Tweakers' Asylum: REVIEW: Bybee Bybee Quantum Purifiers-small Passive Components by jonbee

Model:	Bybee Quantum Purifiers-small
Category:	Passive Components
Suggested Retail Price:	$85
Description:	In-line signal "conditioners"
Manufacturer URL:	Bybee
Model Picture:	View

Review by jonbee ( A ) on September 02, 2004 at 08:31:51
IP Address: 216.58.198.66

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for the Bybee Quantum Purifiers-small

Having been seriously in this hobby for over 35 years, I have seen many "revolutionary" ideas come and go. Some proved to be of lasting value, and others worthless. I've long since learned that the theoretical technical underpinnings of these ideas bear no relation to their sonic effectiveness: some ideas that are well understood are useless, and some that make no sense work very well. I think there are so many un-knowable variables in the system/room/ear/brain chain that only the collective personal listening experience of many 'philes can ultimately validate these ideas.
This is a pretty long winded intro, but I include this as a backdrop because there is so much discourse about the technical explanation of how these things work. Personally I find the discussion totally irrelevant. For me, the only issue is whether they improve the listening experience.
Here's where the rubber meets the road:
I picked up 4 of the small purifiers and according to the instructions I soldered them to the positive leads of the mids and tweeters of my Thiel 3.6s, whose drivers are wired in-phase. I ran the system for a few hours, and then listended to some very familiar testing cds I've used for many years.
I immediately heard a very pleasant improvement in overall sound: the sonic backdrop opened up, and details that were very far down in the mix simply became clearer and noticeably more distinct: the final decay of piano notes, recorded room-reflected drum whacks, and the studio ambience were all more easily noticeable. On movie soundtracks subtle backgound sounds stood out in noticeably greater relief. The overall sound also became "easier" and more relaxed. This is not to be confused with softening of dynamics, because if anything, these were more sharply in focus.
I'm very pleased with the results. These are not cheap, and I'm not sure whether systems with sub-par resolution and neutrality would benefit much because these subtle types of improvement could be masked by other system distortions and resonances. I will be buying a pair of larger purifiers for my woofers; the total outlay of close to $500 is not negligible, but I don't think I could buy this level of improvement in my already very fine, carefully matched system for this price. Your mileage will vary, of course, but if you have a hi-rez low coloration system these are well worth a try.

Product Weakness: May void warranties; installation requires care, not cheap.
Product Strengths: Increased openness, depth, and low level detail. Makes sound "easier" but more dynamic at the same time. Easily "undone".

Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier:	PS HCA2 w/ blackgates
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated):	CJ PFR
Sources (CDP/Turntable):	ModWright Sig.Truth Sony 999ES SACD/dvd/cdp
Speakers:	Thiel 3.6
Cables/Interconnects:	.99999 braided silver/teflon, Goertz TQ(silver)
Music Used (Genre/Selections):	lots
Room Size (LxWxH):	16 x 19 x 8
Room Comments/Treatments:	2 wall of glass/kind of bright
Time Period/Length of Audition:	1 day
Other (Power Conditioner etc.):	monster 2000 on inputs only
Type of Audition/Review:	Product Owner

Product Weakness:	May void warranties; installation requires care, not cheap.
Product Strengths:	Increased openness, depth, and low level detail. Makes sound "easier" but more dynamic at the same time. Easily "undone".