Sonic Tonic fom the Tweek Geek

Tweek Geek and crystals (from their web site)
"My own experimentation began by placing large crystals of quartz, amethyst, tourmaline and other stones on top of cables, components etc. Most had next to no effect, some made me think there was a good improvement, only to determine later that it made the sound to bright and edgy. Not to mention looking like a crazy person to my family and friends.

I also learned that the process of evaluating the effect of crystals is a difficult process. This is why I also think that Crystal based products get a bad rap sometimes. Their effect takes time to develop, sometimes a few days to stabilize. Removing them from the room does not immediately remove their effect either. It appears the room itself needs time to "discharge" once the crystals are removed. Usually an hour or two. Up until I learned this I made too many snap judgements. Removing crystals and listening immediately afterward had me thinking that some made no difference. However, returning to the "un-crystallized" room hours later I would notice their absence. This was the cause of many re-evaluations."

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>>>>>I’m heartened to hear that another tweak manufacturer has been experimenting with crystals. As he intimates, crystals are enigmatic and complicated. My Brilliant Pebbles, introduced at the London HiFi Show in 2003, were the first comprehensive crystal based products for audio applications. Power to the Pebble!

Note to self: why did Tweek Geek discuss crystals just before Sonic Tonic. Is Sonic Tonic crystal based? Is this really just a wannabe copy cat of my Micro Brilliant Pebbles for Interconnect connectors and speaker terminals? The first version of Brilliant Pebbles were, uh, crystals contained in small laboratory glass bottles. Coincidence? Hmmmmm..

Here is an application of Bybee QSE with Sonic Tonic.
I used wide, clear, hd  Duck tape to secure the QSE (lengthwise) so that it attaches to the back of my speakers and extends, at an angle, over the terminals.  This has been in place for a few months.  I like the addition of Sonic Tonic, placement per Ozzy...

I also like making a CD sandwich before playing a disc.  With the drawer of the cd player extending into the room, loaded with a cd on the tray, I hold a QSE in each hand: one touching the top of the cd and one touching the tray beneath the cd platter.  Fifteen seconds is all it takes!

sgordon1, 
Thanks for your input.
Next, I am going to also add another set of the Sonic Tonic on the other end of the speaker cables.
ozzy

I also learned that the process of evaluating the effect of crystals is a difficult process. This is why I also think that Crystal based products get a bad rap sometimes. Their effect takes time to develop, sometimes a few days to stabilize. Removing them from the room does not immediately remove their effect either. It appears the room itself needs time to "discharge" once the crystals are removed.

@geoffkait , I have noticed this same phenomena with the magnet cables/cords (HFC).
They make for VERY difficult A/B comparisons due to the time it takes for the magnetism to interface with the system, and again, the withdrawal effect takes several hours to clear, IMHO.

A/B comparisons used to be so fun and easy, not anymore.

jmcgrogan2
Not Geoffkait: "I also learned that the process of evaluating the effect of crystals is a difficult process. This is why I also think that Crystal based products get a bad rap sometimes. Their effect takes time to develop, sometimes a few days to stabilize. Removing them from the room does not immediately remove their effect either. It appears the room itself needs time to "discharge" once the crystals are removed."

@geoffkait , I have noticed this same phenomena with the magnet cables/cords (HFC).
They make for VERY difficult A/B comparisons due to the time it takes for the magnetism to interface with the system, and again, the withdrawal effect takes several hours to clear, IMHO.

A/B comparisons used to be so fun and easy, not anymore.

>>>>Just to make it clear the quote you referred to above is not mine. Not that it matters too much, since I pretty much agree in principle. It should also be mentioned, however, that it is also not obvious how crystals work, what the operating principle is. A lot of people assume that crystals operate magnetically or by absorption of RFI/EMI or by some unspecified quantum mechanical principle. The latter one assumes is what Tweek Geeks were hinting at when they dropped Jack Bybee’s name all over the place during the discussion of crystals and Sonic Tonic on their web site. Alas, gentle readers, I must abuse you of those theories. The crystals operate via a much more obvious and perhaps less glamorous mechanism. It should also be mentioned that there are actually a great many locations where crystals can improve the sound. Next up, are crysals directional? Do they have to be reconditioned? OK, enough about crystals. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.