Hard to believe, but this is the tenth time I have broadcast to the world, those seasons greetings to the select group of discerning P.W.B.philes. Indeed, I have some sympathy with the monarchy in England, who have had to address the nation for longer than this – where do they get their ideas from? Actually, anyone who has listened to such an address will find them wanting on the ideas front, yet big on rambling, narcissistic reflections. Gives me an idea….
You will read later in these pages more of the diverse experiences of users, and some dark revelations from myself. I feel after many years of senseless enthusiasms this is perhaps not to be unexpected, but it dawned on me that it represents much of what is wrong with the audio and indeed music industry today. One is too influenced by propaganda. The commercialisation of music in the past hundred years, outside of live performances, is clearly becoming the death of it. Young artists enter into that world, not to shatter or develop what has gone before, but to achieve that status of 'Pop Idol', have their moment of wealth and fame, and sing like a good Karaoke-goer. The industry, desperate to keep its greedy hand in the till entices us with reissue after reissue, and what is offered are more facsimiles of the past. This wouldn't be so bad if it led somewhere, but the greed that is slaughtering the development of Hi-Definition formats by all involved is something to behold. Because of lawyers, and renegotiating royalties, the cost of developing a higher resolution disc is almost unmanageable, and no-one really wants to take the risk of funding the development. The record companies seem bewildered by the whole download market, and have been so slow to offer a service, that it is little surprise that the consumer turns to his peers, and his back on an industry that does not have his interests to heart.
But I have to say that corporate greed in the electronics industry makes matters so much more depressing. Many have suffered the wrath of Sony (including a certain P.W.B.) when their revenues are threatened. But whatever the benefits of SACD, it has been like a suicide-bomber for the man on the street. There is no hope of playing an SACD on your average PC, which seems to be the main issue of the day, and the point of its existence appears to be to block DVD-A, and recoup lost revenues from CD licenses. So whatever the benefits of higher resolution formats, we are in the middle of a mad war, and helpless to intervene. And guess what, there's a newer format war just waiting to start, with the same figures repeating the same processes all over again. Kind of makes you think of going back to wax cylinders.
But this is where reality also takes its opportunity, and one can stand back and feel quite ashamed of falling for the ruthless marketing that stimulates and exploits our increasing expectations. If any of you have heard the higher resolution formats, something has gone rather wrong to my mind, because they are not the jaw dropping experience they should be. Further, there are increasing postings and articles on products from the past that may well be superior to current products – Ken Kessler almost makes a career of this in Hi-Fi News. Again there is a sense of the industry losing its way, that profits take precedence over quality of product for the consumer.
But what should we expect anyway? This is where we as a group are very fortunate. As you will read very soon, Peter's ongoing, patient and unfathomable work brings new advances regularly, and these remain significantly ahead of the audio industry. That doesn't mean you cannot buy good products, which are like the blank canvas to apply the P.W.B. devices. Indeed, the intrinsically superior product is the best starting place. But even if you were to use wax cylinders, you would be able to get the very most from them, and may be amazed at how good they are. Indeed, it is treatment of the adjacent, passive or distal products that still amazes, and one can achieve higher resolution from quite rudimentary products. This is very necessary, when no-one else really seems to be taking things further for us.
The other area that has preoccupied me, which has always been the P.W.B. nightmare – how to think about these very effects? I have been most intrigued by a question from the philosopher of science, Kuhn, who asks whether research can even proceed without some roots in a past conceptual framework. Can one observe the entirely new and unknown? One thinks 'no', but one of Kuhn's failings I believe is to see science in its restricted, monochromatic clothing. As physicists learnt last century, sometimes one has to apply labels and metaphors from way beyond that particular field. So particles are not just 'positive' or 'negative' but have 'strangeness' and 'charm' – most unorthodox. All of which ties me into the depressing reality that science is also not what it was. There is a link later to the great Joseph Priestley, the father of modern chemistry, and the person who discovered oxygen. Yet his knowledge of politics and theology was awesome, indeed superior to his chemistry, and his interests more diverse. Unless we apprehend the material world with such a broad palate, we can only remain in a conceptual cul de sac. I remain uncertain whether the 'evolution of the senses' model that makes sense to Peter is where his thinking will end, partly because it is bursting out of its Darwinian framework. But as we still occupy a world where primitive behaviour obscures any lessons learnt from history, he may be spot on, and occasional experiments still compel. Now where is that dog picture…
So on reflection, is this all but a candle in the gloom?; perhaps. Undimmed though by the sullied thinking of the contemporary audio industry, and corporate greed of the record companies. And as it is a seasonal moment, it is worth remembering that story in which hope comes not through the palaces of kings, but from an unknown family, sleeping in a stable. And it is for this reason we have to remain open, rather than closed to difference, in method, in theory and in production. Bring on more strange and shiny bits of plastic!
And what strange and shiny things there have been this year – it has been a bumper one in terms of new products, each of which has stretched things further than one could ever have hoped. So thanks again to Peter, May (now Oscar-nominated!) and Graham (of Whitby !), and all those other hidden workers, for helping us to maintain choice, and find pleasure, when others wish simply to take from us.
And just one other thought, to make the Yuletide bright again, will all Clip owners join me in a blast of Clipping distal objects for the week starting 20th December? I will do my best, and in doing so, we will really do something for each other and the world. Because the Clip is now better (see New Products for tips…)
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.
Richard
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..or how the cock crowed….
Retro Foil, Label and Cream
Eschewing any traditional reporting of a new development, I want to take you on a journey, one full of doubt and betrayal. Yet it is one that gets to the heart of the matter, and the reason why P.W.B. products hold such a special affection for those that dare to acknowledge what their senses tell them.
The Retro Foil, and related products emerged in the early summer of 2004. As oft the case, the initial response was of awe, as thrilling disc after thrilling disc passed from case to machine, and music filled the air. And then one got used to it. The superior labels were tried, and were indeed superior to the traditional 3mm of Foil, but I was complacent, and it was all a bit too easy. I state this uncomfortably, knowing full well the struggles of Peter, wondering if yet another sliver of plastic or foil could gain recognition, and still be distinct from the pantheon of previous foils. Indeed, I started to feel what is probably a problem for many – how can I invest in such tiny things, that aren't even gold-plated, even though my senses tell me differently.
It was around this time I also started to experiment again with cables, and to apply ring ties to all that hadn't had the benefit. I think familiarity does breed contempt, so moving to a different field seemed the right thing to be doing. There was the added bonus of something else, which I will refer to later, but I was pleased with reviewing all cables. There was one thing troubling me though, which was a belief that, for whatever reason, silver cables were superior to copper. I have given up ever hoping physics could explain this, and I know May Belt challenges this field very effectively i.e. how can one piece of wire make so much difference, when all of the copper before and after it is still there. Well, I was a heading back to a sort of Hi-Fi orthodoxy with great aplomb, and decided I would borrow a well reviewed silver digital cable to see how it got on with my system. I was very curious about this, because as I understand, such a cable should make even less difference with the '1's and '0's of digital code. The equipment I use, also buffers and reclocks the information, although I know not what that really means. So how would this cable, costing many hundred of pounds compared with my Van der Hul made cable from the manufacturer that came free, but has ring ties attached.
Such comparisons are very difficult, as I believe the P.W.B. effect is rather different from what conventional design achieves. Really one needs the best of both worlds. And so in a addition to this step of trying the cable, I returned to the Retro Labels, and ordered a few.
And so first I tried this silver cable. On balance I think it was better – clearer, with a punchy bass – but costing far more than ring ties. It also raised the fascinating question of how much better it would be if treated. I was pleased, as there was scope for a real lift in sound. What was also very interesting was that it 'felt nice' when holding it; a feeling that only makes sense when you have noticed it.
So a little pleased I started to fit the Retro Labels. As stated above, I knew they were okay, but when I listened to the effect of a few of them I was astonished. The effect of changing the cable was but a fraction of what these Labels achieved, and considering that they were much cheaper than a silver cable really put things in perspective. Whilst I feel fairly convinced that it is better to apply P.W.B. devices to good equipment, there was no denying (again!) that environmental treatments, to passive objects/equipment in the room was very, very effective. Indeed, shockingly so, and quite shattering to the complacency that informed my approach to these new products.
So what are they all about? Well, my grasp of the devices suggests that they deal with the rather familiar issue of predators within our safe territory of home. As often described in past editions, Peter has somehow tapped into the evolution of life, recognising how hearing and later sight were developed for the detection of predators, and understanding that these sense organs are somehow distracted from the task of listening/viewing by misperception of objects as predators. Sounds fanciful, but the extraordinary improvement in perceived sound and vision lends considerable credence to this model. It is as if a haze is removed, and everything snaps into focus when one treats an object. And of course you can treat anything and everything. Points to note are that objects in other rooms – electrical equipment, discs etc. – are as much a threat to good sound as those within the listening room. Similarly, objects between the bounded territories – let's call them doors – also respond very well to treatment.
The Foil is good, cut into the traditional 3mm strips, and goes anywhere. But there is a twist. The Foil needs to be activated by an application of the green Retro Cream – a special variant of Green Cream. Now this Retro Cream is good for other reasons – and this is a real bonus. Firstly, for you lucky Clip owners, it should be applied to the Tweezers and Clip, liberally, all over. I think you'll be impressed when you try it – you can then Clip everything again!!! But there's more! The Retro Cream can also be applied to Green Ring Ties, including those on the Digiplus – again, this is a very pleasing lift to sound, and well worth the quick smear. That, plus a re-clipping is most impressive.
I should add here though that whilst the Foil is good, the Label is so much better. All the objects I applied Labels to in the recent Labels vs. Cables experience already had Retro Foil on. The benefit was then all the more remarkable. And you don't have to cut the Labels; fit and forget.
After 10 years of Newsletters, I make little apology for the complacency that coloured my judgement. To be honest I have 'superlative burnout'. But if you are ever tempted into thinking that other people are offering better value products, because of precious metals, or heavy materials think again; there is another, complimentary path. And that path is really, very impressive.
Do try some.
Richard Graham
During the summer came unannounced a new Foil and Label. A Foil, which could be described as looking like the graph paper, we used to use in school. After attachment a smear with Green Retro Cream is required. This cream has a smell that reminds me of putty.
The effects of this Label and Foil I can only describe as immediate and profound. Not only does the sound take on a fresh clean clarity but rhythm and pace receive a lift also. I am sure others of you can relate to my experiences with some foils taking a period to warm up and influence the listening experience. But not this new addition - that starts working straight away. I have placed one of the Retro Labels on my DVD player and the other on my Dax Discrete dac.
The new level of performance from my system has highlighted shortcomings in my systems mains cables. I am in the process of making up some DIY main cables. The cable is based around 2mm pure silver solid core. The earth is standard copper. I will then plat the three strands Kimber Kable style. Wrap in aluminium foil for shielding and encase in braiding for a professional look. I already use a homemade silver cable 1mm diameter on my DVD player and the lift in performance is most impressive. Don't be fooled by those who say cables make no difference.
Steve Paines,
UK
I was intrigued by Richard Graham's article "Into the Lens" in the Spring 2004 Newsletter. Ever since starting P.W.B treatments, I have been amazed at the visual side of things. For instance, a little bit of Morphic liquid on a record cover not only improves the sound of the record but produces startling effects on the photographs on the album cover. I have sometimes seen a far sharper clearer version emerge out of the same photograph. Other times I have understood things about the photograph that I did not understand before.
In order to carry this further it does indeed seem a logical step to treat the camera and/or film. At first I found that I was running into the same resistance from my belief system that I had encountered years ago with Hi-Fi. How can sticking this on here possibly make any difference? How do I know its not just suggestion etc.. etc. ..? I was going through all this again but now with cameras.
I must say it did not somehow feel right to get my Nikon F65 and stick foils onto it. I don't know why. I still haven't.
However, my digital camera seems to "enjoy" having the P.W.B treatment and I sense that it is fast turning into a "device" of its own. As Richard Graham explains the more you treat an object the more it turns into a device and as a person treats photographs of himself or his family the more they become part of this process. I think I did improve my friends system just by being there and listening to it. All credit to P.W.B and none to me.
Lastly, a word about Polaroid cameras. If ever there was an object suitable for P.W.B treatment this is it.. I got one from Argos for £34 and have already spent three times that on P.W.B treatments, especially in the fabulous Retro label. The camera feels a bit Sci-Fi in its design and of course gets even better when you add Sci-Fi that-works in the form of the Retro label. There is also bags of room to stick foils and Morphic messages.
My first photo said it all – detail depth, warmth, magic.
Polaroid photos are, of course, something of a cult as watchers of the series with Moulder & Scully will know. I also found a book of Polaroid's by the late Russian film director Andre Tarkovsky. These are beautiful & inspiring showing what the small square medium can do.
Apart from the visual aspect something positive, protective and of course sound-improving seems to happen with these photographs. I intend to go on adding more bits to my Polaroid as time goes forwards and (back?).
Kenneth Hyam
UK
Having no knowledge of P.W.B. at the time prevented me from attending May's talk. However, being able to view the video of the proceedings was a welcome substitute.
What struck me was May's technical knowledge. I am sure you will agree Hi-Fi is a male dominated industry so to have a woman making such a contribution is most welcome. The talk even persuaded me to try freezing some CDs'. A practice I had resisted because I regarded it as too revolutionary.
However, I decided to give it a try with some of my aggressive and bright sounding discs. I put them in one of the zip fastening A4 bags and have created a bookmark with every type of foil in my possession attached. Yes there was an improvement in sound making them more listenable, but more importantly I had smashed my preconceptions.
The most amusing part in the video is the battery story where Peter placed batteries all over the listening room. I bet that took some explaining to visitors May!
I look forward to the next talk where I understand May will be talking about cables amongst other things. I wonder if there will be a guest appearance from Peter?
Steve Paines,
UK
As many of our customers know, I gave a talk to a group of P.W.B. enthusiasts in 1998 with a promise that I would give a further talk at a later date. Unfortunately, time went on without a further talk being organised.
Following a suggestion recently by a member of the P.W.B. Chat forum, that I do not wait any longer to organise a group, that I do my further talk 'to camera', without a group.
This I have recently been doing.
The digital camcorder I have used takes one hour tapes and I realised that I could extract sections from my proposed further talk, sections which last one hour each section. I have concentrated first on the "Cable Controversy" and this part of my talk lasts approx one hour. This talk on the "Cable Controversy" is then followed by a number of one hour sections of a more extended talk.
The "Cable Controversy" section is followed by me concentrating on "The percentage of importance which people put on things", and then on to "Reading/sensing the environment".
I feel that I have to explain to people that I found it difficult to do a talk without having a group of people present because of the difficulty of assessing immediately whether people are understanding fully. Whereas with a group of people, they will start asking questions if they do not understand, and one is able to assess whether one is going too quickly or too slowly.
We hope to be able to put my talk onto a series of DVD's, to be either viewed via the computer or, if we can select the correct International format, onto DVD's which people, anywhere in the world, can view on a standard DVD player.
And, for people who are not able to view via DVD's, to have my talk available on video tapes for the people who have the facility to view a video tape made within the UK system.
That once people have viewed my talk, they can respond with comments, they can ask questions and we can conduct an ongoing "group at a distance" type of seminar.
If we are successful and can format the DVD correctly, I will continue further with my talk - in one hour sections and gradually make them available.
If you are able to view a DVD on your computer and would like a copy of the first section of my talk (the Cable Controversy) please let me know and I will send you a DVD copy. With regard to making a DVD to view on a normal domestic DVD player, we still have to work out what International format to use for each different country. Any information regarding "standards" would be appreciated.
If you wish to have a video tape (VHS) copy of my further talk so far, please me know. But, please remember that it is a video tape which has been made within the UK system. If anyone can convert this UK video tape to their own National system, please let us know. You are welcome to a copy of the VHS video tape made within the UK system.
Regarding the video film of my first talk in 1998. We are trying to put this video film onto a series of DVD's so that people, anywhere in the world, will be able to view my first talk as there is much information regarding our background on it.
Kind Regards,
May Belt
UK
' It is always with some trepidation that I put myself forward for these sort of tests. Will I identify the cheap cable? Will I be consistent with my opinions? Will I hear any differences at all?… But until you've sat there, with nothing to see and none of your usual reference points that you start to realise just how deeply this sense of apprehension lies.'
Jason Hector, Hifi+, Issue 34
This year has been an interesting one for me. A change of post at work has brought me into contact with more diverse minds, individuals who have come to clinical work from very different backgrounds. What was absolutely extraordinary for me to realise in such company was the fact that what is often presented as scientific open-mindedness in so many settings was really a constricted, bullying process in which facts and ideas were squeezed into, or rejected from a particular conceptual box. A tyranny, or catechism was pursued, with the zeal of the Grand Inquisitor in Spain, looking to burn the heretics. Worse was the discovery that some scientific ideas had been predicted by such characters as the English Romantic Poets, who wanted to be truly open to the joys and ravages of nature, yet be sneered upon by many so-called modern scientists. A good colleague spoke of a comment of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which so elegantly anticipates Heisenberg that it is quite depressing. I apologise for those that read the forum postings for repeating the quote here, but it really is worth savouring:
'The chameleon darkens in the shade of him who bends over to ascertain its colours'
Coleridge (1817)
For those of you fortunate enough to have had a good education, you will know that late 18th Century figures, such as Priestley (father of chemistry; see link - http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/chemistry/institutes/1992/Priestley.html), Davey, Coleridge and Wordsworth, amongst others, somehow lived with Religion, Politics, Poetry, Art and Science coexisting in their minds, and they embraced all aspects of living in the world. Frankly they shame us with their endeavours, and highlight the narrowness of current attitudes to anything diverse, particularly in science. The paradox appears to be that the more 'enlightened' we are, the more we desire conformity, in ourselves, and in others. We seek to be the same as others (look at the escalation in cosmetic surgery etc..) and tolerate less difference in others, despite political correctness. All of this exploration and revelation threw me back towards another pioneer, who made some very valuable points, which have somehow been lost in the ongoing commercialisation of science. Thomas Kuhn's landmark book 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions' examines with fresh eyes the processes of discovery, and that within the field of science, things are far from scientific. To give a taste of the thinking, try this comment on research:
'…research as a strenuous and devoted attempt to force nature into the conceptual boxes supplied by professional education. Simultaneously, we shall wonder whether research could proceed without such boxes, whatever the element of arbitrariness in their historic origins, and occasionally in their subsequent development.'
This work on the philosophy of science of course won him friends and enemies, including confrontations with the great Sir Karl Popper. But returning to this book, plus the above other experiences widened my awareness of those scientific figures who evolved in a complex matrix of thought, ideas and experience, and were not trying to squeeze anything into the wrong box.
But it is Coleridge's emphasis on the shadow cast that is most pertinent. We cannot help but view the world through the lens of our past experiences and current beliefs, and these will be coloured further by our existence in the herds that form society or civilisation. Such views will alter the experience of everything, from our own internal ruminations, and external realities; all is in the shade of ourselves. Yet some seem to believe there is no such shadow, nothing is cast by the embodied mind of the clear thinking scientist. Worse, such figures, in not truly acknowledging that there is such a thing as psychology, a mind that interacts with internal and external situations, promote such nonsense as blind testing, as if it had no impact on the observer. That is why I was drawn to a particular edition of the (seldom purchased) magazine 'Hifi+' which investigated the issue of cables. It is worth a read, even if it tells us we should all be trying to buy outrageously expensive Nordost Cables! I have no problem accepting these views and agreeing with May Belt's views at the same time. What is helpful is that the article starts to examine in a more qualitative manner, why certain results might emerge. There are confounding variables, outside of the tensions of blind testing, that will influence the results obtained, and these need consideration. Otherwise, the wrong conclusion is drawn. But to some degree this is peripheral to the problem of those that have blind faith in blind testing, and I think Jason Hector's bravely honest piece in the article highlights just how much of a problem there is with the method that does not resemble real life. And just to give you some more evidence of how idiotic scientists can be, and how the test shapes the results, I will remind of some work in the field of human development. Early child psychologists believed that the understanding of object permanency came rather late; if you hide a ball under a cup, the baby fails to look for it; it believes the ball has disappeared in some way. Or so it seemed. Then someone realised that babies weren't actually that interested in cups, but were on human faces. So, the experiment was repeated with faces stuck on the cups, and the babies showed that they knew full well where the ball was, but previously had not been interested enough to show it!
Where does this leave us – in a difficult position of course. Foremost is the near catastrophic problem that Peter's discoveries cannot be squeezed easily into any box. Even following the 'evolution of the senses' model, he radically changes the way we would understand these organs of perception. But that should not deter us, theory should always follow later. Good observations, freed from the chains of 'memory and desire' will always be the best science, and no one should persuade us otherwise. But also, never feel compelled to accept that any method of investigation is ever going to be perfect, and somehow divine the absolute truth. Too many shadows abound, and we seem to be following the course of the greatest chameleon of all; nature, with her ever evolving colours, and elusive intelligences. And we have yet to discern whether our evolved minds can ever grasp such levels of complexity, like the ant describing the aircraft!
Richard Graham
UK
The purpose of this little story is to demonstrate what can happen when variables in the system are unknown. It all started when I decided to employ a seemingly clever Feng Shui device to my listening environment.
Now, some Feng Shui methods - at least on the surface - seem like they might work for audio, improving the sound. For example clearing out old newspapers and magazines certainly makes some sense in light of what P.W.B. has been saying about the (negative) impact of paper/wood products and even of written materials on the environment - actually on the listener per se.
Feng Shui advocates, on the other hand, would probably explain things differently - that this clearing out of "clutter" makes for a more "organized" or "benign" environment. P.W.B. would probably argue along the lines that wood products (newspapers and magazines) and the Morphic influence of certain words and phrases in them, say "Time Magazine" or 'Washington Post" - and all those classified ads - can have a direct (negative) effect on human sensory perception.
Anyway, to make a long story short, a few years ago I began experimenting with special red string - a Feng Shui item promoted to "cure" certain "problems" in the home. Even though there was no obvious explanation why red string was beneficial or even where it should be placed, I hung 5-foot lengths of the red string in several corners of the listening room and even went so far as to hang the string in some corners of other rooms. You know, just to see what would happen. Although I can't say I ever "heard" any effect on the sound of the red string, good or bad, I assumed it wasn't hurting anything and keep the string in place all this time, even adding a few more lengths of it a few months ago.
Until the other day. As I often do - reexamine the impact of one thing or another - I removed all the lengths of the string to see if the sound improved, got worse or remained the same. After removing all the red string from corners of the home, I was surprised to find out the sound had gotten a lot better. The more I listened the more I realized the red string had actually degraded the sound somehow, although I have no idea why. But it was very obvious. The sound without the red string in the corners was much more open sounding and tonally more correct. I use this example of the Feng Shui red string to show that the sound we hear can easily be influenced by things that are unknown and it's almost certainly true there are still many variables out there unaccounted for.
Geoff Kait,
Machina Dynamica
USA.
Time again for me to say a few things that are all good in the world of my personal P.W.B. Experiences. Bless that fellow Peter. Like many of the hardened users of P.W.B. Devices and techniques, I have been sent samples of devices over the years. I still have some that have been stored away. I have tried them in the past and they have not worked successfully for me, but I kept them thinking that maybe, one day, they will come in useful.
Recently I bought a budget CD player (NAD 521BEE) to replace my old faithful Marantz CD 63, whose motor had got a bit noisy. Even though it is a 14 bit, I reckon that it is as good as some modern players. I have this assumption that I could turn a pigs ear into a silk purse with P.W.B. Techniques, hence the purchase of the NAD. All in all, I was a little disappointed with it, despite the transference of some of the P.W.B. devices from the old to the new.
The status quo has remained very much the same, in regards to TV's and stereo in the rest of the house. It dawned on me, after a few days, about something Peter suggested many years ago - the Sol-Electret/Blu Tack thing. This is something that I have not heard mentioned in the articles/newsletters, mind you I'm not on the Internet. My 30 years old Sony Captain 55 portable radio sounded so natural when the combination of Sol-Electret/Blu Tack blob was inserted into it's mains plug. I got off my hot seat and went to the NAD in the bedroom, opened up it's mains plug (please ensure that it is not connected to the mains). Previously I have done the normal things that one does with plugs (belting!). I took a pea sized piece of Blu Tack to which I applied the tiniest amount of Sol-Electret, gave it a good going over (kneading) as you do with flour for bread making. I then applied the blob on the negative terminal on the inside of the plug. Having done this, I thought I'll give it time for the magic to work, actually giving time for my brain to reprogram itself. When I went back to the living room, I was awe struck by my Tivoli 2 system perched on my mammoth transmission line speakers. It's too good to be true. Well, all things that thrill the aural and visual senses is by possible courtesy of P.W.B. Techniques. - just one blob of Blu Tack mixed with Sol-Electret made that much difference.
I proceeded to do more plugs. The changes peaked at five plug, after that it's effects were subtle and accumulative. I reckon the Blu Tack with Sol-Electret is a potent device by itself. We have all done it sitting comfortably, thinking we are at the pinnacle of our achievements, then you try something, it unsettles your mind and your senses take another leap.
What now ? I'm into guitars. Got a few of them and I dig the 60s music. I like instruments. Mrs. Belt suggested a while ago to try Inside Foil in the body of the guitar. Well, I did not have that particular Foil, so I have been using the other Foils - on the pickups, bridges and the back of the machine heads. I also applied Cream-Electret in the hollow body and signed off with a Red 'x' Pen. Any effect ? Nothing to shout about I guess. Well, Black Magnadiscs behind the head stocks made a difference, the guitars, whether Acoustic or Electric sound sweeter. After a few weeks later I tried White Magnadiscs behind the heartsick. Now things started to happen, the guitars started to sound good and pleasant to play too. Like everything else with P.W.B, the stereo performed even better and the pictures on the TV. By the way, treat your guitar amps, as per your stereo. Mmm, sounds cool, clean, sweet and raunchy if necessary.
Remember the Hollow Fibre ? A pack was sent to me many years ago. I tried it, with no luck. But now and then I used to try a small amount, on a mains plug or a few just to see if it gelled. No luck again. This has been one item that has failed to sensualise my senses. Never to give up on something others have benefited from, I was ready to give it another go. I have got a long interconnect (silver) branded Rosetti, supplied with my Gibson. I was not impressed when I tried it even after treatments with the Ties and freezing procedure. I unscrewed both ends of the plugs and placed in situ a small piece of hollow fibre on each end of the internal connection. I have also got a Sony TV in the so-called music room. What a picture ! God help! I could see a change straight-away. As the hours passed, it has got even better and the sound of my Stereo started to transform. I moved forward to treat the audio interconnects. I have mostly Kimbers, PBJ's. It was easy to unscrew the plug and insert the hollow fibre in each of the phono plugs. It is getting better and better and I have not reached any saturation point yet. So far, it has been a sensual fantasy, awe-inspiring, sound like live !! Pure and crystal clear. It is the turn of the mains cables now. If you can have access to the plugs on either end, better still, e.g., 13 amp plug to IEC plug. If you can imagine your favourite musicians are giving you a treat and are playing only a few feet away from you and the pictures from the TV come courtesy of the finest telephoto lens that one could imagine. It has been a long time coming for me with the hollow fibre. Phew. What a thrill. What an excitement. Peter, we want more of your whacky objects.
Before the Hollow fibre saga, I had another encounter with P.W.B. Devices. Remember the Blue Boundary Ring Ties ? I always had mine on crocodile-clips (to easily remove from cables and easier to experiment with - I say). Experiment I did. I have stacks of books, actually my wife's on a cabinet, stacked vertically and horizontally, on top of the cabinet and in the cabinet. I had two spare Blue Ring Ties on clips. I was watching the TV and I clipped the Ring Tie onto a small book. Lord behold, the images of the TV, the focussing of individuals started to alter, like a distortion, the edges of the figures appear to be having more contrast. Within half an hour, the pictures were transformed to stunning sharpness, with natural colour skins. Sorry to use this phrase again but I have never seen anything so natural and focussed on a TV. The next day, I took the clip I was using and used it on a book in the bedroom. I was surprised that it was not the same anymore. I was a bit puzzled about what was happening. I went back to the original which I had clipped. It dawned on me that it was a catalogue of my microwave oven in the kitchen. So, there is a connection between the catalogue and the item in the kitchen. What's happening ? A Boundary Ring Tie bringing a oneness - harmony - positive energy by being linked by Ring Tie. Can anyone explain that ? Just to be sure that it was not a fluke, I applied another Blue Boundary Ring Tie on a clip to the guitar amplifier's instruction book, warranty card and receipt. Hey, the outcome was a very positive one. I tried clipping a non catalogue instruction book, there was no effect.
John Peter
UK.
A friend and a colleague of mine from the last 24 years told me, He is thinking about changing some of the components of his 14 years old system, and asked for suggestions. He has got a very good Fet valve Hybrid pre and power amplifiers ( Van Alstine) - a top of the line B&W speakers costing about 5000 dollars in 1989 money., a heavily modified Phillips CD player with a vacuum tube buffer
His system sounds excellent to me . Fortunately his wife opposed any changes by saying that "There is no need to change a system for change sake" for a newer system and joked if the reason for changing the system is for the getting of something new and different, she would not mind changing her old husband of 64 years for two new 32 year old men"
The Internet though makes a vast amount of information easily accessible, it is also partly responsible for " Audiophilia Nervosa". Its symptoms are perpetual upgraditis, changing cables like one changes shirts, searching for a mythical product, frequent trading, hanging in the audio message forums - with flaming insensitive remarks etc.. I really do not know when the equipmentophiles find time to listen music.
I think the best one can do is to stop reading about the recommended components by Stereophile, TAS or other recommendations in audio forms, Reading about other's systems, comparing notes of various products, lusting after gear, etc.... , and start enjoying what we have or what we can afford.
We are forgetting the main reason for listening to music is our own pleasure and enjoyment The appreciation of music is an interaction between the Gray and white matter, boney osicles, neurons and neuro transmitters, giving pleasure from perceived sound, resulting in fulfillment of expectations and enjoyment.
My friend observed the changes in my system in the last 22 months by P.W.B. treatments and asked me why not try some of this "stuff "in his system.
Saving money with P.W.B.
Though I am not an experienced long time user, I offered my help and ordered a Beginners kit and gave it as a gift to him
For me there are 2 ways of using P.W.B. treatments for a beginner
First using the latest and greatest Foils and Creams without any basic treatments.
With my very limited experience it does not work for everyone except with a select few. Someone sent me an e-mail " saying they had stuck a few Real Foils on a couple of CDs and he heard no difference". He says his trustworthy friend who Creams, Clips and Foils every thing in his home hears a big difference with them.
"How come I do not hear?" is his question.
I applied the latest Foils to the boom box in our office - I perceived no difference. My office is a stressful environment with computers, printers , x-ray patient files and technologists most of the time under stress.
I can only guess that this may be dependent upon individual thresholds to perceive a change in the sound and unfavorable environmental factors and stress.
For me the second way is a better way .
Start and treat everything with the Beginners kit. Treat the environment. Go with the freebies. Later with the Intermediate package. Probably as the baseline psychological adjustments and environmental adjustments already exists, Then one can experience cumulative and logarithmic increase with the rest of the treatments.
I think it takes time and basic treatment and threshold levels for the Psychological adoptive process and environmental adjustments to be effective. The effects of P.W.B. treatments this way grow with time till they reach horizontal level on the graph as one gets used to it.
But this method is not without drawbacks. It takes lots of labor and time., cheaper - only 87$. For many people it is difficult to convince that by treating seemingly unrelated components such as telephones, light bulbs, water heaters can increase perceived quality of sound.
First step - first week
We froze all audio, computer, telephone, cables, wires, transformers, telephones, applied Red tie clip to the refrigerator, creamed all the wires (Not spotty , entire length). Then attached Spiratubes and Rainbow Foils. to the cables , kept in position by the Spiratubes. This step alone makes a Major difference - made my friend make the comment "it sounds different and better."
Second and third week.
The next level of improvement came after using the Cream and Foils as mentioned in the accompanying brochure, Which includes equipment case inside, batteries, light bulbs, computer and the bare areas on the circuit boards. Applying crème with one's finger may be a kind of development of bond with the equipment.
The three Morphic Message Foils were stuck on the loading trays of CD, DVD, VHS players and also on the loading trays of the computer.
The Spiratubes were used inside the wires of equipment that won't get hot (like tube equipment).
Morphic messages.
Since this experiment is using only Beginners kit and nothing else (no Red 'X' pen)
We tried something different.
On the computer.
A list of all the components that goes inside the equipment is available in my computer section. A list of all software loaded in the computer is made. Morphic messages were stored on the Hard disk such as
DELL 8400 Computer > O.K.
U.S. Robotics MODEM > O.K.
WINDOWS X.P > O.K.
Hewlett Packard 8400 Printer > O.K , John Doe family > O.K. and few others.
We typed all these messages, stored them in the hard drive, e-mailed, scanned and faxed and printed so that these Morphic messages will go through all the electronic components of the computer system.
Telephone.
On the answering machine messages we added "we are all fine" before the usual message "please leave your name and number "
It took about 2 weeks to completely exhaust the Beginners kit which goes a long way. The time consuming part of this exercise is , freezing, - opening the cases of the equipment and treating the many light bulbs. Rest of it is easy
The end result is a big difference in smoothness, naturalness and sound stage for better. This description is good enough without using the usual audiophile verbiage.
These treatments gradually grow - increase on us - similar to break in process.
May be in the cold winter months we will venture into the Intermediate pack.
Regards,
V.R. Sola.
USA
I consider myself a P.W.B. - beginner, having 'only' at my disposal the Rainbow Foil and Cream Electret. With aid of these two wonders, I made my own 'x'-pen and Purple Pen.
What should a beginner do? Opinions differ, but let's shine a light on my vision.
Most of the beginners will apply the P.W.B - treatments to their Hi-Fi system and CD's.
I think that this can work, but it will give mixed results, varying in time.
In my opinion, you should first work on your environment, that is, your house.
You will not like the fact that it consumes loads of time. But gradually, you will hear your Hi-Fi perform better and better.
What did I do?
At first, I foiled (with the Silver Rainbow Foil), Creamed, 'x26'x 'd and signed as much as possible objects in the house. Electronic items, telephones, household appliances, the heater system, everything with a battery in it, lights, transformers (for loading batteries), photo- and video-camera, computer stuff… this took months and I am still doing this.
In addition, I am still cutting corners of clothing labels.
I creamed and foiled walls, windows and mirrors.
All batteries are 'x26'x 'd. They put batteries in all children toys, these days.
Aligning screws also is an endless task. Do you know how many screws exist within a house? Thousands! Half a year ago, our bathroom was totally rebuilt. This lasted six weeks or so. Luckily, I could align screws on a daily basis, before everything was plastered and decorated. I also Creamed and 'x26'x 'd as many new items as possible (sinks, bathtubs, pipes, electrical wires etc..) This work was rewarded with an improvement in clarity of my Hi-Fi.
Crossing bar codes also is an infinite task. They are everywhere...
In the last newsletter, the reef knot was rediscovered. I went around the house and knotted -I think- hundreds of reef knots. This is not something you do in a lost hour.
In the mean time my Hi-Fi was 'only' creamed and foiled and reef knotted; the basic P.W.B.-treatments. After a year of environment tweaking, the time had finally come. I opened up my speaker (Davis M4 kit) and creamed and foiled the capacitors, the units as well as the cables. It didn't need a lot of time, to show new qualities: more transparency, less distortion, a midrange simply gorgeous! Air around voices I never heard before.
Now we're getting somewhere. The same had to be done with my CD player. Foiling the PCB's, creaming the various IC's, painting the top of all electrolytic-caps purple, writing messages with the red 'x'-pen.
And finally, my Marantz PM80-II amp got the same treatment.
Now I have an incredibly better sound quality than ever before.
In the pre-P.W.B.-era, I was a tweaker, replacing inferior parts (IC's, capacitors) in equipment. It got the sound better, maybe 20-30%, but with P.W.B. … 200%?
The point is, if you don't keep your house in P.W.B.-shape, the sound can get "off". It happened to me a few weeks ago, just after I finished my amplifier job. It should sound better, but there was a new harshness and more audible distortion, sometimes. This is impossible, I thought to myself. Then I remembered the two new tables we bought the same week. I creamed and foiled them. Hmmm… better, but still not… Wait a minute! Just wait a minute. My wife recently finished painting the kitchen! The smell of fresh paint still wandered about the house.
After creaming the walls and all painted parts in our kitchen, the magical, musical, P.W.B. experience returned in my listening room. That folks, is my ultimate proof, that P.W.B. 'ing the environment is as important as P.W.B. 'ing our Hi-Fi equipment or software.
Best wishes,
A. Martherus,
The Netherlands
Someone asked me what P.W.B. products do. I thought about it for a moment and realized I didn't have an answer that made sense. Try explaining that you rub some crème on your compact disc and you get better sound. I now have an answer that is easy for the audiophile to understand. P.W.B. products reduce "Environmental Distortion". Distortion is anything that has been added to or subtracted from the original performance. Most of us have never attended a recording session to know exactly the sound of the instruments during the recording session, but we all (I hope) have attended live, unamplified music as a reference by which to judge our systems. For those of us that have been doing this for many years, we have learned how to interpret the written word as a description of the changes of sound we perceive while applying P.W.B. products. I thought I would throw in my 2 cents in describing the changes of sound perceived applying Peter's products.
The first thing that always comes to mind in applying any of the P.W.B. products is a more relaxed sound. It's like taking a deep breath, exhaling and concentrating on letting your body relax. How long can you listen to your system before you loose interest? The more relaxed the presentation, the more involved you become with the music and the more you enjoy the music.
The second thing that always hits me is the increase in transient response decay time. A piano player plays three chords and you can still hear the first chord decaying away as the second and third chord follow. When I attend live musical events this is one of the things that I notice that audio equipment, on its own, does not do.
The third thing is how complex musical passages have all the individual instruments unmasked. As an example, I attended the North Carolina Symphony when they were playing Mahler's 6th Symphony. At the end of the performance the entire orchestra is playing full fortissimo while the triangle plays a single note. That note was as clear as a bell. Listening to recordings of Mahler's 6th I had to strain to actually hear the triangle. As I applied more and more of P.W.B. products, the easier it was to hear the triangle through the full voice of the orchestra.
The last thing that I would like to point out is that after reading all the postings in the chat room, there seems to be a wide range of products used by "Belters". Since I own a specialty Audio retail store, I have the opportunity to apply P.W.B. products to a wide range of products. My conclusion is the lower the distortion of the original product the more dramatic the results of P.W.B. products. I don't want to bore you with any more conclusions, but for those that want to expand upon my observations and communicate with me, we need to have a common reference point in a recording of merit. Since so many of us like different music, a sampler disc seems logical. I recommend the Burmester CD III. This recording has 10 tracks of exceptional sound with a sampling of all types of music. For all of you, who have tried to enlighten your friends and fellow audiophiles with Peter's products and found skepticism, don't give up! If Peter and May were to stop making their products it would be a great lose to all of us who appreciate music so much.
Good Listening,
Tomtweak
USA.
Not "The end "with P.W.B. Treatments
Having treated 2 of my homes and a couple of my friends homes, having read all the postings in the P.W.B forum and all the news letters from yester years, I consider myself to be meticulous and thorough with P.W.B treatments.
Usually I prioritize the P.W.B environmental treatments - on the basis of equipment that is used, On-for a larger part of the day such as telephone, TV, Refrigerator, water heater, light bulbs in the living area etc. - then the rest of them. The other priority is what I use most several hours in a day -such as bed, living room sofa, Automobile, and computer.
Incidentally the bed can be treated with Morphic Messages such as "Good night sleep>O.K." The steel frame, legs, for the bed frame and the spiral spring coils for the box spring have Spiratube sections attached. The Steel frame is treated with a Magnadisc. Ditto with the sofa and the chairs with additional CCU clips
But I missed the obvious. Treating them made a big difference.
Large Surface areas.
I overlooked the aluminium pillars (6 of them 18 feet tall,) A large steel door of the 2 car garage, aluminium siding and gutters, Large galvanized steel covers for the Indoor HVAC unit and the large steel surface of washing machine and dryer. Of course the power cords and ducts are all treated.
I have a few Foils, and 2 Blue Magnadiscs left over.
I applied them, creamed, wrote a few Morphic Messages.
Since these are outside, the self-adhesive Foils do not stick well on a smooth surface, compromised by covering them with a Scotch tape.
They do make a big difference and take audio pleasures to a new level in an hour's time.
There is no "The end" with P.W.B treatments. The best bargains with P.W.B are the Beginners and Intermediate Kits.
Regards
V.R. Sola.
USA
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