[mca]

I was lucky enough to score a great deal on 4 new PS Audio Power Ports. I would never spend the money these cost new, but they were too good of a deal to pass up.

What I am wondering is, would it be worth it to have these sent off to be cryo treated? If so, where?

[StevenACNJ]

I have used Charles @ Cryogenics International several times to cryo treat many different audio related items.

His service is very professional. The cryo process starts on a Friday and ends on the following Monday. Never had any damage from the cryo process. Turn around time was like clock work.

I am not affiliated with CI just a happy customer.



http://www.cryogenicsinternational.com/audio.htm

[dave_c]

Have you cryoed components too?  Most cryo talk revolves around cables and tubes, is there any benefit to having your eniter DAC or amp cryoed as well?

[JCC]

Stan Warren gave me a recipe that you might try.

1.  Use a portable icebox, styrofoam will do
2.  Put some dry ice in the bottom
3.  Use a separator such as a piece of wood
4.  Load the items that you want to CRYO treat
5.  Close the icebox
6.  Let the items sit over night.
7.  Allow the items to warm to ambient temperature.
8.  Repeat steps 1 through 7.

In Stan's experiments there was no advantage to a third session. With Dry ICE you will have a temperature of -100 F.

Reportadly, there have been cases of damage to components using liquid nitrogen. The dry ice approach is inexpensive and safer. I would have a problem sending out an expensive component such as an amp for cryo treating, but would feel safer with the dry ice treatment. No problem with cables, etc. at -300 with a reputable shop.

[StevenACNJ]

Have you cryoed components too?  Most cryo talk revolves around cables and tubes, is there any benefit to having your eniter DAC or amp cryoed as well?

I never had an entire piece of audio equipment cryo treated. Have done speaker cables, interconnects, male rca's, elec plugs, power cords, hook up wire, binding posts, etc. All with excellent results and absolutely no damage at all.

I am pretty sure that Crogenics International has cryo treated amps and pre-amps but if you call or drop Charles an email he will tell what they have done.

[cryotweaks]

Drawing from my experience.

I would not cryo plated metals, period.  

Some things, like plastic/rubber cable jackets, can crack.

I haven't had any conductors break or short out ever.

Most cryo places (I only know of one exception) use a computer controlled cryo process.  The temperature is brought down to around -300 degrees over the course of 12 or so hours, then it is left at the temperature for 24 or more hours, then it it brought back up to room temperature over the course of 12 hours.  This keeps items from breaking due to thermal shock.  The items placed in the cryo freezer never come in direct contact with the liquid nitrogen.  Much like the items in your freezer never come in direct contact with the freon used to cool them.


I don't do cryo for the general public any more, but I thought the info might be helpful to you.

Here is a link to an interesting article on cryo

http://www.emmlabs.com/reviews/freezing.htm

cheers!

mike

[cryoparts]

I know that many have cryo'd complete components will no apparent ill effects, but I would not recommend that you do it.   The jury is still out on the effects of cryoing certain parts residing within the component.  Like was mentioned by Cryotweaks, make sure that if you do, you use a shop that uses a "dry" cryo process and not one that floods the chamber with LN2 as part of the "soak".

I have never personally had any problems with cracking of jackets etc., either, use a reputable shop and you'll be fine.

As far as the "dry ice" method goes, it is a mixed bag.  It *does* produce a result, but nowhere near the effects of a proper cryo treatment wherein the temp. drops below -300F.  

I cannot recommend strongly enough that you take the plunge and have your receptacles cryo'd, the difference will be truly worth the effort.  Of course, some could say I am biased!  

Have a great day, everyone!

[djbnh]

1. It's nice to see some persons who do cryo treatments for a living chime in with their respective experiences and suggestions.

2. I use a Chris VenHaus (http://venhaus1.com/VH_Audio_Test.html) cryoed Flavor 1 Power Cord, and two Chris VenHaus cryoed Flavor 2 PCs. Initially, the PCs were not cryoed; I returned them for treatment after my initial purchases, burn-in, and subsequent listening. In my system, with my components, I prefer the cryoed PCs over the non-cryoed. They sounded better all around, although I was perfectly happy with the non-cryoed cords.

This is just the opinion of one person, who has used the same product in non-cryoed and cryoed states. Your experience, with your gear, may differ.

FYI - I think the company that does the cryo process for Mr. VenHaus is called "American Cryogenics", and I believe they use a computer controlled process.

Happy listening!  

[StevenACNJ]

FYI - I think the company that does the cryo process for Mr. VenHaus is called "American Cryogenics", and I believe they use a computer controlled process.

I dont think that American Cryogenics does any Cryo treating for the general public.

[Psychicanimal]

Stan Warren gave me a recipe that you might try.

1.  Use a portable icebox, styrofoam will do
2.  Put some dry ice in the bottom
3.  Use a separator such as a piece of wood
4.  Load the items that you want to CRYO treat
5.  Close the icebox
6.  Let the items sit over night.
7.  Allow the items to warm to ambient temperature.
8.  Repeat steps 1 through 7.

In Stan's experiments there was no advantage to a third session. With Dry ICE you will have a temperature of -100 F.

That icebox w/dry ice setup is a joke!

There are audible differences between cryo treatment setups and there is a difference between liquid and vapor cryo treatment.  Peple who critizice liquid either don't know what they're saying or have had stuff improperly done and then generalize.  NASA uses liquid immersion treatment, so does Jena Labs.  Lak & yours truly have compared three Absolute Power Cords cryo treated at three different places (Jena, Cryogenics International and a third undisclosed half ass place in OH) and there is an audible difference, for sure.  The Jena Labs liquid immersion treated cord is superior.  It is quieter, more extended and more detailed.

Lak is recognized as the world's expert on cryo'ed outlets.  His posts are in the Audiogon archives.  He hasn't heard a cryo'ed PS Audio outlet, but we have experience with cryo'ing silver plated copper speaker wire and the results were positive.  Remember, there is no industry standard for cryo treatment--beware!

[lonewolfny42]

 Lak is recognized as the world's expert on cryo'ed outlets.

PA,

How can you make that statement....please fill me in. Thanks !! [/list:u]

[Psychicanimal]

 Lak is recognized as the world's expert on cryo'ed outlets.

PA,

How can you make that statement....please fill me in. Thanks !! [/list:u]

Go to the archives..

[cryoparts]

There are a variety of cryo-treatment processes that one can use, including, but my no means a comprehensive list:

Liquid Soak--This is also called "Vari-Cold" by Cryotron (a manufacturer of cryo-machines).  This process involves bringing the chamber down to a pre-determined temperature, then "flooding" (actually it's more like a dripping) the chamber with liquid LN2.  This process allows the chamber to achieve around a temperature of -320F, which is colder than than the machines that use a dry soak can acheive.
Dry Soak--Many machines do this type of treatment.  The parts never come into contact with LN2, which is useful for some applications.  These machines rarely go below -300-310F.
Dry Soak/Heat Cycle/Dry soak--This process is promoted by a few manufacturers of machines, most notably CryoFire.  IMHO, not as useful for audio, but very useful for metal tooling and such.

Which is best?  Hmmm...depends on who you talk to and who has done the research (sounds alot like the audio biz   ).  IMHO, it depends on the part you are treating.  There are no hard and fast answers and requires a great deal of experimentation (read expense) on the part of the people selling cryo'd DIY parts, so make sure you are dealing with a person who truly understands what cryo does and how the benefits relate to audio.  Too many times people hear "a difference", but don't ask themselves, "is it a positve change? " You owe it to yourself to ask the dealer questions about why they chose the process they use for their parts and the benefits of their chosen methodology.  Of course, you will not be able to get every detail as the process may be "proprietary", but you should be able to get some good answers without the dealer giving away all of his secrets.

As in any endeavour, there are people who are truly passionate and knowledgeable about the what's and why's and people who are not.  I know a great many other dealers who are very conscientious and do a great job cryo treating products, but as with anything, choose with care.

Have a good weekend!

[Psychicanimal]

IMHO, it depends on the part you are treating.  

I agree.

[rewster]

Hi,

  Some good advice already here, and for the most part I'd agree that multi component treatment is a good thing, certainly we've had some realy peased customers  with amps, and dac's ect treated as whole components, that said you can't as the processor be responsible for the quality of all the stuff you process, so if you are given a component which contains poor quality materials, the risk of damage increases.

  That said we haven't had any problems yet through diligence, knowledge and care, and we are the firm mentioned in the http://www.emmlabs.com/reviews/freezing.htm lonk given up earlier!