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In Reply to: RE: ok, i'll pick a nit with ya posted by jmkochevar on November 20, 2010 at 08:28:08
Quartz, tourmaline, or topaz placed near electronics, speakers or power inlets can make a big difference and cost very little. Small stones work best but some varieties don't work at all for some reason. Piezoelectric crystals (the stones listed above) and power conditioners can have a large impact on the sound of your system.
I tend to agree with Duster that an untweaked system can sound MUCH better if you take the time to find tweaks that work. Where I differ with him is in the specific tweaks that he likes. If you follow his advice, your system will sound more precise, but also more clinical. If your system has too much bass and the timing is on the loose side, his tweaks should work well. If you start with an extremely revealing system, Oyaide and Acrolink will drive you up the wall, so be careful.
Follow Ups:
Were the varieties that didn't work at all peizoelectric as well? Hmmmm...
hmmm.
So, they were peizoelectric but did not work. Is it possible that peizoelectricity is not the principle of operation of the crystals? Hmmmm... Further, amythyst is a type of quartz. So, if amythyst works and quartz doesn't in some applications, could that be a clue that peizoelectricity is not the cause of the effect. Hmmmmm...
I'm getting some results with quartz, but get best results so far with tourmaline and especially amethyst. I now have some topaz; haven't tried it as yet. Recently got some pink tourmaline, but can't tell if it's making a difference.
I can get some results with silica gel, too, which is another piezoelectric crystal. Got zero out of using cane sugar, yet another known piezoelectric. (Got it out of there before I got ants!)
But I'm extremely satisfied with my piezo crystal experiments and they work in others' systems to whom I've given some.
BTW, raw stones don't do much appreciable for me, but treated ones do.
Meantime, I also tried some green carborundum, but cannot tell if it did any good.
Believe Green carborundum has some slight magnetic properties, rather than piezo ones. You need really high amounts of induced current to get any effect from them, say the power line for a big power amp. Probably won't work for a preamp or other small current draw components.
That being said, many crystals not commonly associated with piezo electricity can have audio properties. Ruby and diamond are two I have played with. You can find ruby findings for very reasonable prices and they seem to work on the very high frequencies. A friend had some 68 point flawless Siberian diamonds and they seemed to have tremendous bass, but the price was a bit out of the casual experimentation range.
Stu
The green carborundum idea I borrowed from Acoustic Revive and how they use this, powdered quartz and powdered pink tourmaline in the bottom of their power strips for filtering. I am going to use it again in that type of application, as it appears to do no harm.
My R1's and 004's are not analytical to my listening taste when placed in my particular system. I find the sonic signature of the system to sound way more on the musical side of things rather clinical, for sure.
Perhaps the older AC connectors models (such as the 046 and 079), and SWO AC outlet models are what you are pointing at.
I would agree that the Acrolink 6N-P4030 cable is very detailed, but the result does not drive me up the wall -- I could (and sometimes do) listen to my audio system all day long, fatigue-free...
But maybe I'm wrong. All of my components are highly resolving and fast. Without good wires, it is pretty unlistenable because all of the distortion which it accurately reproduces. I made the mistake of trying "fast" wires, tubes, etc. and they werer clearly a bad choice. I'm sure that Seimens tubes sound great in Bambi's system with its Vandersteen speakers, but my Thiels can't abide them. I have one pair of acrolinks feeding the speaker equalizer, but otherwise Cardas cables work much better for me. I would never say that Cardas is the best cable choice for everyone, just as I'm sure you would never say that Oyaide outlets will improve any system regardless of its sound.
My system would certainly sound less refined and present less macro and micro listening cues, but there's no reason why it would sound "a bit dead" if connected with stock cabling and AC gear. My cable choices are not some kind of "fix" for a sub par audio rig...
Unlike you, I didn't choose perfect electronics, perfect speakers and perfect cables. I'm sure if I had, only a perfect outlet would give me the results I was looking for. Although I will say that when I bought my Audio Research gear, I was also looking at Bryston, but found the Bryston's upper frequency grunge and lack of refinement objectionable. Unless your B&W speakers mask those problems, I'm surprised that your preference for revealing wires doesn't drive you up the wall. Have you considered seeing an audiologist?
from duster's posts (over the years), one can gather that he has quite an elaborate system of power-conditioning going on and maybe he has created a mix that synergizes with his bryston. i've never heard a bryston, so it's best for me to say no more.
but my disagreements with Duster go back quite some time and any suggestions I have made that Oyaide might not be appropriate for some systems has been met with the same response--the electronics must be at fault. I just don't think that a one-size-fits-all approach is correct.
I've not postured a one-size-fits-all, nor in general have I blamed the make/model of various components for why a listener says they do not like Oyaide AC delivery products. It's only when folks denigrate Oyaide or any other gear that I respect that I will protest by posting a response to such a position. Furthermore, folks who denigrate others like you've done in this thread is clearly out of line and no more than trolling for a flame war.
Additionally, my Bryston 3B-SST mated with a VH Audio AirSine power cord sounds sweet, and my B&W Matrix 805s connected with an external bi-wire set of VH Audio CHeLA speaker cables are classic monitors still featured in one of Abbey Road's mastering studios.
I'll not defend my listening skills. 'nuff said.
Very well written, Duster.
Thank you for all of your informative posts.
You are a true GENTELMAN!!!
Ed
nt
an assault on my manhood with your 'get some rocks' subject header ;)
i have older full-sounding tannoy speakers (chevoits) and a slightly warm sounding odyssey stratos amp, so clinical tweaks aren't much of a problem. i started building up a decent enough mainly vinyl playback system a couple years ago. my taste in music tends to a sound that incorporates the rhythmic drive of rock; and some of that stuff is not very well recorded. i've had problems in 2 areas: a mid/hi-mid glare and lack of treble clarity. the oyaide-acrolink combo has given me acceptable treble clarity and it also has smoothed some of the glare (use the r1 outlet/p-04 connectors), although my purchase of acoustic zen matrix ref2 interconnects on audiogon yesterday will tell ya that i'm still fighting a glare problem.
anywhoo, thanks for the piezocrystals suggestion. i'm trying to stave off a move into the world of power-conditioning and 'getting rocks' provides a possible cost effective option.
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