Bybee Audio tweeks. IQSE

Two more on the way!

lak,

Yes, it is the same one.

Anyone tried IQSE in the TT's PSU ? I also ad one in the Torus with success. Next I'd like to try one in the analog PSU and finally the breaker. I read you need to put 3 at meast in the breaker for hearing better music...

tommylion
173 posts
09-12-2017 11:27am
There’s a new review of the iQSE, and other Bybee products up on dagogo:

https://www.dagogo.com/bybee-technologies-quantum-products-review

>>>>>>Ooopsy, daisy! I responded to this post over on the other Bybee thread. 

barbapapa,

Going to place one in my Merlin PSU when my next order comes in.

Rethought my order. I called in to double it. These things are just too good!

"These things are just too good!"

Agreed. I got in two more yesterday. I put one on top of my passive autoformer pre (wouldn’t fit inside). I was thinking it might not make much difference, since the pre has no power. I got more natural detail, larger soundstage, more palpability, "believability" and musical involvement. All without any alteration of the tonal balance.

I now have a spare, which I intend to use to convert the heathen 😉

Well, I just ordered 6 of the IQSE.
I have already found that placing a couple of the Tweek Geeks Sonic Tonic bottles inside my Bryston BDP-2 (next to the AC inlet wires) along with the older version of the Signal enhancers was a nice sonic improvement in dynamics and micro details.
So, we shall see what the new internal (IQSE) ones do in comparison.

ozzy

ozzy, should be interesting.
Please keep us posted.

I have three Bybee IQSE's in my circuit breaker box and in my main system, I have one on top of my Dac, CDP, and Amp. I definitely notice a positive difference in the music.
A good analogy (but for different reasons) would be it's like adding the High Fidelity MC-0.5 Magnetic Wave Guides to one's system (I have seven in my main system). Now to get some additional IQSE's for my secondary system.
BTW; I used my ElectroMagnetic Field Tester to determine the location to place my IQSE's.

I have a Bybee IQSE in both my preamp and music server. They make a noticeable improvement to the overall sound of my system.

I've played around with my (4) new iQSEs this week. There wasn't enough room in my TT PSU so I decided to address that at a later date. I placed two on top of my amp and two on my phono preamp and let them cook for 24 hours. I heard no real difference. I then put two inside of my amp and let them cook for 24 hours. Now I'm hearing similar improvements like I posted earlier from placing them in my Hydras. I'm going to put the two that are now on top of my phono preamp, inside and let them cook for 24 hours.

Well it hasn't been quite 24 hours but here's what I'm experiencing now...

When I first laid 2 iQSEs on top of my amp, I really didn't discern any difference after 24 hours. My amp has a carbon fiber top plate. Whether this interferes with the iQSEs' effectiveness, I don't know. When I placed them inside and 24 hours later, I heard an increase in soundstage depth and width and bloom. Listening to my go to lp for system evaluation, Shawn Colvin "Steady On", I heard more inner detail and the most enjoyable soundstage presentation I've experienced so far with this lp that I've owned for 20 plus years. On Eleni Mandell "Artificial Fire" (lp) which I always thought was bass heavy to the degree of being somewhat muddy, is still bass heavy but the bass is cleaned up, intellegable and very easy and enjoyable to listen through.

Listening today with the 2 remaining iQSEs in my phono preamp, the most stunning thing I hear is a perceived volume increase. On Peter Case "The Man With the Blue Postmodern..." (lp), the acoustic guitar strings have greater purity of tone with tonal colors that are very intoxicating. On Eva Cassidy "Songbird" /S&P/lp ...this recording is more beautiful than ever before. Easy to just get washed up into the vacuum tube aspect of this remaster. On Chris Isaak "First Comes The Night" (lp)....I'm a big fan and just bought this lp to complete my collection. I listened last weekend and was disappointed. It seemed to be lacking "soul" that most of his earlier lps possess. Today, I'm tapping my feet and really digging it.

I can't say if the order in which I evaluated these in my system had any impact on which piece had a greater effect. I would say they seem to remove noise that would otherwise distort the music. I'm just glad I have them in place now. I'm tapping my feet again.

Not sure if this was already brought up, but has anyone tried putting one into a CPT 1200/1800 and found improvement? Thanks and y'all have a good weekend. Assuming the world doesn't end tomorrow as predicted.

droleg,

I put one in my CPT 300, and it worked great. Judging from my experience, it should also do very well in a 1200/1800. If you don't have one yet, you better order it from amazon, and have it delivered by drone 😉

Thanks tommy, already had a 1200 for 6 months or so, so i will try in that. Don't know if the drones could handle it.😊. They're pretty heavy. Still waiting for the deepcore, though, and trying to not get frustrated, but Mark's been through a lot, it sounds like. Too bad he couldn't get more help to fill in for him during his issues. But WHEN i do get it, i will try a IQSE there.. i'm sue it will be worth the wait.

Just put on Lucinda Williams "Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone" (lp), Wow!. Lots of bass info revealed now as (musical), more intellegible , cleaned up, greater impact on the whole presentation. The soundstage has greatly improved in perceived depth and the feeling of how the engineers wanted us to experience the mix is much appreciated. Even Lucinda’s voice that sometimes can be unintellegible is easier to understand. Nice, real nice!

Any further improvements will just be icing on the cake.

Well I have installed 6 of the Bybee iQSE's.
Two of them went into my CPT 300 and 1800.  The other 4 went into my PS Audio Dac, QOL, DEQX, and BDP-2. At the same time I also installed 2 each of the Tweek Geeks Sonic Tonic bottles inside.

What I have found is that you can definitely have too much of a good thing. The music became dynamic but compressed and very flat (no depth). 
So one by one I started removing the Sonic Tonic bottles from the equipment but I still left them inside the CPT 300 & 1800. At this point I like what I am hearing but I am confused about this.

I then opened up one of the iQSE and took some pictures. What is inside is a watch type battery connected to some ribbon copper with the wooden block hollowed out so that the battery can fit inside. I wonder how long the battery will last?

ozzy

A battery? Really?.... well crap.

If this is true I'm a little pissed. The manufacturer or, at least the distributor, should disclose this. A battery powered circuit is not what I thought was going on in this device. I thought it was a type of crystal or other material. As Ozzy says, how long will the effect last based on the battery?  i.e., what is the battery life?...................

sbayne,

Perhaps there is some hidden crystal inside as well but I didn't see it.

ozzy

Goodness! What will geoffkait have to say about that???

A watch battery? Can the device tell time? Maybe it's an Intelligent Chip.

My guess is there is about $5 in parts (depending on the cost of the battery) and perhaps 5 minutes labor.

geoffkait, 
If this is an intelligent chip then those of us who bought them (myself included) are the dummy chumps.

ozzy

Ozzy,

Where did you place the iQSE in the 1800?  I am not sure what it looks like inside since I just got mine 2 days ago.  BTW, do I need some special tool to open up the unit?  Thx for your help!

Allan

Ozzy,

From my memory, the older version of the signal enhancers have an internal battery. Are you saying the iQSE (internal version) has a battery as well?

From a25105’s post, I think there may be some confusion as the iQSE has a magnet strip glued to the wood looking block. No tool would be needed to get inside.

a25105,

For the 1800 you need a small star wrench, forgot the size, but it is small.
Place the iQSE on the inside cover.

slaw,

Underneath the magnet strip is where the battery is located.

ozzy

From the Bybee website:

"The iQSE can be installed with either side up, and can withstand heat. It will be effective in most any space inside of a component. It is a passive device that will not lose effectiveness over time."

http://bybeetech.com/?page_id=136

ozzy,

It's definitely a battery? Could it be something that just looks like a battery (maybe with crystals inside)?

ozzy,

Any pics to share??  Did you definitely take apart the iQSE not the larger QSE?

Thanks!

Ozzy,,

thank you!

FWIW...I purchased my first two iQSEs from the cable company. The last four were from parts connexion. I noticed some sloppiness to the last 4 in their construction. Could it be that the PC is selling B-stock at a lower price? Maybe just a coincidence?

I’ve noticed with mine, there is not a consistent amount of (whatever is inside) as the center is thicker than the ends on most of mine. So there is an inconsistency in their construction. I compensated for this when mounting by adhering the "mounting stickies" on each end.

After sending Mr Bybee an email regarding this issue, he promptly responded that the  batteries last about 10 years, and that the units will be effective after that.

From my reading, the original QSEs have an internal battery that will last 10 years.

droleg, Your post makes no sense, to me..."the batteries will last about ten years, and that the units will be effective after that". This post is about the (iQSEs).... external.

Slaw, i am aware that we are talking about the IQSE, and that was , pretty much ver batim , his response. Sorry i wasn't clear, still early in the morning for me and my neural circuits need some warm up time.

If what you say is true, it goes contrary to his own systems' page.

I'm bowing out. I am enjoying my iQSEs and their enhancement on my system.

Hopefully, Jack Bybee or a distributor will chime in.

Gosh, I wonder if he meant to say ineffective after 10 years. 🙄

"....and after that the unit will STILL be effective".  Sorry, i left out the "still" and the capital letters are mine for emphasis. I'm not sure why the battery is in there in the first place if it works after the battery is dead, but i ain't no electronicalogic engineer.  Maybe someone here could elucidate the matter.

I think it is for magnifying  the effect as it is used for the active room neutralizers as a more effective passive RN. 
The active RN are connected to the mains but could be activated by a battery with same effect.
This is just my deduction, not an information.

tommylion,

Yes I am sure it is a battery.
It is perhaps all part of a circuit that also utilizes the magnet strip as part of the design.

Actually I found the battery after I had needed to remove one of the iQSE after the 2 sided tape was installed.
Pulling it off also pulled apart the magnet strip that exposed the battery and copper foil beneath. Perhaps there are some very small crystals around the battery they look like they could be white quartz, but I am not sure.

I doubt that the battery will last 10 years. However, if there are crystals they will still remain, so there still will be some benefit after the battery dies. I am disappointed though.

If anyone wants a copy of my photo send me an email.

ozzy

I just posted 3 pictures of the Bybee iQSE insides under my systems page.

ozzy

a25105,

To take the lid off of the CPT 1800 use a 9/64" Hex driver. The CPT 300 uses a 3/16".
ozzy

White crystals, you say? Uh, oh, the plot thickens. ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

Thx Ozzy!  Don't have that at home, will probably get one from work.

So, Jack Bybee has confirmed that there is a battery in the iQSE, and said it will last 10 years. Not what I expected, but they continue to work as advertised in my system, and have an extremely positive effect on the sound that is well worth the price, IMO.

Uh, question. Why on Earth would the device *still* work after (rpt after) the battery has expired? If that was true why go through all the trouble of putting a battery in there in the first place? 🙄

tommylion,
Its still a clever product. Too bad the battery isn't in a place that could be replaced when needed.

geoffkait,
Without the battery it still has the magnet that would continue to excite the crystals so it should be a passive rf reducer device. Probably not as effective though.

ozzy

FWIW, if JB confirmed a battery, he has deceived us all, by his own advertising by it not being a "passive" unit. I’ll give him a "4 bad fuses" rating for this deception.

It works well. For the cost vs. effect, I’d give it a "5 great fuses’" rating!

By comparison, the deception I’ve had by VPI, by my outlay of thousands, is and will always be my landmark for deception by manufacturer.

Ozzy,

Thanks for the pics, I went to your virtual page, nice system. You apparently are very familiar with Bybee products.  Love your dog!

It could be... the meaning of passive?

Remember Clinton's famous question..."What do you mean by "is"?

JB may say that any non-AC device is passive?