Have you tried any of them on your audio system? Total Contact reportedly is advantaged by it's graphene component, special emulsion which has two patents and cryogenic processing which smooths the emulsion for ease of use. These other products do not claim these items and reportedly by Frank, the prior versions and possibly those available cheaply are lumpy in texture and more difficult to apply. What I know is that a partial system application of Total Contact is as much an enhancement in sound as the Blue SR fuse.
New Tweak --- Its Fantastic
THE NEW TWEAK
Over the good part of this past year I’ve been beta testing a new tweak, the name of which is "Total Contact." Its a hi-bred graphene contact enhancer that is different from all other contact enhancers that have come and gone for one reason or another. I’m not new to these contact enhancers, having had quite a bit of experience with a product developed by the late Brian Kyle and his "Quick Silver" contact enhancer. The "Total Contact" is different ... a LOT different.
"Total Contact" is graphene based and is not a vibration control. It eliminates micro-arching between two contacts. Micro-arching, much like Micro-vibration smears the sound in our stereo systems. Its the type of distortion that we don’t know is there .... until we eliminate it. There is no break-in as we know it. The sound is improved right off the bat, but what you hear is only a smidgen of what’s to come.
I tested three generations of "TC," each of which was an improvement over the previous incarnation. The final mix was cryogenitically treated and made for a more effective, much smoother application. It comes in a large hypodermic needle type plunger containing 1.5 ml of product and includes a instructional DVD and an application brush.
The application should be applied with a very thin coat to all of your electrical connections .... from your cartridge pins to your power cords. I did my entire system, including the ends of my fuses.
Upon initial application, you will notice an improvement in clarity, correctness of tonal balance and a more overall organic sound. But ... that is just scratching the surface of what this magic paste does. As it cures, the improvements become more apparent. Much more!
There are two real break-through events that happen almost to the day with "Total Contact," one at four weeks and another at eight weeks . At four weeks, you’ll get a real jump in clarity and overall improvement. That’s only a taste though of what’s to come at eight weeks. At eight weeks your system’s focus will make a jump in SQ that is so real - its surreal.
After 40 years in the hobby, and a total tweak nut, I have never heard anything that does what this graphene paste does. The see-through clarity at eight weeks becomes simply amazing. The "paste" eventually cures into a kind of polymer plastic and it seems that the sound improves with each listening session. So, its important that you leave your contacts alone for the duration. If you’re the type of person that continually switches wires in and out, you’ll have to re paste until enough time has elapsed to get "the cure."
The only problem I had was with the first batch and that had to do with shorting out a tube pin in the line stage. Use the "TC" very sparingly on tube pins, if at all. I only had problems with the line stage tube pins. The Amp, CD Player and Phono Stage has had no tube pin problems at all.
Tim Mrock, one of our fellow A’goners, is the developer of the product. Its taken Tim 15 years and several patents to get it right. Tim has "pasted" every electrical contact he can find in his audio system, all of the switches in his circuit breaker box, every contact in his car ... and has used it in commercial applications such as hospital circuit breakers, surgical lights ... and other places where efficiency and long life of electrical components are deemed important.
This product is highly recommended to anyone who truly wants to get the most out of his/her audio systems. There’s enough product in each tube to do at least two audio systems as it just takes a very thin coat on each application to be effective. The last tube was enough to do my system twice and then a friend’s system this past weekend.
Frank
PS: There were a couple of other A’goner beta testers of this product as well. Hopefully, they will chime in here with their experiences for comparison. I "pasted" both of Steve Fleschler’s systems a few days ago, perhaps he will comment on his results too. We forgot to paste Steve’s power cords though, so there’s a lot more to be had from Steve’s two fantastic systems.
Frank
Over the good part of this past year I’ve been beta testing a new tweak, the name of which is "Total Contact." Its a hi-bred graphene contact enhancer that is different from all other contact enhancers that have come and gone for one reason or another. I’m not new to these contact enhancers, having had quite a bit of experience with a product developed by the late Brian Kyle and his "Quick Silver" contact enhancer. The "Total Contact" is different ... a LOT different.
"Total Contact" is graphene based and is not a vibration control. It eliminates micro-arching between two contacts. Micro-arching, much like Micro-vibration smears the sound in our stereo systems. Its the type of distortion that we don’t know is there .... until we eliminate it. There is no break-in as we know it. The sound is improved right off the bat, but what you hear is only a smidgen of what’s to come.
I tested three generations of "TC," each of which was an improvement over the previous incarnation. The final mix was cryogenitically treated and made for a more effective, much smoother application. It comes in a large hypodermic needle type plunger containing 1.5 ml of product and includes a instructional DVD and an application brush.
The application should be applied with a very thin coat to all of your electrical connections .... from your cartridge pins to your power cords. I did my entire system, including the ends of my fuses.
Upon initial application, you will notice an improvement in clarity, correctness of tonal balance and a more overall organic sound. But ... that is just scratching the surface of what this magic paste does. As it cures, the improvements become more apparent. Much more!
There are two real break-through events that happen almost to the day with "Total Contact," one at four weeks and another at eight weeks . At four weeks, you’ll get a real jump in clarity and overall improvement. That’s only a taste though of what’s to come at eight weeks. At eight weeks your system’s focus will make a jump in SQ that is so real - its surreal.
After 40 years in the hobby, and a total tweak nut, I have never heard anything that does what this graphene paste does. The see-through clarity at eight weeks becomes simply amazing. The "paste" eventually cures into a kind of polymer plastic and it seems that the sound improves with each listening session. So, its important that you leave your contacts alone for the duration. If you’re the type of person that continually switches wires in and out, you’ll have to re paste until enough time has elapsed to get "the cure."
The only problem I had was with the first batch and that had to do with shorting out a tube pin in the line stage. Use the "TC" very sparingly on tube pins, if at all. I only had problems with the line stage tube pins. The Amp, CD Player and Phono Stage has had no tube pin problems at all.
Tim Mrock, one of our fellow A’goners, is the developer of the product. Its taken Tim 15 years and several patents to get it right. Tim has "pasted" every electrical contact he can find in his audio system, all of the switches in his circuit breaker box, every contact in his car ... and has used it in commercial applications such as hospital circuit breakers, surgical lights ... and other places where efficiency and long life of electrical components are deemed important.
This product is highly recommended to anyone who truly wants to get the most out of his/her audio systems. There’s enough product in each tube to do at least two audio systems as it just takes a very thin coat on each application to be effective. The last tube was enough to do my system twice and then a friend’s system this past weekend.
Frank
PS: There were a couple of other A’goner beta testers of this product as well. Hopefully, they will chime in here with their experiences for comparison. I "pasted" both of Steve Fleschler’s systems a few days ago, perhaps he will comment on his results too. We forgot to paste Steve’s power cords though, so there’s a lot more to be had from Steve’s two fantastic systems.
Frank
Showing 50 responses by fleschler
Okay, geoffkait, here are the links advertising Quicksilver Gold and a Positive Feedback review http://www.partsconnexion.com/cleaners_xtreme.html https://positive-feedback.com/Issue30/quicksilver_gold.htm Apparently, it is almost the same as the Total Contact but had to be refrigerated and vacuum sealed after opening. It also did not sound good upon immediate application but took time to "gel." Total Contact sounded good immediately and Frank did not refrigerate or vacuum seal his syringe of emulsion. So, yes, QG was a bargain, but it is no longer available. The next better thing at higher expense is TC which is why I am buying it. I have not tried any other of the contact enhancer products. I am satisfied that TC will fill my needs with an ample supply for $300. |
GQ cost $125/2 grams back in 2014. It was listed for sale on audiogon (unknown date) for $200/4.5 grams with a very detailed review of it's beneficial properties. In 2010, an audiogon forum deried the longetivity of Walker and GQ as of that date. It apparently deteriorated after one year and required reapplication. Most posters were in accord https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/contact-enhancer-deterioration Maybe geoffkait had Mr. Kyle's latest GQ batch which was improved over 2010 batch. Since I don't have access to GQ, it will be TC for me when available. |
I don’t care why or how TC works. Just like blue SR fuses, duplexes, Stillpoints, Townsend Seismic Sink, equipment stands and Shakti Hallographs, they are essential tweaks besides my various cables and tube incarnations except I found the tweaks stay in my system for a long time. I only upgrade them if there is something better at a reasonable cost (I’m conservative in my audio equipment spending although well heeled). If something is found to work as well as TC, I’d buy that. So far, I haven’t read or heard anything comparable and I’m using gifted TC on my fuses and ICs to date with great improvement in music listening enjoyment. So, if you don’t want to try TC, don’t. Frank, Robert and other Agoners who’ve tried it think it’s a bargain for what it does and how it works. I’m buying a tube and treating all four audio systems, including A/C cables and speaker connections and video systems. As to tweaks, my engineer/wire manufacturing friend to is uber skeptical who upon hearing his amp design with SR blue fuses went home immediately to remove his littlefuses, he is waiting for me to treat his cables (two pair IC, three A/C cables and speaker wires) for his CD based audio system before he will agree that it makes a great difference in enjoyment. |
dynaquest is a troll. Since I HEARD the difference that TC and my other tweaks that I kept made to my musical enjoyment, then I deduced that they were effective. If they made little or no difference or made my enjoyment worse, I didn't buy the tweak. Green ink on CDs and Tice Clocks were not tried. At least a dozen vibration devices were tried and rejected. Shakti stones were ineffective or worse and rejected. I only keep what works. geoffkait does not understand that I was writing hyperbole I know very well how and why most of my tweaks work although not to a scientific or engineering basis on all of them. Frank has introduced me to two tweaks with the least written scientific proof but with just as much HEARING proof that I need. I did not try another fuse or contact enhancement product prior to TC or black SR fuses. I was unhappy with the long break in time for the black fuse and stated so on the forum, willing to pay double for a ready to use fuse. SR obliged and produced a better, ready to use fuse for $20 more. Yes, the graphene appears to be on the exterior of the fuse. So what? It works for my system and my friends systems. They are ecstatic. I was reluctant to use a contact enhancer because I thought they could gum up my connections or short out my equipment. Frank brought me a safe alternative which works. The price is worth it to me. I do not have an engineering degree. I have four degrees from major universities, was a contractor building apartments and tract homes in the 1980s, was a commercial real estate appraiser, have extensive equity investments and dozens of rental properties. You can't pull the wool over my eyes easily. I learn from my mistakes. My audio systems were built over decades, not the latest, greatest thing. No one ever said that my equipment was out of date. No one ever came over and said my moded VPI TNT VI/SME IV and unmoded Benz Ruby 3 were not musical enough or that my near state of the art pre-amp/phono pre-amp/amps were not good enough. Because they are good enough to enjoy music on a continuous basis. |
I also use Herbies tube dampeners. It’s another tweak one can hear immediately. I also use a Herbie anti vibration donut (like a miniature cd mat) around the spindle area of my modded VPI TNT VI. However. I tried his older CD mat but it no effect with my EAR Acute CD player, I also use a Walker Talisman demagnetizer on all CDs and LPs before I play them. It’s $200 for a pair of magnets but it is uber convenient and works. It is more subtle than my other tweaks but certainly improves the sound every play |
The rest of the two systems consist of power cords, three prong and the units IECs prongs, the insides of IEC plugs and speakers terminals and wires. The result was multiplied from just treated the ICs 3 weeks ago. The sound is more focused, 3D sounding in width and depth, more dynamic in both micro/macro dimensions and superior bass. That’s the immediate change. It was thrilling to hear both micro changes in quiet music playing against loud, simultaneously loud music. Music sounds more like a live performance as opposed to canned music/sound. My wife and I listened for 2 hours this evening to 70s rock cd collections on the secondary music system which previously sounded less than enjoyable (probably not from original sources). The change in sound was so profound that the music had a live performance quality like never before. Then, I spent the rest of the evening listening to LPs in my main listening room. The dynamics on LA 4 jazz combo LPs was immense, as the best LPs can do to equal uncompressed CDs. I am very happy. When I purchase TC next week, I will do my secondary equipment (PC on cassette, VPI 19 78 rpm TT, masterlink alessis CD mastering piece, VPI TNT/VPI speed controller) and 2 video systems with all of their PCs and ICs. For $300 to be able to improve multiple audio video equipment systems so much, I think TC is a bargain. I will be treating a cable manufacturers own system. I bet he will recommend it to all his customers. He already recommends upgraded fuses and circuit breakers where possible after experiencing the improvements in my system. |
Shadorne is a troll. There is no back firing on TC marketing. TC does what the SR blue fuse does, due to creating superior electron transmission between contacts. The results are heard immediately (although the claim is that it improves with age-I can only attest to the fuse improvement over time at this time). I will post at the 4 and 8 week time marks as to changes in sound/musical enjoyment. |
As to tweaks, prior to upgrading two amp fuses and an SR black duplex, it was nearly two years prior when I upgraded my Stillpoints (5 pair) from the early 2000s model to the current models and installed a Bryston Bit20 isolation transformer. I have changed IC cables per my friend/manufacturer but those were incremental changes (sleeve over positive wiring which reduced capacitance by 50%, change from a 30g. to a 26g. return silver wire in a loom of wiring, etc-subtle changes). I have the same components and other tweaks for over a decade. So, an immediate and dramatic change in sound wrought by the SR fuses and TC are wonderful and all thanks to Frank for bringing them to me. P.S. As I've previously stated, I went through nearly a dozen different types of isolation devices two to three years ago until I settled on the Stillpoints. |
Grover Huffman high end audio cables are sold internationally with a significant portion of his business from East Asia (Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan). He has sales throughout Europe and countries like Egypt, Turkey and South Africa. He has more difficulty selling cables in the U.S. because his cables are priced lower than comparable Nordost, Transparent Audio, Siltech, etc. cables by a factor of 10X to 20X. There are many more audiophiles internationally than in the U.S. (CES is tiny potatoes, Munich audio show is the big one). |
His philosophy is to give customers their money’s worth. At various audio shows in Los Angeles in the past two years, about a dozen exhibitors allowed him to use his ICs and sometimes his PCs (we tour the shows together). They all wanted to keep them for the remainder of the show they liked them so much. Those using Nordost and Transparent Audio wouldn’t try them. http://www.groverhuffman.com/home Even his IC connector’s are designed and manufactured for his own line using pure copper coated with 20mil silver and low mass. He also has a 60 day full refund return policy (with about one return in about 200 orders). |
I’ve reached the 4 week point in application of TC to only my interconnects (it’ll be another 3 weeks for the rest of the system). All of a sudden there is an abundance of micro-details in the music, voices are more legible and the entire sound became more dynamic. My 5 way dynamic speakers remind me of when I had electrostats in terms of quiet detailed musical sounds (my wife hated the Monolith IIIs 20 years ago when we first met because of the limited soundstage, dynamics, beaming highs and limited bass at the time). With the addition of more details and air, there is a greater dynamic range which can be disconcerting. I set the volume for the loudest peak sound now rather than the quieter sounds because I got rudely blasted on two recordings by fortissimos. I also hear a lot more chatter by musicians in jazz recordings. The significantly increased legitability of singers has me concentrating and enjoying the lyrics more. This is my third post on the benefits of TC. It keeps getting more interesting and musically better. I have a suggestion. Buy it, use only enough to treat your main audio system (which should be under 10% of a syringe). If you don’t like it, clean your contacts off and resell the remaining 90% on audiogon or ebay for half price. You’ll only be out about $150, or have a friend try it, or try it on your video equipment. The only way to know how good it is in your audio system is to try it based on this forum’s positive experiences. Don’t post negative comments unless you’ve tried it. |
nkonor I waited until 2018 to try any contact enhancer in my audio or video systems. I was also afraid of negative long term effects. That's why I started incrementally applying it to IC contacts only. Frank introduced me (and I did the same for my friends) to the upgrading of our fuses. He is so correct and accurate in his description of his tweak effects that I allowed him to put TC on my contacts. The only prior use of a cleaner was Kontact from the 1990s to 2000s that I used on my ICs. I waited until I heard Stillpoints demonstated on my system to buy them. If I don't hear a significant improvement, I don't buy it. As I've previously mentioned, I tried about a dozen vibration control devices, not all of the most popular but definitely expensive ones and rejected all but Stillpoints and the Townsend seismic sink. I also mentioned that it should only be $150 to test and resell the remaining 85% of the syringe if you try it and don't like it. There should be a healthy resale market for the unused portion of a new syringe that is barely used. |
I will answer my experience with TC for Norbert. It is easy to apply to A/C pins, speaker wire/terminals and IC pins. It is more difficult to apply to IEC pins which are located inside the equipment, especially if the equipment is not easily movable (same thing for A/C pins located in back of a Bryston BIT 20 Transformer box). It is slightly messy upon application to one's fingers and easily removed (I used dish soap and water-immediately gone versus alcohol which took more effort). I am sooo happy that TC is not runny and is more like a paste that solidifies on the pins rather than on or in equipment. It's the only enhancer I've used. I was very reluctant to use anything until I tested it on ICs. After seeing the application and hearing the result, I was smitten. Tim mentioned that it lasts longer in a sealed or vacuum packed baggie, even longer in the freezer (six months or more was quoted). TC has made as great an improvement in sound and music enjoyment (the subtleties, dynamic contrasts and bass improvements) in both my "megabuck" system and my much lesser cost system. I'm waiting for a new tube to apply it to my video systems both TVs and associated equipment (audio & video). I have more fuses in my systems to treat than just the SR Blue fuses (those little Littlefuses in receivers, speakers and CD players). Should be interesting to hear the improvements. Hope that helps. |
Synergistic Research HFTs... This is slightly off topic; however, after TC and the fuses, I decided to try HFTs despite already having 2 pairs of Hallographs in my big system. I built the room with a bad slap echo problem. Frank told me to try the HFTs, I bought Level 1 and 2 installed as recommended. I don’t know how it works so well but while music is playing, the slap echo is 90% nullified (one can clap during the music and faintly detect an echo). I was still wanting a better balanced sound (my wife wanted a more open sound for her rock music) so instead of purchasing the next several levels, I purchased a pair of HFT/HFT 2.0/HFT X speaker kits. These were more difficult to apply so that the sound was balanced due to the unusual driver configuration. However, upon settling on slight changes of 3" up or down, I achieved a balanced sound. P.S. I removed two forms of large damping panels and two rugs/material cover from the room which makes the room look better, just with little pimples on walls and speakers (very tiny sitting 12’ to 20’ from them). My wife gave her full approval for listening to 60’s+ rock to heavy metal in the room. It has all the spaciousness of the recording venue plus the detail, dynamics and tonally rich full frequency range that the TC and fuses provide. WOW! I highly recommend the SR HFTs to maximize the TC abilities. However, I also recommend at least one pair of Hallographs behind the speakers. I tried the setup with them removed and I got a very clear, super sharp imaged sound, lacking ambience and air. It was antiseptic sounding yet tonally correct with excellent dynamics. The Hallographs brought in the gorgeous tonal qualities and air/ambience. |
I am not a surrogate and I did purchase TC from Mr. Mrock. I have stated that I use TC, found it to be worthy to remain in my audio systems forever (pending use in my video systems). The benefit does grow with SR fuses/duplexes/HFTs in my systems. But I found the improvement using TC prior to using HFTs and altering my room acoustics. TC has been as good for me as upgrading from a 50 cent fuse to SR blue fuses. My friends and most importantly, my wife agrees. |
Just want to add that Frank's CD player modified sounds 98% like my EAR Acute CD player ($6000). It is difficult to tell one from the other in a high end system.
Slightly tighter bass in Pioneer, slightly warmer mids in the Acute It proves that CD players don't have to be expensive, just well designed with good parts (and top quality ICs/power cables). |
I jumped the gun on the 8 week improvement when I purchased the SR Atmosphere XL4 to go with my 2 HFT sets and 2 Speaker HFT sets. It was like TC on steroids. However, my wife noticed congestion/hashy sound on choral parts on LPs recorded in the 50’s and early 60’s (all four Aida Triumphal Scene LPs-recording tape headroom saturation problem). Jazz and instrumentals sounded fine but with the slightest blur on some (using a custom made tube phono stage with perfectly impedance mated SUT). I thought there could be worn stylus problem but my best LPs sounded fabulous. I did an experiment. I decided to plug in my old EAR 324 phono stage. It was difficult to get the right impedance/gain match (which is why I switched five years ago) getting too much bass, insufficiently open sound or too little bass and open sound (150 or 400 ohms, cartridge is best at 220 ohms).. Then I decided to treat the EAR 324s 2 pairs of RCA ICs and the A/C power cord with TC. Wow, I was able to dial in a setting I liked. The choruses became 50% clearer (wife approved as listenable) and a very tube-like tonal quality ensued. As noted, bass becomes more prominent. I was able to use a higher impedance match for my cartridge (Benz Ruby 3). My wife approved of me spending $300 for TC (as well as the XL4 after she heard what it did and the removal of all the wall/window treatments for the HFTs). She spent some time listening to LPs (luckily the XL4 has an Amplify room setting so that she can enjoy heavy metal and Robin Trower recordings). I just want to say that TC improves everything I pasted so far. Unfortunately for me, my wife will be spending more time listening to 80s rock LPs in my music room. On a personal note, my wife had about 300 LPs when we met 21 years ago which she kept in pristine condition. I’m a lucky man. |
ronrags I tried the HFTs only without my Hallographs and did not like the result either. While the sound was enhanced, detailed and open, it sounded antiseptic, sterile. Obviously my room has a lot to do with that. When I put back the rear Hallographs alone, the beauty of sound and immersion into a large sound field was brought back. Note that I used TC prior to installing HFTs and removing all my room treatment. My wife felt that the room didn't sound sufficiently open when compared to the best audio systems she heard at the LA Audio show 2018. I decided to try the Atmosphere XL4. I was hooked. It delivers so much more than an FEQ, in numbers of signals, signal strength and adjustability. I highly recommend TC which will do much of what HFTs. It does so many positive things to the sound from an electronic stance. like the blue fuse. I still had slap echo problems (moderately severe) without the HFTs which is a non-electronic, room problem. Now with the Atmosphere XL4, there is no slap echo present when clapping my hands while music is playing. Amazing. |
My wife would not listen to her music (rock) when we first met when I had Martin Logan Monolith IIIs and Quests. No bass, no dynamics, poor listening area. I was driving them with Audio Research Classic 60s and an AR SP14. Maybe it wasn't sufficient power. Enter the Focuses and Sig IIIs. No problem for 18 years with more powerful tube amps and higher end tube gear for the last 15 years. 2017-I install my friend's latest cables, the SR blue fuse and TC without changing the room treatments. My wife finds the Focuses sound to bright and aggressive. Reason-the openess exposed the bad slap echo and other acoustic problems in my room. 2018-Solution-SR HFTs (2 sets), SR speaker kits (1 pair) and removable of all baffles, diffusers, other hard surfaces in the room. Result-she likes listening to her music again. Enter the SR Atmosphere XL4. Placed in front of the speakers, tremendous increase in dynamics, detail and tone intensity. She really likes it when dialing in Amplify setting for heavy metal and hard rock. For me, it sounds like horn speakers dynamically, panel speakers for detail and triode amplification for tone depth. So far, so good. These are repeatable results. As to the TC, fuse and cable changes, my wife noticed the difference immediately and I didn't tell what I did. The other acoustical tweaks she could see. I didn't tell her what the differences were, just asked her what do you hear, do you like it or not. She is not an audiophile. It didn't require 10 blind tests to get an answer. |
No, the changes were made incrementally. The full TC treatment was also added to my living room CD only audio system which only had the SR Blue Fuse and SR Black duplex, otherwise, no room treatment at all (great room acoustics). My wife liked the sound before and after treatment there where she generally prefers listening to her rock CDs. The TC opened the soundstage, increased the resolution and deepened the bass. After that change, I installed two Mapleshade 2" platforms replacing the 1" granite slabs under the bottom firing woofer of Signature IIIs. This made the system increase in depth, bass definition and seamless highs. So these were two complementary changes. My wife says the system rocks. She has a biology degree from Stonybrook U. and was the top IT business analyst at Reology for title/escrow programming until retiring No dummy and can't be fooled easily. If she doesn't approve of a change, she let's me know in no uncertain terms. |
I decided to try the TC on my old EAR 324 phono pre-amp because I knew that I would gain more bass and more colorful, detailed mids using TC as it did everywhere else. The problem I had with the EAR 324 was an impedance mismatch (too high or too low settings at 150 ohms and 400 ohms when I needed 220 ohms). With the middle gain setting and the 400 ohm setting, I was shocked to hear a balanced, open, full bodied rich sound. Maybe my SUT and tube phono stage isn’t as clean/clear sounding as the 324. Now I’m using the 324 again due to TC adding what was not sounding correct in the equipment (open but too tonally thin vs, tonally rich but closed in). (Aside-Benz recommended a 400+ ohm setting but the cartridge has a 3.5 mv output and is a 45 ohm type so 220 ohms was recommended by several SUT manufacturers). |
I just reported to Audiogon an email concerning shadorne LYING about anyone receiving a commission. This forum is not a promotional venue for anyone other than Tim Mrock of Total Contact. This forum is for presentation of a new tweak's properties by those who have used it and for those who are interested in it's use. |
Okay, I decided to use the TC on the barrel of the single ended RCA connectors (the ground) on the CD player, SUT and preamp inputs, DO NOT put TC inside holes which Mr. Mrock said NO! to in his instructions. I was really surprised at the result. As usual, the result was improved bass and greater resolution. Just fabulous result for a little dab of TC around the barrel (the instructions didn't mention it). So, now I have about 15+ more pairs of connector barrels to apply TC to (all the connected pre-amp inputs, output, amp input, other equipment outputs, second audio system and video system). |
I also want to give my sincerest thanks to Frank for his introduction to tweaks which enable me reach this high level of audio reproduction. Spending $7500 in the past two years on SR, TC, Mapleshade products is a lot less expensive than trying to upgrade my speakers. I thought the speakers were holding my system back because they are older engineering at 25+ years. They were not the problem. The room and micro-vibrations were the problem, just like I treated the electronics with stillpoints back four years ago. |
I just spent over $6000 on SR products, 2-10 packs of HFTs, 2 packs of speaker HFT/2.0/X kits, a Blackbox and an Atmosphere XL4. After an agonizing 2 weeks placing the HFTs 90% in the recommended positions and 3 which drove me nuts to find out how to balance the room, I was finally able to add the Blackbox and Atmosphere to the mix and achieve the soundstage, dynamics, tonal warmth and detail that I wanted. However, prior to adding the SR products, I spent $300 for TC and applied it to nearly all contacts in my main listening room system. The TC brought out detail, bass and soundstage that I lacked in that room but not in my living room. Now that I have incorporated the SR equipment, there is no need to experiment and see what would happen without TC. I’m satisfied with the end result. My friend who is an audio engineer told me that it was the TC that was messing up my sound. Well, now that I finally got the SR tweaks to work correctly (the Blackbox is 5’ from the front wall, not along the walls as in the instructions and the Atmosphere is behind me on the back wall, not in front of my speakers which does provide the most profound differences but blocks the soundstage in my room), I think he is wrong. The proof is in the pudding. His system is a small, 8' high room with acoustic tiles with a 2 way mini-monitor speakers with 4" woofers (they go down to 20 Hz but don't slam you with bass) with the same equipment/wiring as mine. Sure he has a fantastic sounding system but a grand piano doesn't sound as big in his room as in my room. My speakers are 4 way with 7 drivers and 6-12" woofers. Really tough to adjust that type of speaker to my larger room As for the SR tweaks, Dave at Weinhart Design said these tweaks and tuning each individual room is an art, not a science. It takes a great deal of commitment to work on achieving the right balance. I kept experimenting until I got the tweaks to work. My music room has problems which needed solving (slap echo, wide front wall windows mid-wall height, large cathedral ceiling). I highly recommend trying the TC. If you are lacking in bass, soundstage and resolution, it appears to cure the ailment. |
And you are a troll. I only inform readers concerning products I purchase and use in my audio system. You have many negative posts which do not relate to trying the products, just being personally negative towards posters like me. I am wealthy and I have no need or desire to post unless I feel it is informative to readers. I am obsessive concerning music, not equipment as I want the simplist audio system with only a volume and selctor control. Now I have added the IPad. I sit for hours at night listening and reading. I share my music collection with friends and colleagues That's my great enjoyment. What does a troll do for fun? He writes nasty personal diatribes against people and products on audio sites. |
Well, thank you fazee and tommylion. It was Shadorne who called me a shill and/or fanboy. I am not a billionaire but am actively operating several businesses/investments and have the cash to buy Magico's (which I dislike upon hearing them maybe 15 rooms in four years of the LA Audio show). I don't like to swap equipment. Most of my gear/electronics/analog/digital are 12+ years old with the oldest being my 1989 purchase of the SME IV tonearm. There are bargains for middle income people to hear great sound at reasonable cost of used gear such as EAR Acute CD players. The EAR sounds like analog with NOS tubes and a high end power cord ($450 from http://www.groverhuffman.com/empress-1 whose cables I do plug on forum sites as they are superior for the price). TC did not cure my room acoustic problems that SR passive devices did. It is tremendously cost effective for what it does do, electronically. |
fazee I don't know why TC would work on acoustic resonators. Did you want to use it to attach to objects or around the sides of the HFTs? Certainly don't put it into the resonating chamber which would block its' function. The HFTs don't operate in an electrical field so I doubt TC would work on them. Let me know if there is another application but you got me to think about applying HFTs to the Atmosphere XL4 post. |
The audiotweak - I know one vendor at the last year's LA Audio show who used the stock tubes in his demo and when I suggested he try a certain brand/tube to elevate the SQ he brought out the identical pair he just received from the same dealer I purchased many NOS tubes from. What a coincidence. He said he was saving them for his personal use. The stock tubes did sound good though in the EAR Acute Classic. |
It's been seven months after first applying TC. If anyone is interested in my opinion, I say that the SR Blue Fuse installation is more important than TC. Two fuses cost as much as one tube of TC, so choose where you can afford to spend your funds. My CD player has 4 rail fuses alone or $600 worth of fuses and despite no fuses in my phono and pre-amps, I have a pair of mono-blocks, another CD player with a fuse, another amp with a fuse, a receiver for my video/audio system and a pair of fused speakers. That's about $1650 plus tax for 11 fuses. It gets expensive but unlikely for a fuse to blow, let alone multiple fuses in multiple equipment. |
Why is it that so many GON forums are for the purpose of conversation concerning various audio products? Are they also in violation of the forum "code"? What purpose are the forums if one cannot write about a product? There are 1000s of forums concerning products, why is TC so different? I’m sure the same denigrators of this forum feel the same way concerning SR fuses, SR cables, SR duplexes, SR HFTs, etc. etc. No one is twisting one’s arm to agree or purchase SR products or anyone else’s products. I am happy to read of real life experiences with products by owners of them. Unfortunately, audio systems and acoustic spaces do not respond similarly in one circumstance as in another which can often be attributed to synergistic effects between products (or lack thereof). My back-up EAR 890 amp works great on Legacy Signature IIIs and terrible on Legacy Focuses, attributable to the latter’s low impedance in the bass. If it wasn’t for Frank, I would not have ventured into purchasing SR products, especially the duplexes, fuses and HFT system. |
I’m not afraid of using graphene even if the concentration were 100% as instructed for use as a contact enhancer. We know that it is not a significant amount weightwise and that the binder make up the majority of the product. Using the supplied gloves and the brush, you should not get contaminated by the TC. If you do, wash thoroughly with 91% alcohol. Because it is locked in a binder, there isn’t aerosol exposure (stopping that possible chain of thought from above). Don’t put it in your food or drink. Don’t allow pets or children around it (or around anything in your household that is a danger) TaDa! No danger of death from using TC as instructed. |
Little Band Big Jazz is a favorite of Robert's audio check out CDs. When I first purchased it about 8 years ago, it didn't sound great, with a hashy horn section. However, after installing myriad Stillpoints on all my equipment, it cleaned up. Then the SR upgrades and upgraded cabling really made it sing. The Bryston BIT-20 was of lesser improvement (talk about price/performance-not). If this CD doesn't give you a sonic and musical lift, your system needs a lot of work. |
What surprised me was a facebook video of the use of a graphene web filter system for water purification. It is being tested for use in impoverished areas whereby filtering seawater is instantly made into fresh, potable water without using a pressure system such as reverse osmosis. Engineers are thinking that graphene can be used without adverse health effect. Interesting. https://www.nature.com/articles/am2017135 There are many other references one can google too. |
I think Wolf left the forum for a while when other slanderous trolls inhabited it earlier this year. Now he's back and their gone (or just gleefully enjoying him). Who would want to know a person with his attitude? Only others like him might tolerate him. He spews invective against a product he hasn't tried and claims absurd medical "facts" that are blatantly untrue. Yech! |
Jetter-to answer why Wolf is a troll, he has personally attacked me in this forum, denigrating my name, my heritage and I think my religion. He insults people and behaves boorishly. Besides that, his last comment on the medical danger of graphene use is comically impossible unless one ingests it through eating it or breathing floating graphene. Graphene in a binder is not going to kill you or make you sick. As stated earlier, it is being used in water desalinisation as a filter. Some experiments using graphene are being done for cancer therapy. The Mad Scientist graphene preparation is reportedly oily or slimy and does not cure after application. I have not tried it. It may improve sound but I don't like what I heard concerning it's application characteristics. TC is based on decades old product which has been greatly improved through Tim Mrock's experimentation with several unspecified trade secrets he has added. As to how important TC is in my audio systems, I place the Shakti Hallographs, Stillpoints and SR HFTs above it, with TC equal to the SR duplexes and fuses. That's in my systems. Taming my main music room's slap echo while eliminating unsightly acoustic treatments using the Hallographs and SR HFTs was of greatest importance. Taming mechanical resonances in my equipment was next. Altering the sound properties was third with TC and cable changes in that group, more like frequency and dynamic controls. As I stated in another forum, the room is 50% of the sound. Get that right and you can start to correct for electronic and vibration irregularities. |
Hi Geoff, I’ve only done numbers 6 through 9 tweaks, sort of. I have SR blue fuses, SR HFT system (32 units), a Townsend Pneumatic Sink under my VPI TNT VI and Stillpoints (everywhere). These are the tweaks that I’ve chosen to always keep after testing alternatives over the years. I’m so glad that OP has introduced me to SR products (although I tried some that he hasn’t tried, didn’t work out anyway). It my cynical (of tweaks) and difficult to please friend Robert likes the tweak in Frank’s system (he told me so), then it is a keeper for those who can use it. He loved the sound of Frank's system. Do to my extensive use of Stillpoints, the new tweak maybe incompatible with my system. Cest la vie. |
Thank you Frank, I hope to join you in your listening room next week. On another post about speakers under $10K, I strongly urged the poster to consider used speakers, in particular, Legacy Focus and Signature IIIs. When available, they are excellent speakers the latter especially easy to drive, both with large room filling sound at 15% to 25% the price of $10K new speakers. |