As I know that there are quite a large number of our customers who do not have access to the Internet, I have compiled another selection of 'postings' which have appeared on the P.W.B. Internet Discussion Group over the last few months.
I feel sure that this selection will be of interest as an addition to this P.W.B. Newsletter.
The P.W.B. Internet Discussion Group can be accessed via:-
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PWB/
12th January 2006 From Geoff Kait
Subject: Re: vibrations.
re vibration in CD players: mechanical noise generated by the spinning transport or other internal noise can often be dealt with effectively by chassis damping and/or damping the CD tray. Most vibration isolation type devices (stands, etc..) attempt to deal with an entirely different problem - vibration caused by Earth crust motion and other sources that enter the CD player through the floor. Air conditioners, footfalls, traffic, subways are some other examples. This low frequency, "seismic" type vibration is quite energetic, with frequencies throughout the range 0-20 Hz, and higher, but relatively *very low* in frequency. (The entire house is actually being shaken continuously).
These low frequency structural vibrations excite various items in the player, according to their natural frequencies (resonant frequencies). For example, the laser assembly in the CD player is suspended by a system of very small springs - this spring system has a natural freq. around 8 Hz or so. Thus any structural vibration w/ freq. around 8 Hz entering the CD player will excite the laser assembly itself.
For turntables, the natural freq. of the stylus, cartridge and tonearm are usually designed to be in the range 8-12 Hz, and are excited by low freq. structural vibration. The basic idea for using Most spring on mass systems in audio were borrowed from microscope stands that allow a person to view or photograph the slide without it moving all over the place.
BTW, It's relatively straightforward to demonstrate that very low freq. (seismic) vibrations that are the real culprit for audio, not the higher frequencies.
Geoff
12th January 2006 From: Chris Porada
Subject: RE: Re: Geoff Kait's posting.
Geoff and others,
How does one go about damping the transport/tray? My Philips 963sa generates a horrible amount of noise when playing some discs, and if I put my finger on the front of the drawer, I can usually get the vibration to decrease considerably, so I know it's the transport making the sound.
Thanks for any help
Chris
13th January 2006 From: Geoff Kait
Subject: Re: Re: Geoff Kait's posting
Chris - not sure why the transport is so noisy; I think I recall having a similar problem that lubricating the spindle bearing with a light oil helped; might be worth a shot... requires very minor surgery to access the bearing... hope the noise goes away -
Geoff
16th January 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: The story so far.
I am still foiling and creaming the whole house. I have also had a go at the car, mostly the inside. I attached SR foils to the fascia , the trims and to the doors. All of these have also been creamed as well as a small area on each pane of glass. I tried to Spiratube the accelerator but my car has a funny shape of moulding so I put it on the seat adjustment device. The CD autochanger under the back seat was creamed and foiled on the casing and also on the cartridge. Haven't done anything under the bonnet yet.
The upshot of this is a far greater clarity and a better semblance of stereo positioning. We were coming back from seeing the in-laws one weekend and I had Goldfrapp's 'Supernature' on. Track 10 (Time out from the world) is a great song and could be a contender for a Bond theme. There it was all spread out before me with the orchestration rising and swelling and the cellos(?) sawing away in a satisfyingly deep .All this from an untreated car copy disc! Another time we were driving along the motorway and Radio 2 was on. They played Aretha's 'I say a little prayer' and it was glorious. I've never heard it so good before, and all from a radio broadcast! (Interestingly, both events were heard at night, but I would add that the system sounds good during the day.) The memory foil is still 'burning a hole in my pocket' as it were. I took my goodies round to a friend's and had a go on his Jamo surround system If you are not aware, this is a very good starter system. The speakers are not very big but, after treatment, the system was really singing along nicely. My friends were more than happy with the results.
A far greater challenge is my friend Rob , who lives across the road from me. I call him a valve-hippy ( affectionately, of course). He is not averse to making his own valve amps and DACs and has experimented on making his own cables. I have talked to him at length on matters Hi-Fi and have tried to convert him on many occasions regarding freezing and the rest. Up until recently he remained recalcitrant. However, following a visit from a someone else he has started to come round. That someone else did a sort of blind test, the result of which showed that the 'treated ' system sounded better. The treatment turned out to be three Shun Mook Mpingo discs. 'AHA', said I, 'just think what it could sound like if you'd let me have half an hour with my stuff'. He has agreed and I will report back on the results.
In this month's Hi-Fi News KK talked about tweaks on his ListenUp page. Specifically mentioned was the Golden Sound GSIC chip. He says that it treats your CDs but he doesn't know how it works. Elsewhere in the magazine the Shun Mook discs are mentioned with only some vague puff about mechanical resonances. I am tempted to fire off an E- mail to the mag re P.W.B. Any thoughts?
That's all for now, folks.
Brian.
17th January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: The story so far
Good to hear of your adventures Brian.
As regards your final point it would be worth E-mailing Hi-Fi News, as I feel I am tarred with familiarity. Kessler makes many important points, such as on the state of the audio industry, but one thought never seems to reach their minds. There always seems to be an idea that Tweaks will destroy the industry and must be denigrated. I actually believe the reverse, as many would like to keep improving their system by any means - equipment upgrades or tweaks. Perhaps the manufacturers believe that if everyone saved their pennies, and not buy this or that, they would buy the latest products. But has there ever been a more difficult time to upgrade, unless you are exclusively analogue in your system? The repeated format wars (with the HD one about to get into full swing) leaves us all anxious. The rate of change in even HDMI means this years products will be obsolete within two years. Who is looking out for the consumer? Thank heavens for the suppliers of tweaks, as we can at least improve something that we can still use, until Messrs Gates and Jobs have carved up their territories, and Sony learn what the word 'customer' means. (I could go on about Sony's service depts.) If one can still find old magazines, one finds enthusiasts giving all sorts of tips, yet still aiming for their Linn/Naim system or equivalent. I know this sort of advice can be found in various forums, but I no longer even trust the magazines to know what products are worth auditioning, and so thank God for some of the competent, ethical dealers. Some enthusiasm still bubbles in the retailers, although they are bugged by the suppliers.
So in addition to apologising for this rant, do E-mail Hi-Fi News, and let's see what comes of it.
As for the car, all foils work on the bodywork, as do the various labels etc.. A drop of Sol-Electret in the oil is good, as is Morphic Liquid on the windows. I creamed all of the fuses, the battery, and anything else not too grubby. And there is still more, until one is enveloped even more in Ms Goldfrapps soundscapes.
Richard
17th January 2006. From: Richard Graham
Subject: A new idea...
We've done global clipping with the updated clip, and it was good. I am curious about the global effect of other interventions. To my mind Memory Foil is the best thing yet produced, even though I would prefer it came in a different format. So....
If any of you still have one 3mm strip of Memory Foil left, we could all try to apply ONE STRIP at the same time Saturday. This could be 18:00 hrs GMT again, but there needs to be a number of us able to do it.
This may give us a better idea of what would happen if the P.W.B. products spread.
So, who's in?
Richard
17th January 2006 From: Mats Lindberg
Subject: SV: A new idea.
I'm in. That is, if I can remember it on Saturday. I still haven't touched my sample of the Memory Foil, so hopefully I'm in for a pleasant experience.
Mats
17th January 2006 From: Chris Porada
Subject: another product that sounds strangely familiar...
Hi everyone,
Today while surfing the net, I came across another product that should sound awfully familiar to people using P.W.B. treatments, yet it seems this time, the explanation for the benefits have to do with alterations to the "dielectrics surrounding the ICs in the components". The product is MusiCoat from TRT, and is basically a fluid that is smeared on the various electronic components, i.e.., ICs, capacitors, etc.., within solid state equipment, and "cures the artificial sound of solid state and digital equipment (e.g., midrange glare, aggressive trebles)." Sounds an awful lot like some things we're familiar with, doesn't it? According to the company, any component can now be made to sound better than equipment costing thousands of dollars, and reviewers have supposedly stated that TRT has found the "holy grail of audio". Anyway, the link to the detailed info is as follows: http://www.trt-wonder.com/page10.html Interestingly, the audio industry and people on Audio Asylum don't seem to have as much trouble accepting this product due to its effects on the dielectric.
Enjoy
Chris Porada
17th January 2006 From Richard Graham
Subject: Re: A new idea...
Glad to have you on board Mats. I'll try and send a prompt round on the day.
My main question is about how you can hold back from trying the Memory Foil. That is will power.
Look forward to Saturday.
Richard
18th January 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: New P.W.B. User
Hello Everyone, I have just been thoroughly enjoying my music for a few days with the Free sample, and now impatiently waiting for the arrival of my first order- Beginners pack & Red X Pen. Being the impatient sort, I bought a Staedler Red lumocolour (350-2) from a local stationary store (Adelaide, South Australia). My thinking is that if enough Red X Pen marks have been used around the globe it may impart some small influence over an identical standard Pen .I have only used it to cross out a 100 or so barcodes (plenty more to go) but definitely seemed to enhance the 20 or so sample foils placed on equip, fridge, microwave etc.... Of course , it could also be, the pinned back curtains, photos of myself and family in freezer, some screw straightening, Hi-Fi mag in freezer (with a review of my speakers), and even a 100 year old pair of My Uncles , first Leather Booties! Like I said I'm an impatient sort! What a ******g amazing series of discoveries!!!
Michael..
18th January 2006 From: Mats Lindberg
Subject: A new idea.
Yes, Richard; I am a veritable mountain of will power :)
Actually, I have been trying out a few other things with my system, like repositioning the speakers, changing the tightness of the locknuts on the supports and removing the baseboard on the turntable. I wanted to keep the Memory Foil out of the equation. I have made the mistake before of changing more than one thing at a time before listening.
By the way, is it really vibration and resonances we are manipulating when doing some of the things described above, or is it something P.W.B.-ish? I have a feeling that the opinions might vary on this forum.
If you send anything on Saturday, I will not be able to read and respond to it. My computer is at work. I don't have any Internet access at home.
Mats
18th January 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: A New Idea.
Mats,
As you will see from many of my replies on this P.W.B. Forum regarding other 'tweaks' which people have described, I do not challenge their observations - what I challenge are some of the explanations they give - based on the past 25 years of experiments which Peter has carried out.
I think what happens much of the time is that many people, working in audio, hear something unexpectedly change the sound and have to then search for an explanation. That they go down a conventional theory 'check list' i.e..
Is it anything to do with capacitance ?
Is it anything to do with resistance ?
Is it anything to do with inductance ?
Is it anything to do with the dielectric effect ?
Is it anything to do with microphony ?
Is it anything to do with vibrations ?
Is it anything to do with static ?
Is it anything to do with RF interference ? - and so on.
Whilst I am fully aware that there are such things as vibrations, static, RF interference problems, I think that many people too readily settle for the nearest explanation they can get from within conventional electronic and acoustic theory and do not question - as Mat is doing - whether it is something else - something which comes within the P.W.B. Concept (that it is the human being who is being affected, who is doing the changing - not the audio signal nor the acoustic air pressure waves).
May
18th January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: New P.W.B. User
Welcome, and I am relieved to find someone who has the same level of will power as myself.
You are going to have a ball!
Richard
PS If you know your mind, why wait; it's the music not the science
19th January 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: A new idea...
I will be available on Saturday with a 3mm strip of Memory foil.
I am very possessive of this New Foil so I will give careful thought as to where I will attach it. Thanks Richard and Thanks Brian - I now own some Goldfrapp and John Martyn. What can I say but what a voice and what a voice! Good performance by Goldfrapp on the Jools Holland Hootnanny on New Years Eve.
Regards to All,
Kevin Kehoe.
20th January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: A new idea...
I know what you mean about Memory Foil, and have had panic episodes when a strip went down the back of a sofa. I have two thoughts about it:-
1. It should be in a Safe to protect
2. I should try and sell it on eBay. If someone can make $1,000,000.00 for selling pixels, I'm sure I could make a profit.
And as for Alison, although 'Supernature' is great, I still have a very soft spot for 'Black Cherry'. 'Crystalline Green' and 'Tiptoe' are wonderful songs with staggering productions, offset by other fun and moving tracks. 'Felt Mountain' is good too in a Portishead kind of way.
Until 6.00pm GMT tomorrow. And no fear of arrest this time!
Richard
21st January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Tonight's the night.
Although there seems to be some activity at P.W.B. central, and my sound at home has improved significantly over the past day, we can assess again the 'butterfly' effect of P.W.B. Devices.
For those that want to take part, listen to a piece just before 18.00 hrs GMT.
For those with the Memory Foil, apply one strip (3mm wide) at 18.00 hrs. This will take a few minutes, given the creams. Do not Clip that object until much later.
At 18.05 hrs GMT, listen to the same piece(s) again.
Post your thoughts.
I have no idea what will come of this - is Memory Foil just confined to the room it is in? So let's see. If it makes a difference, there are a lot of implications.
Richard
21st January 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Tonight's the night
After much mental debate, I eventually decided to attach the strip of Memory Foil to the security alarm control box in the hall. And, at about 18.10, I re listened to the disc I was playing just before 1800. I did indeed gain a sound lift although I was part expecting it this time as I find the Memory Foil to be one of the best yet Belt products. The disc played incidentally was Bob Dylan's "Nashville Skyline" - The standard CD issue - not the recently remastered version. The track played was the duet with Johnny Cash "Girl From The North Country". Over the past year or two I have heard this disc emerge from a quite dull sound to a far cleaner and detailed sound with each Belt treatment either to the disc itself or the environment. Following this evenings experiment, there is a little more studio echo apparent around the vocals yet it sees that Dylan has moved a pace or two forward so that the voice is more intimate. When Dylan and Cash sing together on the second half of the performance, it is easier to distinguish the two apart - in other words, more enjoyable to listen to. I cannot believe I managed that analysis without using my favourite descriptive term "Ambiance". But, I have to say it, there seemed to be more of that too!
Regards to all and look forward to hearing the experiences of others.
Kevin Kehoe.
21st January 2006 From: Gary Lee
Subject: Some slight redemption
Having been down with the flu for the past week, my computer was turned on just in time today to read Richard's notice about using the Memory Foil.
Now the truth can be told: though I suggested clipping on Christmas Eve, it is with great chagrin I admit that the appointed hour came and went without my memory being jogged. I forgot all about it. So Richard's suggestion was a much-welcomed chance to redeem myself.
I, too, had not yet used the Memory Foil and it was an excellent reason to find out what all had been raving about.
My report - The Foil was put in place and then the same music listened to again. There was not a dramatic difference, but it seemed like there was a greater bit of overall clarity to the sound. It is daytime here on the West Coast of North America and the sound never seems quite as good during the daylight. That may be a bit of a factor. Also, the little Sonic Impact T-amp was hooked up, instead of my Aleph 30. The sound was still very good, just no astonishing improvement. A caveat should be issued that my ears are still a bit stuffy from the flu and are not it top form. That could have significantly influenced my perception of sound.
I await the experience of others.
Meantime . . . Richard, what P.W.B. treatments have you used on your T- amp? I have a second unit and want to proceed more slowly in adding treatments this time.
It's always fun to do these global activities. There are some definite benefits to having an Internet.
Gary
21st January 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: burning in of cables and components
Hello again, Richard and all other P.W.B. users. As stated previously, I'm impatient with a capital " IM ", and being still a day or two from receiving my beginners kit, I decided to whip up a pair of speaker cables to get my mind off the letterbox. I used Greg Weaver's basic single strand interconnect idea, just adapted for biwiring. What now connects each speaker to my amp. is 4 single strands of 30 gauge (.25mm) magnet winding copper wire-sandwiched between two strips of 2" clear packing tape (red varnish on ends of wire carefully sanded off with fine emery paper. These human hair thin speaker wires equal, if not outshine, the $350 MONSTER ZR1 cables they replace, all for the total cost of Aussie $1.00 !!! Seems to me, based on my reading of P.W.B. theory that its as much
about removing those chunky ,unfriendly monster cables, as any benefits from the new home made cables. Now to my point-I humbly suggest that the "Burning in period" of cables and components, is more accurately a getting to know you phase-when you bring home that new cable ,it's positively bristling with sonically nasty patterns, and over that 50 to 150 hours perhaps the threat lessens somewhat, enabling us to hear a slightly smoother sound.
Any comments?
Michael.
21st January 2006 From: Gary Lee
Subject: Comment to impatient Michael
It is good to see a newcomer so enthusiastic about P.W.B. treatments. Rest assured, the beginner's kit will be worth the wait. I, too, am impatient and, thus, understand your impatience. Bill Hunt, who comments here sometimes, said the Black Gate caps on his DAC (I think) took 2000 hours to burn in. I nearly fainted. He did say it was worth the time.
Several years ago I made Greg Weaver's "packing tape" ic's and they are being used as a spare pair to hook up the SI T-amp. Along the same lines, an audio friend suggested using 26 gauge magnet wire (did you use Radio Shack as I did?) for speaker wire just as an experiment, which I did. It was astonishing how good the sound was and let me to purchase the small gauge 47 Labs speaker cable/ic kit. But you are more brave than I with your 30 gauge wire. I had not thought to put the Radio Shack magnet wire cables in packing tape. It makes them much more manageable and may give that some thought. Whenever I need a spare pair of speaker cables the magnet wire is trotted out.
The small gauge wire puts the lie to fat speaker cables, doesn't it? Part of the positive effect may well be due to the fact that there are fewer "skinny" speaker cables and the Morphic resonance is more positive.
It will be interesting to hear the results of your future applications of P.W.B. treatments, which we hope will be soon if not sooner.
Good luck.
Gary
23rd January 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Tonight's the night.
For whatever reason, I find myself in the happy situation of experiencing a further sound lift over the weekend and may, or may not, be connected with the weekend experiment. The reason I say this is because yesterday we removed from the house a video recorder, a set top receiver and a CD player along with their hand controls - after removing all the previous P.W.B. treatments of course. In place of that little lot we installed a new CD recorder/player and integrated digital receiver. So we now have one machine along with the TV instead of three and two hand controls instead of four. As soon as we established everything worked, I applied as much P.W.B. treatments to the new items as possible. The sound lift on the main system in the adjacent room is simply remarkable and I truly know what other P.W.B. users mean when they describe the TV picture using terms like "Rich vibrant Colour" and "Deep Darks". As I sit in front of the PC, there are two little speakers on a shelf either side of the screen. They have had a fair bit of Belt treatments and before I started to write this piece, I played a few tracks from the media player- Pink Floyd "Sheep" was one. It opens with the distant sound of sheep bleating along with birdsong before the music starts to make an entrance. What a performance from those little speakers! They are producing enough information to recreate the ambience of what sounds like a Welsh valley! I post this in case it has some relevance to the Saturday experiment.
Again, Regards to all,
Kevin Kehoe.
24th January 2006 From: Tom Marsden
Subject: Burning in of cables and components
Michael, I read with special interest of your experience with thin cables. I have been an enthusiast of thin cables for a long time. For my interconnects I use single strand 0.15 mm copper wire ( I don't know of anything thinner) with a thin Teflon tube for insulation. Being so thin it requires great care in making up a lead but I find Bullet plugs ( Aussie product) the best since I can trap the insulation by inserting a wooden plug in to the device and this gives some ruggedness since the insulation is taking any stresses. Bullet plugs, in any case, are far superior to phono plugs though where possible I do convert to Din connectors. I find the increased resolution from using thin cables to be deeply satisfying. For the speaker cables I am using 7 strand 0.15 wire, which look incongruous connected up to massive TDL transmission line speakers. Thin cables, to my ears, improve bass frequencies enormously and give a lie to the often quoted " thick cables are essential to obtain good bass". Thick or thin all cables improve with P.W.B. treatments ( Ring Ties, Cream, Freezing etc.) and don't forget the old favourite Reef Knot.
Regards
Tom.
24th January 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Tonight's the night.
Can I ask what you did with the removed objects ? Are they still within the boundaries of your home( e.g. in the garage)? If so, would it have been better to leave the treatments on them and apply new ones to the new equipment? Maybe you didn't have any spare foils.
Also, am I right in assuming that Belt treatments are transferable ( I'm thinking principally of foils here)? If you take a foil, say, off one piece of gear and put it on another do both pieces benefit? I say this as my step-son bought me a DVD player for Xmas and I want to put it in the main system. The foils on the old one could be transferred , if what I am thinking is the case.
Sorry to flood you with questions but I am asking from a state of ignorance.
I have spent a few hours treating my computer which is in one of the upstairs bedrooms. I do notice that the monitor is a hell of a lot clearer and the sound has improved too. Also , the tower now sounds a lot less like a Jumbo jet revving for take-off!!
Now, if I can only find discrete spots on my wife's sewing machine so that I can foil it!
Brian
25th January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Tonight's the night.
I have held back from reporting my own findings, as I did not want to contaminate things, but this is what I found.
At 17.55, I listened to the opening movement of Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, from the old, but unsurpassed, Trevor Pinnock recording form the 1980s. I have to say that I enjoyed this very much, just about keeping hold of the different instruments, and the overall musical development. It was pretty magical. I applied the strip of Memory Foil to the companion discs case (Concertos 4-6) at 18.00, and listened again at 18.05. What I noticed then was how much more real the instruments became, and although I felt the sound lost some high end brilliance, I could hear the space around the instruments. Brass seemed to have less glare. It wasn't all positive though, as I thought the sound was not quite as tuneful. This was remedied by Clipping the treated case, where all the benefits were enhanced by the greater tunefulness. I suspect this relates to my habit of Clipping everything that has had Memory Foil attached, as if my mind was aware that the process was not quite complete.
What I cannot say is whether this benefit went out globally - what part of my perceived improvements were from the local effect. It would be good to hear from others if they had a chance to take part, who did not have the Memory Foil.
Any comments?
Richard
25th January 2006 From: Mats Lindberg
Subject: Re: Tonight's the night.
Hello, all!
I have been at home since Friday with my daughters, who had both caught a cold (or something similar) with a high fever. Consequently, there was a lot to read about Saturday's experiment when I returned to work today.
On Friday evening I felt that I had to try one strip of the Memory Foil, just to see what was to be expected on Saturday. I put the foil on the TV. To me it seemed that both the picture on the TV and the sound from the stereo improved.
On Saturday I chose to listen to "Hey Lord (don't ask me questions)" by Graham Parker before applying the foil (on the record player). I hadn't heard the song for a long time, and it sounded better than before. I could hear some very rhythmic percussion sounds in the background that I could not remember hearing previously. When I listened after creaming and foiling, the percussion sounds turned out to be the strumming of a guitar, easier to hear now, but less rhythmic. The guitar sounded a bit out of pace with the rest of the music, and the song seemed slower, but the sound got richer and more detailed.
By the end of Sunday, I had used up all of my foil, but the influence of the foil was not as great now as after the first two pieces. I have not returned to "Hey Lord" after the latest applications of foil, but any other music I have listened to has not suffered from a lack of rhythm (I think). The positive effects of the foil are there to be heard, though.
Mats
26th January 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: Beginners kit arrived and applied
Hello P.W.B.'ers, Just an update, received my beginners kit- (Thank you May!) and have been madly foiling and creaming and signing everything I could think of to foil cream and write on- cables , both audio and not, photos in freezer, creamed, foiled (rainbow, safe hole, blue z, comfort, gold with sig. O.K.), on one of two bass, mid drivers in each speaker box. Inside of DVD player and amp, walls, skirting boards, Mirrors, chairs, vacuum cleaner, fridge etc.... No improvement whatsoever! Sounds worse than before! Of Course, I jest, kid, am pulling your leg! Sound now entering my lugholes is a thing of beauty, no harshness at higher volume (Sorry neighbours!!) and the bass, oh the bass!- So Full and Rounded and Tight, I thinking of asking it out on a date! Besides the increased presence, it's as if I can hear "behind the music" now -no longer two dimensional, coming from the front of speakers- but rounded, as if you can see the notes disappearing into the blackness behind. Does that make sense? Silly Question, asking P.W.B.'ers if something makes sense! Thank you heartily, May, Peter and Family for your incredible work, I will be scanning the price list tonight for my next order, probably Morphic Liquid, more Silver Foil, 12mm Spiratube, and dreaming about the Quantum Clip. Thanks also to all out there for info and tips .
Michael..
26th January 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Re: Tonight's the night
Brian,
How I wish I had unlimited funds to throw at P.W.B.! If I was fortunate enough to have some rich relative leave me a million or two, there is no doubt about where a wedge of it would end up. I have been recycling Belt products for years now, mainly Magnadiscs, Spiratube and Ring Ties – the Ties can be a pig to remove and is best attempted with a pin to free the ratchet and allow the tail to slip through. Some of those items have come with us from the previous house and I often wonder what the new owners think when they see things like "X 26X" and "X"= Present Time written on everything from the water tank to the electric meter. I hope they got some sound benefit from those and the Foils that I did not remove or forgot about. At present, all the equipment removed at the weekend is still in a shed at the rear of the house – still on our property. I intend removing them as soon as possible and then listening for any further sound lift. As I said in the earlier posting the sound lift experienced was considerable an I have been playing some vinyl or CD each evening just to make sure it has not gone away! I know that treating an object can result in that object actually adding to the overall sound within the territory, so I am not sure that the sound lift is actually caused the removal of those items. I know, I know, that I could take the time to make a few experiments like bringing the items back indoors and doing some listening tests before bringing them back to the shed, but to do it properly I really should re apply all the treatments that were there before and then listen. But to be honest, I'm so happy with the sound all I want to do is listen to music. One possible answer could be that at Christmas I purchased a couple of P.W.B. Garment Pins – one for me and one for Wendy (she takes great delight in telling her Mother and Sister what a great chap I am – giving her a safety pin for Christmas!). Since getting into the habit of wearing it constantly, I seem to be better at discerning changes brought about by P.W.B. activity. Whatever! Back to Foils. When I remove foils from any object it is always because that object is going straight out of the house – preferably off the territory, with no exception. Again, I have not tested this much but from what I have read and learned from other Beltists, Foils or any P.W.B. treatment change our perception of the object it is attached to creating a more beneficial environment for listening to music. Remove the foil and it reverts to it's old unfriendly self. So, when a new piece of kit enters the home I either use some of the foils and other treatments off the outgoing kit or, if it is a new addition, it gets the best Belting I can afford. As you might gather from the above, I am not the worlds best when it comes to P.W.B. experiments. The merest hint of a sound lift and I'm stuck in front of the speakers listening. I can only thank the likes of Richard, Tom and many others for their inspirational insights on matters P.W.B. and if anything in this reply strikes someone with the need to make a correction, please feel free to make it.
Regards,
Kevin Kehoe
27th January 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Tonight's the night
Kevin,
Thanks for your reply. Sitting in front of the speakers , listening, is what it's all about.
As I have been off for the last two days and my dear wife has been at work I did intend to have a Belting session. My one downfall was that I picked up my copy of the Peel biog (Margrave...) and spent many hours ,enthralled, reading that.
What I did get round to was treating the Sony portable( you know, the one that looks like a squashed egg) that I use in the kitchen. I also had a go at the Sennheiser PX200 headphones that I use with it. They are a steal at around £30 but , before treatment, the sound was a bit toppy with not a great amount of bass. I put this down to the Sony as I know that the 'phones are good. Anyway, creaming, spiratubing and foiling both and ,bearing in mind what Richard said recently about taking off the pads and foiling the module, resulted in a far better sound with a clear sparkling top and a lower, more informative bottom end. Ry Cooder's Chavez Ravine track 'Chinito,Chinito' a sort of cross between Mexican/Southern States music and Reggae(!) was a case in point. By the way , Richard, if you are reading this, I uttered a few curses when it came to putting the padding back on the headphones. Fiddley , or what? Well worth the effort, though.
I also used Sol-Electret for the first time today, treating the phone, all sockets that I could lay my hands on in the listening room, the sub and satellite speakers and the garage door runner retaining screws, plus a spot on the runners..
I have a major problem in that , to get to the rear of the hi-fi, I have to take out the unit that the wife built for us so it will have to wait until Sunday. Let's just say that we have a division of labour in our house , she does things like that and I do the ironing! Hey, I'm a new man! I cried when Bambi's mother got shot.
Anyway, what little time I had left was spent listening to see what changes there were. There was greater clarity but the session was all too short to spot meaningful changes. Basically , the combination of wife returning home and tea-time equals 'Neighbours' Drat!!
The night before I had used up my remaining foils in treating the PC and the electronics in that room. The rest of the room needs to be done but I'll have to wait for some more foils. Like Richard , I listen to BBC 6 Music and I found that the TV sound in that room was a lot better after treatment. I am listening to Craig Charles Funk Show as I type and the bass is a whole lot better.
What you said about the garment pin was interesting. Later on ,in February ,I'm off to see Glen Tillbrook doing a solo set at a local pub venue. Have you or any of the others, tried wearing one at a small venue (I'm afraid that, at the moment ,the pin is not on the cards, the Red Pen has priority ) ? I last saw Glen a few years ago and , about half-way through the set, he asked if there were any requests. Being a bit worse for wear I shouted out 'Smoke on the water'. To his credit he did the first few opening bars and said ' Right , that's enough of that...' and continued on his merry way. I wonder if he'll remember this time!!
On a general note and for all the other readers, the Sol-Electret leaflet mentions kneading SE into Blu-tack and mentions imparting a negative charge. My small, but perfectly formed ,brain seems to remember room-ionisers were on the go some years ago and were said to impart well-being through negative ions. A quick check on the Internet shows that they are still made, although initially there were concerns about Ozone production. It may be a can of worms and I have not seen the subject mentioned in postings, but has anyone had experience in that area? I am prepared to be shot down in flames.
Regards ,
Brian
28th January 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Re: Tonight's the night.
Brian,
Spooky or what! I received The Peel biog as a Christmas prezzy from Wendy and found it unputdownable to such an extent that by the end of Boxing Day, I had finished it. Although his wife Sheila made a wonderful job of carrying on with the book after John's sad passing, I would have loved to read more of his own words. He was a very lovely Man. Further to reapplying Foils: May Belt can supply a Treated Clear Film which can be cut to suit and applied over the attached and treated Foil to prevent it coming off. I use it on such things as cell phones and other portable devices – your Sony portable would be a possible candidate. Spooky or what II ! I recently purchased Ry Cooder's Chavis Ravine disc and at least six of the tracks push it towards making it one of his best yet. I am now away to check out a few things that you mentioned in the remainder of your posting. Hope you don't mind me making a comment here regarding Michael's recent posting following the receipt of his beginner's kit. His description of the sound is exactly how I should have described my recent uplift.
Regards,
Kevin.
29th January 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: Room ionisers
Brian,
One word of caution when considering such as room ionisers. Whatever they may be doing to the room atmosphere, they would still be an object being introduced into the environment and would have to be 'treated'. All I ask is don't be lulled into a false sense of security in that they may be introducing beneficial negative ions, the actual ioniser, merely being present in the room, could cause a deterioration in the sound. Also on the same theme. Be aware if you are still listening to vinyl records and you occasionally use what was called the Zerostat gun and you find that your sound has suddenly deteriorated. At least Cream the body of the Zerostat gun with our Cream-Electret but, preferably, try not to use the Zerostat gun at all. You would be amazed at what can affect your perception of the sound.
Regards,
May
29th January 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Room ionisers
May,
Thanks for your reply to what was really a hypothetical question. I have no intention of buying an ioniser.
As for vinyl, well that's no longer a problem. It all started when I moved my 800+ albums upstairs to create more room in the lounge . That was a bad move as the vinyl tended to be played less and less. Many of the records have been replaced with their CD counterparts. In some cases the recordings have been re-mastered, usually to good effect
The upshot of this was that I sold my Linn and put the money towards creating a 5.1 system. ( I can hear the sobbing in the background ). The main stereo system has been retained, with the surround amp only driving the three new speakers. The sub is active. A bit of a mish-mash, I know , but it works well. I wasn't going to give up stereo listening as I had it. I certainly don't want to do so now!
The albums are still all upstairs and can be treated. When I can get round to it I am going to list them all , with a view to selling them. (Very sad, I know) . I have come across a site called WWW.Netsoundsmusic.com which facilitates buying and selling vinyl and I may use them. Record Collector is far too expensive to advertise in. Also, I did think that maybe some of the group may like to be made aware of what records are there with a view to purchase. I don't know how you feel about that I can always contact people directly , if they are interested. Anyway, I'm not anywhere near producing a list yet.
Thanks for the Newsletter. Richard has raised some interesting points to which I will reply under separate cover.
30th January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Room ionisers
I had many similar anxieties about giving up the analogue, but after the turntable power supply failed, and I took the last LPs to a charity shop (little market in those days) I have not looked back. I also went 5.1, or rather 4.0, as I have little faith in centre speaker matching, and am not a bass freak. But this is what is great about Peter's devices - whatever the inherent benefit of analogue replay, you can make the digital very good. Very good indeed. If you have moved into multi-channel music, there are really too few discs to recommend, but what there are, are marvellous.
As I wrote in the Newsletter, there is still a role for analogue with amps and speakers. Meridian's DSP Speaker approach is very elegant, but all that money to only find out that the speakers need more chips, HDMI 18.4 etc. in a few years.
Are you freezing yet, Brian?
And don't forget those quirky Charge Barriers!
Richard
30th January 2006 From: Heiko Wingender
Subject: Tonight's the night
For those with the Memory Foil, apply one strip (3mm wide)
That means the strip should be at least 3mm wide in order obtain the best effect?
The Instructions only says "small" but not how small. ;-)
I am also curious why the black patterns on the sample of Memory Foil are slightly different than on the acquired strip of foil.
Thanks.
Heiko
30th January 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Tonight's the night.
Kevin,
I totally agree with your summation of the Peel book. I finished it a few hours ago.
It would be humungously spooky if you also got the Nick Drake biog as well this Xmas. Can I recommend Barry Miles book 'In the Sixties' ? The title says it all. Actually, I have read some of his other books and he is a very good writer.
On the subject of Michael ( and also to you, Michael , if you are reading this), how the heck did he manage to do so much in such a short space of time? I'm afraid that , for me , the W word keeps getting in the way
Brian.
30th January 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Room ionisers
Richard,
Chris is away for 3 days this week so, after work, I shall engage the services of Ryan, my step-son, to facilitate moving the hi-fi unit out of the alcove so that I can get round the back of it. I can then cream, memory foil and Sol-Electret all of the units plus remove power cords and inter-connects for freezing. The screws in the speakers will be next. I will also do the pictures bit.
This afternoon I spent aligning as many screws as I could find. (I expect that you are only too aware of how many screws there are in the average household!! )After the units have been done with the Sol-Electret I will coat some of the screws. I just didn't want to run out mid-job. The drop in the car engine will also be done later.
Going 5.1 was not too much of a trauma. Like most people our lounge has to be both music room and ' cinema'. If ever I win the lottery the first thing that I'll make sure of is that we have a larger house so that we can have separate rooms for TV and audio.
I have seen what a good projector and screen set-up can do and it is extremely good. The level of detail in Finding Nemo was superb, you could see all of the bits of plankton in the water in sharp detail. A good testimony to the animators art.
I have not been too inclined to enter the DVD music area, except for buying The Pixies disc. It did go to show what a good guitarist Joey Santiago is.
MTV and the like drive me daft and I have no real desire to buy some of the discs as I fear that a lot of them will turn out to be rehashed promos. I know that there are some goodies out there so careful consideration is the order of the day.
I will finish on a few questions, if I may. Charge barriers ...Errr?
Also , you mention PCs and better burning. I have creamed and SR foiled the PC and peripherals, plus Spiratube and Sol-Electret. May told me that I should freeze the blank disc before and after burning. Any other things to do?
I'll tackle Meridian and comment on you article in the Newsletter a bit later. Got to go, Life on Mars is about to start.
Regards,
Brian.
31st January 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: Memory Foil
Heiko,
The pattern design, printed on the Memory Foil is repeated over and over again down the length of the Foil and therefore the printing on each small sample of Memory Foil will look slightly different, because of where it was cut from the full length. However, every sample piece and every small strip cut from the full length is equally effective. If you can actually cut a suitable and workable 2 mm strip, then that would be OK.
May
Jan 31, 2006 From: Richard Graham
Although you are right May, for years I used 2mm strips, but there are pitfalls. Firstly some become 1.5 mm, some 2.5 mm - the former are just too fiddley. Secondly, I found them more likely to be displaced, or fall off. It thus became a false economy.
Richard
31st January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Room ionisers
Quite a lot to get through...
1. Charge Barriers are the wrong name now for pieces of cardboard that sit on your thirteen amp (or other) electrical plug, over the pins. They are purple, and have a pattern on them like the Foils. They're relatively cheap, and I love 'em.
2. As for the PC - it's the usual one of putting as many different Foils and creams on the Tower, plus any of the labels, a Violet Magnadisc, Red pen, treating the wires, Clipping, putting it in the Freezer etc.. A strip of Foil on the CD-R, Electret and Green Creams, Black, Purple and Red inks, Clip, in the freezer etc..
And then one realises a treated freezer.... Or a treated camera etc..
And so it goes on.
By the way the reference was not to Music DVDs as in the MTV sense, but high resolution audio from DVD Audio and SACD. Tom Marsden has spoken well of SACD, but I haven't ventured into that given the likelihood of PC-based PCM looking more possible.
Richard
31st January 2006 From: Heiko Wingender
Subject: Re: Memory Foil
May,
2mm seems to be a practicable width which I am used to cut of precisely with a sharp cutter and a set square. I have also noticed what Richard argued. One has to carefully wipe off any excess of blue cream otherwise the strip won't be attached properly and is likely to fall off.
Proving the effect of the clip I found that re-clipping the same object after some days for example the loudspeakers made a nice and noticeable further improvement of sound perception. I wonder whether an object should be clipped several times, perhaps at different spots or whether the clipping looses strength after some time.
I have been attaching the clip for around 10 seconds, perhaps this is too short?
Heiko
31st January 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Memory Foil
I Clip from time to time, and have thought of the process in a particular way. Whenever new P.W.B. treatments are introduced into the environment it increases the 'background of positive influence', which enhances the next Clipping. That makes sense to me, of a benign cycle, where one activity improves the quality of the next. If you do it too frequently the effect can be rather too small. This past weekend I re-sprayed with Morphic Liquid my electricity meter and fuse box, and re-Clipped everything. It was 6 weeks since I'd touched it, and the effect was worthwhile. Although Mrs Belt is fond of Lister, it seems to me that it is less like 'asceptic technique', where bacterial influence is reduced, but a more positive, perhaps catalytic influence. The question remains as to whether it is always better to Clip something new - no matter where it is on the London Eye... - or periodically Clip treated items.
Richard
1st February 2006 From: Graham Mountford
Subject: Cream Electret.
Congratulations Arkie!! I tried creaming the whole TV screen and the drive units of my speakers (8 in all) and I agree with you about the effect. It is stunning!!. I would go so far as to say that it is the single most impressive uplift in performance that I have yet experienced and that in the light of the effect of recent foils is saying a hell of a lot.
I wish Peter could produce an emulsion paint with Cream Electret as a main ingredient. At least it would create a faint interest in decorating the house!!
Graham Mountford
1st February 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Cream Electret
This is very interesting. I always held a 'Butterfly Effect'/homeopathy position on this - a little bit of something changed things a lot. But if 'coverage' is an important factor, should we be spreading less
thinly, and more widely? I have tended to apply Electret Cream mainly to foils or ring ties. But if the whole length of a wire, or pipe....
Interesting.
Richard
2nd February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: Cream-Electret
Our Cream-Electret was one of the first products we introduced (introduced nearly 20 years ago !!). It was (and is) one of the most versatile of products - a small amount can be applied to anything, anywhere. Because the audio industry in general could not (or would not) understand how it could possibly have any effect on the sound, the majority of them did not even bother to try it. It should have gained an immediate reputation and that reputation should have swept through the audio industry like a whirlwind. But the journalists who have been prepared to write about it have been met with derision and ridicule. As many of you who have viewed my talk will be aware, I describe how one can improve the sound of a speaker drive unit by applying Cream-Electret to the cone material - exactly as Graham Mountford has just described. When you imagine just what the hundreds of speaker systems, over the years, could have sounded like if this had been done by manufacturers and retailers - one shakes one's head in dismay at the lost opportunities. I am so pleased to hear that you have had such success Graham.
May
2nd February 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Cream-Electret
Theoretically May, is more better? Should the whole cone be covered, and excess wiped off with a Super Wipe tissue?
Richard
2nd February 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: Creaming Reading Glasses
Hello All, Quite by accident, using the same microfibre sunglass cloth that I use to wipe excess cream off playing side of CD's, I gave my reading glasses a quick polish yesterday- Yipes!! Instantly transformed my $2 glasses into.. into... much better, clearer, sparkly, $2 glasses! Upon closer examination of the cloth, I found a SR foil stuck fast to one corner of the cloth - another multiple use of P.W.B. products?
Just a question, am awaiting my 2nd order, re: Electret oil, how is it applied to wall sockets, any other tips for it's use? Must away, to lie down, I am feeling bloated after a huge helping of reggae BAASSSS lions..........
Michael.
2nd February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: Cream-Electret
I think Michael may just have provided part of my answer to your question Richard. The first experience most people have with our Cream-Electret is a tiny amount in a small sample jar. So, from the P.W.B. point if view, we find it is important for people to apply a small amount in as many places as possible - to enable them to become aware of just how many things in the environment are a problem with respect to sound. Michael, who has just reported wiping his glasses with the tiniest amount possible will, by doing so, have experienced his sound improving yet again. If we suggest that the greater the area you treat with the Cream, the better the beneficial effect, then the majority of the Cream could be used up covering such as the entire four sides of loudspeaker cabinets, the whole wooden plinth of a turntable, the whole perspex lid of the turntable, the full lengths of all audio cables - leaving none to experiment by 'creaming' non audio cables, non audio objects in the environment !! Obviously, from our (commercial) point of view, the more Cream-Electret people need to purchase, the happier we will be. On the other hand however, we feel that people will obtain a greater understanding of our concepts if they are able to experience the effect of 'treating' hundreds of different objects (objects in no way associated with audio) and gain improvements in their sound each time.
Regards,
May
2nd February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Sol-Electret
Michael,
To 'treat' wall sockets with Sol-Electret you remove the screws attaching the wall socket to the wall and apply Sol-Electret oil to the screw threads. Similarly the screw threads of all screws securing shelves to the wall !!
May.
2nd February 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Sol-Electret
May ,
I have had the opportunity to view your DVD talk and very interesting it was too. (I admire your stamina .Three hours and you were still going!) Do you want me to send it back, so that someone else can view it?
It's nice to be able to put a face to a name. I have seen images of Peter at various times but none of you. What amazed me was that you were more or less as I imagined you would be. That's a compliment, by the way.
I have powered down my system and am awaiting the arrival of the Intermediate pack . Getting round the back of my gear has enabled me to freeze and treat interconnects and power cords while I am waiting .I also spent a few hours treating and straightening screws throughout the building .Before powering up again I will attach all of the new foils, including the Memory Foil.
On the matter of creaming, I have coated all my speakers all over as well as the whole TV screen and cables. The same applies to the PC monitor. That, in particular I use a duster for the wiping away of excess and the same duster is used to dust the room. I look upon this as a way of 'topping up ' the various treatments that I have already done. I try not to use furniture polish. The treatments are all unobtrusive and are on areas that would not get polished anyway.
Regards ,
Brian.
2nd February 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Cream-Electret
For commercial reasons, you might suggest we spread the cream on our morning toast, but my point was that if money were no object, theoretically, is more 'better'. I am prepared to try this, but cannot for a week or so.
Also, the Electret Cream is one of your most cost-effective products, and if someone went a bit mad, they could easily get more. Green Cream is the one where one feels one has 'fat fingers', and every trace is precious.
Should I go for the 'super smear'?
Richard
3rd February 2006 From: Arkie Martherus
Subject: Re: Cream Electret >O.K!
I agree with you, Graham M., this was about the best treatment I've ever done. @RG: Peter said once, that we the layer of Cream Electret has to be only one molecule thick... So, thanks to that knowledge, I could treat thousands of things, with the tiny amount of free sample May once sent. I'm aware that smearing it with my finger and then touching everything in the house with those 'dirty' fingers (I never wipe off with a paper tissue), has to cause beneficial effects too. After this success story, I'll have to order more of the stuff, because, indeed it is soooo cost effective:)
Arkie Martherus
3rd February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Super Smear
Richard.
Yes I would recommend a day devoted to 'super smearing'.
Followed by, of course, Quantum Clipping the area which has been 'creamed'.
May
3rd February 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Cream Electret >O.K!
You're not wrong mate!
Yet still I am plagued as to whether the 'one molecule layer' should be all over, or it really is the case that one molecule is enough. I thought I might try to get some of those newspaper CDs at the weekend, and compare a molecule with a wider spread.
Richard
3rd February 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Re: Super Smear
Thanks May, and I have my fingers at the ready. I am quite excited by this - a 'super smear' gives the opportunity for quite an advance if the other views are correct.
What is disappointing though is that I had managed to isolate one molecule of Electret Cream using a very sharp pencil, and help from an adult. Unfortunately, the molecule then fell off of the pencil tip, and disappeared into the carpet. I feel reassured that we can now use our fingers!
Richard
3rd February 3, 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Super Smear
Richard ,
This molecule thick business brings to mind a comedy sketch featuring Gregor Fisher and Tony Roper whereby they were dressed up in white lab coats and , with thick Aberdonian accents, were attempting to 'splut the aaatom'. To do this Roper had pinched two of his fingers together , presumably holding the atom, and Fisher would do the splitting with a rip-saw!! Better seen than described, methinks.
Anyway, the Intermediate Pack arrived today and , on my return from yet another bash I will be setting to and putting the (un)frozen leads back and doing the foils. I am wary of changing too many things at once but am also straining at the leash.
Brian.
3rd February 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Creaming Reading Glasses
Aha , a reggae fan! I believe that Kevin also mentioned this genre earlier. Being brought up on ska and bluebeat earlier in the Sixties I took a diversion into Prog. later on . What re-ignited my interest was being at a party and someone playing Big Youth's 'Wolf in sheeps clothing' and then hearing Yabby U doing ' Deliver me from my enemies'. I couldn't get enough after that.
Since then I have been busy trying to persuade anyone that would listen that it was not all 'changa, changa' and that (great though he is) it's not all Bob Marley.
With reference to the P.W.B. treatments , it does highlight the fact that there are some not so good productions out there. I realise that they had rudimentary equipment and a lot of good stuff was done ( Lee Perry, King Tubby et al). I suppose that we have to accept stuff , warts and all. Great music ( of any genre) still shines through.
Roll on the CD release of Misty in Roots 'Live at the Counter-Eurovision', Another disc first heard on Peel.
Brian.
4th February 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Re: Creaming Reading Glasses
-I had intended opening this posting with the phrase "This latest frenzied P.W.B. activity is contagious". But, having been felled in the last few days with Shingles, I will take a different tack: Inspired by recent postings – especially May Belt's, I began a marathon Sol-Electret spree. As I had already treated most electrical contacts including all interconnects on every piece of audio and TV within our house, this set of treatments was to be confined to fixing screws. I managed to do all the screws that hold up the shelving holding our CD collection followed by every screw fixing the power socket outlets and light switches around the house. I had made a good start on the furniture fixings such as screws in the cabinet hinges, door hinges and those holding desks together when the virus struck. As I have now been told to stay away from work for a week or so, I will continue with the Sol-Electret treatments at a more leisurely pace when I'm over the worst of it. It has not, however, affected my ability to perceive sound change or see an improvement in the TV picture. I still get a huge buzz from seeing/hearing changes following P.W.B. treatments to objects not associated with the sound system or TV. It's like when as a kid, you got a new toy – only more so! Before I leave the subject, I think it was Brian or Richard who said he never knew there were so many screws to be found in the average living room. Well, wherever I saw that phrase, it is so very true. Brian, I own the Mist In Roots vinyl album" Earth". I also had the live album but along with many a good record, it got borrowed out never to return. I also heard them on the Peel Show. I agree with what you say regarding early Reggae production. If I avoided all the records that were iffy in this respect I would have cut myself off from hundreds of wonderful performances. When I post on the results of P.W.B. treatments, it is sometimes those records that show the most remarkable change. It also goes for early recordings made on 78's transferred to CD. I know that a vast amount of the frequency range is missing and can never be replaced, but what is even more remarkable is just how effective the remaining information can be in portraying the spirit of the original performance – although it is definitely not HI-FI. I think only P.W.B. can do this! A Man who could take basic recording equipment and turn out production masterpieces is Lee Perry. I too grew up in the 60's listening to Ska, Bluebeat and later Reggae. I will always remember first hearing Perry's "People Funny Boy". A throw the rattle from the pram tantrum at other producers and musicians he had helped on their way and was now making more money than him. "You Lucky, You Lucky You Got A Piece A Yard – Me, Poor Me, Ain't Got None At All! A crying baby then comes in over the organ break – just magic!
Kevin Kehoe.
5th February 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Creaming Reading Glasses
My Intermediate pack has arrived and that's within two or three days of sending for it! Also , May has sent me two charge barriers FOC. I think that she must have picked up on my query with Richard. What service!!!
My system is still powered down so I'll have to get a move on. Chris has been very tolerant so far, but I don't want to push my luck.
This week I shall be mainly red- penning. I've nearly run out of Sol-Electret so I'll need to order a new one.
Kevin - Sorry to hear of your ailment. Great cartoons , by the way. I am afraid that I never lent out albums, precisely for the reason that you gave. I would do a c**y for people, if requested.
That reference to People Funny Boy reminded me that there is a book about Lee Perry with exactly the same title. I checked on Amazon and it is still available. (My apologies if you've already got it). His 'Roast fish...' CD is worth seeking out. Lots of weird noises in the mix.
A book that I found very interesting about Reggae is 'Bass Culture' by Lloyd Bradley. I picked mine up from Fopp, dirt cheap. I usually raid their Edinburgh shops when we are up there in August each year. Lots of CDs and books at very cheap prices. They have recently opened shops either side of me , in Brighton and Southampton ,so I can raid a bit more often . It's a shame that they don't do mail-order.
Brian
7th February 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Using Sol-Electret
Michael,
I am currently in the process of a major treatment drive using Sol-Electret. I am a relative newcomer to this product and currently half way through a second syringe full. All the electrical connections, interconnect terminations and fuses (including all I could find within each separate piece of HI-FI kit and the TV) got treated with my first order. This second round of treatments was to be mainly applied to screws – anything from those that fix the power outlets and light switches to furniture fixings. And, as May suggested, all shelf support screws. In the process, I found so many of them that I have confined the treatments to the rooms that contain the TV and the main HI-FI. When you receive your order there will be a set of instructions as to the best places to make the first treatments.
A year or so ago, I did a similar marathon set of treatments using Cream Electret which took in the whole house – I was using the "little bit on everything" approach to conserve stock. But reading recent postings, I will give the "all over" suggestion a try on a few selected components in the next few days. The current Sol-Electret results are very similar to the Cream Electret treatments in that I did not notice any improvement to the sound until a number of treatments had been carried out. The more screws treated before a listening evaluation, the greater the sound lift perceived. I now have the dilemma of whether to open up the new DVD Recorder for internal treatments or wait for the guarantee to expire. Incidentally, if anyone is thinking of removing the cover from a piece of kit make sure the power connection is removed from the wall socket – that way you know it cannot be powered. Hope some of this will be of use.
Kevin Kehoe.
7th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: Using Sol-Electret
Kevin,
I am so pleased you have mentioned the proviso 'to be careful' when working with anything with a power connection and to disconnect it from the AC power before attempting any of our treatments. On a daily basis I usually have an electronics engineer on either side of me - our son Graham on one side and Peter on the other side. And, I got a 'ticking off' after posting my suggestion to apply Sol-Electret to the screw threads of the screws attaching an electrical socket to the wall because I had not added the usual rider - "Do not attempt this procedure if you do not feel competent and experienced to do so and Please disconnect from the AC power supply any electronic apparatus". If I am given one guess, I would guess Kevin that you are also an electronics engineer !!!!
I have been suitably reprimanded !!
Kind Regards,
May
Brian,
We were in Edinburgh a few years ago and, as well as York, (which we visit nearly every year) found it to be one of the loveliest Cities in the UK. The Palace of Holyroodhouse was a revelation – to stand in the same rooms, under the same roof and next to the same wall panelling that existed when Mary, Queen of Scots paced it's floors over 400 years ago created a huge sense of history. Just as it did when we stood in Westminster Abby by the side of the tomb of Elizabeth I with the Scottish Queen to the other side. Whilst in Edinburgh, I purchased some Shetland Fiddle CD's one of which was "The Silver Bow" by Tom Anderson and Aly Bain– the same Aly Bain that introduced the Atlantic Sessions on which John Martyn made several appearances. And, I believe, John Martyn worked at some stage with Lee Perry. I have been thrown bodily from pubs for spouting this kind of trivia! I do indeed have the Lee Perry track you mention but on vinyl along with a box set of Upsetters material. I intend to purchase some of his stuff on CD soon and a likely starting place is the box set "Arkology" – a 3 CD set. Another majestic reggae band is Culture - I wish I had the live stuff recorded for the John Peel show. I think the vinyl is now deleted and it has not yet appeared on CD. I have not got the books you mention but I will investigate further
Kevin Kehoe.
7th February 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Re: Using Sol-Electret
May,
I currently work in Electrical Engineering on the repair of Servo Motors and their associated equipment and I bet you did not get a "Ticking off" like the one me and a workmate got a few months after leaving school and starting work at a local engineering firm as apprentices. We charged up a number of industrial motor start capacitors using a "megger" which, as you know , is a hand cranked high voltage generator, before putting the capacitors back on the stores counter. The storeman was a very large ex-navy quartermaster.
We never pulled that trick again!
Kevin Kehoe.
8th February 2006 From Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Re: Using Sol-Electret
At present I am still working my way through the Intermediate pack plus Sol-Electret. My system is still powered down as it has to be pulled out of the bay window area to get round the back. All of the foils, including the Memory foil, have been applied . I can't wait until I can power up again. I still need to apply Red x Pen messages to the equipment, though. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.
All of the plugs and connections in the house have been Sol-Electret treated but I am nearly out of this. I think that I still have enough for a drop in the car oil and some on the other garage door runner. I've done lots of screws but haven't done the fixing screws on the sockets. Need to order more , I think.
Fings wot I have noticed so far:
Water from the taps is immediately clear ,rather than having the usual chalky precipitate, and tastes better.
As I type, here upstairs, with 6 Music on , the TV has suddenly taken on a better bottom end and is much more pleasant to listen to.
The PC screen is a lot clearer and I may have to adjust the brightness settings as it appears brighter.
Music in the (treated) car is still great.
Right, I'm off to do some crossing out of bar-codes. Do you realise.......?
Regards ,
Brian
9th February 2006 From: Richard Graham
Subject: Update on Electret Cream
I managed to get two freebie discs at the weekend, and one received a 'molecule' of Electret Cream, and the other was covered on the label side. The 'covered' disc was superior to the 'molecule' disc.
I then proceeded to cover a pair of bookshelf speakers with the cream, and discovered many things. Firstly, it is a devil to spread over large areas, and you needed a large supply of 'dotted' tissues to wipe off the excess, and many minutes.
The end result was that the sound was superior to that before, but to my mind not to a level where I thought it justified the work. (There are those who suggest that one hears the Belt effect because of the cost and energy put in - I wish!) It is hard to quantify, but I thought that time spent applying Foils might be more worthwhile.
I was thus left with these thoughts:
1. Better to have a molecule on everything, than covering a few items.
2. For the man who has everything, the 'Super Smear' is better, but I would do it only as a final step, because the cream is not easy to work over large areas, and other applications may be more profitable.
It may be that some items, such as a TV tube respond better.
Anyway, as many know, I like quick applications, and I will only try this again if bored.
Richard
9th February 2006 From: Tom Marsden
Subject: Re: Update on Electret Cream
Richard, I can report my experience is similar to yours. I super smeared the glass panel on my 42" Plasma. Cleaning up the greasy mess left on the screen was no easy matter. I used up quite a few superwipes without a lot of success and finished up using Morphic liquid and soft tissues to finally leave the panel polished, which was then clipped Initially, I thought the exercise was a waste of time but after 24 hours I was of the opinion that there was an improvement in picture quality. ( I find the benefits of P.W.B. treatments are not always instantaneous ) The picture is now easier on the eyes and closer to cathode ray quality. I did consider super smearing the bass units in the loudspeakers but have now decided against this.
Regards
Tom.
9th February 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: Enticing musicians further into hearing range by supersmearing
Hello all, after reading above covering TV screen speaker drivers with cream , I gave it a shot. The TV screen was up first (a real bugger to clean off as you said ,Tom!) Result: better picture clarity and cleaner sound. A couple of days later I supersmeared entire tweeter, and one of two bass, mid drivers in my locally made VAF DC7 floorstanders - WOW- the first thought that occurred to me was that the band had taken a few giant steps towards my listening chair, not only can I hear behind the music, but also can now feel the breathe coming from the singers voice much more clearly, as well as feeling the power of the drummer as he/she lays into the Bass Drum Can't wait to smear remaining bass drivers and also bass port.
A couple of questions
1: can the dot on the superwipe be made with RED 'X PEN?
2: What is the best length to cut 12mm tube to attach to waterpipes, I cut pieces approx 30-40 mm long but when placing them on pipes they seem to ride up on themselves and not allow that air gap between the spirals?
Regards to the Yorkshire geniuses and all P.W.B.'ers
Michael (now with Sinead OConnor almost sitting on my lap!!!)
9th February 2006 From: Graham Mountford
Subject: Re: Using Sol-Electret
Can I suggest that you are careful as to the amount of Sol-Electret you apply to screws in the casing of your Hi-Fi equipment, as when you tighten the screws again it can force the fluid inside. Some years ago I treated my pre-amp and shorted one of the channels of the input from my tuner.
Graham Mountford.
Footnote:-
To Reiterate - What various 'posters' are saying - take care when treating equipment. However I would like to emphasise that our Sol-Electret does not contain anything which is conductive.
May, P.W.B. Electronics
10th February 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: I have sorted out Spiratube issue
Silly me- upon closer exam.. I found that I had tried to screw the tube on backwards-twisting the ends back t'other way produced a nice neat spiral-being lefthanded is the culprit!!
Michael.
10th February 2006 From: Geoff Kait
Subject: Re: Update on Electret Cream
re: Cream Electret
This product has always been a favorite of mine, and certainly should be considered one of the most cost-effective products of all time. From my experience, the best way to use the Cream Electret is sparingly, though as May points out more is probably better, it's a matter of effort and expense, mostly effort.
Apply extremely thin layer of the cream on penny sized area of both sides of all CDs. The more CDs that are creamed the better all CDs will sound - even CDs that are not creamed!
All jewel boxes, all books/magazines (especially telephone books), all wood items such as shelving, cabinet doors, items made of aluminum or steel, and of course all bar codes, should receive the cream treatment. A little dab'll do ya, so on floors one need only apply a thin layer to one small corner of the floor, recalling that the cream should not subjected to cleaning. A damp sponge can be helpful in applying small amount of cream to small areas of walls, ceiling, shelving, speaker panels, etc..
Happy Morphic housekeeping!
Geoff
10th February 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Update on Electret Cream
I've covered my floor-standers panels all over with the cream, except the back panels. It's a good job that I left those as some of the foils fail to adhere properly on creamed surfaces( or is it just me?) Very, very worth while, though. I will get round to doing the screws and creaming all drive units.
Am I alone in thinking that the aluminium and copper foils are real pigs to get stuck on ?
A couple of questions: How does one do, or create, a super-wipe?
May very kindly sent me some gold message foil with my Int. Pack. Is there an optimum size for this ( I am aware that it depends on the message, but I can write very small and would get more messages on doing it that way)?
Hope someone can help.
Brian
10th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Update on Cream-Electret
Brian,
You make a super wipe by making a mark (a small dot) in the centre of a paper tissue with a Black felt tip pen. Yes, you can cut the Gold Foil for writing messages into as small a piece as you wish. For experimenting with messages, you can also use the small white address labels for practicing with different words as your beneficial message. Words such as 'excellent sound' instead of 'better sound' - as in THIS SONY SPEAKER PRODUCES EXCELLENT SOUND. Obviously, the 'treated' Gold Foil we supply gives a much greater effect than the standard white address label but you can experiment without using up the 'precious' Gold Foil just experimenting.
I agree Geoff, our Cream-Electret has proved extremely popular amongst our customers and, as I have said before, in my opinion it should have swept through the audio industry like a whirlwind when we first introduced it 20 years ago.
May
10th February 2006 From: Michael Anda
Subject: P.W.B. and recording engineers
I'm a P.W.B. newbie and have been reading the Digests and Newsletters with great interest. I've only used the free samples that P.W.B. has graciously supplied along with Geoff Kait's incredible Clever Little Clocks to date. I find the improvement to warrant much enthusiasm.
Studying P.W.B. technique obviously stimulates the imagination, resulting in lots and lots of questions of the "what if" variety.
While reading the various P.W.B. materials one question occurred to me;
What improvement in recording quality would result from the hand of the recording engineer working within an environment that has received a good treating with P.W.B. products, techniques and Clever Little Clocks?
Another question that just came to mind is; Are there any other 3rd party vendors incorporating P.W.B. ideas and products into their product offerings besides Geoff Kait?
Also, I have an unused sample of Memory Foil yet to apply, any tips offered on where to most effectively apply these Memory Foils will be greatly appreciated. I know it has been discussed here, but keeping track of everything is more problematic when overwhelmed with new information.
I look forward to learning much, much more; IOW, expect a lot of questions from me in future months and years. I find this all to be truly fascinating and productive stuff needless to say.
TIA
Michael
11th February 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Re: (P.W.B.) update on Electret Cream
We have two telephones in the house to both of which I have attached Foils and other P.W.B. treatments. Although both of the phones are identical, foils will just not stay attached to one of them, even if they were nailed on. The answer in those cases is P.W.B. Treated Clear Film. A sheet of it can be cut to suit and stuck over the foils after they have been attached as per their relevant instructions. I have yet to find something that it doesn't stick like mad to. Further to Richard's experience with the disappearing molecule of Electret Cream in his posting Re: super smear. I was cutting a strip of Memory Foil with a pair of scissors the other day when the 3 mm strip sprung out into the room. Although I made a huge search for it I never found it again – it is as though it did a quantum leap into another dimension. Picture the scene: It's a parallel Universe and a being is sitting in front of the 3D- O- Vision with cup of coffee in hand. Without his notice, a strip of Memory Foil materialises suddenly on the surface of the coffee table in front of him. A few moments later, he turns to his wife: "Yam, Did you notice that the picture on the 3D-O-Vision has suddenly got better? – Must investigate".
Kevin Kehoe.
11th February 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: P.W.B. and recording engineers
Welcome newbie, from another relative newbie. So much so that, Erm... what's a Clever Little Clock?
The 'what if ' question re recording studio environments is a moot point. Russ Andrews have had success in re-wiring studios with Kimber cables and using their other tweaks ( David Gilmour's studio , if memory serves me well) .These moves have all been accepted as they fit in with conventional engineering practices. When it comes to P.W.B. stuff .... Nothing. Well, nothing that I am aware of.
I know that Peter and May have been at Hi-fi Shows in the past as May has mentioned this in her anecdotes. What sprang into my small, but perfectly formed, mind was ' Have they ever tried to set up a public demonstration, or book space there , to show off their ideas?' By the way ( for anyone that can answer this) whatever happened to Paul Benson and Jimmy Hughes?
Now ,the cynic in me thinks that , a lot of people in the industry knowing what they know, but not wanting to let on that they do know, would try to block it. HFN , as we are all aware gets most of it's funding from advertisers/ manufacturers and, as they, HFN, run the show, would probably not want to rock the boat. It's hypocritical really, as May has already told us about certain manufacturers asking Peter to help them to get a good sound in their rooms.
There are manufacturers out there who offer products that have been frozen. Do they give credit where it's due? Nope.
I have given up on going to shows for various reasons ( overcrowding and poor sound to name but two) . I still read HFN just to try to keep up with what's going on. What amazes me is that there are a lot of manufacturers out there who never cease to produce product after product on every regular basis. Now , I am not one to knock the pursuit of excellence but there seems to be a constant turn-over of products. You just need to look to companies like Krell , Musical Fidelity and Acoustic Research.
When we add in things like surround-sound and the new formats (HDVD and Blu-ray) no wonder Joe/ Joanna Bloggs in the street gets confused and ends up with a Comet special. If people like Barry Fox , a writer whom I have a lot of respect for, admits that, even he, loses his way and patience, no wonder that the industry is in a mess.
I have found that I have gotten a lot more enjoyment from my system since going down the P.W.B. route and I hope to continue to do so. I shall spread the word ( and Cream) to friends, in the hope that they will experience good sound.
Here endeth the rant.
Brian
11th February 2006 From: Adrian Bartoli
Subject: P.W.B. for recording
<Russ Andrews have had success in re-wiring studios with Kimber cables and using their other tweaks>
We must consider that these tweaks work partially or largely because of P.W.B. principles, rather than conventional engineering theory.
This suggests the possibility that P.W.B. treatments may be beneficial for recordings, but this has profound implications since the P.W.B. treatments theoretically influence the listener's ability to perceive the true Sound.
By implication, if true, either P.W.B. treatments are not limited by time in our conventional understanding -- that is, the application of the P.W.B. treatments to the Sound production chain in the past extends into the future to affect the listener; or P.W.B. treatments are not limited to affecting perception -- that is, there is a mechanism for the P.W.B. treatments to beneficially affect other processes beyond perception.
Now, I don't mean to imply that it can't be a combination of these two, either -- or possibly something else entirely. I have my own ideas about this, but has anyone else besides me done experiments in this area? Or have another explanation? I would be most interested in hearing what everyone has to say.
Adrian
12th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: P.W.B. and demonstrations.
Brian,
Yes, we have done public demonstrations at Hi-Fi Shows and, back in 1987, Keith Howard, then the Editor of Hi-Fi Answers personally demonstrated the effect of one of our devices (a specially treated Electret Brush) at two Hi-Fi Shows. But even more importantly, we have done successful PERSONAL demonstrations to many editors of audio magazines, to many audio equipment retailers, to many audio equipment manufacturers, to many audio journalists but the majority of them have chosen to 'hide behind the parapet', away from the guns of ridicule. Jimmy Hughes, Paul Benson and the late Peter Turner showed the most courage !!
Paul Benson is no longer involved in the audio industry (but still uses our devices !).
Jimmy Hughes still writes the odd small article for Hi-Fi magazines but has (obviously) found it to be in his best interests not to mention Peter Belt !!!
The Freezing saga however is a more serious matter. At least the few manufacturers who are known to be 'freezing' their products are showing that they have at least tried the technique ! What is far more serious is the fact that there are so many so called 'professionals in audio' who have not even tried the freezing technique, because they dismiss it out of hand saying "It cannot work, therefore it does not work, therefore there is no point in trying it."
Also there is yet another aspect and that is publishing articles ridiculing the simple freezing technique without even trying it.
One serious example of this is the following :-
In the January 1993 issue of Audiophile, Jimmy Hughes published his experiences after using the simple freezing technique described to him by Peter. Although Jimmy shied away from mentioning freezing other audio things such as cables etc. and stayed with only describing freezing CDs, at least he had the courage to write about the subject.
However, in the January 1994 issue of Hi-Fi News, Ken Kessler attacked such as Jimmy's article, accusing the Audiophile magazine of irresponsibility, of exposing the audio industry to ridicule after some of the popular press had written comic articles about putting CDs in the freezer next to the frozen peas !!
To quote Ken :-
"The non hi-fi public sees the turmoil about freezing more as an act of ludicrous desperation, the hobby mentality gone awry. Is it any wonder people move away from you if you open up a hi-fi magazine on a train ? How this daft revival (freezing !) came about I don't know. Why it took three years for some desperate-for-features editor or some idea-barren journalist to plunder a back issue of Stereophile for a topic which was then bastardised beyond belief I also do not know....... Whether you regard a flaky tweak as a secret to be shared only with the deserving, or think of it as something shameful and best kept locked away, you don't hand it on a plate to the baying hounds at the newspapers." Ken Kessler."
May.
12th February 2006 From: Heiko Wingender
Subject:: Update on Cream-Electret
May,
I have found the advice "DO NOT use a paper handkerchief" for applying Cream-Electret in the instructions. But for wiping away any surplus a paper tissue as super wipe is really recommend? I would appreciate if you could shed some light on this apparent inconsistency.
TIA
Heiko
12th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Cream-Electret
Dear Heiko,
Yes, you are right, and sorry about the inconsistency in the instructions for the Cream-Electret. I will have to alter that. The original intention was to have people use something which did not contain any chemicals.
The instructions for using the Cream-Electret was written nearly 20 years ago just at the time when there was being marketed various versions of paper tissues which had been impregnated with such as lanolin (to make them softer to use). We also knew that the standard paper tissues had been through a bleaching process during the manufacturing process so we decided that the safest recommendation would be to recommend that people use a plain cloth.
Unfortunately there also does not seem to be anything as simple as a plain cloth because when cloths are washed, they are washed in a combination of chemicals and, quite often, more chemicals are added during the final rinse with such as fabric softeners.
I think that using a super wipe (a paper tissue with a black dot in the centre) will be the best solution.
May.
12th February 2006 From: Heiko Wingender
Subject: Cream-Electret
May, thanks a lot for the fast response. Your explanation is very comprehensible to me. Then it is the added chemicals which could deteriorate the effect not the cellulose of the paper tissue itself which I have been assuming first.
Do you think that a (non washed) microfiber tissue is also suitable as super wipe?
As far as I know they do not contain any chemicals.
I also suspect almost every paper tissue is bleached or otherwise treated.
Heiko
13th February 2006 From: Kevin Kehoe
Subject: Re: P.W.B. for recording
Adrian
From the moment I perceived my first significant P.W.B. sound lift many years ago now, I have pondered upon the implications of the Belt's work. I greatly admire Richard Graham's ideas in coming up with experiments to test for answers to some of the questions you pose. The one a few years back, involving some of us finding and downloading music files that had been P.W.B. treated so that they could then be compared with identical non treated discs, was particularly inspired. Unfortunately, this experiment had to be curtailed early - if I remember correctly. I have a CD by the band The Disaster Unit. This recording has had P.W.B. enhancement but at what stage in the recording process I do not know. Although it is certainly a quality recording, it does not stand above all the other recordings of similar music in my collection, it would however, be there with the best of them.
Regards,
Kevin Kehoe.
16th February 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: Questions re treated light source for applying Morphic liquid
Hello all, first question: I was going back through old newsletters and saw on one about absolutely having a treated light source on before applying Morphic liquid. I have been spraying sparingly on CDs, TV screen, Laptop screen, etc., without light and seems to enhance foils, cream and messages anyway.? I did treat (after reading on forum or newsletter) a small aluminium LCD torch-creamed battery body and torch casing, 'x26'x on gold foil on battery , Sol-Electret on casing threads and bat. terminals and even wrote 'X26'X backwards on torch lens-with RED x PEN. Used this to shine on 'x26'x message on CDs etc. -Hard to tell if the torch idea improves sound perception (looks cool though, when shone onto white surface, RED X26X looks kind of eirie? as it comes into focus. Have also recently treated my digital set top box, and last night watching TV -Well, it appears I no longer have a TV as we know it (Scotty) but am able to watch the actors perform through a crystal clear window!!!
Had more questions but they elude me at the moment, may be a good time to bring up issue of users manual? -catalogue of suggested uses? I am willing to partake in compiling above (albeit with my min. of experience) - maybe take one product at a time - e.g.: rainbow foil ,then for a week or so all contributors post suggestions, and perceived results-then some poor bugger compiles a list( and here's where my lack of computer skills becomes apparent) and sets up a link to the ever expanding list of suggested uses?
Just some thoughtful food.....
Michael.
16th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: P.W.B. User Manual.
Dear All,
Michael's suggestion regarding a P.W.B. User Manual is a good one.
This P.W.B. discussion group was set up in the first place to exchange ideas and experiences between P.W.B. customers so the wealth of knowledge and experience within this group will be a great asset to this User Manual. As suggested by Michael - to discuss one product at a time, with your experimental results and with a new product starting each week. Please put in the title line, the name of the product so that threads are easy to keep tabs of. The whole thing could then be collated into an online manual.
We are trying to reformat the style of the P.W.B. Web Page as it initially started as a simple front page with links and has grown to a larger format front page. We are still wishing to keep it with no moving graphics, or bells and whistles but it will have a photo/image section so the products can be viewed on line.
Any suggestions to the layout or sample web pages would be useful. Examples of good online web pages so others can view and rate them as to how they would prefer the P.W.B. page to end up looking. The philosophy here is KISS (keep it simple stupid !).
Starting Monday 20th February 2006 - subject - P.W.B. Silver Rainbow Foil.
Let the discussion begin.
Kind Regards,
May.
16th February 2006 From: Dennis Carne
Subject: Re: Questions re treated light source for applying Morphic liquid
What a really, really good idea! I get lost with the various treatments and creams etc.., a catalogue would be brilliant.
Dennis Carne.
19th February 2006 From: Michael Parin
Subject: Silver Rainbow Foil - Ideas
Hello All, It's Mon. 20th so here's my little contribution
1: When placing S R FOIL on objects with Morphic messages (either GOLD MESSAGE FOIL, or adhesive labels) place the S R FOIL halfway across message and object to link the two together.
2: Place a FOIL in one corner of a dedicated Microfibre sunglass cloth, which is used solely for the purpose of wiping off excess ELECTRET CREAM. You will soon have a treated cloth that imparts molecules of CREAM onto anything it is wiped over.
That's my bit, until again,
Michael...
21st February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Regarding P.W.B. product manual.
If there are any members of the P.W.B. Yahoo discussion group who do not already have the Rainbow Foil to experiment with, if they would let me have their full postal address I will be pleased to send them a sample. I would suggest that the second P.W.B. product for people to describe their personal experiences of should be the Cream-Electret. Again, if there are any members of the P.W.B. Yahoo discussion group who do not have Cream-Electret to experiment with, if they would let me have their full postal address I will be pleased to send them a sample.
Regards,
May
22nd February From: Arkie Martherus
Subject: my bank card
I did it!
Since we all carry our banking card all the time with us, I wondered upon a way to treat it in a way no one has done it before.
Simply let the bank company print the x 26-message on it:
http://photos.yahoo.com/ (browse to the P.W.B. -x 26 album and click on the picture) You can also find it in the "Links"- section on your left.
I now have an official card with a P.W.B. -message in its design!
Arkie.
22nd February 2006 From: Brian Hannen
Subject: Re: Regarding P.W.B. product manual.
Dear all,
It appears that Big Rob , who lives across the road from me , followed my suggestion and sent for some Rainbow Foil. Unbeknown to me he set up a trial listening session at his house with ( supposedly) me and his mate , Andy. When I didn't show they went ahead on their own, presuming that I was not well. I spoke to Rob and he said that they were gob-smacked but couldn't rationalise it. I asked if they did this and that and he said that he had just 'followed the instructions on the tin'. The upshot is that I am going over , cream and foils in hand, to try to impart what little knowledge that I have gleaned so far. Things are moving in the right direction.
This brings me to my next point. Thank the Lord for this Forum. I had used up all the foils in the Intermediate pack and had done some other bits and pieces( messages on gold foil and Sol-Electret treatments). I sat down to listen and Wow , things sounded great. I decided to sign and 'x26'x the disc that I had just played, put it back in the CD player and ...it all collapsed . The whole thing went small and recessed. Now , from reading the Forum I was aware that this may happen and had read that an additional treatment would return things back to 'normal'. I remembered that I had not treated a picture in the room that had recently been bought for us. Out came the Rainbow foil and Cream and then , after the treatment, I sat back down to listen. The sound was returned back to it's former glory, and then some. Had I had not read of this before I would be mightily confused and peeved off. As I say, thank the Lord for the forum.
On the Rainbow foil-- It's best to put them in unobtrusive places . That way it's not seen by other-halves and you can get away with placing a whole lot more all around the place.
I usually cut quite a few at one time and they have a habit of flipping over and you don't know if you have used one or not. What I do is just bend the backing in half after I have used the foil. That way you can readily identify the unused ones. A small point but it does save a bit of time.
People comment on the TV picture getting a whole lot better after treatments. I have seen improvements, not so much on the TV in the listening room, but on the one up here in the middle bed-room! Spooky. Mind you, the room has been treated as has the PC ( the monitor of which is now so much clearer).
Regards,
Brian.
23rd February 2006 From: Adrian Bartoli
Subject: When P.W.B. makes things bad!
I am most interested in occasions when this has happened to people. Could everyone please post ANY experiences they have had where the sound went worse, what they did to make it worse, and what they did to rectify the situation?
Either on the forum or by e-mail, I look forward to the reply!
Thanks!
Adrian
25th February 2006 From: Bill Kollins
Subject: Re: When P.W.B. makes things bad!
Adrian,
I've had the experience a number of times where I've applied a P.W.B. treatment or done a suggested freebie treatment and the sound went bad - sometimes very bad. I was always able to correct the problem one way or another. The first instance involved pinning up the corners of the curtains in the listening room. The curtains had eight bottom corners and I pinned them all. I then turned on the music to hear the (hopefully) improved sound but what I heard was no improvement; the bass had all but disappeared. That was easily cured by removing pins one at a time until I found the sound I liked (ended up with about four pinned corners). But what impressed me most about that experience was how something like pinning the corners of curtains could so dramatically impact the sound. The other thing was that psychologically I was expecting an improvement but got just the opposite; so much for the skeptics' explanation that we hear improvements because that's what we expect.
Another freebie I tried was tying reef knots in power cords and interconnects. I would tie them one at a time and listen. After tying several I got a sound that I thought was worse than before I started adding the knots. But instead of removing the knots I tied some more on other power cords and that not only remedied the problem but led to a greater improvement. I guess you just have to experiment.
In my most recent such experience I had applied ink from a Chunky Violet Pen to the lead contacts on two light bulbs in the listening room, sprayed the bulb portions with Morphic Liquid and wiped them dry with a Super Wipe. When I turned the music on I was stunned - by how bad it sounded. Instead of trying to clean off the violet ink and Morphic liquid, however, I added another treatment elsewhere in the room. I think it was a strip of Quantum Foil. It did the trick.
This sort of thing has happened to me many times. Often it was more of a change in the sound that I didn't particularly care for rather than a degradation. But every time I was able to remedy the situation by applying another treatment elsewhere in the room.
Another interesting thing I'd like to pass on in this regard is that sometimes the addition of a strip of foil, such as Real Foil, to a particular CD has been too much of a good thing (to my ears anyway). I find that Real Foil tends to smooth out the sound of a CD and some CDs don't benefit from that. Then when I've removed the foil strip I didn't like that sound too much either. What I needed was something in between. I've usually gotten that in between sound by applying the foil strip to the CD case. Try it, you may like it.
I hope this is of some help to you.
Regards,
Bill
26th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: When P.W.B. makes things bad !
Interesting posting Bill, thanks for your information. I hope it is interesting and informative for our other readers.
I will separate what we refer to as 'freebies' (naturally occurring things which change sound) from our own specially treated devices.
What you came up against Bill, with the 'freebie treatments', is a peculiar "odd and even" rule which Peter observed a long time ago. If you want the sound to improve, you pin back ONE corner of a curtain and only ONE corner ! You place a plain piece of paper under ONE (and only ONE) of the four feet of equipment. You tie ONE reef knot in a cable.
We do not have an adequate explanation for this 'odd and even' phenomena, we just know that it happens. We could say that pinning back one corner in a curtain, tying one reef knot in a cable breaks the pattern which we (human beings) are reacting adversely to but that explanation does not hold up under scrutiny. Because, logically, pinning back two corners or tying two reef knots would also be 'breaking the pattern' and yet pinning back two corners in one curtain or tying two reef knots in one cable causes the sound to deteriorate !! And, as you so succinctly put it Bill, how amazed you were to realise just what a change in the sound could be made by such as pinning back one of the corners of a curtain - so something unusual must be going on !! Others in the world of audio have also observed something happening with the 'odd and even' subject. Regularly in the audio press there are debates (arguments) when someone claims that three (or five) feet on equipment 'sound' better than the usual four feet or three spikes or three cones 'sound' better than four spikes or cones. However, any such debate usually revolves around vibrations as an explanation !! But, when the 'odd' rule applies to other things which could not be explained by any theories regarding vibrations, then the 'vibrations' theory begins to look shaky also !!
Because Peter has known of this 'odd and even rule' for a long time, great care is always taken and a great deal of experimentation is always carried out when producing our various devices to make sure that our devices will go in multiple places and will always be complimentary and in addition to each other. With the naturally occurring treatments, it may well be that certain energy patterns are changed away from being adverse to being 'more comfortable' but our own P.W.B. devices and treatments are specifically designed to actually superimpose a 'friendly/relaxing/reassuring' energy pattern onto objects and into the listening environment.
As you say Bill, any change in the sound you hear when using our devices may be one you are not used to but is not necessarily a degradation and, at other times when you removed the treatment you had just done and got yourself back to the original (untreated) situation, you no longer liked THAT (original) sound.
What I liked from your posting Bill is that you have been aware enough to experiment, realising that there are many ways to gain improvements in your sound !! And, that just a simple strip of Rainbow Foil applied to something else not already treated can usually achieve this for you.
Regards,
May
26th February 2006 From: Steve Paines
Subject: Cable length
At the Bristol Hi-Fi show this weekend I had the opportunity to meet Lars Kristensen of Nordost cables.
It was very interesting to hear of their work outside of audio. Their cables connect the NASA main frame computers and are used by Intel who wanted the 'fastest cable' that could be manufactured.
They also do a lot of work in the medical industry where their cables are used in pacemakers. They also make cables so fine you cannot see or feel the finished product where it is so thin. These are used in brain surgery.
The part of our discussion which interested me was the concept of an optimum length for cable. Any type including bell wire he said. Nordost research has shown the optimum length for a able is 4 metres 26.5 cm. (Please don't quote me on the centimetres). This is if its a digital, mains, speaker or interconnect cable. They could also demonstrate the fact with the different lengths of the same model interconnect. Yes the 1.5 metre length performs better than the 0.6 metre. This is very strange because cables act as a filter in Nordost's view. You would think the shorter the cable the less the filter effect.
My question for May is has Peter done any tests on the length of cable in his research. What is going on if cable has an optimum length where it performs at its best?
Steve
26th February 2006 From: P.W.B. Electronics
Subject: Re: Cab