Grounding boxes

It's how the science is interpreted obviously...

S'cuse the drift, but the performance of DACs is an interesting one. Measured in a more basic form, some DACs look amazingly good, but widen the measurement 'window' and all manner of previously hidden crap comes to light. Class D amps have all manner of nasty noises, but early ones did this too near to audio frequencies, where current designs push all this out to several hundred kHz where hopefully, they're not going to cause problems - bear with me here...

I suppose what one needs to do with grounding boxes is to know what and where to measure. If there's any effect at all, what frequency does it start at and how does it react with what's coming out further upstream? if it's adding rf 'stuff' as the Entreq appears to do, is this having a smoothing effect on the power supplies around and about, or the output of a DAC or similar?

I have to ask as regards the Coherent box, how does it perform (or not) into conventional well known gear, as I don't think he sells much that's heard of/well known on these shores (just an observation, nothing more sinister).

Demoed on his own high end gear.

I think Simon is paying me a visit next weekend so I'll try and get the box here. It's not quite "conventional" as only the Krell and TT is standard.

I did say early on, I didn't think the same effect would be had here.

I use a BMU, Have ferrites and shielded mains cables.

Alan doesn't have any of that in his kit.

I just don't know if it can have the same effect. Believe me, if it does, I'll be surprised.

Unless, of course, there's unknown unknowns.... Which would explain why.

Perish the thought Cagey lad ........

But could it possibly be that the contents of said mystery boxes cost no more than a spade full of common garden dirt, put therein by unscrupulous con men and promoted by shill monkeys to fleece gullible punters and fools of their dosh.

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Agree, we are a species are learning everyday so to say we know everything about anything now is naive.

Dave I hate this type of Sh#t’o’gram post:

Have you actually heard any of this kit before saying that it doesn’t get the music flowing? Both Bel Canto and TAD, Belles and NovaFidelity that they sell are extremely musical.

The one thing that Coherent Systems are exceptionally good at, and by far better than any of those crappy more we’ll known dealers like KJ, Audio T and equiviant is getting a very non Hifi, musical sound.

Naim and Linn kit sounds completely broken in comparison.

In terms of cost, Bel Canto aren’t budget, but they aren’t super expensive

Yes I have. Have you heard any other MODERN gear that he DOESN'T sell?

If the sounds were as musical as you claim, then he'd not be making these add-on boxes because they wouldn't be necessary. You lived with your ES14/Exposure system for many years, yet how much and how often have you changed stuff in recent times eh? Maybe you've settled now, but you were chopping and changing for a while I recall.

You haven't heard modern Linn and Naim obviously, 'cos THESE DAYS, it ain't 'broken' as the Olive and CB stuff was and even the early post 2000 cosmetic stuff is bettered now.

I've not been into KJ for many years, but a trip there might be an eye opener for you as regards serious Top End purchased by the 'Oligarch' market. Hell, you can compare a Naim Statement amp with a top D'Agostino confection using an expensive DCS or Metronome digital source or the Kronos twin-opposing platter vinyl source at top LP12 money they do and which is claimed to sound amazing by any vinyl standards (I know the top LP12 and it's nothing remotely like the 80's sound they were getting) if you wanted to and that's 'proper' top end luxury.

You're too close to it all Paul and have bought almost totally into your favourite dealer's portfolio. As long as you enjoy the music you play at home and can ignore your stereo, then that's fine.

It's my experience that you can have a good clean 'sound' which leaves you emotionally cold. Even Quad had this with the Elite CD player/preamp they made once, the Artera range bringing the enjoyment back. One of my power amps here is a bit 'straight laced,' but it was known for it even then and can probably be explained by its high damping factor and distortion spectrum perhaps (although within its limits it still measures very well and better than many newer Top End confections it seems).

Independent dealers are having a hard time of it and so are certain chains too, one of which has been hanging by a thread for a few years now. No wonder these accessories at high prices crop up in an attempt to get some more cash flow..

Mine too but its nothing to do with 'conveying the emotion', it's because the low level cues and ambient information are being smothered, creating a bland sound. It's a function of noise and distortion, it isn't a mystery. 

So all we need now is someone to fork out a huge lump,of cash on a box, break it open then convince a friend to analyse whatever is inside the box?
Sounds simple.

Agree with most of this, Martin. The reality is that whilst we may know a lot about the engineering aspects of Hifi we don’t understand why one person like one thing and another doesn’t. A good example for me being Magico and Costellation. People seem to fall over themselves for that stuff, but I prefer my 15 year old mini system, it is certainly a lot more musical to my ears.

Yes, was listening to a very expensive system with a friend a few months back now. Just the cartridge was ten grand! He couldn't get enough of it, I wouldn't have been able to live with it for long. All down to personal taste. The really naïve people are those who insist that there is only one true way to good sound. 

Your memory of Quadral speakers may have been valid back then Dave, but the current crop is worlds away from that.  I own a pair of Chromium Style 6 speakers and they are truly superb, easily seeing off speakers many times the price, in fact they thrashed a pair of floorstanders twice their size and no less than 3 times their price last week.