Audiophile grade wall outlets and bybee purifiers??

maxwalrath · « **on:** 23 Apr 2003, 01:48 pm »

I've been seeing lots of ads on Audiogon for "audiophile" grade wall outlets and bybee quantum purifiers, and I have some questions about each.

1. Has anyone out there actually installed these upgaded outlets? They are popping up everywhere and I can't find any user feedback or reviews.

2. What is the best way for ME to install bybee quantum purifiers? The instructions say to put them at the positive terminal of each driver, but I don't have any experience taking drivers out of speakers, and I'm not too keen on starting with the most expensive thing I own (being a young audiophile, I think the MSRP is more than the blue book on my car).

Any advice on this (or anything else) is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Max

My system:
Heart CD-6000 w/Siemens NOS
Jolida SJ-502A
Meadowlark Kestral Hotrods

Hantra · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 01:58 pm »

Max:

Just last weekend I did some comparisons of outlets. All I can say is if you are going to upgrade, go ahead and find a deal on the Wattgate. It is phenomenal. I compared it directly to the FIM in the most scientific, and fair way possible. I found the FIM to be less musical, and not as quiet as the Wattgate. The Wattgate really helps with the extra silence around the notes, and sweetens the highs so that they sound richer, and more natural.

The FIM was etched in comparison.

HTH,

B

Pez · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 02:39 pm »

Max,
I use a Wattgate power outlet. It is, if anything, very well made and maintains a very good contact with equipment. Like Hantra said find a good deal as these things can be very expensive.

As far as bybees go check out Bolder Cables. they have a forum here or go to the website www.boldercables.com They make interconnects with the option of adding Bybee quantum purifiers. I don't understand how it works, but the bybee'd interconnects I have are a lot better than the none bybee'd equivalent.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 02:59 pm »

Max,

Drop me an e-mail about what you may want. I sell the ACME Audio AC outlets, which are silver plated. I also have some WattGate which are more expensive and they are gold plated. A lot does depend on the sound you may want. The WatGates ate more warm. the ACME are cleaner and more accurate.

I also build a Power Bar with the ACME outlets and Bybee purifiers built in.

The Bybee purifier works on AC signals to lower a noise floor you were not even aware of. A lot more sublteties come through. I do build them into interconnect cables, power supplies for the ART DI/O and the Power Bar.

One member of Audio Circle has contacted me about building a short male/female interconnect with a Bybee in between so you can use whatever interconnect you already own with them. I was thinking about offering a straight version with the Eichmann Bullet Plugs and a 90 degree one with the Cardas GRNO. A lot of people do not have a lot of real estate behind their components.

I could also build a set for speaker terminals with a set of binding posts and spade lugs with a big Bybee inbetween.

Are these something that you guys would be interested in?

Ball park, guestimate cost would be around $250.00 for a pair of interconnect Bybees and around the same for the speaker models.

Hantra · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:03 pm »

Quote

these things can be very expensive.

Hey Pez:

Mine is even engraved for insurance purposes. hehe

B

JoshK · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:05 pm »

jinx

I just sent you a reply email and we are on the exact same wavelength.

Wayne1 · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:13 pm »

B,

I have the personalized one from KKSV-1 in the wall for my HT rig. Last year we each received a CRYO treated WattGate outlet for KKSV-2. That is what Pez is using. I use a ACME, cryo treated, silver plated, 20 amp outlet for my office system and I have an 8 outlet, 5 bybee Power Bar for all the HT goodies to plug into.

Hantra · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:18 pm »

How is the cryo treated one? Better? ?

I talked to Ray, and he is not doing KKSV this year! Arrgh! They are under renovations and everything in the warehouse. I told him at least do KKFV! hehe I was really bumed about not making it last year.

We ought to do an alternative SV this year. I'd like to at least do something like KKSV where we can learn, and have a blast at the same time. I wonder if any other manufacturers might have an interest?

B

Jay S · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:19 pm »

Quote from: Wayne1

I could also build a set for speaker terminals with a set of binding posts and spade lugs with a big Bybee inbetween.

Are these something that you guys would be interested in?

Ball park, guestimate cost would be around $250.00 for a pair of interconnect Bybees and around the same for the speaker models.

I think this is a great idea! I understand that Bybee's have the most effect when they are at the speaker drivers. That being said, I for one am chicken to take apart my speakers and try to solder anything to the drivers!

JoshK · « **Reply #9 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:25 pm »

I am not chicken at taken apart my speakers and soldering to the terminal, in fact I am doing just that for the mid panel fix on my RM40's. However there are 12 mids and tweets in my speakers. That would be really freaking expensive to add bybees to them all. At the terminal you would need just two!

Jay S · « **Reply #10 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 03:32 pm »

Man, am I ever a chicken! Would you believe that the mascot of my college was the sagehen?!?!

The school argued that it was a fierce wild chicken... as if that made much of a difference!

KevinW · « **Reply #11 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:21 pm »

Quote from: Hantra

Max:

Just last weekend I did some comparisons of outlets.
B

Hantra, if only you had mentioned this earlier... I would have sent you a Jena Labs cryogenically treated outlet to audition. They cost $80/ea, and are amazing. It is a Marinco outlet which is cooled at well below the liquifying temperature of LN2. When it comes to cryo, the colder the better.

I am frankly amazed at the difference that cryogenics makes on power products. I would guess that the metal to metal contacts are much more solid after cryogenics. This is an empirical observation only, but it does make sense. This is why gun barrels, metal parts in racing engines, and other high-stress metal parts are cryogenically treated for maximum life and performance. On power products, the same pricipal applies, and allows for better conduction of electricity.

KevinW · « **Reply #12 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:26 pm »

Quote from: maxwalrath

1. Has anyone out there actually installed these upgaded outlets? They are popping up everywhere and I can't find any user feedback or reviews.

Yes, and they do make a difference if your system is good.

Quote

2. What is the best way for ME to install bybee quantum purifiers? The instructions say to put them at the positive terminal of each driver, but I don't have any experience taking drivers out of speakers, and I'm not too keen on starting with the most expensive thing I own (being a young audiophile, I think the MSRP is more than the blue book on my car).

The positive terminal of the speaker is absolutely the best bang for the buck with Bybee filters. You'll need one for each driver. However, if you're not familiar with soldering, I would recommend getting an experienced friend, or learn your skills on an amp or preamp kit.

audioengr · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:29 pm »

I also am a dealer for the Acme outlets, but I only carry the 20-amp cryo-treated one, because it is the best-sounding and works for both 15 and 20 amp circuits. The innards are actually identical. As Wayne said, if you are after a warm tube-like sound, then the Acme might not be for you. It gives you the most detail and microdynamics.

audioengr · « **Reply #14 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:34 pm »

Kevin W posted:

Quote

This is why gun barrels, metal parts in racing engines, and other high-stress metal parts are cryogenically treated for maximum life and performance. On power products, the same pricipal applies, and allows for better conduction of electricity.

I don't believe that you can draw these types of conclusions. No one really knows why the sound changes take place and under what circumstances the effect is positive and negative. I have some high-horsepower in my circle, including my brother, who is a metallurgist with over 20 years experience and my best-man, who is the head of the Cryo material study lab at NIST in Boulder. They both do not understand why cryo should make a difference electrically, and believe that the effect will likely be negative rather than positive.

KevinW · « **Reply #15 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:45 pm »

Quote from: audioengr

I don't believe that you can draw these types of conclusions. No one really knows why the sound changes take place and under what circumstances the effect is positive and negative. I have some high-horsepower in my circle, including my brother, who is a metallurgist with over 20 years experience and my best-man, who is the head of the Cryo material study lab at NIST in Boulder. They both do not understand why cryo should make a difference electrically, and believe that the effect will likely be negative rather than positive.

Two questions for ya...

1. If your brother believes the sonic effect is negative, then why are you selling cryo treated outlets?

2. Do you think that the combination of an obscure quantum mechanics effect mixed with murky science on how humans appreciate good sound (so called, "psycho-acoustics") allows for anything other than empirical observations I described? I wouldn't trust your brother's vaunted scientific resume compared to my own ears and my scientific empirical training.

Cheers,
Kevin

Hantra · « **Reply #16 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 05:46 pm »

Quote

Hantra, if only you had mentioned this earlier... I would have sent you a Jena Labs cryogenically treated outlet to audition.

Oops. . .It was quite an informal comparison, and the differences were not even enough to write a full review about. How does the Jena compare to the Wattgate?

I can't wait to hear those interconnects!

B

beat · « **Reply #17 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 10:34 pm »

this topic seems awfully friendly still.....does this mean CE got the long awaited proverbial boot???

JohnR · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 11:30 pm »

Quote from: KevinW

Two questions for ya...

1. If your brother believes the sonic effect is negative, then why are you selling cryo treated outlets?

Uh... yeah, Kevin...

Quote from: audioengr

I only carry the 20-amp cryo-treated one, because it is the best-sounding

Back to reading school for you!

JohnR · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Apr 2003, 11:41 pm »

Quote from: beat

this topic seems awfully friendly still.....does this mean CE got the long awaited proverbial boot???

He did. There's a long thread about it in Town Square,

JohnR