Thanks for the research and recommendation. We should be moving back to that house for the holidays at least and I will be able to spend a little time with it. It’s amazing to me that a hi freq sponge can change the performance of devices that are playing back in the audible range.
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@Baldy I agree. Especially on a power regenerator or a digital device far upstream. It sure makes for more relaxed listening and a more peaceful experience. My daughter and her fiancé were over Sunday. We listened to music they could not stop their toe tapping. It was an interesting observation for me since previously before absorber mods they more or less just sat there listening unaffected by music.
I have theory that it opens up headroom in our equipment to better reproduce the audible range.
Here is an interesting study. Not light reading but claims high Rez audio preserving those parts of the ultra high frequencies music affect human’s bodies.
Boiled down
The present study shows that high-resolution audio that retains high-frequency components has an advantage over similar and indistinguishable digital sound sources in which such components are artificially cut off, suggesting that high-resolution audio with inaudible high-frequency components induces a relaxed attentional state without conscious awareness.
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@Baldy A more easier reading synopsis.
I know one thing not having the music buried in noise my listening and home theater enjoyment has increased significantly.
I hope the others who have embraced the 3M absorber tweaks feel they are getting something out of it.
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@Vmax Thanks for the links. It will be required reading this morning.
“more relaxed listening” is a perfect description. Even for a non EE and simple minded mechanic like me.
I was looking at Magico components for no particular reason today and spotted this shielding in their $48k active xover. Much along the same train of thought I presume.
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@Baldy Interesting the abundance of copper versus stamped steel plate or Aluminum. I wonder if they also employ absorber for the digital components? I assume they employ active versus just passive electronics. However, shielding of that caliber works on both.
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Knowing how picky Magico is on quality there may also be shielding material on the board side of the copper sheets. This is fun stuff.
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Very interesting articles. They help to prove that there is more to music reproduction than is still completely understood.
I don’t think many people (manufacturers or reviewers) consider using brain activity scans as a measuring device for the quality of music playback.
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I came across this review that expands on why lowered noise floor sounds better. There is also a part2 link at end where he works on his AC power and talks about regenerators and noise the regenerator can add. I am convinced the 3M AB7050HF tweak is improving that noise issue in the P20 and lowering noise floor.
I am also convinced his theory on improving digital chain also helps. His results are matching my observations, though he is approaching solution with higher dollar low noise hardware designs and I have been using what I have and improving noise floor with absorber application tweaks through the digital chain squeezing out performance with lower dollar investments.
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More food for thought.
Thanks
You put the bug in my ear on the HDPLEX300.
I took the time to snap before and after photos i put AB7050HF absorber squares over the TI components and other 8 legged J leaded devices in the unit. I didn’t mess with the heat sink in front of the adjustable power supply knobs. I figured it needed all the cooling for the adjustable voltage regulators.
My supply powers my SGC i5 streamer, UltraRendu, Matrix and PS Audio DS DAC absolutely no degradation and it seems to flesh out better images and tonal nuances and timbre. Better imaging and 360 degree sound stage on some songs like Ottmar Liebert Barcelona Nights. Oh my and more realistic decays and delineated bass.
Thanks for asking the question and spurring me to action. It was a bit like the game operation but well worth the effort! Just when I thought I was done it gets better.
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Oh wow! Thank you for piloting the testing and for sharing your knowledge and experience!
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I will say after more listening with the 3M Absorber tweaked HDPLEX 300 yesterday evening it was an amazing performance boost since it powers the whole digital streaming chain. I do highly recommend it as worthwhile 45 minutes spent. The imaging really solidified and became more tangible and separated. It still amazes me how much clean power and RF elimination increases system performance and noise floor matters.
My system at this point appears near its limits of digital absorption application unless I opt for attempting the HT Processor/preamp or my DVD/CD player. Streaming is so good one thinks why bother.
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Now that I have put the 3M absorber on the Matrix, and inside the P20 along with the Dragon HDMI cable and all the other upgrades, my brother was by today and he says he could hardly tell I was playing digital, it is almost indistinguishable from my analog system. The fullness, density, naturalness, the air and ambience are almost the same. I believe my digital has an advantage in less noise and better frequency extensions, and the dynamics has gotten so good, it is approaching my TT also. Thanks @Vmax.
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I went ahead and copied your application inside my HDPlex 200W, as well as adding some to the isolation chips in the SU-6. Also put in the inakustik USB and neotech nei-3001 mkIII/aeco rhodium xlr interconnects. Definitely breaking the “one change at a time” rule, so I have no clue what’s contributing where, and there’s still some burn-in needed.
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Thanks @waymanchen11 for confirming what I have been hearing. It has been a system transformation with the absorber tweaks. Each step has been a surprise that returns ever better performance. Whether streamer or power supplies.
The most amazing thing I am still on my first sheet.
Now crack open The DS DAC and go after those RF emissions in post 1647 of Modding the Direct Stream DAC is Ted’s secrets to the noisy devices in there.
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I hope you’re enjoying a betterment. It is a tough road with cable burn in at times. Let us know what you think after all is stabilized
I took the cover off my Bluray DVD player and CD Player. I added 3M AB7050HF to two large internal ICs the three ribbon cables to the drive unit and some miscellaneous opamps.
The sound difference was better bass and frequency extension I watched some concert Blurays after swapping in a WWPS7 HDMI for the WWSS7 HDMI
The AQ Dragon HDMI has spoiled me I need everything to sound as nice though the wire world platinum is smooth it is veiled after being completely spoiled by the Dragon HDMI running 2 Channel.
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My greatest of thanks go to Vmax for the P20 3M AB7050HF idea. I trimmed my 3M sheet to 4.75 X 8 inches and laid it on top of P20 centered with rear edge lined up with 4th cooling fins. This leaves approximately half inch overlap at front of P20. That’s how I’ve been enjoying listening. If I align the 3M flush with front edge of the P20 it extends back to 6th fin space - haven’t tried listening to that variation yet as aligning rear edge with 4th cooling fins sounds so good. The whole process allows for easy and instant AB testing. No burn in required! I get greater presence in the room, more 3D sound. My new system is; P20 power, BJC Cat 6a Ethernet into EtherREGEN, DSD (Bridge2), BHK Pre, BHK 300’s, Unison Research Max2 speakers (96db sensitivity, which I needed for my previous 8 Watt SET amp). SR Orange fuse in the DSD. No other upgrades. Qobuz streaming.
My previous system was Integrated SET 300B valve amp (heavily modded) powered by an original PS Audio Powerplant - the super long unit that wouldn’t fit anywhere conveniently. I bring this up because for anyone who remembers the Powerplant there were about 9 different output wave settings. My favorite was PS2. Applying the 3M sheet on top of the new P20 has about the same sonic benefit as I used to get in my old system moving from my least preferred Powerplant setting to my favorite setting. The old Powerplant gave the 300B SET that mystical 3D sweetness, which to be honest, dare I say, has been a bit lacking in the BHK 300 monoblocks/BHK Pre/P20, which I purchased in September.
Thanks to the ingenuity of Vmax I now have the best of both worlds, the sweet 3D sound of the 300b valve combined with power and slam of BHK Monoblocks. In $ terms, this means going from a $40,000 system upgrade to a $40,100 upgrade, I get to my happy place.
Can I possibly hope for more goodness? I assume I should use the remaining 3M material on the DSD? I just need to find that link!
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Hi BuzzB,
Thanks for reaching out. It is nice to hear it is helping others as much as me. It will improve even more once installed under the lid.
If you accomplish all of the Direct stream mods Edcor transformers, remote 12V LPS you are pretty well set. The other parts of the streaming chain streamer and router can be just more 3D imaging fun. Please enjoy this holiday season.
Hi Vmax, quick question before I install 3M under lid. Did you trim the depth to less than 4.75 to keep rear edge aligned with 4th cooling fins or roll the excess down the front underside of the lid?
Thanks again and Season’s Greetings
Eric