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

Owner
Yeah it should be fun! I have a pretty good handle on what my system sounds like with the magnets. I took the magnets out last night so the system can settle before I put the Total Contact and E Cards in. I talked to Tim this morning and he agreed I should place an E Card over my listening room's breaker circuit using some double-sided tape. I'll try to refrain from any serious listening for at least a week, but that may not be possible!

sbayne

Looks like it finally worked. That was weird.

Anyway, look forward to what you think of the TC and e-cards. I bought more TC from a friend who didn’t use all of his and pasted it to my speaker driver connections as well as the crossover connections. I really like what it does and my speakers and system has never sounded better. Might be a while still before I get some e-cards so I’d like to hear what you think about them especially compared to the magnet sheets we’ve been using. 

t_ramey

Trying to post on your page

t_ramey

Owner
Things have finally calmed down at work and I should have time over the holidays to evaluate the PerfectPath Tech products. So, I ordered a set of Alpha E Cards from PerfectPath and bought some Total Contact from another audiophile. I'm looking forward to finally checking these out!

sbayne

Owner
I’ve been tinkering with my system lately.  I started to get a little less transparency in the bass and lower mids and the highs didn’t seem as warm. So I put everything back to where I knew I liked it, but it still didn’t sound right.  Finally, I realized the sub for the right channel wasn’t making any sound! The power cord looked like it was in place but was out just enough to lose power.  I pushed it all the way in and the sound snapped into place! Definitely reconfirmed the Impact Monitors sound better with stereo subs!

sbayne

Owner
Listened to Daft Punk's RAM on vinyl last night with my son. That last cut is nuts! Literally thought I was going to blow a speaker!

sbayne

Owner
I ended-up taking the MC-0.5, that has Total Contact all-over it, out of my system. Even when used with the SR Tranquility bases it seemed to add a slight haze to the sound. Really weird. I tried non-treated MC-0.5s in different positions and finally left them as they were before - all together in the same power strip. Since its claimed to be very conductive, I thought maybe the Total Contact was passing some type of noise over the surface of that MC-0.5. So I got out my multi-meter and it isn't conductive as far as I can tell (I readily admit maybe I was measuring it wrong). Whatever. The next logical step is to wipe the Total Contact off and try it all again. So spent a lot of time screwing around and didn't get very far. Argh!

sbayne

Owner
I've been busy with work and family matters lately so not much time spent with my system. I did buy a MC-0.5 from another Audiogoner. He had completely covered it with Total Contact.  Its a strange beast. Definitely does not play well with the other MC-0.5s I have in my system. When pared with other MC-0.5s on the same power strip it added a really weird fazy sibilance to the sound. I moved it to a power strip that powers my SR Tranquility bases and liked what it did. I finally have some time this weekend to mess around with my system so I'll keep experimenting. Again, placement and time with "tweaks" make all the difference.

sbayne

Owner
You mean "life" isn't all about our sound systems? Ha,ha.  I just want to give the E-Cards a fair shot so I need enough time to do that. I don't want to drop them in my system on Friday and reach a conclusion on Sunday. I've certainly learned placement and time in the system can make a big difference with sound quality.

sbayne

Absolutely Scott! 

I want to order some e cards or mat too but it might have to wait after some unexpected expenses. I hate it when life gets in the way of my audio hobby...

:)

t_ramey

Owner
I read a news report this morning that scientists recently figured-out how birds detect the earth's magnetic field to navigate. For decades they thought it had something to do with their beaks being able to feel it but they actually SEE it based on blue-light from dusk. There is so much we still don't understand about sound, light, matter, space, time, physics, magnetic fields.........its really rather arrogant and ignorant for objective audiophiles to claim we can measure every characteristic of sound.

sbayne

Owner
Saw your comments on the E-Cards, Bill. I will get a set at some point. I've been gone so much lately I'm going to wait a little bit when I have more time to devote to my system. I certainly respect your opinions.

sbayne

Very interesting.  I think this whole area of science will bring with it a host of new innovation within our industry. I think the Perfect Path Audio products are doing something within this sphere.  Tim is onto something within this space.

grannyring

Owner
Long story short, over the past weekend, I met a quantum physicist and struck-up a conversation. She was talking about the dual nature of light which has both particle and wave-like properties. Apparently, light diffraction can be manipulated at the electron level. I asked her about magnetic fields and graphene. Perhaps she was humoring me, but after I told her what I've been doing she indicated it was certainly possible the "spin" of the magnetic field is why my system seems to sound better. It was refreshing to talk to a scientist who seemed to be fully open to subjective determinations of sound quality!

sbayne

Owner
I painted all the connections inside my Ground Box, including the copper strips, with graphene oxide. I'm a little surprised at the improvement. Starting to wonder how a completely treated speaker wire (on the metal) over the entire length of the wire would sound.

sbayne

Owner
Tom - moving sucks. All the best with the system! Yeah the GO is addictive.  Keep us up-to-date!

sbayne

I ordered another 250ml bottle of the GO ( can’t believe I went thru one bottle already). I keep forgetting to add more of it to the exterior parts of cables and such but will in a few weeks. I’m moving in a week and a half so I’m in the process of breaking everything down and boxing up my equipment. :(

t_ramey

Owner
Synergistic Research recently had a special if you bought 3 GCTs you received a Blue fuse free. So now, I have Blue fuses in my amp, music server and preamp and all have GCTs on them. Since its not conductive, all my components have also been treated with graphene oxide both inside and out. I finished Bach's Passion last night. I must say the music is so alive and emotional its uncanny. The Blue fuses and GCTs are the real deal.

sbayne

Owner
Finally had some downtime this weekend so I listened to most of Bach's St. Mathew Passion directed by Otto Klemperer with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Choir. This was recorded by EMI and one of the best I own. To me, music is emotion and this piece makes it all flow!

sbayne

No idea really.   Money back guarantee.  Just leave it put for at least 14 days as it improves greatly over time as it does its thing.  Ask a Tim where to put it first in your system.  I wish this darn $600 cheap looking mat did not work. It does however. Goodness.

grannyring

Owner
Ok Bill I may take the plunge  Any theories on how they work? He has made very clear it has nothing to do with a magnetic field.

sbayne

Our DIY mats seem to bring some fullness and body with a touch of warmth.  The E-Mat bring scale, ease, beauty, realism and a certain rightness to everything.

grannyring

Great to hear Bill! When time and funds allow I’d like to try the e-mat.

t_ramey

I was just to post here on this.  The mat is amazing guys. I hate to say it, but it is in my rig. More profound impact as compared to our DIY mats.  About 5x the improvement if I were to guess. The good news is they work together just fine.  I like both together.

grannyring

Owner
Bill just saw your comments about the E-mat and how removing the EMI barriers seemed to unleash the magic.  Do you still have any of the magnetic mats we’ve been discussing here in your system?

sbayne

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