P10 ...... able to add Bybee iQSE tweak?

Power Components
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No, I never took any pictures of the inside of the P10.

To tell you the truth this was the first time I’ve ever tried to do something like this so I was keen to ‘get it over and done with’ without doing any damage.

They come with two options for installation, a magnetic back, which I used on the P10 as the top was metal and a strip of double sided tape, which I didn’t need to use.

Yes, I’m happy with the purchase.

A few other observations, the iQSE does seem to lower the noise floor with the result that more detail comes through, temper this with when trying something new I think you do tend to listen more intensely to evaluate the tweak and maybe this is were the extra detail comes from?

On the Beatles Sgt Pepper, upon reflection, I think the vocals came across slightly more ‘reedy’ than I’m used to but on a 50 year old recording this might be a more accurate reflection of the source material?

I’m already thinking about getting some more for my other equipment but I’ll audition for a few more days before deciding.

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a25105 said I use them on the power cords that connects to my BHK 250 and my power strip. Sound amazing
I love the sophisticated installation. :)
sheridd2 said On the Beatles Sgt Pepper, upon reflection, I think the vocals came across slightly more 'reedy' than I'm used to but on a 50 year old recording this might be a more accurate reflection of the source material?
Unlikely. None of the Beatles possessed rich, dark voices and tape, the recording media of the time, adds natural compression and otherwise flatters vocals.

Typically when a voice or instrument presents with more texture it is more accurate to the source and a result of lowered noise, less jitters, etc. In this case, more reedy is almost certainly a good thing.

23

Ok, had my 2n night with the iQSE’s installed in the P10.

Music listened too,

The 1975 - 2nd album, (the one with the really long title)

Janet Jackson - latest cd.

Van Morrison - Take Me Back from Hymns to the Silence.

With all of music played the lowering of the noise floor allowed more detail to come through

The 1975 cd, I was drawn into some of the tracks I would normally skip over, on the tracks I already liked I got more emotional contact with them.

On the Janet album the Track Night which has a funky jazz mid section I’d always through an electric piano was being used for the solo but I could hear it as an acoustic (ordinary) piano now.

The Van Morrison track, an ensemble piece with all the musicians playing together, they really ‘gelled’, Van’s voice came across as really natural.

This will probably be my last update on this?

Happy to answer any queries.

(I am investigating now about adding one to each of my power amp, pre-amp and cd player.)

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I have one in my DAC after contacting Jack Bybee and the dealer. It`s not designed for the power circuits. It works best over the signal circuitry. I ended up placing mine over the input HDMI Circuit board where the signal comes in.

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Hi Ned … what improvements did you hear after installing in your dac?

The Bybee website makes great noise about putting three in where your power comes into your house so that seems to indicate it works on power too. Others have posted photos of two attached to either side of the power plug going into a socket, I think that photo is also shown in this thread above. I think I also remembering reading it’s not important where it placed onside the component just as long as it is inside?

I’ve more coming next week for the remainder of my kit, one which will be for my video player and another for my cd player.

I’ve very happy with the improvements I’ve got by putting two into my P10.

When you consider that’s supplying the power to the remainder of my kit, so quite surprizing the gains I’ve obtained.

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I have one iQSE inside the lid of my Modwright Signature Truth Mod Marantz SA8005 disc player, one iQSE inside my heavily modded cj line stage and one inside my SMc Audio Revision A+ McCormack DNA-1 amp.

It’s funny how some stuff just works! As Paul Mc. noted above, he can’t derive a science behind a lot of Jack Bybee’s creations, but acknowledges that they do indeed work. Amen!

So…what do iQSE’s do? Well if Paul Mc. doesn’t have a scientific explanation, I surely do not. I know what Bybee says, but all I really care about is what I hear. As best as I can express in words, the iQSE in those components and in my overall system, lends a relaxed but free nature to the music. Someone on Audiogon I believed used the word “organic”. If reduced to one word, that is what I would say.

What I know is that I am listening more frequently and for a longer time than I used to. (some of that is also due to the recent upgrade to the P5 power plant) The noise floor is lower. Instruments sound more “real”. Vocals sound like real people rather than electronic reproductions of a real person singing. I had the weird experience a few days ago of listening when a new song played with awesome male vocals where my head bolted up as he belted out the first syllable, because it was as if he was actually in the room. Very cool verisimilitude!

For me, I am delighted with the return on investment of the iQSE and they are permanent residents in my listening room.

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Fun!

You have a nice collection of classic equipment.

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I’d like to try an IQSE in my DSJr. Do you know how can I open it to stick the IQSE inside ?

I already have 2 Bybee active room neutralizers in my listening room, and the results are quite amazing for imaging, like if the walls have disappeared. Really stunning.

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I’ve just looked at the Bybee website.

I’m sorry but somebody has to say this. It has all the hallmarks of being pseudoscientific rubbish.

For those who’ve already bought in to this baloney please remember that human minds are astonishingly biased by expectations. But if you perceive an improvement and you’re happy having spent the money then I’m happy for you. You may, however, have paid a higher price than you thought, in the form of barely concealed laughter by those less easily taken in than yourself.

Enjoy the music.

Peter

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Peter, you can easily express your skepticism without being extremely insulting. As I have previously asked of you, please tone it down.

As I note above, I am also skeptical in the classical sense, but make an effort to be open minded. Jack Bybee possesses an impressive track record of tweaks that seem unlikely to work, but are effective. Thus, I would not reject the product merely because it does not make sense to you.

For example, there are many electrical products and components which work by induction. A transformer transfers electrical energy between unconnected circuits through electromagnetic induction, increasing or decreasing voltage. Without understanding how this works, it appears magical. Frankly, while I understand how, it still appears magical. :slight_smile: PS Audio’s Nose Harvesters is another effective product that seem magical until we knows how they work. Jack’s product may well fall into this same category.

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Peter, I’m the person who started this thread.

I always find it amazing that people criticize something without having actually tried it.

I’ve put two of these things into my P10, found they worked really well and subsequently put one into my CD player, pre-amp and power amp.

All I can say is that the system is more revealing, more natural and more enjoyable and I definitely won’t be taking them out.

As far as I know they come with a 30 day money back guarantee so you could try one and actually make up your own mind rather than just assuming they are ‘baloney’. All it would cost you is return postage if you find it doesn’t work in your system.

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I am a skeptic by nature. I also have a very good ear and can easily hear the differences between two different brand caps or resistors placed in the same circuit. The iQSE makes no sense to me, but since it had pretty favorable reviews I bought one. The effect on my BHK preamp was immediate and not subtle. Everything sounded more natural and less hi-fi. IMHO it’s like a $1000 upgrade in interconnects. I ordered 3 more from The Cable Company. I wanted to place one in my DSD but try as I might I could not get the top cover off, and I wasn’t going to force it.

I would love for someone like Paul or Bascom to explain how it works because damned if I know.

Highly recommended for the price.

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Well after reading all of this, I just placed 2 iQSEs in my DS DAC and 1 in my BHK Pre.

Just letting everything settle back in after removing off the shelf, opening up and inserting the iQSEs. I will do some listening tonight and report back.

I’m not sure what to expect. If they work good, I will order a couple more ;-).

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It will be fun to read your report. It is a mysterious tweak which many report is effective.

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So, I listened into the wee hours of this morning (way too late) - after installing 2 iQSEs into the Direct Stream Dac (on the top inside of the lid) One above the bridge card / power supply, the other over top of the digital board. The other iQSE was installed into the BHK Pre - center of the lid, right in front of the opening for the tubes.

After installing, I set the components back on the same rack, plugged them in, powered them on and let them sit powered on for 5-6 hours.

I started my listening around 8:30 pm last night, and I stopped shortly after 1:00 am.

I also have a science background (computer science), and the left brain, logical part of me doesn’t understand why or how these things should work. I wasn’t expecting any improvement, (perhaps some pseudo effect - like “maybe this is doing something”).

I did not compare back and forth, nor with just a single component at a time. I took a shotgun approach, DAC and PRE with iQSEs added.

So to me these small devices of who knows what, do make a difference, it is actually profound what they do in my system. The best word I can use that describes these is musical flow. There was no noticeable change in timbre or texture, but the music flowed very organically. I also could swear that the background is much quieter, well even at low levels, I heard subtle things in recordings that I didn’t realize were there before.

These things are not cheap - considering how small they are, but they do pay dividends - I think on the order of a $2K - $3K cable investment. Again, I didn’t feel as if they changed the tone, timbre or overall sound of my system, but it did allow the music to flow. Almost like PACE, articulation, and the naturalness or ease of music increased.

I purposely listened to some of my favorite artists that I have in heavy rotation now, and I feel as if my entire system has been raised a notch or two up. The music drew me in better than it did prior. My system always sounds musical, but with these devices in, you are more compelled to listen longer. Its like the system sounded more pure, closer to live. Not sure how else to describe. Again very profound, makes absolutely no sense, but they do work (at least in my system). YMMV.

I think for those with a DS DAC / BHK pre - these are a worthwhile investment - if your other components, and cables are well matched to your system. My personal believe is get the shelving, cabling and components right first, then tweak. I am keeping these in my system, and am begging to wonder if I will get additional improvements by adding a couple to my PPP and power amps.

I will keep listening for a few months before adding more (sometimes more is not better).

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Thanks for the report. Nothing matters more than getting the music to flow.

louawalters said . . . the left brain, logical part of me doesn't understand why or how these things should work.
And whether they even should. :)

They are expensive for their size, but inexpensive in terms of the hobby. And I have earnestly tried much crazier appearing things, such as the tweaks of Peter and May Belt.

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Louawalters … I tried 2 in my P10 originally to try them out.

Bybee website recommends 3 in your house consumer power unit, to be installed by electrician. They seem to think that’s the best place for them so if good for the power side of things then definitely try one in the PPP.

I’ve no experience of the PPP but worked a treat in my P10, giving the same organic flow to music as you’ve experienced. Upon the success of this I’ve subsequently added one each to my CD player, pre-amp and power amp.

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Many audiophile tweaks set off my BS detector, some much more than others. Shakti stuff downright drowns out my not insignificant tinnitus. Bybee products do make me wonder, but I can see how some sort of uhf and above filtering and absorption could be beneficial. Still, their marketing is still a bit spacey, but as far out as many.

Thanks for this report. It is much easier to take the word of an independent individual than the manufacturer. Your report of a subtle cleaning as opposed to changing the character of the sound is in line of what I would expect.

J.P.

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Elk, “extremely insulting” is a ridiculously exaggerated description of my remark. You over-react.

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Peter said Elk, "extremely insulting" is a ridiculously exaggerated description of my remark. You over-react.
Perhaps. But, this response acknowledges you are well aware your post was gratuitously insulting. The only apparent disagreement we have is the extent.

This is the behavior I seek to cure. If my post is more palatable and meaningful for you by deleting the intensifier “extremely,” please read it without the offending word. I’m flexible.

Or, to avoid the terminology controversy entirely, I will phrase it simplistically and bluntly: Knock it off.