MY Place sbayne

by sbayne on Ever Evolving

Description

High priority on tone, soundstage and overall balance of sound.
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Components Toggle details

    • Aerial Acoustics 20T V2
    These speakers are version 2 of Aerial Acoustics' pinnacle speaker design. The workmanship is outstanding. They have 2" thick cabinet walls with heavy cherry veneer. The wiring and components are all premium grade. They use a 4" ribbon tweeter and proprietary Scan-Speak drivers. A true 20HZ to 20,000HZ speaker that is very musical.
    • Line Magnetic LM-845 Premium

    The LM-845 Premium is a SET integrated amp that uses massive output transformers and a massive separate power supply. The driver tubes are 300B and output tubes are 845. I've upgraded the tubes to Western Electric. The authority, richness and soundstage this amp provides is outstanding. With the Aerial 20T V2 speakers it presents a huge soundstage that is silky smooth and powerful.

    • Eversolo Play & Gustard A26 streamer/DAC combo
    This is Eversolo's all-in-one component which I have found makes an excellent stand alone streamer. I'm feeding it to a Gustard A26 DAC that combines two AK4499EX DAC chips with one AK4191 modulator from Asahi Kasei Microdevices. With independent power supplies and grounding for each channel when run fully balanced it makes a huge, natural soundstage and very realistic presentation of the music. 
    • ModWright Signature Truth SCD XA5400ES
    ModWright Signature Truth SCD XA5400ES with external tube rectified power supply. I've added Sophia Electric blue 6SN7 tubes to the output stage. I still have a significant CD collection. Overall, great analog type sound.
    • AR-ES1, SME, Origin Live, Hagerman Labs and LTA analog system
    Heavy modified custom AR-ES1 with Origin Live speed box and SME 309 tonearm. Phono preamp is a Hagerman Labs Trumpet MC with LTA power supply. Very high value and excellent performing analog system.
    • Audioquest Dragon Interconnects, Power Cables and Speaker Cables
    Expensive but worth it if you want the absolute best out of your system.
    • Synergistic Research Black Box

    The Black Box is a Low Frequency Resonator Array that works in conjunction with the Atmospheres and FEQ X4 to solve bass node issues.  

    • Synergistic Research ART System
    This is Synergistic Research's older acoustic system that's based on resonators. It works very well with their current UEF system and provides excellent results. Complete ART systems are getting hard to find.
    • Synergistic Research: Atmosphere XL-4, Atmosphere, Mini-Atmosphere, FEQ X4 (2), UEF Dots, UEF Panels, ECT and GCT
    The UEF Panels, UEF Dots, Black Box, ECT and GCT are all types of sound resonators. I use an Atmosphere XL-4 (green ATM), Atmosphere (red ATM), FEQ X4 (2) (red ATMs) and Mini-Atmosphere (green ATM) - when used with the Synergistic Research control software they generate various frequencies of Schumann Resonances around the room.
    • Synergistic Research Tranquility Pod
    The Tranquility Pod has powered UEF and SR grounding technology.  It works with the SR Atmospheres that I have distributed around the room. Very effective with digital sources.
    • Electric Bamboo, ADD-Powr Sorcer and ElectraClear EAU-1
    The Electric Bamboo is an excellent but very rare line conditioner. Hand-built around a massive transformer thats wired and grounded in the classic star configuration.  The ADD-Powr and ElectraClear devices add electromagnetics (EM) to the AC line using an active circuit and algorithm. Contrary to popular belief not all EM is bad for sound quality in stereo systems.
    • Vera-Fi Audio MainStream, SnubWay and Puron AC Line Conditioners
    I use these conditioners as additives to my power conditioner. They give a more realistic presentation/soundstage and reveal more texture and impact to the overall sound especially in the bass.
    • Stein H2 Harmonizer system
    I have 4 Stein H2s in my system.I went with one in each of corner of the room with a Stein stone on each and a Stein diamond on the ceiling in the center of the room. They add layers and layers of depth with each vocalist/instrument being in their own separate but integrated spaces.
    • Akiko Audio Tuning Stick; Kemp QA Plug (2) and Zero One (2)
    The Akiko Audio tuning stick is another grounding product that works with internal crystals.  The Kemp and Zero One products keep  the electrons spinning around the electronic signals as uniform as possible and add a more standard frequency Schumann Resonance as compared to the Synergistic Research products which have variable Schumann frequencies.
    • Audio Magic Pulsed Electron Alignment
    The PEAs are battery powered and affect Spintronics: electrons spinning around electronic signals. The goal of the PEA devices its to get the electrons spinning as uniformly as possible. It opens up the sound and makes subtle cues in the music even more real.
    • Perfect Path Technologies Total Contact, RCA caps, Stop-It duplex plugs, E-Mats & E-Cards
    This company has now closed because the owner has passed away. These products work to achieve a uniform and consistent RF/EMI and electron treatment around components.
    • Timbernation Stand and Platforms
    Solid maple platforms stained cherry.

Comments 595

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Owner
I took 5 treated mats and folded them in half so they are essentially 10 layers thick. I put them under my power strip where I have 4 High Fidelity MC-0.5s (see the pic). The sound was immediately improved. So there is yet another variable to try: folded mats creating thick multiple layers.

sbayne

Owner
Yeah its really interesting how we can change the sound of our systems with these things. There so many different configurations that are possible!

sbayne

Last night I thought I would go ahead and paint the GO on the other side of each mat but sat and listened for a bit first. Everything sounded great but I noticed a little more sibilence than what I remembered before when the mats were stacked with the magnet facing up. So I decided to change the stack under the dac,preamp, and modem/router. This morning there is definitely more clarity and my speakers do much more of the disappearing act. Images float in space much more and there’s more of a drawing me in kinda feel. 

Maybe my system was too warm and the added clarity from stacking vertically versus alternating is better for me? IDK but everything does sound better to me and my tv picture looks a bit better too. Still haven’t painted both sides with the GO...

t_ramey

Owner
They are improving with time. Not really sure if it matters to paint both sides. I've gone about this in such a haphazard way that its hard to say what does and does it make a difference. Would almost have to start over and make a "control", change one aspect at a time, let it sit for awhile, then do the next one, etc. Just don't want to invest the time and energy to do that I guess. I, however, did hear an improvement when I placed mats on top and on the bottom but I don't know if I had just placed more of them in the same spot it would have sounded the same. All I really know is It does seem like the more the better.

sbayne

Ok cool, I'll try and paint the other side this weekend. I'm tempted though to let things sit for another week just to see how things change after settling for a couple of weeks. Did you notice things kept improving week after week? I do notice things change almost daily.

I currently have all the mats underneath my components versus on top. Just looks better but I'm also wondering if a little on bottom and a little on the top might be better to create a bigger field or if it even really matters.

t_ramey

Owner
I started with painting just one side because I thought it would be too messy to do both sides. Later I started painting both sides. At some point, I should probably go through and make sure everything is painted on both sides. I don't want to touch them now though. I have a local audiophile friend I gave some painted mats to. He put them on his DAC. Got an email last night he is shocked by the improvement and wants some more. Ha,ha.

sbayne

I listened last night for a little while and have noticed the soundstage is bigger and wider and everything is still very musical. I've added another stack of alternating magnets to underneath my dac as well as the power conditioner that feeds my modem/router. Looking forward to how everything settles after another week or two. Just curious if Scott or anybody has painted the GO on both sides of each magnet or just one? So far I've only don the one side. My system sounds as good as it ever has.

t_ramey

Owner
Hi Tom - Glad you are back! Your feedback got me thinking about my modem/router - I may start messing with that again. I don't think I'm going to move the mats in my stereo for awhile. I've already gotten great results with their current placement/configuration and want to see what happens when they've been there even longer. Scott

sbayne

It’s been a while I’ve sat down and listened to my system and actually had to move some things around including the magnets but left a few under and around the power conditioner. Everything sounded great but wanted to try the alternating method you guys have tested so I began with stacking about 6 or 7 under the preamp, power conditioner, and modem/router. 

I’m about 2 hours in after placing them in alternating fashion and it’s pretty amazing how everything sounds so real and natural but also so musically and emotionally involving. I still shake my head that this works so well. My tv picture is as remarkable as ever too since the modem/router supplies my Apple TV for Netflix/Hulu. I’ll see how things improve over the next week or so with this configuration. 

t_ramey

Owner

I let my current configuration of graphene oxide painted on alternate facing magnetic mats sit undisturbed for about 2 weeks. I listened for just over 2 hours last night. I didn't think my system could go farther in this regard but each musical image is rounder, smoother yet more dynamic. The soundstage is not more precise but is wider and deeper. I hear vocalists moving slightly closer to mics and then hear then move back. I hear slight tones coming-off the body of guitars and pianos. Its all kind of spooky but real.  

I can't hardly believe it so I keep asking myself: what is going on? All I can conclude is the magnetic mats when stacked and painted with graphene oxide create a uniform and consistent magnetic field through the component. This magnetic field stabilizes over time and its natural "spinning effect" stabilizes not only the signal flow but the circuits themselves. Subjectively, I guess it really doesn't matter why the sound is improving - all that matters is: it is.  

sbayne

Owner
Here is some interesting reading regarding what may be going on with the magnets and graphene. Just thought I'd share:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spintronics
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150505082944.htm
https://phys.org/news/2018-05-graphene-layered-magnetic-materials-ultrathin.html

sbayne

Owner
@audiosens -  The DIY grounding box has binding posts that are attached to copper strips that run through tourmaline crystals.  The grounding wires run to your component. I'd read about this technique and finally gave it a try.  I'm sure there are better solutions but it did seem to lower the noise floor in my system. 

I've now removed the iQSEs. I was using one inside my music server and one on my amp. 

 Scott

sbayne

You made your own grounding box, There are stones inside the box, what are they ?  And where did you install your iQSE ?  Thank you

audiosens

Owner
Tom - how is your system sounding? Have you made any changes recently to the placement or configuration of the mats? Scott

sbayne

Owner
I did some extended listening today. The sound really is something special. I'm going to leave the magnetic stacks in the alternating configuration (as discussed below) for the next couple of weeks and see what happens.

Bill - I'm liking the idea of "Lyngdorf tube art" Also, pretty sure I'm smelling some Acoustic BBQ........ha,ha

sbayne

I have an idea. I may build one of your tube light art pieces as a platform to fit over my Lyngdorf 2170 so it looks like a piece of modern/retro tube gear. Ha! It may make my 2170 sound more like tubes due to the psychological impact on my senses.

grannyring

I was looking closer at your rig. I really like it  Scott. Very nice indeed.  I love your tube light piece of rack art! Spectacular idea! So cool.  

I see Belden ICs in your pics? You state using Duelund ICs which is what I highly recommend. They offer more life and realness to the music. Use the 16 gauge wire with Cardas connectors for the best combo I have heard or made. 

Update on the mats.  Seems you can mix them up for slightly different sonic results. Not night and day, but rather subtle. I now have some with mag side up and some stacks with mag side facing the component. No doubt they do something nice.  My rig sounds better than ever right now. Folks can just experiment with placement direction.  

I have no educated and completely understood reason for why these stacks work.  I really could not explain to another aphile how these help sonics. Skeptics would have a hay-day on this craziness. It makes me laugh out loud. 

grannyring

Owner
Thanks David. Will do.

sbayne

Scott, I'm enjoying reading your journey with the mats. Keep the updates coming!

david_ten

Owner
Tonight, I spent a couple of hours listening to a wide variety of music. I must say my system has never sounded so real yet dynamic. Its "right there" type of sound. Not a hint of brightness or excessive treble with a rich midrange and tight bass. However, I respect Grannyring's opinion to the "enth degree" so I took the magnetic sheets off and quickly alternated the sheets within the stack so they went from facing the component to opposing the component back and forth. In other words, they did not all face the same direction but alternated. I did not touch the sheets in the breaker box which are all facing away from the breakers. Against my own inclinations, I immediately listened again and all I can say is "wow"! However, I'm going to let this configuration sit until Sunday (its now Friday) and listen again....

sbayne

Owner
Bill - after reading your post, I realized my magnetic sheets are attached to the inside of my breaker box door so they are actually facing away from the breakers. The magnetic sheets are facing towards my components and speakers, however. I'm going to do some extended listening tonight and may move some things around based on what I hear. Thanks for the feedback. Scott

sbayne

Here is what I think so far of this magnetic sheet layering with graphene oxide between the sheet layers. It does indeed have an impact on the sound of my system.  I have them on my breaker panel door and on all pieces of gear and conditioners.  Nothing under or on my speakers.  

With the magnetic side facing the gear and breaker box the music is more detailed and louder. However,  there is a strange nervousness to the increased detail that I tire of after listening for awhile. When placing the magnetic side away from gear and the breaker box the sound is more full bodied and natural to my ears. More musically engaging really. 

Still trying to determine the overall changes with the mats facing away vs no mats at all. Well, this is what I am finding with my gear. The breaker box and integrated amp are the two areas that seem to have the most impact thus far. 

grannyring

Owner
I've placed them with the magnetic side facing the component. I've tried within the stacks to keep them all facing the same direction as well.

sbayne

Quick question. Have you placed the mat’s magnetic side facing the component or with the magnetic side facing away?

grannyring

Owner
I've now removed Bybee iQSEs I had in my music server and on my amp. I also removed DIY Shakti stones that I had through-out my system and on my speakers. I can't help but think they may have been disturbing the consistency of the magnetic field.  I added treated magnetic sheets to the top and bottom of my speakers as well as added additional sheets to my music server and amp.  I couldn't wait so I went ahead and listened for about 15 minutes. The sound seemed a little "weird" (how is that for an approved audiophile term?). I'm going to let it sit for a few days.

sbayne

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