Yes - I was using it with one of their cables with spade end, so two spades on the ground post. But you can attach it to the chassis however you like. Since their cables are $350 each, I only kept the USB version, and made others of my own.
Whether it is worth it to you or not may be a matter of how much money you have in your system/are willing to spend on a system improvement. Though frankly I use it most on my second system, which is around $10k.
So purely from a money POV, in this system it is disproportionately expensive. I could, say, sell my preamp and get a +$2k ābetterā one, which would improve everything. However, Iām happy with the system as it is, so I have no desire to potentially change the hard-won balance and synergy. And this device improves everything as well. Though arguably not as much as a better preamp could. It doesnāt āchange the soundā the way a preamp might. Though even with the better preamp, I would still want this on there, because it opens things up and lowers the noise you didnāt know was there until it is gone. Then youāre screwed. If the noisiest thing in your system is NOT the preamp, then you would still have the issue this is fixing. The better pre might be even more revealing of the noiseā:man_shrugging:t2:
Multiple times I have been listening to one system or the other, scratching my head wondering what was wrong. The GC1 was on the Other system. Fortunately it is easy to move and make dedicated wires for the different purposes/devices and analog/digital.
Thank you so much @badbeef, your words are very appreciate. Encouraging me to buy not one but two GC1s.
One GC1 to plug grounds both of DS ION-001 Ionizer (Iām going to buy) and of SPP (that already has ground post used for turntable = so 2 spade terminated cables at the same time to the same ground post)
A second GC1 to plug RCA unused INPUTS (carefully not outputs) of two M1200s amplifiers. If not the BHK Preamp.
A third one maybe in future for digital rig, now not so necessary.
If DSMKII, Octave streamer, new Phono Preamp from PS Audio will come laterā¦ Iām afraid the cost of waiting is increasing so much time by time (in the sense that meanwhile my wallet continuously opens in other directions: Dragon cables, SR Purple fuses, Ionizers, Ground odd boxes). What an insane passion!
I totally agree with you: actually my system sound signature is a keeping status I do not want to change, even if investing in new amplifiers or powerplants would improve it better. After all this time Iāve now found the right balance, so I think itās better to give chances to some tweaks and live happy, with an emptier wallet as usual and some more vinyl ready to listen to in the evening. Enjoy.
My guess would be that CAD wouldnāt suggest connecting it to the Ionizer, as it is likely to have greater effect elsewhere. And I would suggest simply connecting to the chassis of the M1200ās rather than inputs, just to be safe. Class D stuff can definitely benefit from these things. Though I would say it was striking on my old nCores, but less so on the Purifis.
CAD recommends being careful about amp connections. You can ask when you buy - they ask for your gear list and give recommendations. And the good thing is, it is easy to try everything and find what has the greatest effect. But be careful with amps - just try directly to the chassis rather than to I/O.
The most helpful things in both my systems are: Analog - to an unused input or output of the line preamp and the phono preampās chassis. Digital - an unused digital in or out of the server, and either unused I/O of the preamp or the ampās chassis. This will depend on the amp. I donāt connect it to the Vitus amp in my main system, as other bits seem to have greater effect.
You are right, my aim is not to obtain benefits from connecting ION to GC1 at all. The reason why I need to use for it is that my analog components (turntable and Stellar Phono Preamp) are so far from the rest of the system, on a dedicated upper shelf. It means that a GC1 must lay on that shelf. I could use it to connect only the SPP.
when I decided to give a try to the ION (on order at the moment) I noticed it needs a ground connection, so I have to ways:
leave the GC1 connected only to the SPP (1 of the two banana plugs so unused) and the ION connected to the ground post of the SPP too
or
using the second available GC1 banana plug to connect the ION
BTW it seems to be a trial & error process, so Iāll give you my impressions as soon as i receive both of them. Actually I donāt think before Christmas time, unfortunately.
Thank you again for your help, I appreciate so much.
How far? I donāt think it matters how far the GC1 is from what it is attached to. Unless you are fussy about appearance, which I would understand.
Not sure if I would think of the CAD stuff in the same way as a regular ground. They are devices that drain noise off in some mysterious but undeniable fashion, which are unconnected to either ground or grid - or anything other than the device you attach it to.
yes - exactly. I think Scott would be the first to tell you to experiment and that it is about what works in your system.
These are strange devices on the face of it, and I was resistant to them mentally at first āon principleā. But I tend to listen first and ask questions later. Or I listen and donāt care after thatš
I am making no representations here, am not associated with them, and as Iāve explained they are potentially subtle, dependent upon system and application. But one of those things where, after youāve heard what they do, it is hard to be without it. Kind of a PITA. Not like a component that obviously makes everything āsoundā a certain way. This takes away stuff you didnāt know was there before. Like the better power products that lower the noise floor and clean up the signal generally.
This conversation is reminding me that this product works but I have no real good explanation why and how. I just remember hearing everything more clearly when my dealer attached a GC 1 to a Dac and I believe another to a preamp. I will probably be going with a combination of a GC1 and GC 3 when all is said and done and I probably will not have any idea of why these things work.
Just started some sessions of critical listening. Here first impressions.
GC1 connected only to unused RCA input Stellar Phono Preamp
More openness, black is blacker and all sounds more relaxed and balanced.
Soundstage is deeper and realistic. Instruments are better separated.
Voices are present and natural.
The most pleasant feeling is evident from acoustic guitar presence.
Music engagement is the best quality I can notice
GC1 connected both to Stellar Phono Preamp and BHK Preamp
Not a big difference in confront of point 1)
Much more openness. But less realistic and natural.
Maybe not so balanced due to prevalence of bass area of frequencies.
Transients are more vivid.
GC1 out of the chain
I clearly feel now the lack of something.
Sound is a little bit flat, less natural.
Drums are too dry, cymbals seem create a sort of fatigue to listen to.
At the end of this first evening of listening I confirm I want to buy almost 1 GC1 for analog rig. I probably prefer the connection described at point 1)
Next days I will try GC1 connection to BOTH M1200s Class D amplifiers (INPUT RCA UNUSED) to evaluate how it can improve the sound.
Pay attention to the reproduction of transients. That was an added surprise to me. There was a track I was using for evaluation a lot that I thought had crispy transients in the recording itselfā¦ Not so muchš¤·š»āāļø
GC1 connected to both unUsed INPUT RCA of both M1200s
Less clear and natural. Voices are so smooth, with a sort of reverberation.
Basses are very punch and round.
Sound became very warm, maybe too much for my taste.
Trebles are lacking presence and instruments are less separated.
After 2 hours of listening I feel that listening is more relaxed but not exactly pleasant, veiled not clear as I usually prefer.
It means that a difference is audible but Iām not sure I like it so much. More time to better understand is needed.
Synergistic Research, which makes various grounding products generally does not recommend their use on power amplifiers. Based on my experience with these products, I have found this to be true.
I will try connecting to chassis as soon as I receive cables terminated spade, now I have only one GC1 for 2 trial weeks only with 2 RCA cables.
One change per time rule crashed again. Yesterday FedEx delivered - what a surprise - my brand new AQ William Tell Silver combo cables and AQ Dragon source for my SPP.
Entreq users usually put one grounding box (Not the same) on each amps negative speaker output, with very strong results.
An amp and source components should never be grounded via the same grounding box unless it is designed for it (like Entreq Vibbeaters model āPoseidonā).
Amps and PS Audio power plants are usually grounded at the bottom plate, with a speaker shue fitted by a bottom screw. Power plants seems to get huge upgrades from grounding. I have yet to try my self but there are well written reviews from well known reviewers out there indicating massive performance boost.
Probably we all need both a power plant and a grounding box for most components.
Iām doing a topic revival. Thereās lots of discussion with many tweaks. Iām not sure if this falls under component or tweak or both? Whatever Iām here to say it works! I found a CAD GC 1.1 at TMR the price was very good and it came with 2 cables one that I used and one that I donāt. Using one cable USB into my Auralic made little or no difference. I purchased a CAD XLR cable to plug into the DAC and whoa! With both cables in use the magic happens! The black background becomes more black! āitās so black, itās like, How much more black can this be? The answer none, none
more black!ā-Nigel Tufnel
If youāve tried fuses and power cords but havenāt tried the grounding box give it a try!
Agreed. Biased as I currently have a GC 3 and a GC 1.1 is arriving soon for the phono preamp. It is hard to explain the impact of a blacker background. Also the grounding effects improve during the 1st 20 minutes of plugging the chords in. Therefore, the best way to A/B the effect is to let the grounding settle for a day. Then closely listen after you remove the cables after a lengthy listening session. You will most likely be missing the ground upon removal. Also takes time to tinker and experiment.
If the noisiest thing in your system is NOT the preamp, then you would still have the issue this is fixing. The better pre might be even more revealing of the noiseā:man_shrugging:t2: