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.
Actually I know exactly what the phrase begs the question means and how to use it in a sentence. My father was an English professor.
I'd call that a naked appeal to authority, whereas the way you actually used it in a sentence:
Fleschler, that kind of begs the question, where do you go from here? 🤡
pretty much demonstrates that you do not know how to use it in a sentence.
However, since we're dealing with GK, the great contrarian, I'm sure you'll figure out some way to argue that your usage is correct (perhaps by calling it ironic?)
I actually have worked on a new fuse concept and when I called Littell Fuse with just a part of it..and I said I needed silver conductor and silver end caps...the dilbert on the other end of the phone asked why. My simple response of many things ..was same material coherency from end to end, low shear velocity..and it would sound better as a result..his ass blew me off...thee end ..They have no idea. Tom
If "Total Contact" is a commercial product, it contravenes the policy of not allowing promotion of a commercial product in the AudioGon threads. Other manufacturers and suppliers are forced to abide by this policy, therefore I believe this should follow the same restrictions.
Now being a commercial product I don't think that Total Contact, commonly known as TC can continue to be called a 'tweak'. It is a commercially available product that may provide enhanced performance of your HiFi connections. Are Blue fuses a "tweak" or a commercial product? @USD$149.00, I don't regard it as a tweak.
geoffkait: I usually let this slide (so as not to be accused of being a “Grammar Nazi”), but as someone who is so fond of pointing out logical fallacies, I think you should look up what it means “to beg the question.” I think you’ll find it does not mean what you think it means. And while you see and hear this phrase being misused all the time, I’m only bringing it up with you because I know you can “take it”!
OK...I guess this means I'm on my own, so no Bentley for mapman...I started on the prototype by gluing some pics of graphite (car magazine McLaren seat pod closeups) on a Littelfuse. I've decided these should also be "music specific"...certain ones best suited to Mumblecore, others to provide utter silence and a low noise floor (and ceiling...nobody talks about the Noise Ceiling) when the components are turned off, others tuned for Benjamin Britton fans...those are 50 bucks more, and note that the break-in time is slightly longer than the 30 day free return policy as, hey man, I ain't no fool. Guaranteed to lower the noise floor by at least 3 meters, the noise ceiling by exactly 32 feet, and to be bi-directional in keeping with current social trends.
Don't fret. The SR Black fuses are great once broken in compared to ordinary fuses. The SR Blue fuse is somewhat better but sounds great immediately upon installation.
I started development of Mapman’s Funky Fuse several years back some readers might recall. Still working to get it just right in that it will not be cheap. Will graphene make it funkier? We’ll see....
You can read more about the historic unveiling of this still evolving masterwork right here:
Brief Update: Frank invited me back to his home for another listening session, as he has continued to paste everything in his home, like crazy. I was initially skeptical that I would notice further improvement, but I was wrong...his noise floor is continuing to get lower, with more optimal sonic density, and better resolution, allowing me to hear individual instruments and vocals...it was a dramatic improvement, over an already good experience. I know there are nay sayers, or folks who have not tried this...but from first hand experience, I think this is a great tweak. Some folks spend even more $$$ on high end power conditioners, and then add grounding boxes, and expensive grounding cables, isolation racks, and room treatments...there are many paths to increasing your enjoyment of your own rig, in your own home. But I like to optimize my costs/benefit ratio, and I feel the TC is a real value, and provides real benefit. I will be placing more order next week, to allow me to experience a better audio environment in my room. I have a few SR Black fuses in my rig, and have not decided to upgrade to the Blue fuses at this time....
I think we’re close to the $500 fuse, which should arrive in a wooden box with a registration number...gets me thinking...hmm...hey mapman...wanna make some bucks? Let’s see...we need paint, something we claim is graphene (we don’t need to expose ourselves to risking the carcinogenic issues of "actual" graphene), little wooden boxes with velvet liners and metal labels with the registration number, and the easy part, get oregonpapa or somebody to supply a hyperbole stuffed rave about them at length right here so no need for an advertising plan. That saves some serious bucks right there. I can see it now..."The Mapman/Garcia Ultra Special Superfuse," or MAGUSS maybe...where are my beta testers? I'm looking to rent a Quantum Tesla Zapper as I write this...Let’s go!
Where the "$150 fuser" likely goes next is off to the latest bit of hyperbole fueled silliness launched by some "magic tweak" purveyor bent on discovering how much people will pay for something like a fuse. Note that fuses don't and can't improve the tone of anything because they're stuck within the parameters of being, simply, a fuse.
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.
just got my total contact. the texture is similar to computer cpu thermal paste. i have pasted power cables socket ends, sperker cables. i have pasted very very thin layer. just a light tint of grey. is this correct?
Thank you for getting back. That is what I thought but still wanted to be sure. I will also speak with Tim since he may have a different take. I will let you folks know how it turns out either way.
@reseloution1 If you paint around the glass body as well, it will really enhance it. Be sure not to connect with the end caps ! If you like give me a call on fuses, and I will share my opinion with you. We have quite a few in our system 32 to be exact.
"Sort of reminds me the time Marian Brown a well know jazz sax player came into my store and asked for a #3 alto sax reed. I asked do you want regular Rico’s or the RICO royals. He said regular Rico’s i’ll do the Royal part."
Advice and instruction needed. I have been hesitant to do any fuse upgrading, so if I dive in, I would like to get a base line by treating the existing fuse in the player with TC then upgrading it only if it makes an appreciable jump in sound quality. Not having ever done anything like this before, do I just treat either side of the fuse without getting any on the central portion of the fuse?
By the way the main reason for not wanting to spend much on a fuse is because I have been saving to get a music server and dac to eventually replace my aging Resolution Opus CD player in the near future.
I was wondering what fuse Dan D’Agnostino uses in hs new $250,000 power amp? Sort of reminds me the time Marian Brown a well know jazz sax player came into my store and asked for a #3 alto sax reed. I asked do you want regular Rico’s or the RICO royals. He said regular Rico’s i’ll do the Royal part.
Dave Magnan was one of the most brilliant men I have ever met. He held a PHD in electrical engineering and prior to his retirement, he worked for the Navy as a civilian at our local Navy base. He was the chief engineer who worked out the computer bugs on the firing mechanisms (the weapons) on the F-16s. He had a pair of stacked Quads and custom mono tube amps that he built himself. He was totally into transparency ... and it was truly something else. Not that great musically IMO, but his system was like an open window to the outdoors. He was quite the landscape artist too. He had his oils hung all around the house. Very talented man.
grannyring ...
If TC could reverse the aging cycle, I’d be drunk on it. *lol*
stoplitz ...
Today’s bicycles are amazing ... so much has advanced technologically since I was into it. I wish I had never sold my bike. Even though I wouldn’t be riding it, I’d hang it on the wall as a piece of art. Dang ... it was beautiful.
Is Phil Woods still making sealed bearing hubs? I had a pair that I used over the years on three different bikes and never repacked or had one problem. They rolled so smooth. You might look for a pair on the used market.
Granny ring - there are many tweaks for bikes. One company sells a solution wax and graphite based that will give you an extra 5 watts. They also sell oversized der. pulleys good for 10 watts. You can spend thousands on wheel sets that will give you extra speed. It comes down to how much you want to spend for marginal gains. Or you can just train hard lose weight and do the best with what you have. In pack racing some of the gains are less important than tactics.
I don’t know Dave Magnan but made up pluggable AC line filters, which are fantastic, according to directions on his web site as long ago as 30 years ago. My, how time flies. And of course, he was one of the very first to compile a comprehensive list of tweaks.
Do you know Dave Magnan? I tried to call him yesterday but his line has been disconnected. He was over prior to my heart surgery and I wanted him to come over so he could experience the results of the TC.
Anyone else have info on Dave? It would be much appreciated. Thanks ...
A bit off topic, but I love bicycles. Can’t ride anymore due to health issues. My eldest daughter is a chip off the old block though. She’s a fantastic athlete. She and her husband rode a section of the Pyrenees that followed a section of the Tour de France last year. It was one of her bucket lists.
My last bike was custom made in Leeds by Bob Jackson. This was before the advent of carbon fiber in frame building. Mine was made from Reynolds 753 tubing. 21 pounds, ready to go with water bottle, pump and a spare tire and change. :-) It was a wonderful criterion bike and kind of beat me up on century’s and double century’s ... but man, talk about quick handling. It was like riding a Ferrari on downhill switchback roads. The Bob Jackson replaced a totaled out Schwinn Paramount that was destroyed one early morning when I got hit by a car. It was all "ground sky, ground sky" ... a cracked helmet, a messed up leg and a broken shoulder. Ouch!
Magnan’s name was mentioned in an effort to give you some perspective and assurance that the experiments weren’t "fly-by-night."
I fully understand how to apply Mu Metal. Nothing was touching the transformers during our experiments. It worked as far as we used it ... but as you know, there are more than one transformer in an audio system. One piece too many and the sound was degraded. I heard it and Dave did too. I found the same thing to be true of Magnan’s special filters that I have hanging out of my power conditioner. One too many was one too many. :-)
Thanks, I’ll wait for Fremmer’s review. He is very thorough and takes the responsibility of his reviews seriously. If he gives it a thumbs up I will gladly pay the $300 for the product and for all your hard work creating it.
« @barbapapa As long as your comfortable going inside the tuner, painting the top of caps, and pasting the transformer, should make for a large improvement, but remember PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. » Any questions do not hesitate to call!
I did it . I began slowly and carefully but in the end I pasted almost everything . Of course I didn’t care to disconnect main and I had to jump back somehow when I have been shocked. Well, still helfy and full of energy. 😁 Hope results will help to calm down 🤪
@stoplitz The guarantee thing has been addressed several times. Over a decade of development. The components I use are expensive, the various processes involved expensive.
The size of this thread for only being started 6 months ago in the section of death is unprecedented.
I understand value as much as anyone, and I am proud to say there is nothing that provides sonic improvement vs cost like TC. Blind faith? there is way too many credible folks here for that to even be applicable.
All my bike parts come with a guarantee and if the brakes don’t work or if there is a catostrophic failure there is legal recourse. I really don’t want to spend $300 and my only recourse is posting a negative review. Let me be perfectly clear I am not questioning the integrity of the rave reviewers but I don’t know any of you. There is only one person whose recommendations I take whole heartedly and that is Michael Fremmer. Send him a tube for review if you want to see the product take off.
Sorry, Frank, there must be some sort of misunderstanding. Mu metal is not applied in little pieces and it does not dull the sound. Dunno what you did, what Magnan used or did or why it dulled the sound. Hmmmm, is mentioning David Magnan an Appeal to Authority? In any case, I wouldn’t generalize your particular results to apply universally.
Mu metal is an absorber of magnetic field, one complete covering of the transformer absorbs about 75% of the induced field. A second covering increases the percentage to 95%. The mu metal does not have to touch the transformer. And the second layer should not touch the first layer.
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