

Owner
I've done a massive update of MY Place system page with current pictures and explanations. (Frankly, I wish more people would have a system page and keep it current. Many times I see people discussing equipment they supposedly own but they don't have a system page or, if they do, it shows different equipment from what they are talking about)

sbayne

Owner
I got home fairly late last night but still got about 45 minutes of listening in (with an aged tequila in hand!) The sound is even more warm with lots of texture. Not sure if its the magnets I added back or the E-Cards/Total Contact settling-in even more. I used a stack of 5 magnet mats folded over to make a 10 layer bundle. I'm leaving the magnets in for now since I'm liking the sound.

sbayne

Owner
My current thinking is you want to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible in the signal passing through your components, cables and speakers.  This is explained through quantum physics which is way above me but many audio companies are now using it to improve sound.  Going to a receiver really simplifies the process because the amp, DAC, preamp, streamer and control functions are all “treated” at the same time and you eliminate the various cables which you normally have to get spinning uniformly as well.  At some point, I’ll probably get more E-Cards and put them along my speaker cables and crossovers just to keep that spintronic effect uniform all the way to the drivers.  For now, I want to see if the magnets help or hurt the signal passing through the Yamaha.  (By the way I’ve heard some great Klipsch setups over the years!)

sbayne

Very nice. I just picked up some klipsch speakers and have heard guys liking Yamaha amps with them. Something for me to keep in mind. Safe travels!

t_ramey

Owner
Sorry Tom, that was definitely a stream of consciousness post. I've moved to a Yamaha R-N803 receiver that I've tricked-out with Total Contact, Synergistic Research Blue fuse, GCTs/ECTs and a double stack of E-Cards on top. I'm getting phenomenal sound. The Yamaha has a built-in streamer (Tidal support), decent phono stage, room correction, sub output, IPad control, etc. I'm back to traveling this weekend but before I leave I'm going to put a stack of magnets underneath the Yamaha and see how it sounds when I get back next week. I'll update pics at some point.

sbayne

Well that’s quite the tease. Please share when you get the time.

t_ramey

Owner
I'm doing some major rethinking and reworking of my system. The holiday break was really refreshing (audio wise).

sbayne

Owner
Hi Tom - yeah I took all the magnet sheets w/ graphene oxide, Tweek Geek Sonic Tonics, High Fidelity MC-0.5s and some DIY Shakti Stones out a couple of days before I started listening with the E Cards and Total Contact. I left all my Synergistic Research stuff in. I tried taking the ECTs and GCTs out but put them back in because the sound was definitely better with them in. I also put some of the DIY Shakti Stones back in. As mentioned below, I've added a Kemp Quantum Approach to the system and I moved the Akiko E-Tuning Gold MKII to a different location. I'm doing this all by ear so its a lot of trial and error.

sbayne

Hey Scott, have you left the magnet sheets w/GO in place while introducing the e-cards to the system or did you take them out?

t_ramey

Owner
I've now doubled-up the E-Cards and heard a nice improvement immediately. Relocated some ECTs and added a Kemp Quantum Approach that I had in another system. Things are really coming together.

sbayne

Owner
It’s nice to be on vacation and spend some time with my system.  I haven’t moved the E-Cards around but I have been tinkering with everything else.  It really is amazing how we can tailor sound with various tweaks.  No definite conclusions at this point but this week over Christmas is going to be awesome!

sbayne

I’m sure moving them around can show differences in sound quality initially and leaving it where you think it sounds best sounds like a plan. Already ordering another set of e-cards? Nice!

t_ramey

Owner
I know you aren't supposed to move the E-Cards around but they definitely sound better in certain areas than in others. Also, they interact with the ECTs I use. I can already tell I need more E-Cards over the transformers because when I stack them up there the sound improves so I ordered another set. The ECTs sound best over circuits than the E-Cards do. Everyone says the E-Cards improve the sound the longer they are left undisturbed so I'm going to TRY to not touch them this weekend! ha,ha

sbayne

Owner
Yep, I got the E-cards and the Total Contact about a week ago. Probably do some serious listening this weekend. I put them on my amp and over my circuit breaker to my listening room.

sbayne

Did you get the e-cards? If so, where’d you put them?

t_ramey

Owner
I listened to just one very familiar cut last night. Things are sounding really good...........

sbayne

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