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Miracles in Audio, by luck, by good choices,by design or by tweaking...

I owned a low cost headphone for many years, the Fostex TH7B, first version( a new one close version exist Fostex TH7BK), semi-open headphone...I was never completely satisfied by any headphones I ever owned: Hifiman 400, Stax basic lamda, Stax 5 gold,Akg 340,Akg 701, beyerdynamic 990, and T150... Because in each of them with all their qualities I never listen to at the same times, a confortable headphone with natural timbre and voicing, with a good imaging and a realistic soundstage(not too close to my ears)...


For the last days I tweaked this Fostex, to damp his internal resonance I used sorbothane, I put some shungite stones at the exterior part of the cups and I use some Herkimer diamond in the interior pads( 3 at 120 degree) … Now this low cost headphones crush all my others if I sum all his qualities... For example his mids and voicing cannot beat the AKG 340 but among all my other headphones it is the best that is near that mids and it is more confortable, and with longer cable than the 340...His imaging is better and more realistic than the 340 etc etc...It is the same if I compare with the others...


His most important qualities is natural timbre and clear imaging,very precise pinned point accuracy and natural, so clear it crush for that ALL the others to dust...In the French audio circle the reviews were more than very positive few years ago...Diapason d’or and choc Classica...I am not the only one impressed buy the ratio quality/price... But remember that thesae reviewers dont tweak their headphone...The difference between before and after the tweaks are staggering...


Yes Miracles happens in Audio: cost is under 100 American dollars... Few years ago they cost me 50 bucks new... I never dreamed that I will go back to headphones...


I will enjoy your miracles stories of any kind ….My best to all...
128x128mahgister
mkgus's avatar
mkgus
324 posts
 

I received a chunk of tourmaline in the mail. It’s about half a pound, 4” in length and 2” in diameter. I placed it on top of the electrical panel near the two hot main cables (120V US system) coming in with the grains parallel to the two cables. I also relocated a shungite pyramid from the front of the panel to the top center with the point facing up. I went to the listening room, sat down, quieted my mind and hit play on a track I’m familiar with. Huh, it definitely sounded different. It’s hard to describe how the sound changed. For one, the imaging seemed all over the place so much so that it sounded like a new track I’m not familiar with. I went back to the panel and removed the tourmaline and put the shungite back where it was originally. The sound I am used to came back, reaffirmaing that I wasn’t imagining things. Even though I wasn’t ecstatic about the change in sound with this experiment, I’m counting this experience as a win because it proved to me that crystals can indeed affect the sound. It definitely didn’t sound bad. Just different than what I am used to. I am confident if one has the knowledge, they could use crystals to tweak the sound of their system. Now I just need to learn how to use them. Any pointers would be much appreciated.

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,213 posts
 
I can’t think of any reason or scenario where crystals would have a positive effect. Mucking with a signal is usually a bad thing unless mucked with in a very specific way for a very specific reason.

One might perceive a positive effect due to expectation bias in any case no matter what the change. Crystals for example are cool and interesting (to a geologist anyway) so one wants to hear positive results?

That’s not to say it can’t have some effect whenever new electric fields are present or teh material affects those already present. Any of the minerals mentioned might be capable of this in some cases, crystals due to piezo electricity and the mineral composed mostly of carbon in proximity MIGHT have some effect on the existing electromagnetic fields.

Same true with external magnetic fields. We know what they can do to signals and its always bad ie add noise and distortion. Less noise/distortion is typically the desired outcome, not more. Noise/distortion is always public enemy #1 when it comes to good sound quality. Not to say in some cases adding noise/distortion might produce some perceived positive effect. An example would be adding random dither but that again is a very specific addition added in a very specific way for a very specific purpose.

So the experiments are interesting but I personally do not see a clear scenario where the effects would be clearly positive.

Interesting stuff though.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
13,043 posts
 
Congratulations! You are the first to verify this simple experiment I propose to test the audible impact of stones and crystals...

Tourmaline is piezoelectric under the stress of heat, shungite is a carbon based minerals non piezoelectric...

I will return with more...My best to you...
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,213 posts
 
One possibility for a definite improvement, as opposed to just a change or nothing, is if the carbon or crystals provided some kind of shielding effect. That’s possible I suppose but if so there may be other more practical ways to achieve similar effect, mu metal for example. I use that with my low-level phono step-up transformer. Hum and noise induced from nearby appliance motors or other devices nearby is readily apparent otherwise.
mahgister's avatar
mahgister OP
13,043 posts
 
Mapman I think you are right... Shielding is one aspect that explain certainly in part the audible effect but not all I think... Remember my stones are connected in a grid, if i disconnect some cables the effect is audible for each stones and connection with a degree of impact that is variable but observable...My best to you...
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