[Brian Cheney]

As part of our THE SHow demo in Las Vegas, I plan to compare an amplifier modded with the new Bybee active DC noise filters against an unmodded version of the same amp.  Since we're biamping, I took a Classe M1000 monoblock (which will serve as our bass amp) down to Scott Frankland in San Jose.  Scott is a veteran consultant who maintains one of the best high end service facilities on the West Coast.

I was able to inspect the active Bybee module (a rare sight, since the commercial version will be potted) and discovered that one filter per power supply leg (plus and minus) is required, and that the module must be heat-sinked, since it's a series filter.  This means the right spot on a heat sink  must be found, large enough to accept the approx 2" square filter.
Installation can take a while and cost depends on the amp's internal layout.

I should get the amp back next week and be able to compare it with my other Classe monoblock without the mod.  Scott says the reduction in power supply noise is on the order of 45dB!  No wonder I heard such considerable improvement two weeks ago on Nuforce amps, modded vs. unmodded.  This could indeed be a breakthrough technology--we shall see.

[rean1matore]

So are these not available to the public yet? I don't see them on teh bybee website. 

[Wayne1]

Bybee Music Rails will NOT be sold to the general public.

They will only be made available to manufacturers and modifiers.

They are not intended for DIY use.

[Brian Cheney]

The Music Rail is an IC based DC active noise filter that installs at the output of any power supply.  One filter is required per rail.  It has a voltage drop of about half a volt and therefore needs to be heat-sinked.  It does, however, appear to switch current very rapidly.  It requires expert installation, which can be costly and time consuming depending on layout. 

Our booth at THE SHOW was the focal point of the Bybee Music Rail demo.  A high quality amp (Magnus Audio 120W Class A stereo, $4400 retail) was equipped with four MR's and bypasses which could be accessed easily.  The amp was powered down, the bypass connected, and we could listen to program material of all kinds with and without the filter.  The switchover took about 15 seconds.

As others have reported on this Circle, the difference in sound quality was not subtle.  The Music Rail dramatically improved sound quality to the point I would not want to do without it.
Each rail is $75 (two to four required per amp) and installation should run $250 minimum.  I think modders like Wayne will be busy with this upgrade for years to come.  Just about any amp or preamp should benefit.

[lonewolfny42]

Stereo Times link....Bybee Music Rails (TM) ....

http://www.stereotimes.com/CES2011d.shtml

[PLMONROE]

The Music Rail dramatically improved sound quality to the point I would not want to do without it.
Each rail is $75 (two to four required per amp) and installation should run $250 minimum.  I think modders like Wayne will be busy with this upgrade for years to come.  Just about any amp or preamp should benefit.

Since I have seen no mention of the Music Rails being used with either the preamplifier or the Atma Sphere tube amps, I presume that they were not used. Is this indeed true and if so why? 

Paul

[Brian Cheney]

The Music Rails were new at this Show.  Jeff Wells arranged to have one of his Magnus Audio amps rigged so that the filter could be switched in and out.  There was no opportunity to equip any of the other gear with the filters.

Preamps can be fitted with the 2A Music Rails and power amps with the 15A Rails, so modders should be well occupied doing this work for some time to come.

[John Casler]

But, to make it clear, the ATMA-Sphere tube Preamp was used all the time, and the ATMA-Sphere tube Monoblocs were used for all the "Live versus VMPS" demos.

The Magnus was used for Bybee technology demos, and occasional CD playing (it just depended on which was hooked up at the time)

Both systems were connected with Wywires all the way through.

[PLMONROE]

Sorry, I assumed you were bi-amping and using both the Atma-Sphere and the Magnus to do so. 

Paul

[Brian Cheney]

We biamped using the Atmasphere for the live vs recorded on the mid and treble.  For the Bybee demo we used the Magnus on the mid and treble. 

In both cases, bass was supplied by a vintage pair of Classe Audio M1000 monoblocks, owned by my soundman Jim Harger.  They're about 20 years old and still going strong.