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The AR RR-77 Low Frequency Generator has to be the most baffling tweak I’ve ever tried—maybe some Machina Dynamica stuff excepted. I got it yesterday on trial from Music Direct and have been playing with ever since. Honestly, I’m still trying to get my head around it.
I’ve read a lot of literature about it, and about the Schumann Resonance it’s based around. Honestly, I’m the furthest thing from a technical mind, so most of it reads like gobbledygook to me, but one thing is for sure: It’s definitely doing something. Whether that something is purely in my mind or not is what I haven’t come to grips with yet.
Unlike some posters and reviewers, I don’t hear any increase in resolution or low end or dynamics. What I do hear, though, is an increased sense of ease, smoothness, and openness. Music is simply easier to listen to. To my ears, the RR-77 needed about 10-15 minutes to come on line. I didn’t hear anything, for better or worse, until then.
Just to confirm my initial findings, I had my wife switch it on and off numerous times so that I didn’t know what setting it was on. I was seated on the couch—the unit is high on my work desk, which was well behind me—so I was blind to what she was doing. Basically, I got it right 4 out of 5 times. I know this was totally unscientific, but it did make me feel better about the validity of what I was hearing.
When I first got the RR-77, my heart sank. It’s ridiculously flimsy for a $425 product. Even for a $125 product, IMO. I’ve seen pictures of the internals, and they aren’t much more inspiring. But, like we all know, the proof is in the pudding—and the bottom line is, like all Acoustic Revive products I’ve tried thus far, the thing seems to work.
I need to put some more time on it, but I trust my initial instincts. My reservations about the price aside, I consider the RR-77 an effective, if utterly baffling and non-intuitive, tweak. I’m still not sure I’ll keep it, but it definitely provides some food for thought.
Follow Ups:
Fidelis AV of Derry, NH provided my Acoustic Revive RR-77 for trial before purchase and I like it very much.
Placement improved performance: Michael Fremer was wrong with his cover tagline on Stereophile: HEIGHT (not size) MATTERS. When I place the unit 6 feet off the ground, centered between my speakers, the unit opens up my listening space, seeming to defeat some of the room's acoustic anomalies.
Sound is more listenable, less fatiguing, more 3-dimensional or 'rounded out,' paradoxically more detailed and easier on the ear at the same time. Complex passages of large scale music are noticeably better rendered and resolved with my RR-7 than without.
I find it more enjoyable to listen, and I am glad both for having made the change and for the way Fidelis' Walter Swanbon made it easy for me to audition the gear before buying. The guys in Derry, New Hampshire are extremely accommodating. (I do not work for, nor do I have any affiliation with Fidelis, or Walter Swanbon)
I also have other Acoustic Revive tuning devices and find each to be of use in complimentary ways.
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, folks seem pretty well in agreement that 4' to 5' off the floor is the minimum height, is there any experience yet that indicates what the maximum height might be? Like several, I'm waiting on my stuff to be delivered and trying to work-out in advance how to deal with placement in my room.
Thanks
Initially I had it at 35" above my amp. This was not good so I went back to 55" above my cd player to my left. At Hotbird's recommendation, I tried it at 60" centered between the speakers but was not pleased. Lowering it to 55" on a more secure base was best thus far. I now have a second RR-77 but have yet to install it as I am trying new interconnects from Townsend.
Not sure about maximum height, but I’ve tried it at several different heights—2’, 3’, 5’, and 6.5’—and the best were 5’ and 6.5’. At 2’ and 3’ I couldn’t hear any improvement whatsoever. I know this doesn’t exactly answer your question, but FWIW.
Actually, Quint, it kind of does answer my question. Looking around my listening room, one of the suspect locations is on top of an armoire that houses my LP collection. It's directly behind the listening position and it's about seven feet tall. I find your experience at 6.5 feet to be very encouraging.
Thx
I got my RR-77 for a few days now and this thing does has a positive effect to my system. I placed it to my left or 10 ft behind me with the same effect as long as it is higher than 5 ft.
To sound the best, I place it on top of a Gutwire Notepad (a gel pad) or a set of Black Diamond Racing cones/pucks combo. The improvement is about the same but the Gutwire option is much cheaper, so I am settle with that. So I guess isolation the RR-77 from vibration is another key to get the most out of it, like any other components.
The overall improvement are: sweater and smoother sounding, more 3d imaging, more focusing and add a firmer layer of bass.
The price of the RR-77 at $400 is a little deep. If it sells for $200, it will be selling like coffee in the morning. I am sure the Kingrex PS will improve the RR-77 further, but adding another $170 + shipping doesn't seems to be that attractive. Mind you that you can then use a good quality AC power cord (planning to use the Harmonic Tech's Pro AC-11), plus making a good quality cable to connect the Kingrex and the RR-77.
All these can be fun but cost add up too!!!
I have my RR-77 6' and sitting on top of my KingRex. i'm using Vibrapods under both units, a medium stiffness Vibrapod under the Kingrex and the lightest one under the RR-77. Even tho I paid close to $600 for both units, I've quickly forgot the price now that i've lived with these units in my system for a few days now. Once you've experienced the depth of the soundstage, it's well worth the money to me. I've paid the same amount of money on a power cord that did a whole lot less for the total sound stage.
Simply put, the 6 Moons review was spot on and I hope that reviewer upgrades his power supply so he too will realize the potential of this pulse generator.
Cheers,
Robin
I actually have a spare set of BDR cones that I’ll try under the RR-77. I just ordered a KingRex, so I’ll be able judge for myself whether the $170 “upgrade” is justified. I’m really curious. Thanks again!
Good price actually, care to share where you purchased yours at?
What I've read so far seems to say that these products may be similar - magnetic resonance devices...? Field effect (of some kind) generators...?
Charged particle ionic reverse fremise confabulators? Nah, not that one, and I'm really not being a skeptic, I simply am curious.
I use mine at about 5'3" on the bookcase behind to the side of the speakers and it really works, I noticed that putting a hardwood cuboid atop enhances the effect even more.
In that room I run Wide Horn Technologies PR-1 Falcons Audible Illusions L-2 modded by wheezer and an unassuming triode KT-88 PP, 6SN7, 5751 amplifier, cables all Australian silver Pure Silver Connection R-10, Custom and soon to come Monolith silver ribbons.
I also have 2 more that are "replicas" that work also very nicely and keep them on e in my bedroom system at about same height and another one in my family room slightly lower atop a solid wood audio rack.
The effect is wonderful and if you understand physics it is easy to understand why. the music is clearer, cleaner, more coherent, better sense of space, and depth, also noticed the top end gets more detailed and opened, like if you spend another $1,000 worth of NOS tubes i the amp and preamp . . . I did not note too much change in the bass region but, perhaps a little tighter but i'm talking something very subtle.
in the mids and top end spectrum the change is dramatic and the enhancements very real very musical and very palpable. this is a real tweak with real benefits.
I also noticed when i put it in my bedroom system the TV and movies also gained in color purity and enhanced qualities as if I was using another type of AC power filter on the TV as well,
for teh bedroom system I use a Monster Power model 1500 MK-II that is very nice for video and a Running Springs Audio Hailey for the audio section, I use an integrated hybrid DK design MK-II feeding NHT Classic 3's and a 12"digital driven sub, cables are Kimber wonderfully detailed 4AG. and KCAG for interconnects, very good on that system.
I will be moving in the next couple of months bigger property, and plan to put a whole house system more powerful, as I "saw" what this thing can do and want a whole house effect, so I'll be selling mine shortly in case you want to experiment.
as far as recommending this thing . . .. ABSOLUTELY!!!! if you wish to further improve your listening environment and increase your enjoyment of the time spent with music and movies,
I can't live without it now . . .
Take care;
Enjoy your tunes.
Gonzalo
I have a Quantum unit, and I thought the same thing. But a friend of mine in the industry said that they clearly do different things. I honestly don’t remember the details of what he said, so I unfortunately can’t be of much help there. But I did a little experiment yesterday. With the RR-77 in place and on, I turned off my Quantum. I could hear some degradation of the sound, mainly in terms of overall smoothness and naturalness. I then turned the Quantum back on, and voila, the sound returned back to where I was used to hearing it. Not a huge difference, mind you—not even close, in fact—but audible to my ears. FWIW.
I find the Quantum Symphony Pro to clear up the audio to the point that it will brighten an already highly detailed system. Frankly I can't have mine in the same room. As much as I love what it does for video, the Symphony just addes to much of a good thing for the audio.The pulse generator on the other had doesn't really add clarity as much as it added depth to the sound stage which sorta make things clearer by just being deeper.(understand that?LOL) The added depth helps hide the loudspeakers while projecting the sound stage to that of an empty concert hall. These are my impressions of what these 2 conditioners are doing to my system.
I presently have my Symphony Pro covering the breakers of my breaker box, an application that Jen Maher shared with me.
Cheers,
Robin
Robin
When you say you have the Symphony Pro covering the breakers, do you mean it is plugged in to an outlet wired directly off the panel or some other arrangement?
I actually only have 1 outlet in my cellar that's 6' away from the breaker box. I have the Symphony & PE IV plugged into that using an AC Liberator cord. I also have an ultaviolet light water purification system for my house plugged into the other outlet of the duplex. Using a long IEC cord, I have the Symphony Pro bungie strapped over the front of the box, just far enough away so not to inhibit the switches. I also have some Shakti Onlines coming that I'll be attaching to the outgoing wiring from the breakers.This is my ways of attacking the incoming crap at it's source.
Cheers,
Robin
Robin
I understand that having it plugged in close to the panel is a way to have it influence all the circuits.
As far as physical placement - do you think the fact the Symphony is strapped to the box as opposed to on a nearby table or shelf is having any effect or is it just a convenient way to place it?
Bob
Well I would really hope the location of the box itself is very important. I would hope the qunatum effects aren't strickly limited to the wiring from the box but what's being projected from the box itself. I really don't know. I'm simply taking the advise of Alan & Jen Maher, who have been giving me tweak ideas to complement my 12 assorted PE's and 8 assorted Hammond chokes. Jen was telling me how Alan actually took the Quantum unit out of the box and wired it to the power supply of his HTPC computer. I will have to get a clear answer from Alan on that question, I'm the "blindly follow the advise of those wiser than me" type of guy. I was told to strap the box to the face of the breaker box and that's what I did. LOL
Cheers,
Robin
Quantum used to manufacture some boards which could be inserted into components: something easy to do as the boards only measure a couple of inches square.
The Quantums work by generating a signal (contradictory, isn't it?) which dithers the AC voltage.
Stu
So these boards actually emit a frequency radio signal,,,, and it has nothing to do with injecting anything thru the AC cord and into the circuit. It's the emitted frequency that's actually interacting with electrical current.Cheers,
Robin
if I was not clear. The QRT does inject the signal into the AC line. In adding dither, the conventional power supplies in your gear can deal with the additional noise more efficiently, as contradictory as it may seem.
In speaking to Amanda Toulon of Coherent Technologies who was one of the first on the market with such a device, she told me her ex husband developed the technology in an attempt to reduce EMI/RFI emissions from computer monitors back in the 70's. It worked to reduce the fields, but a side effect was that they noticed the color monitors appeared to have a sharper image, so naturally the devise was taken home and there they noticed the sound improved. Sort of a serendipitous discovery, as you can see.
Stu
Actually stu i'm the one who needs to say I'm sorry. I was responding to an earlier post from Dotsystem about the effectivenes of placing the Symphony Pro directly over a breaker box vs just placing it in the general area. I should have answered his post, not yours. I'm really not use to Asylums post format,,, but then again I don't post here much anyways unless there's a particular subject that I want to learn more about. For me that subject has been and always will be power conditioning.
Thanks for the deeper understanding of QRT. :)
Cheers,
Robin
nt
I think he mentioned having one of the non-Acoustic Revive units.
Thanx, I'm looking for another data pt.
Get a better power supply like the Kingrex psu mentioned below, once you tried that out, the difference is really audible as mentioned by Safrat(Robin) already. Also placement of RR-77 is very important, it must be right in the middle of the speakers (in front of you and not behind unless you are using 2 of them) at about 1.5m as confirmed by Norm already. Otherwise don't waste your time using it in any kind of placement ;-)
Btw, the great thing about it is bringing improvement to the sound stage breadth and depth, when used properly, separation and clarity improves by bounds too
Hi,
I wondered if you are saying the performance of the RR77 changed by using a different power supply (Kingrex)?
I have notice the performance changes depending on placement, but I find it hard to believe a 12volt or whatever it is supply can alter its performance. Or is it just a case of the original wallwart is generating a lot of noise?
I have NO doubt about that but just debating if I should spend an extra $170 plus shipping plus an extra good quality power cord to feed that Kingrex.
I trust QUALITY electricity will increase the performance of a component, there should be NO different in this case!!!
I don't know how long I can hold on with the temptation. Help!!!
The Acoustic Revive manufacturer already did make a limited edition power supply (apparently sold out) just to squeeze the ultimate performance from RR-77. From the horse's mouth, it says "It is also possible to use the DPS-1 with our ultra low frequency generator RR-77 which further improves tonal quality." ;-)
Plus you need to keep in mind that Acoustic Revive's power conditioner was going for $1500!!! As the prices of upgraded power supply's go, the KingRex is one of the lowest priced power supply of quality I've seen. Most go for much more than that.
I didn't notice any tonal differences when i compared the KingRex to the wallwart, what I did notice was the tonal strength was much stronger,,, with a deeper, more defining sound stage,,, 2-3x the strength of the wallwart. For those who thought a second RR-77 was needed, I feel all thats as needed was a stronger power supply.
Cheers,
Robin
Hi:
Actually, I haven’t experimented with the KingRex yet. I have one on order and will report back in the next few weeks. Satfrat has one, though, and he claims it makes a big difference. Personally, I found the claims made by Acoustic Revive for the RR-77 pretty silly at first, but the thing does work. After hearing it, I’m not going to dismiss the possibility of a better power supply improving things, inconceivable as it may seem. But my ears will be the final judge. :)
Hi Quint,
I wouldnt be surprised if the power supply did make a difference. I find the RR-77 works very well as it is, with no mods. Its hard to say what it does, but it does do something! I would say soundstaging gets more defined and slightly more layered in its depth.
My problem with the RR-77 is the cable is too short to have it 1.5m up in the air and reach my regulated and filtered power supply. So at the moment it is using normal house hold mains with all the grunge on it from the rest of the house.
Do you know the value of its power supply?
Hi Hotbird,
My power supply for the rr77 is a 240v version and has no markings on it.
I have quite a few well made supplies, I may try one and see if it has an effect.
Thanks.
You guys are sure piquing my interest in this device.
Has anyone compared the supplied 120V Wallwart with the supplied 240V one?
Is the 240V version using a better walwart/supply?
First one was a DIY one made by a Thai company from a hifi shop in Bangkok that I first bought my RR-77 from. The effect was more obvious with the DIY power supply. Now I just upgraded again to the Kingrex psu following Satfrat's review, and I must say that the Kingrex psu is indeed much better than my old DIY power supply, the improvement it brought to the RR-77 is as distinct as night and day. For US$170 in US, I think it is a no-brainer ;-), as it costs even more in my country despite being closer to Taiwan from where it is made ;-(
I just received the KingRex yesterday and used it with the R-77. It did make a bigger difference than the standard power supply.
I placed the R-77 on a 4 feet shelf left of the listening position.
I've been waiting for someone to remark on the KingRex so I could have someone elses opinion to compare with my own. I'm real glad to hear I wasn't too far off base with my opinion. :thumbsup:
Cheers,
Robin
I have found the unit to work just as well directly behind my listening position, about 6 ft back. This places it on the rear wall about 6 ft off the floor. The room is 20.5 x 12.5 x 8.5.
I did some more testing yesterday, and IMO it didn’t make any difference whether the unit was placed in front of me and between the speakers or directly behind my listening position. The height did matter quite a bit, though. Guess it just depends on individual perception. There seems to be some divergence of opinion as to where and how it works best. C’est la vie. :)
It may work, but does it work better that way?
Do some comparative placements, you may find the optimal position is right at the centre of the speakers. For you to find out ;-)
I find it equally effective in either location. Some have also found it to be effective placed on top of a component, like CD player.
whatever rocks for you ;-)
But note that in other systems (as well as Norms), centred placement of the RR-77 will make the imaging clearer and of the right size/bloom.
Guess you have to know what to listen for ...
I'll just say that my RR-77 is off to the left of dead center between my loudspeakers and my imaging is as dead center with the RR-77 on as it was with it off. Having the unit less than dead center between the loudspeakers didn't affect the imaging in the least. I'm wondering of having a weak power supply to begin with might have something to do with these perceived placement issues? I do feel it's a nonissue with my system tho. Or maybe I just don't know what I'm suppose to be enjoying either,,, LMAOCheers,
Robin
I’m not going to invest in a KingRex until I’m entirely sure of what this thing is doing—and if I consistently like it. So far I do. Per your advice, I placed it exactly between my speakers at a height of about 6.5’. Honestly, I couldn’t notice a huge difference between the new and old locations. Maybe something, but not entirely sure. Maybe a slight increase in separation. I need to listen more. Thanks for the advice.
I just received my RR-77 today. I made a bracket to position it as directed (60" high centered between and on the front plane of the speakers). So far I am not hearing much, if there is a difference, it is subtle. I have ordered the King Rex PS and should have it in a week.
I'll post back when I have spent more time and heard the KR PS with it.
Bart
The device is looking for 12V - 12.9 to be exact from what I read. Why not a battery and charger? Can't beat a battery for "clean" power. Size, current capability and style (sealed gel etc.) that would work is pretty large. That would be a lot less than $169.
ET
That's not necessarily true. Case in point, take my Trends UD 10.1 USB transport which gets it's power from the USB port. I did in fact get the optional battery pack and this made a distinct improvement in the sound quality. I then got the Channel Island VDC-SB power supply as i was sick of continually running out of power every 4-6 hours. Well believe it or not, the channel Island simply blew away the battery pack and took the trends to a whole new level. I can't explain it nor do I really care to, I just know that it is. KingRex also sells a rechargable battery pack.
Cheers,
Robin
I did not hear much at first, until I turned it off. Then the music became more strained. After a trip to a friend's house where is was awful where it was convenient to place it quite low and where it improved dramatically, I experimented with height and getting to the 1.5 meter height. Hotbird's recommendation to locate it between the speaker where I had earlier tried it but only about 40" off the floor with little benefit, proved very nice at the 1.5 m. height.
I do think there is some build up of the effect of the RR-77 either on me or on my system. I have a second unit now but have yet to install it. I remain a doubting Thomas yet on the better power supplies as I cannot imagine how this could improve a non-signal carrying device.
Hi Norm,
Your "Doubting Thomas" remark has me puzzled. This is the 2nd or 3rd time you've expressed doubt with my impressions. From what I have already told you and the fact that you have a 30 day money back time period to find out for yourself, I don't inderstand why you don't simply find out for yourself?? Even if you have no intention on buying the unit, you at least owe it to yourself to find out "for yourself" what an upgraded power supply will do for this unit?
An upgraded power supply will at least double the effects of this unit (in my humble opinion) and it will also make placement less of an issue.
Quint, with the KingRex power supply, you should hear an expanded sound stage within seconds of flipping the switch. I found that when I went to the wallwart ps, it took a few minutes for me to hear the effect and even then it was subtle. My placemnt is just to the inside 7 behind of my left loudspeaker, 6' high. The spacial effect from the RR-77 is addicting, I leave my RR-77 & KingRex on 24/7,, there's really no reason for me to turn them off.
I do have my RR-77 & King Rex sitting on top of each other, both on top of my HTPC computer with a Trend UD 10.1 USB tranpsort on 1 side and it's Channel Island VDC-SB power supply on the other side. Maybe that's the reason my detection of the RR-77 is instantaneous,,, the HTPC being my only music source.
I really hope everyone who tries out a KingRex power supply upgrade will be as happy with their Acoustic Revive RR-77 as I am. I can't imagine ever listening to music again w/o it! :)
Cheers,
Robin
It is only because of what you have written that I would even try another power supply.
Presently I am more preoccupied with the AVM paint as it has much greater impact on my sound than the RR-77.
You didn't offend me in the least Norm, I'm just disappointed that you're not seeing for yourself how much stronger this generator is with an upgraded power supply. But I'm not offended, if you're happy with your generators performace, then I'm happy too. I apologise for making you feel as tho I was upset buddy. :)
Cheers,
Robin
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