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Audio System Enhancer

JoeESP9 said:
These things seem to be doing something. OTOH I may be deluding myself.
I’m not much for headphones. I’m very big on imaging and no headphones that I’ve ever heard do anything for me but place sound in a direct line from one ear to the other. For me this has always been disquieting and just a little bit creepy. Sound coming from inside my head, yuck, that’s not pleasing to me. Well, these disks don’t fix that. What they did tonight was make the sound of headphones a lot less creepy to me. They had me patting my foot, bobbing my head and just enjoying the music.
I launched Nightingale (music player) set it to random play and proceeded to enjoy the music. Everything that the app randomly selected I let play. This in and of itself is unusual for me. Usually when I’m using headphones I skip selections until “the right one” is randomly selected. This is a good sign to me.
I got so into the music I forgot I was supposed to be listening critically. More to come later.
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Thanks for the update Joe! :thmbsp:




Dennie
 
JoeESP9 said:
A couple of weeks ago there was a thread about the "Black Discus - Audio Enhancer". As usual for devices of this type there was a lot of derision and name calling about the devices. The usual term of snake oil was loudly trumpeted.

I went to the company web site and found they were offering free samples for the asking. Seeing as how I'm a sucker for anything free I requested a free sample. Well, my two free samples arrived in today's mail. In the next couple of weeks I'll be conducting my usual informal LTLT (long term listening test). I'm not interested in nor have any desire to do any blind or double blind testing. That's not how I listen to music. I believe that testing of this type should be done in the same way I actually listen to music.

I'll be reporting about my results good bad or indifferent in a couple of weeks. If you object to my testing methodology there is a simple solution. Go to the company web site, request a sample and conduct your own testing in any way you see fit. I have posted a link below.

http://www.madscientist-audio.com/

All of you who don't believe in tweaks like this here is your chance to actually test something for yourself at no cost. So, if you don't believe in this sort of thing here is your opportunity to debunk the manufacturer. If you're not willing to try something that's free you really shouldn't have much to say about the results someone else may post.

I hope that some other curious open minded individuals will try them so we can compare notes.
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hi there
i just sent away for my set to try ,i have never had any thing to do with the company,they are made here i my home land of new zealand so i better give it a go ,
i bet lots of people said bad stuff about perreaux when they started up in the 70s
these might be the new big thing lol

any way ill try them and compare results

mike
 
My Plinius 8200 integrated amp comes from New Zealand, so it certainly isn't a bad thing! Tim
 
As I wait for my samples to arrive , it occurs to me that the worst possible outcome would be that I hear some real (to me) difference, and that I then have to rethink all the stuff I've thought of as "snake oil" up to this point!
 
JoeESP9 said:
For those of you who have ordered samples; mine arrived in a standard letter sized envelope. The manufacturer spent $2.40 NZ to mail it to me.
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I was one who mocked them in the original thread. Seriously, some of their claims seem kind of silly. I held off on the free sample because in my experience, these things usually involve you paying some outrageous shipping and handling for the 'free' product.

Ok, I've sent in my request. Will report back with any findings.

Cheers,

bs
 
How about reporting what they do on your quads and tubes, with familiar music. Have someone you trust remove them (or not) and see if you can tell the difference. Using them with unfamiliar streaming music through a medium - headphones - you admit not liking and not using much doesn't seem all that useful in a review context.

And doing this soon before we have 5 more pages of crap would be welcome :-)

Jblnut
 
Sorry jblnut, that's not the way I listen to music. I've commented before about my use of the LTLT (long term listening test). It's the way I evaluate just about everything. Using my "does it make me listen more" test is for me a valid test. I'm not interested in quick switching of anything nor am I interested in blind or double blind tests. Once again, that's not how I listen to music.

I'm not streaming music from anywhere. All the music I'm listening to is from an external HDD that has FLAC files that come directly from my CD collection. I decided to try these "things" with my portable DJ laptop system because I've never been able to listen to headphones for much longer than an hour.

As a preliminary result I can say that while listening to this setup last night I started wondering if should invest in a better pair of phones. This for me is significant. I've never before thought about buying better headphones. I've always been unsatisfied with them and tolerated them because they were a necessity.

I'm going to listen for another couple of days. Then I'll remove the devices and listen for a week or so. I'll keep all of you posted.

I'm looking forward to hearing what others think of these things.

BTW: I really dislike the "term" Snake oil. I've seen and heard people call all sorts of things snake oil. In many instances I completely disagree with their use of the term. However, the claims made by the manufacturer sounded "oily" and piqued my interest. The offer of free samples was the clincher.

I used to think VPI Bricks and Shakti Stones were "snake oil". After demonstrations of their efficacy I revised my thinking.
 
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I wish I was still in the states to take them up on the freebie offer.

I love playing around with stuff like this. Sometimes it is "snake oil" but other times it's not. I find it's best to keep an open mind and the process is fun since you're still listening to music, right? And since in this case, the products were offered free of charge, it's a win win situation in my book. :thmbsp:
 
If it was up to me with no consideration for my finances, I'd have a Shakti Stone on top of every piece of gear I own.

JoeESP9 said:
I used to think VPI Bricks and Shakti Stones were "snake oil". After demonstrations of their efficacy I revised my thinking.
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trhee said:
I wish I was still in the states to take them up on the freebie offer.

I love playing around with stuff like this. Sometimes it is "snake oil" but other times it's not. I find it's best to keep an open mind and the process is fun since you're still listening to music, right? And since in this case, the products were offered free of charge, it's a win win situation in my book. :thmbsp:
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they are sent to you from new zealand,im waiting for my ones to come,i live here so should not take to long to get it

they send any where it seems
 
Really? Time to ask for mine then. :D

Thanks for clearing that up! :thmbsp:

new said:
they are sent to you from new zealand,im waiting for my ones to come,i live here so should not take to long to get it

they send any where it seems
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JoeESP9 said:
Sorry jblnut, that's not the way I listen to music. I've commented before about my use of the LTLT (long term listening test). It's the way I evaluate just about everything. Using my "does it make me listen more" test is for me a valid test. I'm not interested in quick switching of anything nor am I interested in blind or double blind tests. Once again, that's not how I listen to music.

I'm not streaming music from anywhere. All the music I'm listening to is from an external HDD that has FLAC files that come directly from my CD collection. I decided to try these "things" with my portable DJ laptop system because I've never been able to listen to headphones for much longer than an hour.

As a preliminary result I can say that while listening to this setup last night I started wondering if should invest in a better pair of phones. This for me is significant. I've never before thought about buying better headphones. I've always been unsatisfied with them and tolerated them because they were a necessity.

I'm going to listen for another couple of days. Then I'll remove the devices and listen for a week or so. I'll keep all of you posted.

I'm looking forward to hearing what others think of these things.

BTW: I really dislike the "term" Snake oil. I've seen and heard people call all sorts of things snake oil. In many instances I completely disagree with their use of the term. However, the claims made by the manufacturer sounded "oily" and piqued my interest. The offer of free samples was the clincher.

I used to think VPI Bricks and Shakti Stones were "snake oil". After demonstrations of their efficacy I revised my thinking.
Click to expand...

still waiting for my set,how are they going for you so far??
 
been listening a few hours and im not sure,ill keep trying them for a few days and get my wife to take them of some time this week with out her telling me and see if i miss them,i hope that test works ?i may get her to put them back on some time after with out me knowing

mike
 
I got mine on Saturday. 2- Bite Size Reeses Cups.

I placed them on the + sides of my Amplifier speaker taps.

I am pretty sure they are doing something but like others, I need to listen for a week or so and then remove them and listen to same tracks again.

With all the snow and power outages and work and the Olympics, my listening time is limited right now. I will update again later.
 
new said:
been listening a few hours and im not sure,ill keep trying them for a few days and get my wife to take them of some time this week with out her telling me and see if i miss them,i hope that test works ?i may get her to put them back on some time after with out me knowing

mike
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Seems like a good idea.

Hyfi said:
I got mine on Saturday. 2- Bite Size Reeses Cups.

I placed them on the + sides of my Amplifier speaker taps.

I am pretty sure they are doing something but like others, I need to listen for a week or so and then remove them and listen to same tracks again.

With all the snow and power outages and work and the Olympics, my listening time is limited right now. I will update again later.
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I've placed mine on RCA plugs. There are so many places the manufacturer suggests placing them I almost didn't know where to try them first. That's why I decided to try them with my Laptop/USB DAC/Tube headphone amp/Grado headphones system.

I'm actually enjoying headphone listening. This is somewhat of a new thing for me. Usually headphones are completely uninvolving and underwhelming to me. I gave away a pair of Stax "Earspeakers" to a buddy because they were just wasting away in a closet. He has complaining neighbors in his apartment building so he uses them a lot. I'm beginning to wonder how they would sound with these things.

Sometime later this week I'll remove them and listen some more.
 
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kwmrlg said:
Wasn't there another thread about these things already? We need two?
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Yes, because I for one missed the first one. Besides this one has a more open minded bent to it, by not coming out discrediting the product with no experience of it. I ordered some out of curiosity, but then I remain open minded to things audio, and for a free chance to try something why not?

Closed audio minds lower the audio budget, but do nothing to improve one's system. IMHO

Regards,
Jim

Those members with the snide remarks need to participate in the other thread, as those types of remarks are against the stickys/guidelines of the cutting edge forum.
 
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